“The toxicology test came back.” He shrugged off his tuxedo jacket and ambled to the built-in bar. “The wine you spat out wasn’t poisoned.”

“So it was just the one bottle? A single attempt?”

“For now.” He grabbed an already open bottle of red and poured two glasses. “I know you wanted to drink tonight. Everything that passes your lips going forward is safe. I swear on my life.”

“I know.” I sat on the bed and removed my heels and jewelry.

Another murder attempt wouldn’t come by poison, but I appreciated his attention to detail.

Carrying the wineglasses, he set them on the nightstand and stretched out beside me. “The woman I was with in the ballroom…”

“The redhead?”

“Yes. Lie back.” He waited until I obeyed. Then his hand traveled along my leg, slipping beneath the gown. “I met her for the first time tonight. Her family owns a chain of golf resorts that they’re looking to sell. Caroline believes they would make a good addition to our holdings.”

“Do you?” I trembled beneath the diabolical fingers inching up my thigh. “Do you want to invest in that business?”

“I did.” He reached my panties and paused, his gaze fastening on mine. “Until the woman propositioned me.”

“She wants to fuck you.” I’d assumed as much.

“So it seems.”

“What did she say exactly?”

“I want to fuck you.” His mouth pinched with disgust.

“Well, she doesn’t mince words.”

“Neither do I.” He rolled me to my side, unzipped my gown, and stripped it away. “I told her to go fuck herself. The deal is off.”

“But it was a good deal?” I sat up, wearing only my underwear, and scrutinized his brooding expression. “You wanted that investment.”

“I’ll find another one.”

His aversion to other women filled me with warm, girly delight. But the Magnus of twenty years ago had been a very different man. Before he was a priest, he’d used his devilish sex appeal to destroy women in the corporate world.

I never wanted him to revert to that, but we needed to find a middle ground.

“I hate to break it to you, handsome, but every woman who sees you wants to fuck you. Unless you only negotiate with men, you’ll have to deal with some aggressive flirtation.”

“I want you to run the business with me.”

“What?”

“Stand at my side, attend all the meetings, and participate in the negotiations.”

“And glare at the women who want to fuck my husband?”

“You already mastered that.” His eyes crinkled as he lowered his mouth to my breast and kissed the sensitive peak. “I want you to learn the rest.”

I made a groaning sound. “You had better luck making me read the Bible in school.”

“I want you to think about it.” His tongue rolled, circling my nipple.