“Before that.”
Olivia shook her head. “We didn’t meet before that.”
“You did. You just don’t remember.”
How was that possible? Every time he drew near, her stomach pitched and her body yearned for his touch. His lips on hers turned her into an irrational creature of turbulent desires and rollicking emotions. If they’d met, she’d have recognized the signs.
“Your brother is very memorable,” she argued. “I’m certain you are mistaken.”
Ariana’s eyes glowed. “Just ask him.”
Abruptly filled with uncertainty, Olivia looked down at her gown and noticed the brush of cool air against her bare back and arms. She’d dressed to entice Gabriel. She’d wanted his hands to go places no man had ventured before. Even after learning that he’d given her a bracelet that once belonged to his former lover, she still wanted him. She ached with yearning. Burned with hungers unleashed by an hour in the bath tracing her naked skin with her fingertips, imagining Gabriel doing the same.
“Damn it.” The curse shot out of her and startled Ariana.
“Oh, I’ve really done it,” the princess muttered. “Please don’t be mad at Gabriel. That was five years ago. I’ll bet he doesn’t even remember the bracelet.”
Olivia’s gaze sharpened into focus as she took in Ariana’s miserable expression. “You remembered.”
“I’m a woman. I have an artist’s eye for detail.” Ariana shook her head. “Gabriel is a man. They don’t notice things like fashion. Now, if he’d given you a set of antlers off a buck he’d shot, that he’d recall.”
Olivia recognized that Ariana was trying to lighten her mood, but the damage had been done. She wasn’t half as angry with Gabriel as she was with herself. For being a fool. For not realizing that she never would have agreed to marry Gabriel unless she was already emotionally engaged.
But it was too late. She was already in too deep. The only thing she could do now was keep her wits about her and not allow herself to be disappointed again.
* * *
To his intense shock, Gabriel was second-guessing himself.
As he towel-dried his hair. As he shaved for the second time that day. As he dressed in gray slacks and a black collarless button-down shirt.
All he could think about was what a mistake he’d made with the bracelet he’d chosen for Olivia’s first present. As beautiful as the item was, he couldn’t help but think she’d appreciate something more romantic with a little history attached.
He was grimly amused with himself. Since when had he devoted this much time and energy to a gift for a woman? In Marissa’s case, he’d always zeroed in on the most flamboyant piece available, the more expensive the better, and been richly rewarded for his generosity.
Gabriel slid a watch onto his wrist and checked the time. He had half an hour before Olivia was due to arrive if he wanted to fetch a particular piece from the vault. “I have a quick errand to run,” he told Stewart. “If Lady Darcy arrives before I return, serve her a glass of champagne and assure her I won’t be long.”
With that, he exited his suite and headed to the vault, his mind on the perfect thing to present to his fiancée. It took him exactly ten minutes to find the necklace and return. Stewart was alone when Gabriel returned.
“Dinner is set to be served at eight.”
“Perfect.” Gabriel had no interest in rushing. At the same time, he wanted plenty of the evening left over for getting to know Olivia thoroughly. “You ordered all her favorites?”
“Of course.” Stewart’s head turned at the light knock on the door. “That must be Lady Darcy. I’ll let her in, then make myself scarce.”
Gabriel grinned, glad she was as eager to begin their evening as he. Stewart went to answer the door. With his pulse kicked into overdrive, Gabriel found himself holding his breath in anticipation. Realizing what he was doing, he exhaled, wondering how long it had been since the idea of spending time alone with a woman had excited him. But Olivia wasn’t just any woman.
She aroused him faster and more intensely than anyone since Marissa. To look at her, it made no sense. She was elegant, cool and poised. Not the sort of sultry, lush temptress that turned men’s heads. But today he’d discovered an inner core of vibrant, sensual woman hiding within her. The little he’d sampled explained his craving for a more prolonged taste.
A tense conversation was taking place near the door. Gabriel frowned as he spied the petite woman standing in the hall. Not Olivia. Her private secretary. Although curious about the content of their discussion, Gabriel made no attempt to listen in. He would learn what it was about soon enough.
The exchange at the door came to an end. Stewart came toward him, wearing a frown.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your Highness.” Stewart looked as if an elephant had stepped on his toes. “Lady Darcy has declined your invitation.”
Dumbstruck, Gabriel stared at his assistant. Declined his invitation? Outrageous.