The By Request Collection - Kate Hardy Mills & Boon e-Book Collections

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two. And there was no doubt about it, Liliana would get four. “I’m doing some research. It appears this project is bigger than I was anticipating.”

      “Really? That’s a good thing, right?”

      “It’s very good. I just need to be on top of my game.”

      “Well, don’t you worry. Your mother is fine here. She can stay as long as you need.”

      “Thanks so much. I really appreciate this. Did...did Mum tell you she’s moving into assisted living as soon as the arrangements can be made? The doctor suggested that sooner was better than later.” The thought that things had deteriorated to that point made Zoe’s heart ache.

      “I’m so sorry, Zoe. You know I’m just a phone call away.”

      “Grazie.” Liliana was like a second mother to her. “It means a lot.”

      “This is one of your mother’s good days. Would you like to talk with her?”

      “I would.” Zoe missed her mother dearly. It’d always been the two of them against the world. But lately their roles had started to be reversed and the strong woman that Zoe had always known her mother to be was becoming less and less sure of herself. Damn disease.

      After a brief talk with her mother, Zoe stowed her unpacked suitcase in the walk-in closet. Not sure whether she was coming or going, she’d deal with it later. Right now, the fresh air beckoned to her. Hopefully a walk on the beach would give her the peace needed to make sense of Demetrius’s claim. They were still married. Husband and wife. She stared down at her bare ring finger. There had to be an explanation, but what?

      Zoe moved to the deck. A long set of wooden steps led her down to the pristine beach. It was so hard to believe that this was all private property—property of the Crown. And she had it all to herself.

      The thought brought her no joy. All she could picture was the accusing stare that Demetrius had leveled at her. Why would he think she had something to do with the missing papers when she was the one to end their marriage?

       CHAPTER SEVEN

      “ZOE, WHERE ARE YOU?”

      Demetrius stood in the living room of the beach house and raked his fingers through his hair. It’d taken him longer at the palace than he had anticipated. With his twin brother, Alex, in the States with his wife’s family, the responsibility for Mirraccino’s shipping port fell to Demetrius.

      He’d hoped Zoe would have made herself at home, but there was no sign of her. “Zoe!”

      Again there was no answer.

      Where was she? His mind spun back in time. This wasn’t the first time that he’d searched for her, only to find her gone. The last time he’d found a brief note and tracked her down in the palace driveway—where she’d told him that she was leaving. If he hadn’t gone after her, she would have left without saying one single word to him. Is that what she’d done again? Had she left?

      He rushed back the hallway, checking each bedroom for any sign of her. Each room was empty and there was no sign of her suitcase. His gut churned. Why did he think this time would be any different?

      He strode to the deck where he rested his palms on the railing and leaned forward. His gaze stretched out over the crystal-blue water. Gentle swells rose and fell. Usually he could find solace in the water, but not today. All he could think about was how once again she’d skipped out on him. This time there wasn’t so much as a note.

      His palm smacked the top of the railing. This was it. He was done trying to play nice with her. If she didn’t want to deal with him, she could hash it out with the palace’s team of attorneys.

      Just then a movement on the beach caught his attention. He turned and focused in on the person strolling up the beach. But how was that possible? This beach was protected as part of the royal estate. As the figure drew closer, he quickly recognized the dark ponytail and the purple jacket.

      It was Zoe. He stood up straight. She hadn’t left after all. He suddenly felt foolish for jumping to conclusions.

      She glanced up at him and waved, but she didn’t smile. He raised his hand and waved back. He told himself that she didn’t still get to him. This whole arrangement was just a means to an end. That was all.

      “I thought you’d left,” he said as she joined him on the deck. His voice came out gruffer than he’d intended.

      Her eyes widened. “Is that your way of telling me to leave?”

      “No.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “That isn’t what I meant.”

      “Did you get your problem resolved?”

      He nodded. “It’s dealt with for the moment. Now it’s time to deal with our problem.”

      “You make it sound like your life is a series of problems.” She leaned back against the deck rail. “Since when did you get so serious? Weren’t you the one that said life is for enjoying?”

      He sighed. “That was a long time ago.”

      “Not that long ago.”

      A frown pulled at his lips. “I’m fine just the way I am.”

      “You aren’t the same happy guy I used to know.”

      “I’m happy.” Wasn’t he? In all honesty, he’d been so focused on living up to people’s expectations that he’d dismissed what was important to him.

      “But you rarely laugh or smile. It’s like you’re afraid your face will crack if you let your guard down and enjoy yourself.”

      He shook his head, refusing to hear what she was saying. “I enjoy myself...when there’s time. I have a lot of things that need my attention. And right now I don’t have time to be irresponsible.”

      “So you decided to take your royal responsibilities seriously?”

      “I did. It was time.” His work was a refuge from the pain of yet another person he loved disappearing from his life. When Zoe had walked out on him, it’d nearly crushed him.

      After his mother’s death and the disintegration of his family, Demetrius thought he’d finally found what he’d been searching for when he met Zoe. Warmth, happiness and most of all, love. Life couldn’t get any better—or so he’d thought. If only she’d have stayed, he would have moved heaven and earth to make her happy.

      “What are you thinking about?” Zoe studied him.

      He turned and gazed out over the blue sea. “Us.”

      There was a noticeable moment of silence. “What about us?”

      He wasn’t about to admit that he was thinking about their failed marriage. About how his world had crumbled after she’d left. Nor would he admit to how he had to rebuild himself in the aftermath. She didn’t deserve to know the damage she’d caused.

      He faced her. “I want to know why you walked out on me and yet you refuse to sign the annulment papers.” His gaze narrowed in on her. “What’s your agenda?”

      All of the pain came rushing back to him. He wasn’t about to let her plead innocence. He wasn’t going to let her run away again—not until he got the answers that had been alluding him this past year.

      “Are you holding out for more money?”

      “No! How could you think that?”

      He left her question unanswered. He had his own questions and they took priority right now. “Are you sure you aren’t holding out for a moment in the spotlight? A chance to sell your story to the highest bidder?”

      “No. No. No.” Hurt reflected in her eyes. “Would you quit with the accusations. I never wanted your

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