Page 60 of Claiming His Virgin Princess

Just as well an already broken heart couldn’t break again.

She firmed her lips and shifted in her seat but that didn’t stop her inner voice trumpeting unpalatable truths.

You still love him. And he has no reason to feel kindly towards you.

If she could turn back the clock...

No. She had to concentrate on the future. That was all that mattered.

She pushed down her sunglasses to look at the sign that gave details of the next stop.

Ilsa drew in a choppy breath. Not far now. She pushed her sunglasses into place and looped the strap of her bag over her shoulder.

Sunglasses, casual clothes and a ponytail weren’t much of a disguise but so far they’d worked. She’d arrived in the country without fanfare, thanks to a friend who travelled to Sydney via private plane, and so far the paparazzi hadn’t got wind that she was in Australia.

Her heartbeat pattered faster as she pressed the button for the stop, holding onto her seat as the bus swayed out of the traffic towards the side of the road.

Could she do this?

It wasn’t ideal. Ideal would be her and Noah completely alone, but she’d take what she could get. Repeated rebuffs from his protective secretary meant Ilsa had no choice but to be creative in arranging a meeting.

Would Noah hear her out?

Had he given explicit instructions to bar her calls or hadn’t he known she’d called? No point wondering now. She’dmakehim listen because he needed to hear this.

The bus stopped. Thanking the driver, Ilsa stepped out and put on a sunhat. Even with a cool breeze the Australian sunshine was bright.

Before her stretched a large park that fitted the picture Noah had painted when he’d spoken of weekend barbecues in the sun. There was an enormous children’s playground plus shaded picnic tables and beyond those a vast parkland.

Fear clutched her heart and she breathed deep, willing herself into calm.

Surely, if the Carson family kept the tradition Noah had described, this was where they would be. The first Sunday of every month, regular as clockwork, he’d said. He’d even named the sprawling park where the clan gathered.

This was her chance to see Noah face to face. She couldn’t imagine putting her news in an email.

Yet she couldn’t imagine spilling it in front of his family either. Nerves tightened and her step faltered, but she kept going. What choice did she have?

Finally, she spied a group that might fit the bill. Tables were set up under shade trees but out in the sun were a number of tall, dark-haired men in amongst children and some older figures. One man in particular caught her eye. Even from a distance he was familiar. The set of his wide shoulders, the athleticism of that toned body as he loped forward and caught a ball tossed in his direction.

Noah!

Suddenly the absurdity of her plan struck her. Was she going to march up and haul him away from his curious family in the middle of a game?

Maybe she should wait till they took a break. Or was that cowardice?

Either way, she needed a moment to consider. She headed towards the trees when shouts made her turn.

A ball arced high through the air towards her. Instinct, prodded by a cry of, ‘Catch it!’, made her step to one side and cup her hands as it came straight towards her. Ilsa’s hands closed around the ball and she heard applause.

A girl in her early teens ran up. ‘Brilliant catch!’ She grinned and held out her hand for the ball. ‘Now it’s my turn to bat.’ She paused. ‘Do you want to play?’

‘I...’ Ilsa looked past her to the heads turned her way. One in particular. Even from this distance she felt the heat from eyes that she knew were a stunning turquoise. It was an effort to drag her attention back to the girl.

‘Please say yes. We girls are always outnumbered. I’m Jess and it’s my birthday.’

‘Hi, Jess, and Happy Birthday, I’m Ilsa. I’m afraid I’m not up to running at the moment.’ She probably could but she’d take no chances with this baby. ‘And I don’t know the rules.’

‘You’ve never played cricket?’ Jess’s eyes widened so much Ilsa had to suppress a laugh despite the tension winding through her body.

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