Page 113 of The Devil's Deceit

“I hurt you.”

“Hearts heal, too. With the right care and attention.”

“I guess we have a lot to talk about.”

“Plenty of time for that.”

“You’re taking me back, then?”

“Yes.”

“What if I say no?”

“Are you saying no?”

One shoulder bounces. “If I were?”

“You want to talk in ifs and buts, or in facts?”

She scratches behind her ear. “You must hate me.”

“About as much as you must hate me.”

Her eyes shimmer. “I don’t hate you, Christian.”

“And I don’t hate you. We’ve both fucked up, but this isn’t the time to discuss it. Now that’s out of the way, shall we go? The helicopter is waiting, and I’m sure Dad and Xan are eager to take that raping piece of shit back to Oakleigh so he can be dealt with.”

“I-I can’t leave without telling Samuel.”

Jealousy, fiery and hot, surges through me. “Who the fuck is Samuel?”

“My boss.”

Both eyebrows fly up my head. “You’ve been gone less than two weeks, and you have a boss?”

“He owns the store here on the island. I’ve been helping out for a few hours a day.”

“You don’t let the grass grow under your feet, do you, Duchess? Is he young and handsome?” Even I pick up on thepossessive tone in my voice. If this Samuel has been lusting after my wife, I’ll feed him to the fucking sharks.

She laughs, and my entire heart doubles in size. God, I’ve missed that laugh.

“He’s around your dad’s age.”

“Oh. Good. I won’t have to kill him, then.”

She shakes her head, but her eyes shine with amusement. “I can’t leave him high and dry and just disappear.”

I get up and walk to the small desk in the corner of the room, returning with a small white notepad and a pen.

“Write him a note. I’ll pack for you. We can drop it off on the way.”

Ten minutes later, Grace pushes the note through the door of the general store. She lingers for a few seconds, then presses her hand to the weathered wood.

“I enjoyed working here. I’ve missed being a part of something since… well, since I gave up work to…” She drifts off.

“To lie and cheat your way into my bed and my family.” I curse. “Forgive me. That was unnecessary.”

“But true.”