Page 48 of Secrets of the Forgotten Heir

Knowing that I needed to focus on Banks made it far easier as I raced across the room and dropped to the ground next to him.

‘Wow, what a punch,’ he said, sitting up and rubbing his head.

‘Are you okay?’

‘I’ve felt better,’ he admitted then a smile tipped his lips. ‘Hey, you called me Fraser.’

I blinked. Had I? ‘Sorry.Banks,’ I said gruffly.

‘Oh no, I liked it.’

‘Don’t tell me – Banks was your father’s name?’ I said drily.

‘My mum’s actually,’ he said mildly. ‘But no, it reminds me ofMary Poppins. I hadn’t watched the film when I made the name change, but now …Mary Poppins. Everyone calls me Fraser and I’d prefer it if you did too.’

I stared at him. This man had been thrown across a room and was now having a crisis over a fictional nanny? Still, given that he’d been thrown across a room forme, it seemed churlish to refuse. ‘Sure. I can do that.’

He grinned like I’d agreed to go on a date, which I absolutely hadn’t. Next to him, Eva wrangled her way in and started licking his hand. He turned to her, his eyes soft. ‘I’m okay, little lady,’ he murmured. ‘Thanks for asking.’

Her tail wagged with such fierceness she nearly wagged it right off. I eyed her. Traitor.

I looked at Banks again – Fraser. ‘I’m really sorry about the whole—’ I gestured aimlessly. ‘I don’t know what happened. I wanted to talk to Jacobson but he totally flipped out.’

‘Yeah. I’m going out on a limb here, but I’d say he’s not the type of guy who’s big on conversation.’ Despite the light-hearted comment, Fraser frowned at where the old man had been.

‘Shame, that was why I liked him,’ Sonny grumbled as he moved past us and started picking up the tables and chairs that had toppled over in the drama.

Fraser offered me a smile to show he was alright, but it didn’t ease my guilt. Seeing someone get hurt like that – hit with magic – brought back memories I had no desire to relive. ‘Any chance you can give me a hand up?’ he asked, reaching for me.

I had absolutely no doubt he could get himself up quite easily, but considering it was my fault he was lying on the floor it was the least I could do. As I took his outstretched hand, a warm shock wave ran through me. From the way his eyes widened as he looked at me, he’d felt it, too.

Oh boy. This wasn’t good. Obviously I’d been physically attracted to guys before, and I’d felt the release of finally giving in to that attraction. The first kiss that led to a late-night fumble was like setting off a wind-up toy.

There was no way that could happen with Fraser, and yet each time I saw him I was conscious of that spring inside me winding tighter and tighter. Maybe that was why I could sense it burning from him because we were both feeling the same. Even when he was on his feet, our hands remained clasped, our eyes locked on each other.

My throat was dry. I needed to say something or at least move away from him, to do anything that would break this moment between us because it felt wild. Dangerous.

Sonny cleared his throat and I stepped back, my cheeks flushing. I assumed his interruption was intended to stop us from doing anything ridiculous, like ripping off each other’s clothes in broad daylight in his café. That was when I became fully aware of my surroundings, like I taught my students in my classes to be.

Every single person in the café had abandoned their drinks and was looking straight at me. Not at Fraser and me, just me. Ah yes, my favourite pastime, being stared at like the main act in a magical freak show.

Near silence had replaced the normal hubbub of the eatery. A beat later, hands came up to mouths and the whispering started.

‘Beatrix Stonehaven,’ someone murmured.

‘Stonehaven. Do you think…? It has to be her,’ came another voice.

‘Are we safe if she’s here? You know what her grandmother did!’ That voice had an edge of hysteria. Charming.

As I scanned the faces, a mother pulled her daughter closer as if I might throw the child across the room thesame way Jacobson had done with Fraser. I didn’t need to lower my shields to feel the fear in the room.

‘Are you okay?’ Fraser’s voice was laced with concern.

‘Fine,’ I spat. The next moment I’d spun on my heels and stalked out, putting the lie to the word I’d spoken. ‘Eva!’ I snarled. ‘Come!’ She sprang to my side and, bless her heart, she bared her teeth at the customers and swung her head in a general warning. She let out a menacing growl at the people who had upset me. It was throwing gas on the fire but she didn’t know that.

Hot tears were stinging my eyes but I blinked rapidly and refused to let them fall. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I needed to get away from the coffee shop and as far from those stares as possible. I didn’t care that Yanni had asked me to be back within half an hour, or that I’d forgotten the coffees for a second time and Sonny would hate me even more now. None of that mattered.

I didn’t have to check that Eva was still beside me because I knew she was. I kept walking, my eyes forward and my pulse drumming. Only when I reached the waterfront did I stop. As I gazed at the white-crested waves, I felt the pressure of her body pressing against my side.

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