Page 51 of Captured

Lauren sighed “I think he’ll eventually stop himself,” she said, staring at the glass in her hand to avoid looking at him directly. “He’s, above all, a seriously proud man. Though I’m sure the story was controlled, the idea of me fleeing the scene to avoid him probably has leaked out in the communities he actually cares about. Eventually, he’ll start feeling like the rejected suitor if he keeps after me without success, and that won’t sit well with him. Better for him to go on to other conquests and decide if he still wants me.” She glanced up again. “If he does, well, I’ll deal with that then.”

Even as she spoke the words, she was surprised at how sane they sounded. How smart, even. Henry Smithson could arguably have any woman in the world. They were probably lining up for him. He was also, as Nicki so helpfully pointed out, pushing forty. If he truly was ready to settle down, chasing her around the globe had to be getting a little boring, or galling, or both.

Dimitri seemed to agree. “I can understand him not wanting to let you go,” he said, with so much bold declaration to the words that it caught her off guard. “But you’re right. Eventually, a man wants to draw in his nets and return to port, and not fish all day. I haven’t asked Stefan about the media spin. We will determine that and see if what you suspect is true.” He grinned at her, rolling his glass in his hand. “And then what? Say this man marries another, no longer worries about you. What will you do? You have the whole world at your feet.”

Lauren laughed. “I’ll work,” she said, waving off Dimitri’s startled scowl. “Hey, I enjoy working, and I haven’t been able to focus recently as much as I have needed to do.”

“Work!” he scoffed. “There will always be work to do. You shouldlive.” He slapped the table. “What do you do for fun? Besides playing drinking games in countries where you should know better. You go dancing, yes? Meet with friends?”

Lauren smiled ruefully. For as long as she could remember, her social life had been carefully monitored to ensure maximum visibility with minimal effort. And always—always, with a tight crowd of friends and hangers-on. To keep her insulated, protected. Protected from Henry. What would it be like to not have that as a concern anymore? “I go out with friends all the time,” she said, hedging.

“What else? What do you do that you enjoy?” Dimitri was grinning at her, disarming her further.

“I have charity work, and social engagements, and?—”

“Those are with other people. Say it is you, on your own, and you have the whole world to yourself. What would you do? Where would you go? To Paris? London?” He gestured with his glass. “There must be somewhere.”

“What are you hounding me for?” She laughed. “Someplace like this, I guess. But with Wi-Fi. Someplace beautiful and near the sea. That’s where I would go.”

Thirty-Four

“Then you’re very wise.” Dimitri waved at the server, then turned to Lauren, fighting hard not to let her see the intensity of his gaze. “There are many beautiful places by the sea you should visit.”

“Well, I’d want to see every one of them.” Her full lips twisted, and he did his best not to stare at them. “I actually thought about focusing my work on something to do with resort cities, beachside hamlets—something. But the tourism market is already played out. Starting something new in that sector would take someone with a lot more experience than I have.”

“Experience means nothing in the face of passion.” Dimitri shrugged. “You want something, you do it. You should know that more than anyone. I cannot think you have let anything stand in your way for long, with the life you lead?”

He watched her closely as she tilted her head and laughed. There, it was happening again. A precision to her movements and words since he’d started asking her questions about the future. She didn’t believe she would have a future, at least not one that didn’t involve the threat of Smithson if she should ever be alone. Which meant she was still running scared.

She hadn’t been precise when he’d been with her at the beach last night. Or when she’d been in his arms in his room today. She’d been lopsided and messy and glorious, the abandon with which she’d thrown herself into him a marvel to see. He yearned to see that expression on her face again, or perhaps the casual confidence and open-eyed wonder he’d seen when she was at the cove, pushing her way through all the hanging items of ocean debris. It was as if she was on vacation from her own life, but she would never admit that her life was one she needed to escape. No one was more aware than Lauren Grant of exactly how lucky Lauren Grant was.

But how lucky was anyone when they couldn’t imagine a life that didn’t include working in some godforsaken office somewhere, always in the center of a crowd, if only to avoid a bogeyman that no one else feared? That was no way to exist.

The silence between them had apparently gone on too long, so she went on the offensive. Something else she did with grace and precision, and long years of practice, he suspected. “What about you? You’ll be heading back into service, won’t you, once your babysitting detail is over?”

He lifted both brows. “I wouldn’t call what I’ve done here babysitting.”

“You know what I mean.” She smiled. Perfectly. “What is your next assignment, or whatever—or is your military more of a reactionary model, called into action only if needed?”

“There is always a need, whether on our own borders or for our allies.” Dimitri shook his head. “We’ve had trouble with insurgents from Turkey of late, but that’s nothing new. Refugees are a constant challenge for a country of our size and limited resources as well. There is a fine line between humanitarian aid and being overrun. So I’ll review the status of our current military outposts, and see what needs are greatest. Cyril may have assignments in the works as well. He usually does.” Heeyed her. “There’s also already talk of how to protect Emmaline when she returns to the US.”

“If she returns.” Lauren’s smile was wistful for the barest moment before she modulated it again. “Who’s to say Kristos won’t marry her before the week is out?”

“The queen, for one.” Dimitri grimaced. “She’s obsessed with Emmaline’s musical abilities, and if I know the woman at all, she will not rest until she sees her officially installed in an American orchestra. Emmaline seems to think that will require additional schooling?” Lauren nodded, and he curled his lip. “You Americans should do more without asking.”

She laughed. “The music program she got into is very prestigious! She would learn a lot and get back into the practice of playing on a regular basis. And be near her family. Nearer, anyway.”

Dimitri nodded. “The queen thought the same. But where Emmaline goes, Kristos will want to follow, and that gets more complicated. So there are decisions to be made there.”

“Uh-huh.” Lauren eyed him with speculation. “Queen Catherine isn’t considering the possibility that their infatuation will play out, is she? Because I know Emmaline pretty well. And I don’t see that happening.”

“No one’s more dedicated to romance than Queen Catherine, or enamored of the idea of a royal wedding within the next year.” Dimitri grimaced. “But she’s also fully aware that decisions made in haste must be lived with for a time to ensure that they are the right course. So anything that builds time into the equation for Kristos and Emmaline, she will embrace.”

“Hmm, maybe.” Lauren sat back, her eyes alight with mischief that for once wasn’t carefully vetted. “Kristos in America would certainly cause a stir.”

“Not only him.” Dimitri shook his head. “He’d have a security detail—and not me.” He cut her off before she asked the obviousquestion. “Someone has to actuallybethe military, not simply talk about it.”

“Uh-huh.” Her laughter was once again sincere, direct and refreshing. “And your dedication to home and country has nothing to do with your desire to stay close to the ongoing investigation into Ari’s disappearance, I’m sure.”

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