Her ferocity popped like a balloon at his words, leaving her collapsed against the bed with her hands over her face in its wake. The information was new, but he imagined it answered too many of her unanswered questions to deny.
“I’m such a fool,” she said softly.
It wasn’t the first time someone had said the words as a result of a conversation with him, but he hated the weary self-recrimination in her voice.
“For not knowing national secrets?” he asked softly.
“I work in national security.”
“Exactly why you shouldn’t know. It’d be a disaster if the front staff knew about what went on in the back of house. Otherwise, how would it sound genuine when you insisted to the public that Cyrano has no intelligence program?”
Their breathing and heartbeats were the only sounds for a moment.
Then she let out a dry, joyless laugh and said, “We had sex.”
“We did. We’re consenting adults, it’s not against the law. Or did you mean you expected to know through some kind of sex osmosis?”
“You’re a complete stranger.” She sounded horrified at herself, as if she had lost herself in the woods.
Reaching toward her, he took her hand. In truth, she was taking his revelation well. “Get to know me, then. Come to Redcliff with me. Stay there throughout your pregnancy. I will take care of you and our baby and you can meet the father of your child.”
She scoffed. “If that’s even possible. Do you let anyone know you?”
He didn’t, but strangely it stung to hear her say so when she was the one person he’d made the offer to. “No,” he said.
She sat up again slowly.
A long silent beat passed during which she stared at him, a dusky rose blush blossoming across her cheeks. “You could have called. Or even come by during normal visiting hours.”
Eyes locked on hers, he shook his head. “You would have ignored me or had your mother tell me you were sick.”
She sucked in a breath at his words, her glorious chest lifting and pausing there, her body gone rigid at his accurate summation. “You tapped my phone.”
He didn’t bother to deny it. “Years ago, when you applied for a position on the royal guard.”
“That’s appalling.”
He shook his head. “No. It’s intelligence. Unless you’re suggesting we let just anyone become a royal guard?”
She laughed again and though it remained a sarcastic sound, this time it carried some amusement.
“None of us knew,” she said.
He nodded graciously. “Thank you. I take pride in my work.”
“Helene?” she asked.
“Not even the famous duchess guard knows.”
“But she has the highest-level security clearance.”
He quirked a brow up. “Does she?”
Jenna laughed again, light and full for its low volume, and the sound soothed something unsettled within him.
“You broke into my room,” she pointed out.
He nodded. “I did, and at great peril to myself, as you’re one of the most dangerous women in the nation.”