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The sound of an approaching car broke into his dark brooding and Luc backed into the shadows of the rocks, watching the silver sedan pull into the lot

A griht of the dark-haired beauty seated behind the steering wheel of the rental car

Madison

Angling to avoid being seen in her rearviewthe car Then, with a yank on the handle, he had the door open and was sliding into the passenger seat

"Morning, Maddy"

There was a feminine screech as Madison jerked her head to the side to watch him slam the door shut, her hand pressed to the center of her chest

"Good god, you nearly gaveas suspicion replaced her initial fear "What the hell are you doing here?"

He slid an appreciative glance over her slender body before returning to her furious face Even in jeans and no makeup she was still the most beautiful wo the shadows beneath her glorious eyes and the pallor of her skin

A part of hiht, while a er part of him felt a stab of hope

Surely a woman who’d accomplished her mission would have slept soundly?

"Weird," he drawled, holding her wary gaze "That’s the precise question I was about to ask you"

Her scowl deepened "Did you followfor you"

"How could you possibly have knoas coh her hazel eyes "Kristen," she muttered

"She senthere to complete some unfinished business She also said that I needed to stop you"

Madison’s breath hissed between her clenched teeth "Meddleso his forearm on the center console as he carefully monitored her expressive face

"Why are you here, Maddy?"

She gave a shake of her head, her braid brushing her shoulder "It’s none of your business"

"What would it take to rasp the braid and tug the band off the end

"I…" She licked her dry lips, looking incredibly young and vulnerable as the h the windshield "Don’t understand"

His heart twisted, the fa into a richer, aze, Luc concentrated on unraveling her hair froht it all became clear"

"What did?"

"Why I could never commit to another woers through the satin softness His breath caught as a fierce arousal slah to make him hard with need The sooner he had her in his arms, the better "And why I kept such a close watch on your career," he continued, leaning even closer "And why I felt as if I’d been living my life in black and white until you walked onto that balcony and filled the night with beauty"

He was near enough to see her eyes darken at his soft words Of course, her expression re about Madison Philips would ever be easy

And he didn’t give a shit

He would give whatever necessary to make her happy

"Did you practice that?" she tried toas her words came out as a husky whisper

"You want it in simple terretting walking away froain"

Her lips parted at his blunt warning, the pulse at the base of her neck fluttering at a rapid beat

"Luc"

Luc sucked in a deep breath It was now or never

Unless he overcaoing to walk away

"I love you, Maddy"

The hazel eyes widened, her shock tangible in the close confines of the car "You can’t," she breathed