A Bride to Redeem Him

‘And what about the media? Do you think you’ll need to get them onside?’

‘Possibly. Which I think is where you would come in. I think you’d be the perfect person to charm them.’

‘Wow, thanks, I’ll look forward to it.’ She pulled a face. ‘So you think they’ll believe you’re no longer the fickle, play-hard womaniser Louis who has never dated a woman longer than about a week in his life, just by taking a girlfriend...sorry, I mean a fiancée?’

‘Why not?’ he murmured. ‘Eligible playboy bachelor tamed by sweet girl next door, it’s an age-old story and people love it.’

It should be a cliché. But if it was then he was staring right at half of it.

‘I’m not the girl next door,’ she snapped, before softening her words with a smile. But it was more brittle than those that had gone before. And the sudden change snagged his attention.

He wanted to know more about Alex, and she’d just given him the ideal opening.

* * *

As though sensing a chink in her armour, Louis suddenly leaned closer and abruptly the huge, vaulted space felt as claustrophobic as a three-by-three tent. The seductive Louis was back, edging closer, and even sitting down his body was definitely one built for sin. Heat swept through her afresh but she ordered herself not to be such a fool, not to fall for it. It was simply an act he knew how to play to perfection.

‘Then who are you, Alexandra?’

The too-sharp edge to his gaze unnerved her, the attraction still zipping between them. Inconvenient and undeniable. One misstep and she got the impression he could convince her to lay her soul bare. She wanted to get back to the banter they’d had before but she had to tread carefully.

‘So, Louis...’ She forced a smile, buying herself a little more time. ‘If I did agree to marry you, how do I know you’ll honour your promise to me about Rainbow House?’

‘You have my word.’ He shrugged, making her splutter. Her eyebrows shot up to her hair.

‘That’s it? The word of a renowned playboy.’

‘I might have a reputation as a playboy, but shouldn’t that make me honest rather than a liar? I never promise women something I can’t give them.’

‘Is there anything you can’t give women?’ she said, regretting it the moment it came out of her mouth. It would only inflate his already giant ego.

‘I appreciate the vote of confidence.’ His crooked smile did things to her. ‘And you’re right. There’s only one thing.’

‘And what’s that.’

‘Marriage,’ he deadpanned. ‘Commitment.’

‘Idiot.’ She actually swatted him. She waited for him to react but he just ramped up the killer grin.

‘I deliver in all other areas.’

‘So I’ve heard. You have quite the reputation for delivering.’

‘Indeed I do. Care to put it to the test?’

Her whole body reacted, thrumming at the soft teasing of his tone. Grey eyes pierced into her like the short, sharp scratch of a needle into a vein. The air between them appeared to crackle. His eyes locked onto hers and she couldn’t make herself break contact.

‘I’m harder to dislike than you thought, aren’t I?’ he teased.

‘You keep telling yourself that,’ she bit back, but it lacked any edge.

And here they were, full circle. He was harder to dislike than she’d believed from his media reputation, she’d been learning that over the last few days. In fact, the more time she spent in his company, the harder it was to see the two sides of him as the same man. She sniffed delicately.

‘So if we want to get married then first we have to get the media invested in your apparent redemption.’

If Louis flinched at the term, he recovered quickly.

‘That’s the plan,’ he agreed. ‘Although, full disclosure, there’s nothing remotely redeemable about him left any more. Too many years of playing the wild, arrogant playboy have meant my soul has long since been sold.’