Page 121 of Modern Romance May 2026 Books 1-4
‘What did you do in university?’ he asked.
‘International relations and political science.’ She felt staid even as she said that. She made a face. ‘Not exactly inspired.’
‘Was it what you wanted to do?’
‘Not especially, but my father put pressure on me. There was an English Literature and Theatre Studies class I would have loved to do.’
‘You wanted to be an actress?’
No doubt he thought her far too boring. ‘Is that so hard to believe?’
She saw him shake his head in her peripheral vision. ‘No, not at all. The woman I saw in the photo…maybe, but not you.’
A bloom of heat filled her solar plexus. Poppy had often thought of herself as employing acting skills to avoid showing her father how much he hurt her. And maybe she’d called on it too the night she’d met Caius in Paris, convincing herself she could step out of her comfort zone.
But here she was now, and no acting in the world could hide the vulnerability Caius seemed to make her feel.
She admitted, ‘My father commissioned that photo before he died. I hated it. It wasn’t me.’
They emerged now through the trees at the top of a hill. Poppy brought the buggy to a halt and got out. Caius stepped out too and looked at her. ‘Why did you let him dim your light?’
Poppy squirmed a little. How could she explain, without seeming weak, that a part of her had still craved her father’s approval in spite of the constant rejection? And then, as if he was able to read her mind, he said, ‘Actually…when it comes to parents and behaving in ways to either gain or provoke attention, I can’t exactly talk. I made a career out of courting the media partly in order to get my parents’ attention. Not that it worked.’
Poppy felt a burst of affinity and gratitude for his understanding. Gratefully she changed the subject. ‘This gives you an overview of the whole island, and Valdere.’
Caius stood beside her, looking around him. ‘It’s beautiful. I don’t think I’ve been somewhere so peaceful in a long time.’
Before she could stop herself she was saying, ‘Don’t you mean boring? I’m sure you’re dying to get back to the city and a hectic social life.’
The thought of that world felt very far away and Caius realised he had no desire for it. He shook his head, ‘Actually…not so much.’ What he did desire was much closer. He looked at Poppy and a breeze flattened her shirt against her belly. ‘Your bump looks bigger today.’
Poppy put a hand on it and huffed a little laugh. ‘I think the baby is having a growth spurt after the constriction of the dress yesterday.’
‘Can you feel anything yet?’
‘Little flutters, like butterflies inside. It feels strange.’
‘You look…good.’ She looked amazing. Sexy.
Poppy looked up at Caius a little suspiciously. ‘I…thank you, I feel good. No sickness, thankfully.’ She took a step back. ‘We should probably get back. I can show you the vineyard on the way.’
But Caius caught her arm before she could turn away and she looked up at him.
‘I mean, you look really good, Poppy. I saw you last night on your balcony. I didn’t mean to…’
She frowned. ‘What are you saying, Caius?’
He faced her directly now, his hand still on her arm but in such a gentle hold she could have pulled away. She didn’t.
‘I still want you, Poppy. I haven’t been with anyone else since that night in Paris. You left an impression.’
Her green eyes widened and her cheeks went pink. But then, like watching storm clouds race across a clear sky, her expression darkened and her eyes narrowed. She pulled back. ‘You are unbelievable.’
He frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘We’re on an island…you said it yourself, and you’re so highly sexed that you figure you’ll sleep with the only convenient female around to get through the boredom, is that it?’
Caius was indignant. ‘No!That is not it. I’m not that desperate for sex, believe me.’
