Three and a Half Weeks(124)
“No, it will sound too crazy.”
“I love crazy! I’m dating you.”
He smiles and mirth makes his eyes extra shiny. “I think he may have… extra sensory abilities.”
“Like… mindreading?”
“Exactly like it. Yes. He seems to know everything, even before it happens. Anyway, he told me to take another look at the report I had run on Phillips. It wasn’t complete so I fired the security firm I was using and hired a new one. The new report was much more detailed and comprehensive. Remember that woman you interviewed in Venice?”
“Maya St. Sauveur. She’s his half-sister.”
“How did you know?”
“Lucien told me. It explains why she was so antagonistic toward him. According to Lucien, their father left his whole estate to Lucien and not her or her mother or his mother, for that matter. Sounds like a charmer.”
“Yes, well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, now does it?”
“Hmm. I’m getting the results of the blood test tomorrow—I’m already certain I was drugged. I have a history of severe reactions to drugs—I think I told you how I once suffered hallucinations from cold medicine. If someone slipped me something strong like Rohypnol, I don’t doubt that I’d have a bad reaction. Maybe all those things I remembered happening were in fact hallucinations.” I look up at him but he makes no comment and his face is devoid of expression. “Do you think?”
Shrugging, he pulls me closer to his chest and kisses my head. “Perhaps, but I’m not inclined to give Phillips any benefit of the doubt. I hold him responsible for everything that happened to you that night, even hallucinations. He should face legal redress, and would, if I had my way.”
“It is weird how he told me his whole life story by way of explaining his hoodlum bodyguards.”
“He’s trying to gain your sympathy, Ella, pure and simple. He admitted to me that he always had an ulterior motive.”
My head swings up so fast I nearly get whiplash. “What was his ulterior motive?”
Arching his brows, he says, “Can’t you guess?”
“Just tell me, for God’s sake.”
“He was interested in you, Ella. Romantically. He said every time he tried to get you alone, I’d foil his plans.” He grins wickedly. “Told you so.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I certainly believe it might be true, since you are rather irresistible. But as for whether or not it was his true motivation… I’m not certain yet. But I will be, once I have all the information to put the puzzle together.”
“I’m surprised Lucien even talked to you considering how you artfully rearranged his face.”
“Yes, our Mr. Phillips was in a loquacious mood today, wasn’t he? Too bad he’s such a filthy liar.”
“Well, I’m done with him so there’s no further need to worry.” I stroke his face, hoping he can feel my love through touch—and I think he can. His eyes drift shut and he hums in appreciation. Reaching closer, I kiss his lips softly.
“I believe you mentioned that you want to go out for dinner?”
“Yes,” he says, shaking his head to recover his equilibrium, I suppose. “So get your lazy ass up and dressed so I can wine and dine you, Ms. Strong. I’ll be awaiting your divine presence in the living room.” He gets up and strides out of the room.
I take my time getting ready—I hadn’t forgotten that Ian asked me to marry him in our post-coital ecstasy. Was he serious? I wondered if he was going to do it properly tonight and what I would say.
Do I want to marry him? I look in the mirror and roll my eyes. Oh, for God’s sake, who am I kidding? Of course I do. I love the man and I’m only truly happy when we’re together. The positives far outweigh the negatives when it comes to Ian and I think I can make him happy, too. He just needs to ease up a bit on the dominance—but not in bed. That I like. If he’s willing to compromise, so am I.
Okay, make-up: I reach for the mineral foundation powder and puff on the barest amount. A little eyeliner and mascara, lip pencil and tinted gloss. That’s it.
Then I add a double diamond stud to each ear and pull my hair back in a loose knot. Perfect. See, Mariah? I can clean up pretty nicely. The specter of Mariah as fashion police reminds me I have to call her and let her know I’m back in Portland. We need some face time together.
I pull on a tight navy cashmere vee-neck sweater over a very short navy skirt. The sweater covers almost all of the skirt so it kind of looks like I have nothing on underneath. Going for the monochromatic look, I pull on navy tights and black leather ankle boot that have straps with big pewter buckles. I stand back and examine myself in the mirror.