Page 39 of Claiming His Virgin Princess

‘You have hidden talents,’ Noah said as they stood on the shore, waving while the children headed off.

‘Kayaking, you mean?’

His lips twitched and Ilsa felt it like a thread pulling tight inside her. She was so attuned to Noah that it was hard to believe they’d known each other only a matter of weeks.

‘I was thinking of your football skills. I thought princesses practised curtseys, not kicking goals.’

‘We’re more versatile than you think. I mastered curtseys by the age of four. And I loved team sports.’

‘You don’t play now?’

She shook her head. ‘Not since my mid-teens. Getting muddy and windblown wasn’t considered a good look for the heir to the throne.’

And just like that the outside world intruded again, despite her attempts to keep it at bay.

Last night she’d had a message from her mother, saying her father deemed it time she return. Press speculation about her and Noah was causing headaches.

Her mouth twisted. They hadn’t wanted her in Altbourg when she’d been a dutiful princess, because she’d attracted negative press. But now she’d broken out of the mould and was no longer seen as the goody-two-shoes Princess, they wanted her where they could keep an eye on her and manage the fallout.

She didn’t want to go back.

She wanted to stay with Noah.

Ilsa swallowed. The truth sideswiped her.

Because she’d fallen for him.

A silent gasp snatched at her breath.

Ilsa had believed herself cured of romantic fancies in her teens. After that she’d accepted she’d marry for duty and that was fine because she’d lost faith in love. She’d loved once and almost made a disastrous mistake.

How could she think of going there again?

But it hadn’t been an active choice. It just happened.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to control her whirling thoughts.

‘Ilsa, what’s up? Are you okay?’

She snapped her eyes open, met his searing turquoise gaze. ‘Of course. It’s just been a long time since I played football.’

Ilsa looked away down the beach, searching for something, anything to divert his attention. ‘You’re brilliant with children,’ she said, hiding a wince. It was like probing a sore spot.

‘That’s because I’ve got a big extended family with lots of cousins. There’s always a tribe of kids at any family gathering. At beach barbecues or backyard cricket.’

Before she could stop herself her mind conjured a vision of her and Noah on a vast Australian beach with a gaggle of family around them. She drew a breath and forced the image away.

‘That sounds terrific.’

‘It is. I’m looking forward to seeing them when I get home.’

Ilsa nodded and turned abruptly towards the kayaks. It felt like each movement was jerky and uncoordinated because of the effort of holding in her emotions.

‘I don’t know about you but I’m craving coffee. I think I’ll head back.’

‘Me too. Race you to the yacht?’

She pasted on a tight smile and pushed her kayak into the warm shallows, avoiding his eyes. ‘You’re on.’

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