Girl Behind the Scandalous Reputation

But he’d seen her. Watched her take long walks in the park, listened to her musical laugh as she’d helped Jamie choose which roses would be cut for the house in preparation for Jordana’s wedding in two days’ time.

Before, he’d been honest about not trusting himself to join her in the pool that morning, but he could see she hadn’t believed him. Which was probably just as well.

Because distance had not done a damn thing to dampen the need he had to touch her, or just to be with her—which in some ways was scarier than the other.

Emotions he’d never had any trouble keeping at bay threatened to take him by the bit and make him forget all his good intentions to avoid relationships of any sort. She was dangerous, he knew it, but he couldn’t deny he was drawn to her flame. Some primal desire was overriding his superficial instincts to keep away.

And now, against his better judgement, he returned to her side, holding the decanter of sherry in his hand. ‘Here, let me pour you another drink.’

‘No, I should…go to bed.’

The words hung between them but he ignored her hesitancy until she raised her near-empty glass.

‘One more won’t hurt.’

He replaced the stopper and sat the decanter beside his chair. He wasn’t sure what he was doing; he only knew he didn’t want her to go yet.

‘Mmmm, this is nice,’ she murmured, sipping at her glass.

He leaned back and studied her. She looked beautiful, with her hair in a messy ponytail, no make-up and her legs tucked up under her. The space between them crackled like the logs in the fireplace and he knew from the high colour on her cheeks that she felt it too. At this moment she had never seemed more beautiful to him. Or more nervous. He wondered whether she would bolt if he described the scene playing out in his mind.

‘I’ve noticed you going for walks every day,’ he said, in an attempt to distract himself.

‘Oh, yes.’ Lily’s enthusiasm lit up her face. ‘It’s such a beautiful space here. You’re so lucky to have it.’

‘What do you like about it?’ he asked, curious despite himself.

‘It’s rejuvenating, peaceful—and so quiet. And I love that your family has left the forest untouched.’

All the things he loved!

‘They used to hunt there, that’s why.’

‘Oh, don’t spoil it.’ Her mouth made a moue of disappointment and he laughed.

‘Never fear, Bambi is safe from this generation of Garretts.’

She smiled and the almost shy look she cast from under her lashes caught him in the solar plexus.

‘That’s nice.’

‘That’s only because I’m not here all that often,’ he teased.

‘I don’t believe you. And you’re spoiling it again,’ she scolded, picking up on the falseness behind his words.

‘Come over by the fire?’ he murmured, mentally rolling his eyes at the stupidity of that suggestion.

But she did, and he poked at the fire while she found a comfortable position on the Persian rug.

‘What was it like growing up in your world?’ she asked, watching him carefully as he sat down opposite her, his drink dangled over one knee.

Tristan didn’t like talking about himself as a general rule, but he’d invited her to sit by the fire and couldn’t very well ignore her question.

‘Privileged. Boring at times. Not that much different from any other life, I expect, apart from the opportunities that come with the title—although

that also comes with a duty of care.’

‘What do you mean?’