Claimed by the Wealthy Magnate

‘I knocked three times. I was worried. Are you ready to go?’

Realisation hit her that she couldn’t do it; she’d shot her bolt, thrown in the towel—you name it, she’d done it.

‘Actually, I’m exhausted. I think I’ll give it a miss.’ Rising to her feet she tried to project cool assurance.

‘“Give it a miss”? A private tour round the Doge’s Palace your first time in Venice?’ His voice registered utter disbelief. ‘Are you nuts?’

‘No. It’s been a tiring few days, and I want to conserve my energy for the ball and the preparations.’ Turning, she shook her hair slightly forward. ‘But you go.’

A frown, and then he shrugged. ‘OK. But I think you’re making a mistake. The Doge’s Palace epitomises Venice at the height of its power—every single one of Venice’s greatest painters and sculptors is represented somewhere. That palace is where history was made.’

A solitary tear prickled at her eyelid—damn it, she wanted to go. Wanted to experience Venice, see the splendour of what he described with such fervour. But how could she risk being overtaken by panic in the cobbled streets? Or even in the immensity of the palace itself? And panic was imminent—she sensed it.

‘You go,’ she repeated.

CHAPTER TEN

DANIEL REACHED THE door of the suite, opened it and exited into the corridor. If Kaitlin truly wanted to pass up this opportunity then that was her choice. That was what he believed in—the power of choice. Yet her decision stung more than it should.

Don’t make this personal.

Because his lawyer’s instinct told him that Kaitlin had withheld information. Impossible that the woman who had embraced the Highlands, who worked in an art gallery, wouldn’t want to go to the Doge’s Palace.

Not his business.

Yes, it was.

He turned round and retraced his steps, re-entered the suite and banged a perfunctory knock on her bedroom door.

A few seconds later Kaitlin peered out and surprise widened her green eyes. ‘Did you forget something?’

‘Yes, I did. I forgot you.’

‘Huh?’

‘You need to come to the palace. Think how it will look to Roberto, to the guests at the ball, when they hear you passed up this chance. If it’s because you don’t want my company I’d rather you went and I stayed here—I’ve seen the palace before.’

‘It’s fine, Daniel. I told you to go.’

‘Nope.’ Daniel sat down in an armchair and stretched his legs out.

‘What are you doing now?’

‘Sitting.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I’m not going to the Doge’s Palace unless you come with me or explain why you won’t.’

Her mouth formed a small circle of outrage. ‘That is ridiculous. It’s daft for us both to miss out.’

A frown creased her forehead as she realised the impact of her words.

‘So you admit you’re missing out?’

‘Stop it!’

‘Not till you explain.’