Lusty Billionaires Bundle(46)

That seemed good enough for Marjory, and she smiled affectionately as Tabitha slipped out of her dress down to her skimpy yellow bikini—four triangles and shoelaces really—painfully aware of Zavier removing his shorts and T-shirt, every hair on his body, every glistening toned muscle seeming to taunt her with its beauty.

‘Do you fancy a swim?’

Mute, she shook her head, remembering the last time he had undressed in front of her. She felt his eyes skim over her and dared to dream he was remembering the same.

The two women watched in amicable silence as Zavier dived into the vast pool in one lithe motion, streaming through the water, his muscular body hardly making a ripple as he parted it. There was no way on earth she’d get in now, Tabitha decided. Her doggy paddle was nowhere near his élite level, and there was far more chance of looking graceful on land than thrashing about in the water.

‘Don’t let Zavier’s mood upset you.’ Tabitha looked across startled, surprised Marjory had even noticed. Marjory was carefully examining her face in a large hand mirror while simultaneously smearing vast quantities of sunscreen around her eyes and over her décolletage. ‘He’s just worried about his father.’#p#分页标题#e#

Tabitha didn’t answer. No doubt Zavier was worried about Jeremy’s increasingly fragile health, but she knew his black mood was due to a rather more basic problem.

‘We’re so glad he found you,’ Marjory continued, her eyes never once leaving the mirror. ‘I know how difficult he can be, and to be honest we were worried for him.’

‘In what way?’ She was treading on dangerous water here; insights into Zavier weren’t part of the deal, but they were way too tempting to pass up.

‘Well, he’s so exacting. It’s all black and white to him. You know about Louise, I presume?’

Tabitha nodded. ‘The girl he was engaged to?’

‘Lovely thing—though not as gorgeous as you, of course. She even managed to loosen him up a bit—you know, get him out of a tie on weekends and things. They’d have been so happy, but she messed it up, the silly girl—got too greedy. The day Louise came home with that prenuptial agreement it was all over bar the shouting. He’d never admit it in a million years but she really hurt him.’

‘No wonder,’ Tabitha responded thoughtfully. ‘It’s hard enough finding someone to spend the rest of your life with without being filthy rich and wondering if they’re just with you for your money.’

‘Oh, please, Tabitha, money matters. As much as I adore Jeremy, I wouldn’t have given him a second glance if he weren’t wealthy. Life’s hard enough without worrying about money.’

Tabitha blinked a couple of times; even though Zavier had told her, she was utterly stunned at the blatancy of Marjory’s revelation.

‘But you seem so in love.’

‘We are,’ Marjory tinkled. ‘I’m merely saying our relationship would have been a complete non-starter if Jeremy hadn’t a bean to his name. Come on, Tabitha, are you honestly telling me that Zavier’s money doesn’t influence you in the slightest?’

It was a strange question—and, given the fact it was coming from Zavier’s own mother, even more confusing. No wonder he was so mistrusting. She had thought Zavier was being his delightful cynical self when he had said that Marjory was with Jeremy for the money, but here she was, openly admitting that money came first and love a poor second.

‘I…’ Tabitha didn’t know how she could answer. After all, money was the only thing binding her and Zavier; it was money that had brought them to the eve of their wedding.

And it was money that would end it.

Tabitha pondered before answering. Dreaming for a moment the impossible dream, dreaming that Zavier loved her. She knew one thing for sure: if he lost everything it wouldn’t matter a scrap so long as they had each other. Broiled on the passion of her imagination, Tabitha was at least able to answer the question with conviction.

‘Money shouldn’t come into it. Marriage should be about love, taking the good times with the bad, leaning on each other, growing together…’

The slow handclap resounding behind her made Tabitha stop in full flood.

‘Bravo.’ Dripping, he sat on the sunbed next to her. ‘Did you hear that, Mum? Doesn’t that little speech restore your faith in the human race?’

‘Gorgeous, isn’t she?’ Marjory agreed sleepily as she lay back and closed her eyes, totally missing the venom behind his words, oblivious of the scorn in her son’s eyes. ‘Darling, put some oil on Tabitha. That fair skin of hers is going quite pink already. We can’t have her looking burnt for tomorrow.’