Page 42 of Twins for the Secret Prince
“You better explain, but I’m not going to be naked while you do it.”
“My parents didn’t want me to be in the military in Laagestein. They wanted me to join the family business, and I said no. We had a fight, and I told them I was coming here.”
“I heard it in your voice, Pete. YouloveLaagestein. The minute you sort out this spat with your parents, you’ll go back there.”
He tried to hug her, but Eva shrugged him off again. “Maybe. I’m just trying to be honest with you, Eva.”
“Right, because it’s obviously really important to you to tell me the truth about everything! Why did you let me believe you’re from New York?”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have. I guess I wanted to fit in, and letting on that I’m from another country makes me stick out like a sore thumb. But you’re right. I should have told you.”
“Okay, whatever. We don’t owe each other anything,” Eva said. “It’s not like this was going to be a long-term situation or anything.”
In a quiet voice, Pete said, “I was kind of hoping it might be.”
“Well I wasn’t. I don’t need a long-term relationship, especially not when I’ve got my career to think about. And a long-distance relationship would be terrible. It would never work.”
“People make them work all the time.”
“Pete, your home is in Europe! You just said you want to go back there one day. I live in Alaska. We’re not exactly close neighbors.”
He nodded his head sadly. “I know. I guess you’re right. It would never work.”
Eva’s heart felt like a balloon that had just been popped. She’d wanted him to disagree with her, tell her they would find a way. “No, it would never work.”
“I’m sorry, Eva. About not telling you the truth, I mean.”
“Let’s just agree to keep things physical between us. Super casual.”
“Okay.”
“Speaking of which, it’s going to be difficult to find time to get together over the next little while. I’m going to be very busy.”
“Okay, Eva. I understand.”
Lying in her own bed five minutes after storming away from Pete, Eva punched her fist into the mattress. What was she thinking, allowing herself to put her career at risk for a man she barely knew?
Tears pricked the backs of her eyes when she remembered his voice, light and wistful, as he’d talked about home. She was humiliated, too, assuming that he was from the East Coast and being strung along by him. She’d heard it so clearly when hetalked about Laagestein — that his home was his real love. Their time together was fleeting, meaningless, compared to his attachment to his home.
And what had she expected, after all? They were rivals, plain and simple. She’d found him arrogant when they’d first met, and she should have stuck with her first instincts. Circumstances — in the form of a natural disaster — had conspired to bring them together, alone, and their physical urges had taken over. There was no shame in that, she believed. Everyone had physical needs, and Pete certainly proved he knew how to meet hers.
But her feelings for him had changed so slowly that they’d practically snuck up on her.
Blame Shorty’s Roadhouse, she thought angrily. Before they’d arrived there, she’d felt certain of the humiliation Pete was about to suffer. She’d pictured him flying gracelessly off the mechanical bull and clumping around the dance floor, and so, although she wasn’t surprised when he’d shown himself to be less-than-experienced at the local leisure pursuits, he’d managed his shame elegantly.
He was a man who knew how to laugh at himself. Her first impressions hadn’t been good, but from the moment they met until the moment he told her he was from another country, Pete had shown himself to be a good man. He was strong, kind, and not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. He’d made it clear that he was attracted to Eva and wanted to be with her. He’d even hinted that he hoped they could have a serious relationship, even if it ended up being long-distance.
And he was sexy. Eva had never been with a man who made her feel as satisfied as Pete did. Her body ached when she thought about never having the chance to be intimate with him again.She realized, too, that she hated the thought of him leaving the base and returning to Laagestein because she enjoyed being with him, plain and simple. He was fun, charming, and exciting to spend time with. She longed for him when she wasn’t with him, more than just physically.
She punched both fists into the mattress.This is what happens when you let your defenses down, she told herself.You get hurt, every time. You know better.
Through the long hours of that sleepless night, Eva told herself that it was a good thing Pete had told her the truth. Knowing that he was from Laagestein — and wanted to go back as soon as he could — had freed her from the shackles of her dependency on him. She’d risked so much, organizing their secret trysts. She was lucky they hadn’t been caught.
She realized Pete’s confession was a rude awakening, one that had the effect of making her see how foolish she’d been. She’d allowed herself to take her eye off the prize, but it was time to get back on track. Pete had hurt her, but she would channel her feelings into making sure that she was the next sergeant major, not him.
She would come out of this stronger. If anything, he’d done her a favor.
CHAPTER 14
