Page 28 of Incognito

“Like the type of guy my mother would’ve warned me to stay away from.”

“Ouch.” He clutched his heart in mock pain, wishing she hadn’t lost her smile when she mentioned her mother.

For some bizarre reason, lying with her in the semi-darkness on a smelly old piece of rubber invited questions, confidences, and he didn’t want to lose the tentative connection he’d established with her.

He thought he’d made a start on building bridges last night when she accepted his invitation to have a drink with him, but it hadn’t happened and they’d parted on uncomfortably formal terms.

For some reason, he sensed she didn’t trust him, and though he liked her honesty, Natasha harboured secrets, an undercurrent of emotion tinged with sadness.

Perhaps if he drew her out, got her talking about herself, she’d learn to look at him like he wasn’t a ruthless king hellbent on dictating rules to his serfs?

“You haven’t mentioned your parents much,” he said, expecting the shutters to come down and pleasantly surprised when they didn’t.

“My dad is in Perth on business for a month. He’ll be back soon.” She paused, sadness flickering across her face like a shadow. “Mum died a while ago. Heart attack.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, placing a comforting hand on her arm before thinking better of it.

Touching her so soon on the heels of his earlier impulse to kiss her wouldn’t be good. No telling what he might do in the muted evening light in a mock castle with the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

Sadness fell across her face like a dark cloak. “Thanks. It was tough. We were really close.”

“And I was complaining about my mother earlier.” He winced. “You must think I’m heartless.”

And an unfeeling clod for blundering into territory he wished he’d never entered. Inviting confidences was one thing; making her sad after the evening they’d had was downright stupid.

“Everyone has their own demons to battle.”

She softened her words with a tentative smile, but not before he glimpsed darkness in her eyes again, a darkness bordering on fear, the same fleeting expression he’d seen several times, as if she had an awful secret weighing her down.

“I think all that jumping around has rattled our brains and made us morbid,” he said, intent on changing the subject and lightening the mood. “How about we have a coffee?”

He wanted to say a meal, but thought better of it. She’d refused his dinner invitation last night, he wouldn’t push hisluck. He’d made inroads tonight, establishing more of a friendly interaction in how they related, and he didn’t want to ruin it.

Besides, he had another favour to ask, and he had a feeling she’d draw the line at this one.

“Sounds great.” She jumped up and dusted off her butt, sending a sizzle of heat shooting through him.

She had a great body and knew how to accentuate it. Tonight, she wore a soft, turquoise cashmere jacket, clingy beige top underneath, and camel hipsters with matching high-heeled boots. The outfit highlighted her light tan and chocolate brown hair to perfection and he’d been staring at her all night.

For a guy who’d socialised with the most beautiful women in the world—supermodels, actresses and princesses—he’d never been as drawn to anyone as he was to her. Ironic, considering he couldn’t do anything about it no matter how much he wanted to.

There was a price to pay for his birthright, and at times like this, it stifled him more than he cared to admit.

After sliding to the ground first, he held out his arms to help guide her down. She hesitated a fraction and he wondered why. Surely he hadn’t scared her off that much?

“I promise I won’t drop you,” he said, lifting his arms higher.

“That’s not what I’m afraid of,” she muttered under her breath, and as she leaned forward, he placed his hands around her waist and gently lifted her to the ground.

If he were prone to ridiculous theatrics, he could’ve sworn time stopped as she stood toe to toe with him, her hands braced lightly against his chest while his rested on her waist, their gazes locked as tension stretched between them.

Her floral fragrance enveloped him, teasing him to do what he wanted to do earlier; pull her close and kiss her senseless, to savour her warmth, banish her demons, and do whatever it took to assuage the burning need he had for her.

“Thanks,” she said, breaking the loaded silence, snapping him back to reality.

He couldn’t do it to her. By her reticence, Natasha had problems she hadn’t shared with him, and he didn’t want to add to them by having a quick fling with her before heading home. She didn’t deserve that. No matter how much he wanted her.

“At your service.” He released her and did a mock bow, relieved when she laughed. “If my lady is tired of playing in her castle, we can retire to the nearest café?”

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