En route, he accidentally noticed that hed vastly underestimated her legs before. Maybe she was generally built on the scrappy side, but her ankles and calves and thighs there was nothing wrong with those legs. They were toned, shaped perfectly, an erotic dream for a guy who had a leg fetish.
When his thoughts strayed in that direction, Maguire pulled those reins tight. This wasnt about him. In fact, Carolina acting like a giddy, happy schoolgirl highlighted exactly what the real issues were about. She had a serious character flaw. That flaw was that she was a serious, hard-core, possibly unfixable softie. As far as he could tell, she was forever giving, always thinking of others, always looking to help others.
The world was going to kill her-particularly now that she had money-unless Maguire found ways to toughen her up. Her guileless warning that she could fall in love with him only echoed his own conscience. She had no defenses, not against feelings of the heart.
Only a manipulative user of a man would take advantage of that. He had to keep his hands off her.
Which was, temporarily, relatively easy.
Maguire! she shrieked. What do you think?
She paraded closer, lifting her robe to knee length so he had a better view of her right foot-in a purple crocodile heel-and her left foot, in a shiny red sandal thing.
I think youre gonna kill yourself, he said gruffly. Both heels were four inches high or more. No one could walk in those things and live.
Dont you think theyre beautiful?
Oh, yeah. Maybe he hadnt seen it in the beginning, but now it was so obvious. When she smiled, she had an aura that lit up a whole room, a radiance that glowed from the inside out. He kept getting glimpses of how Carolina had been before the crippling inheritance-a happy-on-the-inside woman, a giggler, a joyful, uninhibited fun lover. Hed bet the bank she sang at the top of her lungs when she was alone in a car.
She teetered back to the shoe gurus, and tried on another pairwhen something abruptly went wrong. He couldnt hear what was said over the commotion, but she abruptly put down a shoe and her face went blank. He crossed the room at a breakneck pace, asked casually, Did some kind of problem come up?
Her eyes shot to his. That pair of suede pumps She motioned.
The purple ones?
Yeah. Maguire. She put a hand on her heart. I asked how much they were-$843! Holy kamoly. Holy moly. Holy smokes. Holy-
He got it. Apparently shed originally thought of Italian shoes as a luxury, but she never expected them to be this much of a luxury. You can afford it, he said.
Thats not the point. I-
He swiftly hooked an arm around her, so they could at least have the privacy of a conversation away from the hot-eyed vendors. Good grief, she was trembling. Flushed.
One pair would pay for two months of groceries. Thats ridiculous, Maguire. Its a stupid use of money. Especially for something thisselfish. Something I dont remotely need. Look, when I put Italian shoes on the list, it was because I tried on these flats that a friend had-they were Italian, and they fit like a soft glove, and I never forgot how wonderful they felt. But thats all it was. A fantasy. And Id never actually priced them before, because-
Easy enough to guess the end of that line. Because it never occurred to you to spend money on yourself.
Well, of course I spend money on myself. But a ten-buck pair of earrings on sale at Kohls is just a whole different world than this-
He could feel the warmth of her skin, under his arm, the surge of protective instincts of a man for his mate, the instant strike of an erection just from being this close. Damn it. He said firmly, Carolina. Buy one pair.
I cant.
Yes, you can. I dare you. Prove to yourself that the world will not end if you have a frivolous moment-
But-
Ill buy you two pairs-if you dont stand up for what you want yourself. Thats wasting double the money.
Her jaw dropped in alarm. Dont do that, Maguire! Dont buy me anything. Theres no reason-
He gestured back to the numerous shoe boxes. Well, then pick a pair yourself. Or two. You can do it. I promise, it wont kill you.
But, Maguire-
Go. Be strong. Be tough. Be mean.
But Maguire-
The cost of two pairs of shoes is not going to solve world hunger. Youre going to have lots of chances to do serious things with your money. But that has to start with you, giving yourself permission to make choices. That includes permission to smile, to have some fun. Permission to make choices that have nothing to do with anyone elses opinion.
Her shoulders sagged. I hate it when you handle me. Youre exhausting, Maguire.
Yeah, yeah. Getting that woman to do something selfish was like getting a nun to try mud wrestling. It took bullying and cheerleading and taunting and threats.
And after that, the whole situation only got worse.
Chapter Six
Sipping on a pineapple-mango cocktail-minus the alcohol-Carolina looked out the jet window and reflected that shed learned tons about Maguire in the last twenty-four hours. She already knew his flaws. He could be dictatorial, manipulative, pushy. When the man got an idea in his head, nothing could make the blockhead back down.
But his absolute, unrelenting kindness was the stunner.
My God, she was falling in love with him. But it wasnt her fault. If it hadnt been for that pain-in-the-keester inheritance, shed never have met him. He was so one of a kind. Shed never known anyone who worked so hard to hide positive character traits like kindness and compassion and caring. He put on such a strong front. How could she possibly have initially known that he was a man so worth loving? So full of love?
So alone.
Hey, trouble.
Maguire, for a blissful twenty minutes, had been napping next to her in the aisle seat. She glanced away from the window, back at him. Could you conceivably be speaking to me?
His grin was as crooked as a thiefs. Uh-huh. I just wanted to ask-do you ever plan to take those shoes off?
Dont be silly, Maguire. A girl doesnt buy shoes like this and hide them away.
Did you actually sleep in them last night?
She heard the teasing. He thought the shoe thing was hysterically funny. Naturally she had to encourage him. Let me put it this way. Where I go, the shoes go. If Im not wearing them, then theyre on their own pillow.
He took a sip of her drink and grimaced when he discovered it was without alcohol. I just brought up the subject of the shoes again-
Because you cant let it go?
No. Not that. Because I thought you might want to consider that just possibly they dont necessarily go with every type of attire.
Of course they do. She glanced out the window again, distracted when the jet dipped low and started circling. Below was Monaco. It looked far more like a fairy tale than anything real. The city of Monte Carlo was wedged between aqua sea and mountains, with big white yachts framing the curve of the Côte dAzur. The late-afternoon sun had drenched the background mountains in wet gold. Castle tops came into view, with their turrets and turquoise roofs, and endless splashes of flowering gardens and fountains.
When she turned back to Maguire, Carolina realized yet again that she must have lost her mindbecause shed rather look at him, concentrate on him, than that fabulous scene below.
You didnt tell me how long we were going to be here.
Because Im not sure. The plan is only for a couple days, but we could stay a little longer, if you want. Tonight I had in mind dinner at the Ship and Castle restaurant, one of those landmark places right on the Côte dAzur. The foods a little on the exotic side, but honestly, its one of the best places on the planet. After that, I figured wed make a run on the Monte Carlo Casino, where well see what a gambler you are. He sighed. You dont have to drip diamonds at either place, but Id say youd feel the most comfortable in, like, a black dress kind of thing.
Believe it or not, Maguire, I could probably have guessed that without coaching. She had to grin as he wiped a hand over his face.
I was trying to help, I swear. I just wasnt sure if youd want to wear those shoes with a formal black dress.
Theyre not leaving my feet, Maguire. Get used to it. Her voice was firm, but her eyes softened when she looked at her feet. The red patent-leather lace-ups were Versace, cost in the ballpark of four hundred dollars. They werent, even remotely, the most expensive shoes shed looked at, but the cost still put them way, way up there in the Disgrace level. Still, they were the cutest thing shed ever owned.
Now, she began, thinking that now Maguire was finally awake, she had things to discuss with him. Her brain hiccuped when she caught Maguire staring at her shoes, too. Or possibly not at her shoes. His gaze seemed downright riveted on her calves and ankles.
Now, she began again, but Maguires fascination with her legs sent a ball of fire straight to her belly, distracting her. I was wondering, she started for a third time, whether the woman in your life isnt having a problem with your spending so much time with me.
Maguire didnt even blink. Well, yeah, of course she has a problem. But shes so well trained and obedient that she wouldnt think of expressing it. He kindly reached over to thwack her back when she started choking.
Maguire didnt even blink. Well, yeah, of course she has a problem. But shes so well trained and obedient that she wouldnt think of expressing it. He kindly reached over to thwack her back when she started choking.
Thankfully she recovered quickly, even magnanimously resisted the urge to elbow him in the ribs. So, she said, there are no serious women in your life right now, huh. How could that possibly be?
Maybemost women have better judgment in men than you do?
Cant be that. I have superior judgment in people, she informed him.
Right. Pit you and a lamb against a lion, and the lambd probably be tougher. Way tougher.
Good insult, she praised him. But youre digressing. Were you ever married?
Did I realize that you were nosy before this?
Really? Not even married once?
He glowered at her. You were way, way easier to handle when you were deaf.
She was on to him. If she let him get away with his nonsense, it was the same as enabling the devil. So she stayed dogged on the subject. Ill bet quite a few women gave you a run for their money.