Gabi hadn’t felt like this since she’d arrived in Casavalle—in truth she wasn’t sure she’d felt like this ever. Her whole being felt alive as they stepped out of the car into the crisp sunlit air. ‘It’s beautiful,’ she breathed. All around them was the brilliant white of the snow; the air tasted different at this altitude, tanged with cold and snow and dappled with sunlight. As she looked out at the peaks and crags and the loom of the palace in the distance she could feel exhilaration swell through her.
Turning, she faced him and now her heart pitter-pattered, leapt and bounded as she recalled their bet. Waited as he opened the boot of the car and tugged out two toboggans. Simple, sturdy and wooden, they looked brand new and Gabi h
ad to admire Cesar’s ability to make things happen.
‘Right. This way,’ he said, and they started to tramp across the snow to the start point at the top of a hill. ‘A practice run and then we race?’ he suggested and she nodded agreement and lowered herself on the toboggan.
And with that she was off, an adrenalin-fuelled cry left her lips and carried on the cold air as she zoomed over the compact white snow, manoeuvred the toboggan skilfully, oh, so aware of Cesar running parallel to her. The journey to the bottom of the hill was one of unalloyed joy and she climbed off and beamed at him. ‘That was amazing. Now I’m ready to race.’
‘Then let’s do this.’
Once they were back at the top her breath caught and it was nothing to do with the uphill climb and everything to do with Cesar and his sheer masculine beauty, enhanced by the slight flush to his cheeks, the light in his brown eyes as they rested on her. ‘May the best person win,’ he stated.
This time the descent was different; oblivious to the scenery and driven by a desire to win, Gabi focused on the end goal. Balanced her weight, used her instincts and willed her toboggan to fly straight and true to the finish line ahead of Cesar. And in the final seconds she edged it, skimmed over the finish line by a whisker, climbed off the toboggan with a whoop of triumph. ‘I did it.’
‘You did.’
And as they stood there it was the most natural thing in the world for her to say, ‘In which case, I claim the winner’s prize.’
Stunned by her own daring...stupidity...madness, she stepped towards him; her hormones punched the air and did a happy dance. Her brain tried to intervene and Gabi shut it down. What better time, what better place than this? No fear of hidden cameras, of having this moment recorded and splashed across the media. And it wasn’t as though she were committing to anything—it was just a kiss. The result of a challenge, no more.
Enough justification. She wanted to kiss him, wanted it with an intensity she had never experienced before. Desire pulsed through her, seemed to make her veins fizz, propelled her forward so she was standing flush against him, so close she could smell his unique scent, and slowly she lifted a hand and placed it on his chest, on the thick cable-knit wool of his sweater.
Slowly, as if they had all the time in the world, his dark brown eyes fixed on hers, as if she were the only woman in the universe, and she wondered if it was possible to drown in anticipation. Her skin heated, her nerves end tingled and, wow, he hadn’t even kissed her yet.
Then his lips touched hers, his fingers tangled in her hair and she was lost. The kiss was gentle, his lips firm against hers. She pressed against his body, his muscles hard, and he deepened the kiss, gave a small groan and her head whirled as she lost herself in the moment.
Time stood still and Gabi had no idea if the kiss lasted a minute or hours...but then a cold breeze gusted and penetrated the fog of desire and he broke the kiss. Gabi opened eyes she hadn’t realised she’d closed and stared at him.
So much for just a kiss, nothing more. But she mustn’t show how affected she was; she had to remember that for Cesar this was ‘normal’, that he’d shared millions of similar kisses with other women, more beautiful and sophisticated than Gabi could ever hope to be.
Play it cool.
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘That was a prize worth winning. Now how about a rematch but this time no prizes?’
‘Sure.’ There was something elusive in his voice but his expression maintained his usual easy charm. ‘Let’s get back to the top and when you’re ready I’ve arranged for lunch in my quarters in the palace.’
* * *
An hour later Gabi followed Cesar through a side entrance and into the Aguilarean palace, caught a glimpse of her reflection in an enormous black gilded mirror and gave a small gasp of horror.
‘You’re sure no one will see me?’
‘I’m sure. This is my private entrance.’
‘Thank goodness. If Maria saw me now she’d...well, I’m not sure what she’d do but she wouldn’t be happy.’
‘Well, Maria isn’t here and personally I think you look beautiful. I like the windswept look.’
‘Wind-battered more like.’ As they entered his apartment she glanced round. ‘Is this where you lived before you left on diplomatic duties?’
‘Yes.’ His glance around was perfunctory. The room was comfortable without being ostentatious, the furniture sleek but comfortable. The flat-screen TV mounted on the wall was state of the art. Gabi liked it, she realised.
‘Lunch should be here any minute.’
‘In which case I will hide in the bathroom until it is,’ Gabi stated firmly, suiting action to word.
Five minutes later she heard Cesar’s, ‘All clear,’ and she exited. ‘That looks delicious.’ The table had been set beautifully with a centrepiece of flowers, silver cutlery and starched napkins.