Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Kemp:

"1

Victor dropped two large grocery bags onto the dining table and began unpacking them. Inside, there was a colorful array of fresh ingredients-packs of quality steak, free-range chicken, king prawns from the North Sea, and other protein-rich foods.

He sorted through the groceries, storing some in the freezer for later. The ingredients for dinner-fresh cod, sea cucumber, and a box of nourishing bird's nest to simmer for Isadora-he set aside on the counter.

Isadora looked up from her book, watching Victor's tall, lean figure disappear into the kitchen. He moved with the practiced ease of someone at home in the kitchen: flicking on the stove, setting the pan to heat, every motion calm and efficient.

Even here, sleeves rolled up and knife in hand, Victor's quiet elegance was impossible to miss.

While cooking, Victor called Finley.

Finley was driving, stuck in evening traffic. Tonight, Nanette had a late-night

shoot, and he was planning to surprise her. The backseat was loaded with takeout and a bouquet of roses.

"Hey, Prince-what's up?"

"Oh, by the way, the board meeting was a huge success today. The Fitzgerald Group's stock is soaring. Impressive."

Victor ignored the flattery and cut straight to the point, briefly explaining the situation with the photos and Isadora's chilly reaction.

Finley turned the steering wheel as he listened. "Women are all a bit touchy, you know. There's a saying-fight at night, make up by morning. Why not give that a try?"

Men liked simple, physical solutions, but Victor wasn't interested in patching things up in bed. He didn't want any lingering doubts clouding their relationship.

With his right hand, he brought the knife down, slicing through a steak. "Something useful, Finley."

Finley flinched at the sharp thud on the line, his surgeon's hands instinctively tightening on the wheel. He'd never wielded a knife with that much force.

He swallowed. "What are you doing over there?"

"Cooking."

Finley relaxed, nodding to himself, and set his mind to coming up with an actual solution. The board meeting was over; Victor would be proposing in a few days. If Isadora still had doubts, would she actually say no? No, no-don't jinx it.

"How about you just tell her you love her?" Finley ventured.

Victor narrowed his eyes; hadn't he said it before?

Finley pressed on, "Say it every day-morning, noon, and night. She'll melt. Trust me. And "

He was cut off by the sound of Victor hanging up.

Uh?

Wasn't that practical advice? Every woman he'd dated always asked if he loved her over and over, until he was sick of it. Come to think of it, Nanette had never asked him that. Why not? He didn't like clingy women, but being too aloof made him seem cold.

What the hell! He was supposed to be solving Victor's problems, not digging upnoveldrama

his own.

Brocade Heights.

Victor carried the dishes out to the

table: a simple but elegant meal-steamed cod, savory egg custard with sea cucumber, beef stir-fried with broccolini, poached prawns, and a pot of chicken soup with morel mushrooms.

Isadora closed her book and joined him. She couldn't help but notice that every dish was rich in protein and perfect for someone expecting. Victor's cooking was every bit as good as the housekeeper's, and, she realized, she was actually quite hungry.

“Still feeling queasy?” he asked gently.

"No, I'm fine now."

They sat together at the table. Victor peeled her prawns, picked out the bones from the fish, and made sure her plate was always full of the best bites.

His long fingers deftly twisted off the prawn heads, peeled away the shell, and placed the sweet, tender meat in a small dish, pushing it in front of her. Isadora bowed her head and ate quietly.

After dinner, Isadora stood up to go take a shower. At the doorway between the master and guest bedrooms, she paused, hesitating for a moment.

At last, in a soft voice, she asked, "Would it be alright if I slept alone tonight?"