He pushed a tiny tendril of hair back from her face. ‘Maybe I’ve been keeping you up too late.’
She smiled cheekily as she danced her fingertips down his bare forearm. He felt the electric shock of her touch all the way to his groin. ‘I’m the one who’s been keeping you up.’
He was up right now—painfully so. But she was still looking peaky even if she was putting on a brave front. He knew that about her if nothing else. She was excellent at hiding behind various masks. He gently patted her on the behind. ‘Have your shower while I rustle up some breakfast. How does bacon and eggs sound?’
The colour drained from her face again and she quickly thrust a hand to her mouth and bolted for the en suite. Remy followed her to find her hunched over the toilet seat, retching without actually bringing anything up. ‘Oh, ma petite, why didn’t you say you were feeling sick?’ he said.
She wiped her mouth on the face cloth he handed her. ‘I didn’t feel sick until you mentioned... Urgh.’ She gave a little shudder. ‘I’m not even going to say the words.’
‘Shall I call a doctor?’
‘What on earth for?’ She got to her feet and grabbed her hair and, using its length, tied it in a loose knot behind her head. ‘It’s just a stomach bug. I’ve had them before. It’ll pass in twenty-four hours or so.’
He reached for her forehead but it was clammy rather than hot. ‘Do you want to go back to bed?’
She pushed his hand away, a little frown creasing her forehead. ‘Stop fussing, Remy. I’m fine.’
‘You look pale.’
‘I haven’t got my make-up on.’
‘Personally, I prefer you without it.’ He followed her back into the bedroom. ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to call a doctor?’
‘And make me look like a drama queen for dragging him or her out here to diagnose a virus? No thanks.’
Remy pulled back the covers on the bed. ‘In. Rest for an hour and see how you feel.’
She rolled her eyes and flopped back down on the bed. ‘You should keep well away from me. It might be catching.’
‘I’ll risk it.’
‘I should probably warn you, I’m not a very good nurse. I have no patience or compassion.’
He smiled as he touched her cheek with a lazy finger. ‘I think you’d make a very good nurse. You’d look hot in a uniform too.’
She cranked one eye open. ‘I thought you preferred me without clothes?’
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. ‘Right now I’d prefer you to rest up. We have to get you to Paris in tip-top shape.’
‘And after Paris?’
‘We have Raoul and Lily’s wedding.’
A little frown pulled at her brow. ‘Are you sure I should go to that?’
‘I want you there.’ He meant it, which was a little surprising. Worrying, actually. He had to let her go at some point; no point dragging this on too long.
‘But I thought once your business deal with Robert Mappleton was done we were going to go our separate ways.’
Remy searched her gaze but he wasn’t sure what he was looking for. ‘It would look a bit suspicious if we parted within a day or two of the contract being signed. And your manager is going to be pretty pissed with you if you suddenly announce you’re getting a divorce. I think we should leave things as they are until after Raoul and Lily’s wedding. It’s only a matter of weeks. We can reassess things in the New Year.’
‘What have you told your brothers about us? Surely they know the truth?’
‘Yes, but that’s not the point. I don’t want a big press fest on our break-up occurring right in the middle of Raoul and Lily’s wedding.’
Remy had spoken to Raoul not long after Rafe had called. But, rather than berate him for marrying Angelique, he had said what his grandfather had said—that he’d always sensed Remy had a thing for her and that his little spin about her being hell on heels didn’t ring true with him. It had annoyed Remy to think he hadn’t disguised his feelings as well as he’d thought. What would Raoul make of his feelings now?
Angelique’s gaze narrowed. ‘You’re not falling in love with me, are you?’
He coughed out a laugh. ‘Are you joking? I’ve never fallen in love in my life.’
‘Good.’ She closed her eyes again. ‘I don’t want any hearts broken when this is over.’
Remy got up from the bed. ‘I’ll come and check on you in an hour.’
‘I’ll be back in the ring and punching by then.’
‘I’ll look forward to it.’
He walked to the door but when he turned back to look at her she had turned her back and was huddled into a tight ball.