Page 35 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

‘It’s my fault about the painting.’ At his words she swung to face him. Jake felt that familiar tug low in his belly when their eyes met. As if someone dragged a weight through his insides. ‘It looked gloomy so I had it moved out of my study.’

‘I see.’ For a moment longer their eyes held, then her gaze slewed back to the painting and Jake found himself cursing her discomfort with him. He preferred her passionate and bold.

And eager for sex.

Heat spiralled like smoke up from his groin and he had to work at keeping his distance. Clearly she was nervous.

‘I think you should move it.’ Another darting glance. ‘It shouldn’t be here in the full sun.’

‘I’ll get Neil onto it.’ He paused, watching the tic of her pulse at her throat and the way her hands refused to be still. ‘Caro, we need to—’

‘I have to—’

Both pulled up short. ‘You first,’ he invited.

Caro nodded but didn’t look eager. ‘In your office?’

‘Sure.’ He pushed open his study door and invited her to precede him. As she walked past he caught a hint of her warm, spicy scent and it went straight to his head. For a second he closed his eyes.

He’d be good. He wouldn’t seduce the nanny in his office.

No matter how much he wanted to.

Caro’s fingers twisted together, echoing the churning inside. This was more difficult than she’d thought.

She’d half hoped she could blame last night and the way she’d thrown herself at Jake on the high-octane mix of fear and elation resulting from Ariane’s near accident. But it was still there, the desire for his touch, the yearning for his tenderness and passion.

Worse, she wanted to blurt out everything, ignoring the need to approach this carefully.

Hurriedly she looked down, veiling her eyes from that sharp scrutiny.

Her heart hammered and no matter how she tried she couldn’t pull off the mask of composure she’d come to rely on. Because she wasn’t just fighting her attraction to Ariane’s uncle. Now her father had thrust his oar into these turbulent waters she felt in danger of being tugged under by forces too strong to withstand.

Now, instead of telling Jake the truth and trusting he was truly a decent man with Ariane’s best interests at heart, she was forced to lie again. Because she couldn’t afford to risk him withdrawing and taking her daughter away.

She felt sick.

‘Caro?’ A firm hand closed around her elbow. ‘You look like you’re going to keel over. Here.’ He ushered her to a chair. ‘Sit.’

She subsided thankfully, even as she castigated herself for weakness. This wasn’t how she’d meant to face him. But when she’d seen him, all her hard-won resolve had disintegrated. She’d jabbered on about art instead of cutting to the point.

‘Thank you. Sorry, I’m fine. I...’ She shook her head. ‘Something has come up. I need to go away for the rest of the week. I know it’s not usual and I should give you notice but it’s urgent.’

‘Away?’ His eyebrows tilted down. In curiosity or annoyance?

‘To St Ancilla. I had a call from my...father this morning.’ She couldn’t suppress the shiver down her spine.

‘Bad news?’

‘A family matter. I’m needed there.’ She paused and licked dry lips. ‘Normally I’d never dream of asking for time off so soon but I don’t have a choice.’ Her father had seen to that. Caro straightened. ‘I’d be back next week.’

Finally she looked him square in the face. What Jake saw there made everything inside him still. Not just tension but distress, and that fear he’d picked up on in the corridor. He’d read it as embarrassment after last night’s intimacy. Clearly it was caused by something far deeper.

Not everything revolves around you, Maynard.

‘Your family needs you.’

‘I know it’s inconvenient and I apologise but—’

He stopped her with a wave of his hand. Clearly this was important. From her expression he guessed serious illness or accident.

‘Of course you can go.’ What wouldn’t he have given for the chance to spend even a few extra minutes with Connie, instead of being informed from the far side of the world that his sister was dead? ‘Take what time you need. Lotte and I will manage.’

For a second her lip wobbled then she nodded briskly. ‘I’ll be back next week. You can count on me.’

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