about him and had as good as implied he knew she still was.
She tugged the sheet higher and looked past him, toward the bedspread piled on the floor, left there the night before when they’d been frantic to get to the bed. “They aren’t the exact same terms, though, are they?”
“You will not use birth control this time.”
“I said I wouldn’t.” That wasn’t the only thing different, but he didn’t need her pointing out the nuances of his proposition.
“Because it was spelled out as part of the deal,” he mocked.
“Precisely.” And he wasn’t going to make her feel bad about her past choices.
She had enough of her own regrets on that count.
“And you will not attend boring business dinners with me.”
“I might … if you ask nicely.”
“You have changed.”
“Having your heart broken will do that to a person.”
“Who broke your heart?” he asked in a dangerous tone.
“Who do you think?” He really had no clue how much she’d loved him.
Because to him, she had been nothing more than part of a business deal. She still was, only one he’d spelled out more precisely.
Something she’d do herself no favors forgetting.
“Are you trying to imply it was me?” he asked with a full measure of disbelief.
“My father had his own fair share of the responsibility in that regard, but yes, you.”
“How did I break your heart?”
“Losing you hurt. A lot.”
“But you walked out.”
Because she’d felt she had no choice. “Because you saw me as nothing more than a business asset.”
“No, I did not. However our marriage came into being, it was a marriage. I treated you with respect and consideration as my wife.” His tone dared her to deny it.
She couldn’t and didn’t want to. If his words hadn’t been true, she wouldn’t be agreeing to this new deal, not even for the sake of the sister she loved so much and hundreds of faceless employees that relied on her family’s company for their livelihood.
He brushed his fingers along the edge of the sheet again, heat filling his azure gaze. “I do not think you can blame me for your broken heart.”
He was right. She was the one who’d walked out. She just hadn’t realized how much it would hurt to do so—and to stay away, or how much she’d been hoping he’d come after her. He finally had, but not in a way she could have expected.
Though she probably should have.
Ariston was no knight in shining armor, seeking the heart of a fair damsel. He was a pragmatic tycoon with his own agenda and unique sense of honor.
“So, the movers are coming tomorrow,” she commented, rather than continuing a discussion that would only lead to revelations she had no desire to make.
“Yes.”
“But you said I had two weeks.” And she’d asked for more and he’d just ignored her.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to live out of a suitcase at the local hotel in the interim.”
Amazing. He was beyond self-assured. He was scarily confident of getting his own way, but then wasn’t she letting him have it?
“How did you know I would come to you?” Much less that she would agree to his deal.
“You made the appointment with my secretary last week.”
“But still … you made all these plans in a week?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
“Let me rephrase. It does not matter.”
“Seriously?” It was all she could do not to roll her eyes at him like a teenager, but really, did he have to try so hard to bring that out in her? “You haven’t gotten any less arrogant in two years.”
“Why should I?”
“Life usually handles that for most people.”
“My life has shown me that I must make the things happen that are necessary.”
“Mine has shown me that no matter how much I want some things, no matter how hard I work, I’ll never have them.”
“What has left you so disappointed?” He asked as if the answer really mattered to him, when she knew it couldn’t.
“You wouldn’t understand.” He really, really wouldn’t. And with that, she realized it was time for her to escape. She pushed at his hip and chest. “I need a shower.”
“You have time.”
“Weren’t you on your way out the door?”
“Perhaps I will put off my first meeting of the day.”
“No.” She practically yelled her denial. “My plane—”
“Leaves in a few hours, I know. And you’ll want to give your sister the news.” His eyes traveled over Chloe’s curves under the thin sheet, saying without words what he’d rather she spend her time doing.
“You know too much,” she grumbled.
“There was a time