Page 126 of A Story of Love

He gave her an exaggerated wide-eyed look. “Are you telling me there is something about me that you don’t know?”

“I suspect there is a great deal I don’t know about you,” she said dryly.

He merely smiled and occupied himself with washing her arch and heel.

Lori closed her eyes and let her head rest against the sloped tub. She was so relaxed that she could have fallen asleep if not for the ugly secret still weighing down on her like a pallet of bricks.

Perhaps you don’t need to tell him the truth? He has taken care of those children knowing they aren’t his. Can this information really make any difference?

But it would make a difference, that’s why she feared telling him so badly. Aristocratic men were prickly about matters of pride—insanely, murderously so—and it was entirely within the realm of possibility that Fast would demand some sort of satisfaction on his brother’s behalf.

Lori chewed her lower lip, torn.

“What is bothering you, Lorelei?”

She opened her eyes. “How do you know something is bothering me?”

He gave her an exasperated look. “You should never, ever try your luck at a card table. Your every thought flits across your face.”

She sighed.

“Out with it.”

“It is about your brother’s children—and it is not pleasant,” she warned.

He paused his ablutions and fixed her with a suddenly frosty stare. “Have you already sold the story about Percy’s illegitimate children?”

“Of course not!”

He grunted. “Then nothing else will bother me.”

Lori seriously doubted that.

“Tell me,” he barked.

“Do you always give orders?”

“Most of the time.”

“And people just jump to obey them.”

“You tell me.” His lip pulled up on one side, his heavy-lidded look reminding her of the way Lori herself had instantly obeyed him on more than one occasion…when the command was an erotic one.

Lori tried to scowl at him but failed miserably. “You’re incorrigible.”

“And you blush more than any woman I’ve ever met.”

“I know. And I hate it.”

“I don’t. Now, tell me what is bothering you.”

She heaved a sigh. “I want you to promise me something before I tell you.”

His eyebrows pulled down over his nose, making him look even fiercer than usual. “I don’t like this game, Lorelei.”

“It’s not a game. And I’ll only tell you if you promise me first.”

“Promise you what?” he asked in that menacing tone that gave her shivers.