Page 75 of Afraid to Hope

The soft spray of the water hit her face when Bane pulled her in. Natasha blinked her eyes and blew the water out of her mouth.

Bane soaped his body and rinsed quickly, then handed Natasha the soap before stepping out and wrapping a towel around his middle. “He sent more than one team in?”

“Yes, but I didn’t ask how many.” Natasha showered just as quickly, talking over the water. She turned off the faucet and accepted the towel Bane handed her. “The teams were forced to stop where the tunnels were sealed. We really don’t have any additional information than what we already know.”

“Except we can assume the American knows someone is nosing around and there is an active cell here in Tinghir.”

“Correct.” She passed him her lotion. “If you don’t mind.”

Natasha’s mouth watered when the restaurant’s specialty of chicken in tomatoes and onions was set on their table. Without thinking, she reached for the bread with her left hand, immediately withdrawing it when she noticed disapproving looks in her peripheral vision. Jesus. How easily she forgot. With her right hand, she scooped half of it onto her plate with the bread, leaving a trail of dribbled sauce all over the table.

“Thanks for leaving me some.”

Her silver eyes flashed at Bane. “I did.”

“I wasn’t sure. You’re kinda territorial about it.”

The waitstaff was back with skewers of lamb and vegetables, couscous, salad, and other accompaniments. He helped himself to a generous portion and then leaned back in his chair, fully amused. “You want help?”

She concentrated on bringing the food to her mouth, her hand not obeying her brain. “I can manage.”

“I can’t wait to see this.” He chuckled.

Natasha shot him a shitty look and shoveled the food into her mouth. What did not make it in plopped onto the napkin on her lap.

Bane laughed louder. “I’ve gotta get a bite or two down before you try to take another or I’m afraid I’ll choke.”

Irritation filled her. She gave himthe evil eye and shoveled another helping of the delicious food in as if to prove a point. More of it landed in her lap.

His chair scraped the wooden planks of the second-story terrace as he pushed it back to rise. “You do not disappoint.” He smirked, sitting beside her. “Mercurial. Stubborn as fuck.”

She swallowed and sipped her tea. “Why are you on my side of the table?”

“I came over to help my wife manage. It’s one of the many things a husband does. One of the many ways he takes care of her,” he purred, lifting his eyebrows.

“Bane? Really? Here?”

“Sure. No one can hear me but you. No one except us knows how we take care of one another. I’ve told you, wanting you is a constant. We’re having dinner with a number of Europeans, which allows me to push the cultural boundaries. In fact—” He inclined his head and flicked his eyes to the left. “By the stairs. Some people we know have shown up while you were struggling with your meal. Let’s invite them to eat with us.”

Natasha’s eyes swept the busy room as she wiped her mouth with the napkin, then landed on Connor and Zach, who were turned away from them, talking animatedly.What the hell?The young men were supposed to be in Egypt.

The cousins turned. Natasha and Bane waved the young men over.

Smiles plastered their faces. “Bane! Natasha!”

Bane stood and gave each of them a man hug. “Join us.”

Zach took in the mess in front of Natasha and cracked a grin. “Looks like someone lost the battle.”

“That would be me.” Natasha chuckled. “I’ll win the dessert.”

Bane laughed and sat down, motioning to the two empty chairs at their table. “That she will. I thought you two were headed to Egypt.”

Zach gave Connor a cool look before answering. “We were supposed to be there, but someone overslept. We missed our flight. So change of plans. We’ll check this area out and grab a flight from Ouarzazate to Cairo.”

Connor looked sheepish.

“Have you guys eaten?” Bane asked.

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