An Unforgettable Lady(28)

"And I'll need to see where you sleep."

Her eyes shifted away from him. "Of course."

On the way to the other end of the penthouse, she picked up her shoes and he was struck by how human she seemed. In spite of the diamonds and the fancy dress, she was just a tired woman with feet that had probably ached all night long.

"How long have you lived here?" he asked.

"About five years."

She led him to a large room with a set of double beds in it. The walls were done in dark blue silk and the oriental rug on the hardwood floor was covered with plastic.

She hesitated before opening a pair of double doors. Inside, he saw a claw-footed bath tub on its side and various toilet parts laying on the floor. "As I mentioned, you'll have to use my bathroom to shower. I'm renovating this one."

Her eyes flashed to his and then looked away.

"My bedroom is down here."

She took him farther down the hall.

The master bedroom was done in various shades of creamy white. There was a set of French doors that opened out to the terrace and many more windows. He noted with approval the motion sensors.

As he looked around, he saw a photograph standing up on an Early American bureau. He went over to it and took a hard look at the face of Count Ranulf von Sharone.

"Handsome guy," Smith commented.

"What? Oh, that. I keep meaning to put that picture away."

"Hanging on to past illusions, Countess?"

When he glanced over at her, he was surprised. Her mouth was screwed down tight and her eyes were flashing vibrant, angry green, even though the comment had been a mere throwaway to him.

She wasn't over the marriage yet, he thought. No matter what she said about not loving the man.

"Let me be very clear, Mr. Smith. I don't appreciate being mocked."

As he looked at her, he enjoyed seeing the force of her will. "Please call me John. That mister stuff can be grating."

With a quick movement, she picked up the luxurious skirting of her gown and marched over to him, head held high.

As she met his gaze with righteous indignation, Smith felt a thrill go through him. There weren't a lot of people who faced off with him. Tiny was one. Maybe Eddie. The rich people who hired him always treated him with deference and respect, as did the high-level government agents and political leaders he dealt with. Civilians usually just stayed the hell away from him.



And yet this woman, who was easily five inches shorter than he, this lady who was in her stocking feet and a ball gown, was looking at him with an authority and command that reminded him of his Ranger battalion commander at Fort Benning.

He'd thought she was a looker when she was being all prim and proper. Pissed off, she was downright spectacular.

"Mr. Smith, if we are going to live in the same house together, you are going to have to dial down your ego and the condescending attitude that goes with it. I've already put up with a father who lorded over me and a husband who tried to. I don't tolerate heavy-handed men anymore."

God, he wanted to kiss her again. He really, really wanted to kiss her.

He grinned. Something close to sunshine was flowing through his blood and it was waking up parts of him that had lain dormant for years. He kind of wanted to laugh. Throw his head back and really let a belly-roll loose.

Who'd have thought all that fire lived underneath such an icy, elegant skin. But then why should he be surprised? He'd already felt the passion in her once.

"So do we understand each other?" she demanded. "I'm willing to put my life in your hands and take your orders, but I'm not going to be ridiculed."

He inclined his head once, in a way that could have meant anything.

He was thinking that after it was all over maybe they could spend the night together. That way, his fantasies wouldn't have to be a source of frustration. They'd merely be a prelude.

Not a bad idea, he decided, feeling pleased with himself.

She let out a frustrated noise and nodded at an open door. "That's my bathroom."

"What's through there?" He pointed to a set of double doors.

She walked over and opened them up. A light came on to reveal row upon row of hanging clothes. Suits, shirts, slacks, ball gowns. Shoes of every conceivable shape and color lined the floor.

She took a deep breath and he watched her shoulders sag as she turned toward him. Now that her anger was spent, she looked dead on her feet.