Wicked Dirty (Stark World 2)

They were walking side by side, and now she reached over and took his hand. "I'm so sorry."

He tightened his grip, taking comfort in the feel of her skin against his. "I ran away," he said before he could change his mind. "I was sixteen, and I wrangled a fake identity, and I ran away."

"Oh, Lyle..."

"Only one other living person knows that," he said. "So you were right about the hiding. The truth doesn't exactly fit my Iowa farm boy persona."

"Thank you for trusting me."

"I don't think trust is something you thank someone for. I think it just is."

Her soft smile tugged at his heart. "Then that's even sweeter," she said as they walked toward Sleeping Beauty's castle, now shining in the dark.

By the time they reached it, the park was closing up, the employees starting to herd guests toward the exits.

"I had a really nice time," she said. "Thank you so much. For everything. The house. The ring. This," she added, her arms wide to indicate the entire park.

"You're welcome," he added, not mentioning that the house was her price and the ring was a prop. He didn't want to think about the show they were putting on for the public. Tonight felt too genuine to spoil it with harsh reality.

"It's been magical," she added, then pulled him to a stop beside the circle of flowers at the center of the town square. Then she kissed him, very slow and very sweet, and his arms went tight around her, holding her close as he reveled in the taste of her. The feel of her. As he imagined so much more, and then tried to shove those fantasies aside, knowing that wasn't what she wanted.

She'd made perfectly clear that sex wasn't on the agenda, and he couldn't blame her. She deserved something real with a man who wasn't broken.

Gently, he eased back, and his heart twisted at the way she was smiling at him. Like this had been a real date and they were a real couple. But they weren't. How could they be when she still didn't know the truth?

Once she learned it--if she learned it--she wouldn't want him anyway.

"Hey," she said. "You okay?"

"Just a little melancholy. I like this fantasy." He indicated the park, but meant something else entirely.

"Me, too."

"No regrets? In coming with me?"

"Just one."

He frowned. Considering the way she'd kissed him, the answer surprised him.

"We got here so late, we didn't get to do everything. And we didn't have the chance to do anything twice."

He laughed, relief sweeping over him. "That kind of regret I can handle. In fact, I was kind of hoping you'd say that. How do you feel about the Disneyland Hotel?"

She squinted at him, obviously completely baffled. "What are you talking about?"

"I had Nat book us a suite. Just in case you wanted to stay."

He watched as happiness lit her face, as bright as the afternoon sun.

"Are you kidding? That would be amaz--oh. But I can't. Tomorrow. I've got work. A full schedule, actually, and I have to--"

"You don't."

Her mouth tugged into a frown. "Remember my speech about eating and taxes? Money is an unfortunate necessity."

"I mean you don't have to work tomorrow. Joy cleared you for Tuesday, too. And if I'm not mistaken, Nat's already emailed you an expense report."

"You were serious about that?"