The Wedding Party And Holiday Escapes Ultimate Collection. Кейт Хьюит

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СКАЧАТЬ thought initially that staying behind her, where they wouldn’t be able to talk, where he wouldn’t see her smile or her green, green eyes, was the better option. But he’d quickly realized that the flare of her hips and the curve of her derriere were a different and possibly worse distraction. He shifted in his saddle.

      “This meeting Adam had to go to?” the woman who might one day be his sister-in-law asked. They’d been riding for nearly an hour, and this was the first time she’d brought up Adam’s absence, the first time she’d asked anything other than polite questions about the land around them and the flora and fauna of San Philippe.

      Her hair was gathered into a lush ponytail that hung down her back. It swept over her shoulder blades when she turned.

      “The Global Garden. Someone’s bright idea for the anniversary celebrations that has not surprisingly turned into a diplomatic nightmare. Adam has been involved—albeit reluctantly—since its inception. Trust me, he’d much rather be here than there.” All three of them would have been happier with that. Particularly Lexie.

      “I’d have been happy to ride on my own, or to put it off. Adam has said he’ll definitely be free tomorrow.” She confirmed his suspicion.

      She held the reins lightly in her small, deft hands. Hands a man could imagine touching him. He cleared his throat. “Rain and thunderstorms are predicted for tomorrow.”

      “Oh.”

      For a while the only sound was the soft fall of their horses’ hooves on the forest floor. She sat so well on Rebecca’s gray, moved so in tune with it, that horse and rider looked almost to be one. And he was torturing himself with thoughts of her, thoughts that teetered on the brink of inappropriate or occasionally slipped over that edge. Thoughts that urged him to act. The torture was exquisite and unbearable. Distance. He needed distance.

      “I hope it’s not too much of an interruption to your day.” There was a bite to her tone.

      “No,” he said evenly. “I ride most days when I’m home.”

      “So do I,” she said with a glimmer of wistfulness and no trace of acerbity.

      “You’re not sorry you came, are you?” Perhaps she’d go back. He couldn’t fathom whether he’d be more relieved or disappointed.

      “No, definitely not. I love it here. I just don’t want to be in the way.” She slid him a look rich with meaning.

      “You’re not in the way.”

      “I hear the frustration in your voice.”

      And if only she knew its real cause. “Don’t assume it’s because of you.”

      “You have other sources of frustration?”

      “I have sources of frustration you wouldn’t believe. Duke,” he called back the dog, who had disappeared into the undergrowth.

      “What would you have been doing if Adam hadn’t asked you to babysit me?” The question was laced with challenge.

      “You’re far from a baby, Lexie.” Far, far from it. “And being with you is not a chore.” Except for all the work it entailed in keeping his thoughts in order.

      “You’re forgetting I heard you use almost exactly those words.”

      “I was annoyed with Adam at the time. It was nothing to do with you.” Which was a lie; it was a lot to do with her, because even back then he’d known that spending time with her was a bad thing for him to do, that there was something different, almost dangerous about her and the way she affected him.

      “So, what would you be doing if you weren’t filling in for Adam?”

      “Nothing,” he said casually.

      “That’s funny, because I saw you in your office earlier.”

      “When?” He certainly hadn’t seen her this morning.

      She shrugged. “The middle of the morning. I was on my way back to my room and I passed your office.”

      “And?”

      “And you were inside. At your desk. Talking on the phone and writing something down at the same time. You sounded busy.” She shot him a look. “And serious and authoritative even. The glasses were a nice touch, too, very sexy in a scholarly way.” She stopped speaking and frowned. “If you like that sort of thing,” she added.

      Rafe ignored the glasses comment; otherwise he might be tempted to ride back to the palace for a pair. It was true, though, that he’d had dozens of phone calls to make this morning. “Appearances can be deceptive. Maybe I was doodling.”

      “Doodling?” It was worth it to see her smile like that. “Anyway,” she said, “I appreciate you taking time out for me like this.”

      “You or phone calls and paperwork. It wasn’t a difficult choice.” It also wasn’t a safe choice.

      “Was it for the zoo or for the children’s ward at the hospital?”

      He looked at her.

      “I’ve been trying to find out a little about the work you do. All of you.”

      “How?”

      “I’ve been talking to Adam’s secretary, Martin. He was quite helpful. He told me about the different charities and foundations you all head or are patrons of. The list was massive. He also talked about your personal project to raise money for a hospital gymnasium. And about how you coach and sponsor the polo team you started for the children of palace staff. His son loves it, by the way.”

      “Martin Junior’s one of the best and the keenest players. The kid’s always there ahead of time, waiting. No matter how early I get there.” Rafe smiled at the thought. “He’s all restless energy till you seat him on a horse.”

      But he didn’t want to be talking to this woman about himself. Didn’t want to see or appreciate the warmth of her approval.

      He did what he did for his own reasons, lived by his own code as much as that was possible for someone in his position. He’d long since stopped placing importance on anyone else’s good opinion. That way he didn’t have to worry about disappointing others or being disappointed in return.

      “I’d love to come and watch them train.” There was a question in her statement.

      The fact that he wanted to show her the kids, to show her how good they’d gotten, warned him against that very course of action. “Have Adam bring you along sometime.”

      She tried to hide her surprise at the rebuff he’d meant to be subtle.

      “We each have our charities and other duties.” He kept talking to soften the slight. She had to know it was for the best. Unless he was the only one fighting inappropriate thoughts and longings? “I get to choose the fun ones. Adam’s duties, as next in line to the throne, tend to be more political than mine.”

      “He’s very diplomatic, isn’t he?”

      “Yes. And the Global Garden СКАЧАТЬ