Diamonds are Forever: The Royal Marriage Arrangement / The Diamond Bride / The Diamond Dad. Rebecca Winters

This thing is big, honey. An opportunity like this only comes knocking once in a lifetime.”

      Manny never gave up!

      Oh, Mother, he must have had you bound up so tightly, is it any wonder you tried to find escape with other men?

      Her hand gripped the phone tighter. She could hardly concentrate for the knocking on the outer door, which was growing louder. “I realize that. Give me some time to think about it.” She didn’t want to hurt Manny, after all he was still waiting for his money. On the other hand she had to consider Lucca and the agreement she’d entered into with him. “I have to hang up now.”

      She dropped the phone on the receiver and ran through the suite. “Lucca? I need two more minutes.”

      “Are you all right?” he demanded.

      “Y-yes.”

      “You don’t sound it. Do you need help?”

      “No … I’ll be right there.”

      Alex half hopped out of her dress as she hurried to the dresser for the jeans and top she planned to wear. She’d barely slipped on her separates when Lucca entered her bedroom wearing jeans, a blue T-shirt beneath a black bomber-type leather jacket and riding boots. He looked fantastic.

      “I’m not going to apologize for invading your privacy,” he said worriedly, breathing hard. “You’re as pale as parchment. After what you had to face this morning, it wouldn’t surprise me if you’re sick to your stomach. There’s no way I’m taking you out on my motorcycle when you’re ill.”

      Brushing a lock of hair off her forehead, she brazened out his intimate scrutiny. “I … I had a personal phone call I couldn’t ignore,” her voice faltered.

      He folded his strong arms. His eyes glittered ominously. “Personal? From whom?”

      “It was Manny, but it doesn’t concern you. Like I said, it was personal.”

      “And might I ask who this Manny is who demands your attention but who is of no concern to me? Is he perhaps a former lover who saw you on the early-morning news in Los Angeles?”

       “What?”

      “Come on, Alexandra. You don’t have to continue to lie to me. Clearly there is someone important in your life back home … a love interest—”

      “I told you before there is no one. Thank you for having so much faith in me.” She let the sarcasm fly.

      He stared her down. “Today we told the whole world we’re going to be married. I have a right to know who the man is who could change your entire countenance in an instant.”

      “Why is it you have to know his name when you haven’t felt inclined to divulge your lover’s name to me? I thought you trusted me, or isn’t our marriage going to be on an equal footing after all? Wasn’t it you who said no secrets?”

      When his gaze slid away from hers, Alex knew she had him, but it gave her no joy. She sat down in the nearest upholstered chair. “I thought we could be friends, Lucca. The last thing I want to do is fight with you.”

      The tension between them was combustible. “How long have you known him?”

      “A long time, but it’s not what you think.” She didn’t want to tell him about this. Not today of all days.

      “It never is,” he ground out.

      She shook her head in bewilderment. “For the sake of argument, isn’t that what you wanted? To present a united front in public, but live private lives behind the scenes?”