Page 3 of A Diamond Deal
He was a liar.
She looked up at the converted monastery on the hill. If she’d kept her barriers high, if she hadn’t let him in, if she’d kept their relationship formal—kept it employee and employer—if she’d never kissed him on their first overseas work trip together…
In London everything had changed. She’d abandoned the fight with herself and admitted what she felt was more than admiration.
She wanted him.
He’d leaned in and held her so close, and yet so far.
She’d always wanted to kiss him. To feel his mouth on hers, and trace the shape of it with her tongue—learn it.She’d devoted her eyes to his lips in every minute she’d sat in a boardroom with her ex-boss watching them. His lips. This mouth that spoke words of truth.Honesty. So strong was his conviction that he had to protect everyone. His employees.His people, as he called them, promising he’d keep them safe from the monsters at their doors. Protect their mental health.
She’dleaned in all the way.
Shehad kissed him.
He’d stopped her. Told her if this happened, what it would be. An affair, but he’d never ask for more than what she wanted to give and he’d expect the same from her. If they did this, he’d adore her body and her mind, he’d protect them both, but he’d never love her.
Poppy hadn’t wanted love—never again would she chase a feeling.
She’d believed he was the one man she could trust, because everything he did was with brutal honesty. She’d thought she was safe with him. Safe from lies, even the ones that hurt, because he’d always promised to be honest with her. She’d felt safe enough to be honest with him. To tell him what she wanted.Needed.
Always honesty. Always the truth.
He’d agreed, and she’d answered with her mouth. Her tongue.
His honesty had made her feel safe, safe enough to take the risk of trusting him.
But she’d had to findthisout on her own. The truth.
They’d never been friends.
She’d never been anything more to him than whatheneeded.
A wife to strengthen his image and bolster his reputation of being a family-led business. Their marriage in public and behind closed doors…it was all a façade, because the man beneath his perfect image was acheat.
She closed her eyes briefly. She wouldn’t wishtheyhad never happened. Because if they hadn’t, she would never have got pregnant. She never would have held him. Her baby boy.
Asleep, he’d been so very beautiful.So perfect.
Poppy closed her mouth too late to contain the muffled sob.
She knew it wasn’t her fault. After months of therapy, she understood it was no one’s fault. She understood the logic of this truth. The physics of placental abruption. The part of her body meant to nourish him had started to detach. The abruption only minor at first, the doctors had put her on bedrest. Guarded by nurses. But it hadn’t been enough. Isaak had been born sleeping.
She understood future pregnancies wouldn’t be the same.
Her throat closed.
Logic didn’t cushion the pain. Nor did biology.
Serena held out a life jacket. ‘Let’s put this on.’
Poppy nodded and let Serena direct her limbs inside the vest. She pulled the last buckle tight.
‘Did you do as I said?’ she asked.
‘No credit cards. Only—’ her chest tightened ‘—cash.’
She didn’t have nearly enough.
