‘I knew you’d come around,’ he drawled with a smile that was so wolfish that Serena’s stomach quivered ominously, because at least when dealing with her stepmother, she’d known what she was letting herself in for. With Caleb, she had no clue.
But there was one thing she was absolutely certain of—she would not be giving up her freedom. He’d proposed a marriage in name only and that was what he would get, because the days of her living under anyone else’s control were well and truly over.
CHAPTER SIX
It didn’t, however, take long for Serena to realise that she had very little control over what was happening. Only twenty-four hours after her reluctant agreement, she found herself in the South of France, having left London that morning on a private jet and landing a few hours later at a private airfield, where a car waited to transport them to the hilltop villa Caleb informed her would be home for the following weeks. A small contingent of staff greeted their arrival, ready to cater to Serena’s every need and whim, but in spite of the beauty and luxury of her new surroundings, all Serena felt was overwhelmed. Powerless. The speed with which she’d been uprooted from her life and dropped into a whole new one had set her head spinning and her emotions struggling to catch up, feelings certainly not helped when in the same breath he informed her that he was leaving to attend to business matters, Caleb also told her he’d arranged for her to sit down with an event planner to discuss wedding details.
Serena had bristled at that. He had no right to make plans on her behalf and, really, she was in no mood to plan a union that she didn’t want to happen. But had he asked her what she wanted? Of course not. And what details needed to be discussed for a wedding that was a formality anyway? Given the circumstances, Serena had assumed that it would be a discreet affair, with minimum fuss. However, within minutes of sitting down with the wedding coordinator, she discovered how flawed that assumption was. Per Caleb’s instructions—words that made her bristles bristle—their wedding would be a showstopper, an event to proclaim their love for all the world to witness. Each detail had been more extravagant than the last, culminating with the arrival of the world-renowned couturier who had been hired to dress her for the big day, another of Caleb’s executive decisions, even though it was customarily the bride’s prerogative to choose her own gown. But the message was clear—she was in his world now, living by his rules and his expectations.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
It ignited an angry fire in Serena’s stomach, and in spite of taking to the infinity pool in the hopes of relaxing, she tensed all over again. There was sense in marrying him, she knew that, but Caleb didn’t seem to understand her agreeing to marry him didn’t mean he had control over her life. Maybe she should have been clearer on that from the outset. That was something Serena would fix as soon as she saw him again, which she didn’t imagine would be soon, as he’d told her he was in meetings until late. And that was how their marriage would unfold, she expected, with him running his global business whilst she lived her life at home. Serena hesitated on that thought, because Caleb hadn’t actually specified how he planned on their conjoined life unfolding. He hadn’t shared much of anything, really.
They’d passed the journey to France in relative silence. As soon as they’d boarded, Caleb had settled down to work, the head bent low over his computer emitting a very strongDO NOT DISTURBsignal, and Serena had been happy to leave him to it, her feelings about him having become troublingly ambivalent overnight. As angry as she wanted to be at the way he had manoeuvred her to right where he wanted her, that emotion was hard to maintain when it had reunited her with Kit and Alexis. Instead, she felt a gratitude to him, and remembering the effort he’d made with her siblings had softened her feelings even more. She hadn’t expected him to have any skill with kids, but not only had he charmed Alexis, he’d gently coaxed Kit out of his shell, and that had made her wonder at the father he would prove to be. It was a softer side of him that had reminded her why she had broken all the rules with him that night in Singapore, when she’d rarely been tempted to before.
So, she was glad at the resurgence of her anger. She didn’t want to like him. Their situation would be easier if she didn’t. Easier to keep from feeling anything remotely tempting or dangerous…
Like the sudden charge of crackling electricity that had her insides tightening and heat whispering over her.
Caleb.
He was back. She could feel the burn of his gaze awakening the parts of her that only he seemed capable of touching, stirring them into a fever. She ordered herself to ignore it, but found herself turning, regardless, seeking him out. Her eyes locked with his, and as they did a current shimmered through the air between them, so strong that she vibrated with the force of it. So strong that it scared her and she broke the connection, swimming to the edge of the pool and climbing out, reaching hastily for the robe she’d left on a nearby lounger.
‘You didn’t have to get out on my account,’ he said, eyes on her, and she wished he would look away. Or even better, go away.
‘I didn’t.’ She pulled the tie as tight as she could. ‘I was done.’
‘How did it go with the wedding planner?’
‘Fine,’ she replied, pausing to see if there was an apology forthcoming for the way he had thrown her into the situation with no warning and without asking her, but of course there wasn’t. ‘She seems to have a handle on everything. I, however, was a little surprised that we aren’t just getting married quickly and quietly.’
‘As in eloping?’ he drawled with that maddening slant of his eyebrow that so eloquently conveyed his distaste. ‘Eloping is all about secrecy, which implies that we have something scandalous to hide, which is the very image we’re trying to avoid. A big, extravagant wedding is necessary for our purposes.’
Serena hated to admit, even to herself, that it made sense, because she really would have preferred something small and quiet, something that didn’t resemble a real celebration. Because she hadn’t just felt overwhelmed earlier, or aggravated. As she’d stood in a gorgeous, flowing white dress and saw herself as a bride for the first time, something else had stirred in her too, something soft and hopeful, almostyearning, something that had been dormant since Lucas and which she hadn’t expected to ever feel again. Didn’t want to feel now. And that had caused an upwelling of worry, because she needed her emotions to stay out of this, yet everything about this wedding was designed to draw out emotion.
Only Caleb hadn’t asked what she would have preferred, had he?
He’d just taken it upon himself to make the decision about what was best and pressed ahead with it. Irrespective of what she thought.
‘Then I’m sure you’ll be happy with her work,’ she said, feeling grateful for that fresh spike of frustration. ‘But I would appreciate it, if in future, you would check with me before arranging a meeting on my behalf.’
‘If possible, of course,’ he replied airily. ‘Since my meetings finished earlier than expected, I was able to pick this up for you.’ Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a small velvet box and placed it on the table that stood between them.
‘What is that?’
‘Why don’t you open it and see.’
Apprehension bubbled beneath her skin as she reached for the box, her fingers trembling because she had a fairly good idea of what nestled inside. As much as she wanted to be able to breeze through the moment as if it was nothing, Serena was scared of the rush of emotion that could happen once she popped that lid open. She couldn’t seem to manage the same emotional impartiality that Caleb conducted himself with, and as expected her heart jumped when she saw the diamond ring glittering up at her from a bed of black cushion.Wow.
It was so stunning that tears hit the back of her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away because the moment was as much of a pretence as everything else. And she didn’t like that that bothered her. Didn’t understand at all why it did, when the last thing she wanted was the vulnerability of love and marriage.
‘Do you like it?’ Caleb prompted when she failed to speak.
‘Of course.’ She could barely take her eyes off it, but forced herself to. ‘It’s beautiful. Any woman would love it.’
She was wary of saying anymore, of allowing her emotions too long a leash, especially in comparison to his cool practicality. However, the answer clearly didn’t satisfy whatever response he’d wanted, as his jaw hardened and mouth firmed, eyes glittering with shards of angry obsidian. She couldfeelhis displeasure too, even with the distance she was meticulously holding between them; it radiated off him in sizzling waves. ‘Then put it on. It’s not just to admire. You are required to wear it.’
Another command. Serena bristled at the instruction, but jammed it onto her finger, fixing him with her gaze. ‘Happy, now?’
