The Billionaire's Marriage Bargain. Кэрол Мортимер

on the Friday evening, too.’

      Which, if Dominick agreed, she had already known was going to be something of a problem. Although not an insurmountable one. All three of her parents’ guest bedrooms had twin beds, so they wouldn’t actually be sharing a bed, just the room.

      Although Dominick’s cool control, and her own quivering response just to the touch of his hand on her arm and back, said she was the one in more danger of finding their proximity overwhelming…

      Dominick continued to look at her for several long seconds, his expression guarded as he took in her silken hair, before his gaze shifted slightly to her face, and then he wished it hadn’t as he felt almost as if he were drowning in the depths of her eyes, those incredible, emerald-coloured eyes.

      Deceptively honest eyes, he reminded himself with cold determination, thinking of how she continued to lie about her involvement with Jerome.

      But now Kenzie was here, however briefly, and was willingly, if unwittingly, putting herself back in his power…

      ‘I’m sure staying over won’t be a problem, Kenzie,’ he accepted dismissively.

      She eyed him thoughtfully, at last seeming to realize something of what she was doing. ‘It won’t?’

      ‘Not at all,’ he drawled with satisfaction. ‘We shared a bed for nine months, I’m sure we can share a bedroom again for a single night only.’

      Kenzie felt knocked slightly off balance by his sudden acquiescence, as she had been sure she would have to do some more quick talking once Dominick knew the full extent of the commitment she was asking him to make.

      ‘I—fine,’ she accepted awkwardly, too relieved right now that he had agreed to come to the wedding with her to want to stand and dissect his response. No doubt she would have plenty of time to reflect on that later! All that was important at the moment was her father’s continuing peace of mind. ‘We’re expected in Worcestershire for about seven o’clock…’

      ‘I’ll drive us there.’ He nodded. ‘Does a four o’clock departure suit you?’

      ‘Perfect.’ She nodded, still frowning, but unable to read any of Dominick’s own thoughts from his deliberately closed expression.

      ‘My address in London is—’

      ‘I know your address, Kenzie,’ he cut in disparagingly.

      He knew where she lived…? He knew of the apartment she had bought and moved into when she’d returned from the States?

      ‘It was on the divorce papers,’ Dominick reminded her grimly, all teasing gone now. ‘Now, if you wouldn’t mind…?’ he added tersely. ‘I’ve already wasted enough time on this subject this evening. I have some work I need to do.’

      Her creamy brow cleared of its frown as she gave a derisive smile. ‘Of course you do,’ she accepted ruefully, turning to leave.

      ‘Oh, and, Kenzie…?’ He stopped her before she had taken two steps.

      She turned back slowly, warily. ‘Yes…?’

      His mouth twisted mockingly. ‘I’ll let you know what I want in return for—helping you out, in this way.’

      Kenzie felt the colour drain from her cheeks. ‘What you want in return…?’ she repeated carefully.

      ‘Of course,’ Dominick replied. ‘You didn’t seriously think I was going to inconvenience myself in this way for nothing?’

      She hadn’t had any thoughts at all beyond getting him to agree to come to the wedding on Saturday!

      He shook his head as he stared at her. ‘How naïve you still are, Kenzie,’ he taunted. ‘I’ll give it some thought in the next few days and let you know what I decide is an appropriate payment.’

      And until then she would have to be satisfied, Kenzie accepted wearily as she collected her clutch bag from the table in the hallway and let herself into the lift. She didn’t doubt that the payment Dominick would extract from her would be something she didn’t want to give.

      Or worse, it would be something she did want to give, but would be opening herself up to all sorts of pain if she did so!