I focused on the quaint quietness around us. Bird song and the occasional squeal of children playing tag in the rose bushes. It did have a sense of peace, but it was too still beneath my feet, too quiet without the dull roar of engines and ocean squalls.
But I smiled and agreed. “Your home is beautiful. I understand why.”
Simo grinned. “And your home? Do you miss it?”
I stiffened; very aware he could bring up my true identity and blab to Pim who stood beside me.
She watched silently but not stupidly. Her gaze stole every twitch and motion, storing for future reference. She never stopped judging, trying to slip beneath my walls and loot my secrets. Her silence was deadly in that respect. How had Alrik never sensed the sleeping assassin inside her? The power hidden beneath survival just waiting to put everything she’d gleaned into practice?
“I have a home.” My hands clenched by my sides. “And soon, you will have one too and see how much better it is to float wherever the tide takes you rather than be locked to one continent.”
Simo grinned. “An adventure every day.”
I chuckled, indulging him. “Exactly. Your children will have a childhood every kid would kill for, and your wife will be able to travel with you on your engagements.”
Simo’s body softened at the mention of his family.
What would it be like to have such strong emotions? To hand over your entire heart, never fearing it would be rejected? I’d known what that was like once upon a time. It’d been such a long time ago, I’d forgotten. Shared affection was as mythical to me now as breathing beneath the waves like a fish.
“Speaking of engagements, I really must be going.” Simo tapped his temple with the blueprint scroll. “Once again, thank you for meeting me here. I’ll look forward to catching up soon.” He held out his hand.
I shook his. “Safe travels, Your Highness.” Stepping back, Pim moved with me, her dainty feet aligning with mine to avoid the four bodyguards shadowing Simo.
Her soft scent enticed my nose. My senses once again intensified as my lower belly tightened with desire.
The more she pissed me off and defied me, the more I wanted her.
The more I pulled away and tried to guard myself, the more I wanted to trade her truth for mine.
Our connection made no sense. We’d never talked. We’d shared a single kiss and a string of profound relapses in judgment.
She blistered my mind with a new curse—taking my previous obsession for perfection and twisting it, so every breath and heartbeat increased this stupid crush to delusional proportions.
I knew I was being ridiculous.
I just didn’t have the cure to stop it.
I’m Pim-sick and it’s not a good illness to have.
We didn’t move as Simo crossed the park and slid into a black limousine. His driver pulled away in a thunder of expensive horsepower.
Selix asked, “Are you ready to return?”
I glanced around the park—at the dappled sunshine on the short dry grass and the rustling thirsty trees. I could stay a while in a place like this, but Pim was jumpy, and I meant what I said about giving her a reward.
I’d caused her jumpiness.
I could erase it if I ignored my own dilemma and focused on her.
Unable to glance at Pim, in case I backed her against a tree and gave the world a big fuck you by molesting her in public, I muttered, “Not yet. Lunch is in order.”
Pim shifted beside me, no doubt wondering if I had another business meeting.
Gritting my teeth, I turned to her, focusing on how skinny she was and how it was my job to feed her. Lunch was about nutrition, that was all. It wasn’t a date or had any romantic connotations. The moment she’d eaten, I’d escort her back to the yacht and take my medicine, so I could ignore my one-tracked brain.
Her eyes kissed mine, content to let me rule for once with no competition.
Maybe today she would finally talk.
If she’s forgiven me, of course.
She hadn’t been impressed with my pickpocketing skills yesterday. My lips curled at how easy stealing that wallet had been. It had taken no thought at all. If I was honest, I missed the rush, the power. What would she say if she knew all of this—my life, my wealth, my company—came down to a single robbery that’d changed my world forever?
Would she understand why I kept what I stole? Or would she hate me for being so fucking selfish?
Not that it mattered. Whatever she’d felt for me when we’d almost kissed was drowned out by her strong barometer of right and wrong.
“I heard of a good restaurant half an hour from here,” Selix said. “If that sounds of interest, I’ll look up directions.”
“By foot or car?”
Selix frowned. “Car, of course.” His lips curled a little as if walking was for paupers, not businessmen.