by cameras flashing and dozens of people.”
“They still are.”
She pauses in her walking and turns to me. “You’re one of them now, aren’t you?”
“No.” We’re facing each other, the moon highlighting the planes of her cheeks, the silky bend of her hair. “I’m the shield between them and the rest of the world.”
“Yes, keeping them safe from urchins like me, dreaming of things I’m not allowed to touch.”
Quiet surrounds us as we walk. The only sound is our shoes crunching softly on the gravel path.
“You’d like these new royals. They’re very much like you and I were in those days.” In that moment, I understand the pull Zelda Wilder had on me.
I’m looking at the ghost from my past Zelda conjured just by being herself, and I feel like a fool that I didn’t see it sooner. I didn’t understand my obsession with saving her until now, walking in the moonlight with Cassandra. Kass… The girl I lost so long ago. I was so blind.
“The Americans,” she nods. “I’ve heard about them. Cam says the queen is like a Cinderella, and her sister is some sort of criminal?”
“She reminds me of you.”
Another little wince moves through her, and I notice her pale brows draw together. “Why do you say that?”
Pulling up short, I reach out to stop her again. “She’s lively and strong. She’s a survivor like you always were.”
Again, I seem to have found the correct combination of words. Her shoulders relax, but she shakes her head, not smiling. “It sounds like she got lucky falling in love with a prince.”
“Maybe, but she didn’t get off easy.” I don’t want to elaborate on the grizzly details of what Zelda went through before we found her. I don’t want to spoil the moment. Instead I redirect. “How long are you in town? Are you back to stay?”
“I’m only here a little while. I wanted to check on Cam, and I… I have a job to do.” That sadness is in her voice again, and all I want is to take it away. I have time. I have several days left in this personal leave.
My insides are tight, and I feel like I’ve been walking on eggshells since the moment I touched her. Still, I have to try. “Would you have dinner with me?”
She’s quiet, and I’m actually holding my breath. At last she does a little nod, but still no smile. “Okay,” she says, barely above a whisper. Her expression is resigned.
I don’t understand, but I’ll take it. Reaching into my breast pocket, I pull out the slim phone hidden there. “Tell me your number.”
Another momentary hesitation, and she’s reciting the digits. I punch them in quickly and hit send, waiting as her clutch starts to make music and buzz softly with the vibration of her ringtone.
“Hey,” I say, ending the call and catching her shoulder, causing her to look up at me. “I can’t believe I ran into you tonight…” I hesitate, but after all this time, goddammit, I’m not holding back.
Moonlight glistens in her eyes, and she blinks it away quickly. “Me either.”
Her voice wavers, and that’s when I see the smile lifting the corners of her mouth. It’s like winning a fucking marathon. I mentally do a fist pump.
Stepping closer, I catch her chin, just touching it with my thumb and forefinger so lightly. “Cassandra,” I say, leaning closer.
Our breath swirls together, mixing with the air between us. I can still taste her kisses, cherry lip gloss, cinnamon gum, and salt water. Entranced, I lean closer, still holding her chin. She doesn’t pull away. Her eyes are fixed on my mouth, and her breath skates over my cheek as I draw closer. She smells like clean jasmine and fresh air. She’s the dream I had as a young man, when I was careless and naive, when I believed I could go away for all that time, and she’d still be here waiting for me when I returned. She’s a splinter of moonlight, beautiful against the darkness of my skin. Our lips touch, the softest velvet against my mouth, and it’s all back.
All of it.
Her chin lifts out of my fingers, and her lips part. She’s kissing me in return, and a little noise aches from her throat. It’s electric, but only for a heartbeat. Just as fast she pulls away.
“I’m sorry,” she exhales. “Goodnight, Logan.”
She turns and takes off across the grass practically running. This time I don’t chase after her. I stand and watch her as my insides begin to relax, my breathing returns to normal. Fate just threw me a lifeline, and there’s no way in hell I’ll lose it this time.
You’re running away, Sass, but I felt what you want. I’ll have you in my bed, and no matter what it takes, I won’t lose you again.
Reasons