Let Them Talk

Sean’s smile disappeared. “You will not try an aphrodisiac on anyone, and you are not cooking for another man.”

His territorial attitude surprised her. She’d assumed he’d only wanted them to be exclusive to make his assignment easier. But the possessive tone in his voice suggested otherwise. It confused her.

She decided not to respond to his command. She picked up her fork and played around with her dessert. The silence between them grew. It unnerved her.

“I’m beginning to think I skipped a chapter in the seduction book,” Sean murmured.

“What do you mean?” Isabel hated how her voice came out in a croak.

“This must be the ice-princess move. The don’t-look-don’t-touch routine. It’s very effective,” he said in a growl. “Because throughout dinner all I’ve wanted to do is leap over this table and—”

Isabel dropped the fork onto the plate with a clatter and placed her hands on her lap. She could imagine Sean vaulting over the table. To her horror, she wanted that. She wanted to see some sign that what they’d shared mattered to him.

“It’s not an act,” Isabel said, avoiding eye contact. “If you must know, my rebellious streak is waning.”

There was a heavy beat of silence. “I don’t believe it,” Sean said.

“You were right,” she continued as she twisted the linen napkin in her hands. She had to get the words out. She had to end this. “It wasn’t going to last long.”

“This wasn’t a streak,” Sean argued. “You were showing your true self.”

Isabel shook her head vigorously. “No, my old self is the real me. It’s natural. It’s more comfortable.”

She wondered if he was going to believe anything she said. The old Isabel truly did not suit her anymore. Even playing her old self for one evening had been difficult. The role felt like a cardigan that had shrunk, and she was bursting at its seams.

“Just because it’s easier doesn’t mean it’s the real you,” Sean argued.

Isabel studied him. She saw the tension in his face, the lines bracketing his mouth deepen. Sean was annoyed. No, that wasn’t right, she decided. He was concerned. Worried. Why? He should feel a sense of achievement. His mission was accomplished.

“I don’t understand why you’re arguing about this,” she said irritably as the anger flashed hot inside her. “Isn’t this what you wanted? For me to revert to my old ways?”

He pressed his lips together. “Initially, yes, but—”

“Wasn’t that the whole point of sleeping with me?” she blurted as her anger began to slip out. “Not the first time. That was just an accident.”

“I didn’t accidentally sleep with you.” Sean glared at her. “How does one accidentally have sex?”

“The other times were intentional,” she admitted as she gave him a bitter look. “That was part of the plan, wasn’t it? But when my father asked you to rein me in, I doubt he meant in the bedroom.”

* * *

SHE KNEW. Sean went completely still as a coldness invaded him. She knew everything. How? The agreement had been strictly between Keith and him.

This looked bad. Panic rose inside him as he stared at Isabel’s pale face. He had to be very careful what he said next or he would lose Isabel.

No, he had already lost her. Now he understood why her appearance tonight had unsettled him. The dress and the pearls were her armor. She was holding the world at bay. Holding him at bay. Disappointment welled inside his chest.

Isabel arched her brows. “You have nothing to say?” she asked with false sweetness. “Understandable. There’s really no excuse.”

Sean clenched his hands into fists. He felt his lungs squeezing closed as his stomach twisted. He had caused Isabel pain, and he’d done more than bruise her confidence. She had abruptly halted her transformation because she didn’t trust the encouragement he had given her. She suddenly didn’t feel safe with the choices she had made.

“Keith asked me to find out what was going on at your book club,” he said slowly as he weighed his words. “He believes your new friends are a bad influence.”

“And the only way to find out the truth was to take me to bed?” Her voice rose with disbelief. “Try again, Sean. There was more to this plan than you’re letting on. Why did you sleep with me?”

“Why did you sleep with me?” he countered.

He watched her eyes glitter with pain and anger. She pressed her lips together and he knew she was holding back hurtful words and retorts. When her expression went blank, he realized she’d decided to tell the truth. “Because I wanted to,” she replied with great reluctance.