Summer Sins: Bedded, or Wedded? / Willingly Bedded, Forcibly Wedded / The Mediterranean Billionaire's Blackmail Bargain. Julia James

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      ‘To meet his Waterloo,’ Lissa finished. ‘Trounced by the English!’

      Xavier shook his head and gave a laugh. ‘Ah, your Wellington only beat him thanks to the Prussians. Napoleon had won the battle already, but the Prussian army arrived in the nick of time to save Wellington’s neck. Don’t they teach you proper history in English schools?’

      His eyes were dancing, and Lissa grinned. ‘We’re just taught that we won, that’s all,’ she said impishly. She tugged at his arm. ‘Anyway, you’re only trying to talk about history to get out of coming down to the beach with me. Come on, lazybones! We need some exercise before lunch.’

      Xavier caught her fingers and started to nibble one.

      ‘I can think of excellent exercise—and we don’t even have to walk ten metres,’ he murmured, with a glint in his eyes.

      But Lissa got to her feet and tugged at him again. With a show of reluctance he stood up, tossing the market report aside on the table.

      ‘Eh, bien—let us go and comb the beach, then, if you insist,’ he said resignedly. Long lashes swept down over his eyes as he baited her gently.

      He took her hand and she felt its warmth and strength closing around her fingers, making her feel suddenly safe and cherished.

      A little tremor went through her, and, like a ghost whispering in her head, she heard again the warning to be careful.

      She heard the words, felt them imprinting, but in their wake came another whisper, that set through her a deeper tremor yet.

      Too late.

      ‘Honestly, Xavier, you’re such a wimp. The water’s not that cold.’

      Lissa grinned with amused exasperation at Xavier’s adamant refusal to do as she was. They’d gained the headland of the tiny promontory, scrambling over rocks to get there, and were now sitting on a large, flat rock that projected slightly over the sea. Lissa had not hesitated to take off her canvas shoes and dangle her toes in the water. It was cold, no doubt about it, but that was hardly adequate reason for wimping out.