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‘I loved him,’ she responded, simply, ‘and I thought he loved me. That was enough.’
Leonidas nodded thoughtfully. ‘So that was also a pragmatic marriage.’
Hannah’s eyes widened at his description. ‘What do you mean?’
‘You agreed to marry a man simply because it made sense, because you thought you loved each other, without having any idea if you were physically compatible. So thi
s marriage—ours—already has more going for it.’
Hearing him refer to their marriage caused her heart to trip a little, banging against her sternum. ‘How do you figure? Angus was one of my closest friends...’
‘Which means very little given that he betrayed your trust and slept around behind your back.’
‘Woah. Don’t go easy on me, will you?’
‘I don’t think you want anyone to go easy on you, Hannah May.’
She startled a little at his unexpected perceptiveness. ‘It was less than six months ago. It’s still kind of raw.’
His expression barely shifted yet she had the feeling he was saving that little revelation, storing it away. ‘He cheated on you. He doesn’t deserve a second thought.’
She nodded, having said as much to herself.
‘Is he still with her?’
Hannah reached for her water, sipping it, trying to tamp down on that little bundle of pain. ‘No. Not according to my aunt.’
Leonidas nodded sharply, as if filing away that information. ‘There is no love between you and me, Hannah, but there is desire enough to burn us alive if we are not careful. And there is a baby—which we both want to protect and cherish.’
‘Yes. I do.’
‘Neither of us wanted this, but we can make our marriage a success.’ He said it with such fierce determination she almost laughed, as though she were simply a property he wanted to acquire, a piece of real estate he needed to buy.
Her own questions zipped through her. She sipped her water, balling her courage. ‘Your wife and son...when did they...?’
His eyes were coal-like in his autocratic face. ‘Almost five years ago.’
‘I’m so sorry.’ She spoke gently, softly. ‘You said they were murdered?’
His eyes narrowed and his skin paled almost imperceptibly. ‘Yes.’
‘By whom?’
He held a hand up, silencing her with the gesture. ‘I have no intention of discussing it, Hannah. My first marriage is off limits.’
The words smarted and she couldn’t resist pointing out his hypocrisy. ‘But you were just asking me about my fiancé.’
‘You were happy to talk about it.’
Hannah’s brow furrowed. ‘No, I wasn’t. I answered your questions because we’re getting married.’ How strange those words felt in her mouth. ‘And if you’re going to be my husband, it seems like the kind of thing you have a right to know about.’
He tilted his head in concession but his gaze was steady. ‘I will not discuss Amy and Brax.’
Hannah expelled an angry rush of breath. ‘Well, that seems kind of dumb.’
He clearly hadn’t been expecting that response. ‘Oh, really?’ There was danger in the silky drawl.
‘Yeah, really.’ The flight attendant returned, brandishing a platter loaded with Italian delicacies. Cheeses, ham, fruit, vegetable sticks and dips, breads, olive oil and vinegar. The aroma hit her in the gut and she realised she was actually starving.
