Unbreak My Heart (Childhood Sweethearts Reunited) by Helen Scott Taylor Page A

he'd laughed as well and told her it was a joke, but it hadn't been. She knew that now. She'd hurt his feelings, and he'd never given her a chance to apologize.
    "Do you like it?" His words brought her back to the room.
    "It's perfect, Andre." She attempted to grin and willed away the tears pressing behind her eyes. "You'll have to watch I don't sneak off with it."
    He blinked his thick, sooty lashes, lifted her hand and pressed his warm lips against her ring finger. "Beautiful," he whispered and his gaze rose to her mouth.
    The faint sound of music filtered in through the window. A tap dripped and the pipes hummed as someone ran water in another part of the house. Kate's lungs burned and she sucked in a breath. Andre stepped closer. Desire shivered in the air between them, a palpable force.
    "Andre, are you upstairs?" Elizabeth Delacroix's voice sliced through the moment, and the spell broke.
    "In here, Liz. We're just coming." He opened the bathroom door and Elizabeth leaned a hand on the door frame.
    "Sorry to pester you, but Grandpa's asking for you."
    "That's fine. We're done in here aren't we, Kat?"
    Kate shrugged, taking a moment to recover from her wildly fluctuating emotions. Being with Andre was messing with her head. She mustn't let this charade suck her in. They weren't engaged and his youthful declaration of love had been nine years ago. Since then he'd changed his mind and moved on. He obviously still liked her and they got along well, but their lives had taken them in different directions. They were friends, nothing more.
    Andre led them downstairs. Elizabeth walked beside Kate. "Andre tells me you worked for a London advertising agency. That's what I want to do. You must tell me about it, later."
    The last thing Kate wanted was be grilled by Elizabeth. She was bound to ask awkward questions about Andre and the engagement. When Elizabeth went on ahead, Kate leaned in to Andre and whispered under her breath, "Don't you dare leave me alone with her."
    "That's a deal. If we stick together she can't corner me alone, either."
    As they walked out onto the terrace, Kate hesitated and clung to Andre's arm. She hadn't expected there to be so many people. All around her, elegant men and women chatted and laughed together, confident they belonged among the wealthy, fashionable set. Kate wasn't sure she could carry this off. "I'm nervous about pretending to be your fiancée. What if they don't believe I'm a successful designer? What if they realize I'm an imposter?"
    He frowned at her. "You are a successful designer. You're talented, Kat. I trust you to rebrand the Caspian. We're not making that up. All we've done is change your image so these people see what they expect to see when I introduce you as my fiancée. That's not because there's anything wrong with you. We're just pandering to their prejudices."
    Pandering to their prejudices ? Did that mean Andre liked her as she was before the image change? She needed to think about what he'd said, but now was not the time.
    Andre indicated an elderly man sitting in a large peacock-backed wicker chair beside the pool. Dressed immaculately in a burgundy brocade jacket and cream slacks, the man cradled a balloon glass in his hands. "Our host. My mentor and good friend, Edmund Delacroix."
    As they approached, Edmund returned his glass to the table and holding out both hands he gripped Andre's with affection. "Good evening, Andre. It is a pleasure to see you."
    "The pleasure is mine. I hope you're feeling better, old friend." The genuine fondness in Andre's smile reminded Kate of the way he used to look at his grandfather. Edmund had obviously filled the gap left in his life when the old man died. She was relieved somebody had stood by him and helped him. Andre rested a hand on her back and drew her closer. "Edmund, I'd like you to meet my fiancée, Kate Frost."
    Edmund's smile faltered for an instant, then his thin lips stretched in welcome. He held out his hand and she took it,