AMANDA BROWNING - The Lawyer's Contract Marriage

‘Pleased to meet you, Mr Shaw,’ she managed to say pleasantly enough. Even maintaining a courteous smile despite the electric sensation that stole her breath away.

Something flashed in those silvery eyes, and his lips twitched as he inclined his head in response. ‘Likewise, Mrs Grimaldi.’

As he released her hand his thumb trailed over her palm, and, despite all she did to prevent it, her breath hitched in her throat. Determined not to show how unsettled she was, Sam kept her smile in place. ‘Won’t you call me Sam, like everyone else?’ she invited, rubbing her tingling hand against her thigh surreptitiously.

‘Only if you reciprocate and call me by my name,’ he rejoined, his gaze daring her to do it. Sam had no intention of backing down.

‘Ransom it is, then.’

‘And what of Mr Grimaldi? Can we expect him to join you?’ Ransom enquired. It sounded like merely polite conversation, but there was a nuance in it that Sam recognised as a charge of her playing away from home. She bristled inwardly but remained calm.

‘My husband died six months ago,’ she told him stoically, and knew by the glint in his eye that he knew he had struck a nerve by asking about Leno and was pleased.

‘That must have been upsetting for you,’ he said solicitously, but she knew better than to take his words at face value. He was as good as telling her he didn’t believe she was upset at all.

‘Leno was a good man. I miss him.’ It was true. She had become used to being his wife.

Ransom nodded sombrely. ‘I’m sure you were heartbroken to lose him.’

Her stomach twisted as she detected the hard edge to his words. ‘We were happy. You must interpret that how you like,’ she advised him, looking him squarely in the face, so he would know she was aware of what he was thinking. She didn’t doubt that he believed Leno’s fortune had softened the blow.

He smiled faintly. ‘I’m sure a beautiful woman such as yourself would know how to treat a man’s heart well,’ he added ironically, firing off a shot with deadly accuracy.

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