The Best Of The Year - Modern Romance. Annie West

lit through her. ‘Okay, you win. That sounds wonderful.’

      His smile widened, causing her heart to hammer wildly. ‘Bien.’ He motioned for her to eat and picked up his paper. ‘I have a few things to attend to this morning. Meet me down at the pier at one.’

      ‘Okay.’ She half cringed at the breathy anticipation in her voice.

      He quirked an eyebrow at her. ‘What are your plans for the rest of the morning?’

      ‘I noticed you have some audio books in your library. You don’t mind me borrowing one, do you?’ she asked.

      A light frown touched his brows. ‘Of course not.’

      ‘Thanks.’ Ana finished her meal and pushed back her chair.

      ‘Wait.’ He stood and walked her to the door.

      Her heart dropped. Had she unwittingly given her secret away with her request? ‘Yes...?’

      Leaning forward, he dropped another kiss on her lips. ‘Don’t forget to dress warmly. The weather might be milder than expected but it can change, especially further north.’

      Relief made her smile. ‘Thanks.’

      Ana escaped, her confusion rising to colossal proportions. Evidently morning-after etiquette didn’t include a post-mortem of the night before. But did it include long, passionate kisses that reminded her of everything they’d done in bed together?

      She wanted to ask him what he was playing at, but part of her was afraid that he’d stop. And the way she was going she wasn’t above begging for a repeat performance.

      The vibration of her phone as she entered the library brought welcome relief from her thoughts. Sliding it out of her pocket, she answered.

      ‘Oh, finally. I’ve been trying to reach you since last night,’ Lauren said.

      Knowing why she’d been unreachable, Ana’s face flamed. ‘Sorry, my phone was set on vibrate,’ she mumbled.

      ‘I just wanted a quick catch-up. You normally call to discuss every clause in your contract, but this time you didn’t. I was wondering why...’

      She launched into her signature staccato burst of speech, forcing Ana to concentrate.

      At first Ana couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Dazed, she gripped the phone tighter, her heart sliding with dread into her stomach. ‘Sorry, Lauren, can you repeat that, please?’

      Lauren sighed and launched into another rapid-fire delivery.

      By the time Ana ended the phone call she felt as if every single drop of blood had drained from her veins. She clutched the back of an armchair, struggling to breathe as Lauren’s words rang through her brain.

      Vaguely she heard the door open and close. Heard footsteps draw closer and Bastien’s harsh curse.

      ‘Ana! What’s wrong?’

      He sounded...concerned. But she knew she couldn’t be hearing right. Knew it was a lie. How skilfully he’d fooled her!

      From feeling faint, now she felt almost supernatural strength surge into her veins. She whirled and faced him.

      ‘You bastard! You vile, despicable bastard.’

CHAPTER NINE

      BASTIEN’S FACE HARDENED. ‘I’m sure I can prove you wrong on the bastard issue, just as I’m sure you’re about to enlighten me on these “vile, despicable” things I’m supposed to have done.’

      ‘You know exactly what you’ve done. More or less—those were your words! God, how could I have been so stupid!’

      Ana couldn’t control her shaking or stem the deep well of pain springing up in her heart. She’d trusted him. She’d dropped her guard and given herself to him.

      One brow lifted. ‘I’m afraid you’re not making any sense. Try again.’

      ‘My contract!’ Why couldn’t she hold her voice steady? Why did it have to break now, when she needed to be strong? ‘I trusted you.’ She’d felt safe with him, foolishly let herself believe he wouldn’t hurt her.

      He exhaled slowly, a wash of bleakness blanking his features before he blinked it away. ‘What about your contract?’

      ‘You said it was “more or less” the same as the other one. Except you lied. It’s so much more! Sleeping with me—was that a reward to yourself for successfully tricking me?’

      His eyes grew arctic-cold. Stalking to where she stood, he grabbed her arm. ‘You debase yourself with that assumption, Ana, and you debase me,’ he breathed in soft, dangerous tones. ‘I’ve never slept with anyone to secure a business deal.’

      ‘A way of congratulating yourself for a job well done, then?’

      He let go abruptly, as if he couldn’t stand to touch her. ‘I’m assuming this is how you feel about your contract. But I’m still in the dark as to how you think I’ve tricked you,’ he incised.

      ‘You know what you’ve done. My last contract was supposed to finish next month. Instead you’ve tied me into a contract for another year!’

      ‘And I’m guessing you have a problem with that?’

      ‘No. I’m flinging insults at you just for the hell of it. Deep down inside, Bastien, I’m actually dancing a jig.’

      ‘Facetiousness doesn’t suit you.’

      ‘No? Perhaps you’d prefer me to come over there and claw your eyes out?’

      Her voice broke again. And, damn it, tears welled in her eyes. They grew faster than she could stop them and spilled over before she could blink them away.

      She swiped her cheeks with an angry hand. ‘How could you, Bastien?’

      ‘It’s just business,’ he replied coolly, but something flitted through his eyes, a slight softening as he traced her tearstained cheek.

      ‘My life isn’t just business. My future isn’t just business!’

      His brows clamped together. ‘Je ne comprends pas. You read the contract. Why did you sign it if you didn’t agree with the terms?’

      Her tears spilled faster, her shame closing in on her in a thick cloud of despair. She tried to look away, but Bastien’s gaze had locked on hers with unwavering intensity. Her throat clogged with even more tears, her heart sinking as he came closer and grasped her shoulders.

      ‘Why did you sign the contract, Ana?’ he demanded.

      She tried desperately to wrench herself out of his hold but he easily restrained her. More tears slid down her cheeks. She swallowed another sob, knowing there was no place to hide. ‘Because I...I didn’t want to admit that I...that I can’t...’

      His grip tightened. ‘That you can’t what?’

      ‘That I can’t read!’

      His eyes widened. His jaw dropped along with his hands.

      At any moment Ana knew his astonishment would be replaced with disgust. And she couldn’t bear that—couldn’t stand to see his revulsion at the realisation that he’d slept with someone who couldn’t string two words together on a page.

      Brushing past him, she fled the room. That he didn’t stop her or even call out to her spoke volumes.

      Ana didn’t stop until she was outside, gasping in lungfuls of air as if they would stem the tears rolling freely down her face. But sobs continued to surge through her chest, released in agonising sounds that ripped through the morning air. She stumbled into the garden. Bypassing the koi pond, she ran until she found a bench on the