Jennie Lucas - Reckless Night in Rio

He couldn’t let himself feel, not even for a moment, as if he were part of a family.

“You look tired,” he heard Laura say quietly.

He turned to her, and their eyes locked in the semi-darkness of the jet. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine.”

“A lot has changed.” He looked from her to the sleeping baby. He wanted to ask her again who the baby’s father was. He wanted to ask how long she’d waited before she’d jumped into bed with a stranger. A week? A day? What had the man done to seduce her? Bought her some cheap flowers and wine? Given her cheap promises?

What had it taken for the man to convince Laura to surrender the life she’d yearned for, and accept instead just the crumbs of her childhood dreams?

“Gabriel?”

He looked up to find her anxious eyes watching him.

“What?”

“What will happen after we arrive in Rio?”

He leaned back in his seat, folding his arms. “Oliveira is hosting an afternoon pool party at his beachside mansion on the Costa do Sul. Adriana will be there.”

Laura bit her lip, looking nervous. “Pool party? Like with a swimsuit?”

“And after that,” he continued ruthlessly, “you will attend the Fantasy Ball with me.”

“Fantasy, huh?” Her full lips twisted. “I hope Brazilian shopping malls sell magic fairy dust, ‘cause that’s the only thing that will convince anyone I can compete with Adriana da Costa.”

“The first person you must convince is yourself,” he said harshly. “Your lack of confidence is not attractive. No one will believe I’d be in love with a woman who disappears in the background like a wallflower.”

He had the hollow satisfaction of seeing the light in her beautiful face fade. “I just meant…”

“We made a deal. I am paying you well. For the next twenty-four hours, Laura, you will be the woman I need you to be. You belong to me.”

Her eyes narrowed with anger and resentment, and as she turned away, some part of him was glad he’d hurt her. He heard the soft snuffle of the baby’s breath, and it was like a razor against his throat.

He’d once been comforted by the thought of Laura back at home with her family, following her dreams. Now she’d taken that from him. She’d betrayed him.

And he hated her for that.

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