Seven

      Finding Gabriel gone when she awoke didn’t surprise Olivia. A quick glance at the clock told her it was past eight. He had probably been up for hours. She eased into a sitting position, taking inventory of every strained and aching part of her. Nothing a hot shower wouldn’t cure.

      When she stepped from the bathroom a short time later, she discovered a visitor. Gabriel sat beside a table laden with an array of breakfast offerings. With his long legs stretched out in front of him and his hands clasped around a steaming cup of coffee, he hadn’t yet noticed her.

      Olivia leaned her shoulder against the door frame and let her gaze drift over his strong features and muscular torso clad in a tailored midnight-blue suit, white shirt and shimmering burgundy silk tie. For the moment his powerful energy was banked. But Gabriel in a contemplative state was no less arresting than him fully engaged.

      Some small sound, probably a dreamy sigh, alerted him to her presence. He straightened and came toward her, his movement fluid, and before she knew it, he’d wrapped her in a snug embrace and given her the lusty morning kiss she’d been hoping for when she’d first awakened.

      Desire stirred at the firm press of his mouth against her. He tasted of coffee and raspberries. Olivia dipped her tongue in for a second taste, murmuring approval.

      “Good morning,” he said, breaking the kiss, but not ceasing the slow advance of his hands up her spine. “I’m sorry I left without doing that earlier.”

      “Why didn’t you wake me?” She snuggled her cheek against his chest, savoring the unsteady pace of his heart and the hoarse timbre of his voice.

      “Because I would have wanted to pick up where we left off last night,” he retorted, his voice soft and deep. “And the palace would have been fully awake by the time I left your room.”

      That wrenched a laugh out of her. “You don’t think everyone knows what happened last night?” Her cheeks heated despite herself. She’d always known there would be no privacy for her in the palace, but facing his parents and siblings when she knew they’d be apprised of what had happened between them last night would take a little getting used to.

      “Perhaps, but I’d prefer to at least give the appearance of propriety until we’re married.” Gabriel gave her a wry smile that enhanced the devilry in his eyes. “Are you hungry?”

      Her hands snaked around his waist, to tug his crisp white shirt from his pants. “Starving.”

      With a deep, rumbling laugh he caught her wrists. “I meant for breakfast. We missed dinner last night.”

      She waited until he’d dusted a kiss across her knuckles before answering. “I’d quite forgotten about dinner.”

      His eyes glowed with fierce delight as he drew her toward the table and poured a cup of coffee. “I didn’t know what you liked for breakfast so I ordered some of everything.”

      “Usually I have an egg-white omelet with mushrooms and spinach, but today I think I want pancakes with lots of syrup.”

      To her astonishment, Gabriel served her himself. Olivia found it quite difficult to concentrate on her delicious breakfast while he watched her through eyes that danced with fondness and desire.

      “Aren’t you eating?” she asked.

      “I had something an hour ago.” He glanced at his watch. “The girls are going for their first ride this morning. I thought we should go watch. I already checked with your secretary and she said you’re available until ten.”

      Considering his busy schedule, Olivia was delighted that he’d made time for such an important event. “They’ll be thrilled. I took them to the stables yesterday afternoon. They loved the ponies. I predict they’ll be enthusiastic equestrians.”

      “I have something for you.” He pulled a small box out of his pocket and set it on the table between them.

      Olivia eyed the black velvet case on the crisp white linen and shook her head. “I don’t want it.” The memory of yesterday’s gift had made her more blunt than polite.

      Gabriel didn’t look at all surprised or insulted by her refusal. “You don’t know that until you open it.”

      More of his mistress’s leftovers? Olivia heaved a sigh. “You really don’t need to give me anything.”

      “I need to explain about the bracelet.”

      She did not want to hear about the wretched thing ever again. “There’s nothing to explain. It was beautiful. It was rude of me not to accept something you put so much thought into.”

      Gabriel leaned back in his chair, his expression a mask. But his eyes glittered like sunlight on water. “I’m not certain whether to be appalled or delighted that you are such a skillful diplomat.”

      She kept her lashes down and her lips relaxed. All her life she’d been watched for any sign of reaction or weakness. She’d mastered her facial muscles well before her fourteenth birthday. And she’d needed to. Her stepmother had enjoyed poking her with emotional sticks. Any reaction was sure to displease Lord Darcy, who wanted nothing more than for his two girls to get on. He was fond of reminding the women that he loved them both. And wished with all his heart that they would get along.

      “You are marrying me because of my diplomacy and public image.”

      “In part.” Gabriel turned over her hand and set the box on her palm. “I’m also marrying you because of your impeccable breeding and the fact that ever since the day I met you, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”

      Stunned by his admission, she stared at Gabriel’s gift, knowing no expensive bauble could compare to the gift of knowing he was smitten with her. “That’s lovely of you to say.”

      “Now back to the bracelet. Do you know where it came from?”

      His question confused her. “From you.”

      He shook his head. “This is what I selected for you.”

      “Then where did the bracelet come from?”

      “That’s what I’d like to know.”

      Relief swept through her. “Then you didn’t give me Marissa’s bracelet.”

      “No.” He gave her a stern look. “And I’m a little bothered by the fact that you think I’d be so cruel.”

      Olivia opened her mouth but had no ready response. Since dancing with him at the Independence Day gala she’d become foolish and irrational where he was concerned. With her hormones overstimulated and her emotions swinging from one extreme to the other, she shouldn’t be surprised her brain was producing nothing but gibberish.

      “Someone in the palace with access to my room played a cruel joke on me.”

      “Whoever it is, I don’t think they are playing. This is a very serious breach in security. One that I will address.” The determination in his voice matched the steel in his expression. After a second his gaze softened. “Please open my gift.”

      Olivia did as she was told.

      Unlike the previous evening’s trendy, emerald bracelet, this necklace was exactly something she would have chosen for herself. Olivia touched her fingertip to the large teardrop-shaped aquamarine, set into a frame of diamond-lined branches and suspended from a chain of faceted aquamarine beads and diamond-encrusted