Page 61 of Claiming His Virgin Princess

‘I’m not from around here.’

‘Now’s your chance to learn.’ Jess ushered her forward. ‘It’s simple. If you’re in the field the aim is to catch the ball and get the batsman out. If you’re batting, hit the ball between the fielders and run. But we’ll get someone else to run for you.’

Ilsa let the words slide over her. Her attention was on the man who’d moved towards them then stopped, hands on hips as he watched them approach. Tall, imposing even in faded jeans and a polo shirt, the light breeze riffling his coal-black hair. Her heart squeezed. He was every bit as glorious as she remembered.

He surveyed her through dark glasses that gave nothing away.

‘Ilsa.’ His voice was deep and it ran like dark treacle across her skin, making her shiver.

‘You know each other? Great!’ Jess turned to the rest of the group. ‘Everyone, this is Ilsa. She’s joining us.’

Through the pounding in her ears Ilsa heard welcomes, but she couldn’t acknowledge them. She was too busy staring at Noah, trying and failing to read his mood.

She didn’t have to wait long.

‘Ilsa won’t be playing, Jess.’

He stalked closer. What was he going to do? Pick her up and carry her away from his family in case she contaminated them? Her heart dived.

Noah stopped so close Ilsa felt the air sizzle with his tension. His jaw set hard and shefelthis stare despite his reflective glasses.

‘I’m not here to—’

Another voice interrupted. ‘Welcome!’

Ilsa saw a middle-aged woman with greying dark hair and a familiar-looking face march towards them.

‘Mum.’ Noah didn’t turn. His voice held a hint of exasperation. ‘You don’t understand. You don’t know who this is. She’s not here to play cricket.’

The woman stopped beside him, her gaze penetrating. Ilsa felt as if she saw straight through her efforts to look calm and right down into the morass of nerves and fear.

‘Princess Ilsa.’ Noah’s mother smiled, reminding Ilsa heartbreakingly of Noah as he’d been all those months ago. Before everything went wrong. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you. You’re even lovelier in person than in the press.’

‘Just Ilsa, please.’ She felt flustered. Noah’s animosity she’d expected. But kindness from his mother left her floundering. If Noah had told her about Ilsa, surely she wouldn’t be so welcoming? Or had she only seen the speculation about them in the media?

‘And I’m Joanne.’ She shot a sideways look at her son and Ilsa saw Noah incline his head the tiniest fraction, as if giving permission. ‘Would you like to join us? It’s only a friendly game. We’ll break soon to have lunch. Then the pair of you can catch up.’

Her simple generosity undid something deep inside Ilsa and her tangled emotions threatened to burst free.

She swallowed hard and didn’t dare look at Noah, her feelings too raw. ‘Thank you, Joanne. I’d like that very much. If you don’t mind a raw beginner joining in.’

What followed was a revelation.

It shouldn’t have been. The high-spirited game reminded her of playing football on the beach with Noah and the children they’d met. The game was hotly contested, with a high level of skill, but with camaraderie, jokes and kindness despite the occasional mock outrage and protests.

Ilsa’s family loved her but they never shared anything like this. They didn’t gather for barbecues or casual ball games at the weekend. The idea of her father taking time out to play sport with her or Christoph was unthinkable.

Yet that wasn’t all that made this unique. Joanne had announced that Ilsa was a friend of Noah’s, visiting from Europe, and that was all it took to be accepted. His family must be curious but instead of staring they drew her in, as if closing ranks around her. She felt accepted in a way that felt rare and precious.

Whatever happened after she and Noah spoke, Ilsa wouldn’t have missed this for the world.

During lunch, Noah was busy at the barbecue, partly, Ilsa was sure, because Joanne kept finding work for him. It might have been entertaining, watching the decisive tycoon at the beck and call of his mother. Instead she found it sweet, because she knew he allowed it because he loved his mum. Seeing him with his family reassured her that he’d treat their child well, no matter how he felt about her.

She sat with Noah’s cousin on one side and his sister Ally on the other. Ally was bright and engaging but clearly protective of her big brother, questioning Ilsa closely until Joanne intervened.

Ally apologised for being nosy, saying quietly that Noah had been her rock when she’d gone through tough times years before. Apparently he blamed himself, wrongly, for not protecting Ally better. She was convinced that he needed to concentrate on his own happiness now.

Ilsa ignored Ally’s meaningful look but recalled Noah saying his ex had hurt his family and especially his sister. Seeing his close-knit family, she could understand why it was a sore point for Noah. Guilt swirled at how her rejection might have reinforced his negative feelings.

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