“Understood. I’ll take you back to your car when you’re ready.”
Now she appeared sheepish. “I own a truck and I didn’t drive to Wildwood. My friend picked me up. She was convinced I wouldn’t show up.”
“And why is that?” I finally took the cane from her hand, loathing the feel of the cold steel against my fingertips.
For a split second, I thought she might indulge me with why the date had weighed heavily on her mind, but I was mistaken. She brushed her hand through her hair, the flash in her eyes indicating a memory better left in the past.
“Let’s just leave it that we both have pasts and if I had to guess, I’d say yours was as colorful as mine. Sometimes the secrets holding them together that enable us to shove them in a padlocked box are necessary. I have a feeling you know exactly what I mean. I’ll be ready to leave in a few minutes. After I change clothes.”
I almost told her not to bother.
“What I said before I meant. Plus, seeing you with the cane is very sexy.” Another heated flash of her eyes was followed by a sinful smile.
Goddamn, what the woman did to my manhood.
She backed into the house, disappearing before I could offer anything else.
I stood where I was, uncertain why I was experiencing feelings that I hadn’t in a very long time. Maybe because she was tolerant of my gruffness, my inability to connect. And that there was no sense of romance in my psyche.
Or maybe simply because she’d been the one to shut things down. Nothing that I’d ever had happen before. There were plenty of women who’d give up their identity and their freedom to take the Prince name. Not because I was some great catch. With me there was baggage along for the ride. But for the aspect of wealth and influence.
Nothing I’d wanted or tolerated.
Laughing to myself, I grabbed my jacket and moved inside. Fleur stood only a few feet away, staring at her phone. With her head down, I couldn’t see her expression, but I felt the tension and every muscle in her body was stiff.
“Is something wrong?”
She dragged her tongue across her bottom lip while slowly turning her head toward me. It took a full three seconds for her to fake a smile while ensuring I couldn’t see her screen. “Not at all. I’m just having continuous issues with shipments coming into the store. Nothing my assistant manager can’t take care of. Besides, this is my day off.”
The woman was lying. Whatever text had been sent had rattled her to her core.
My little French flower was correct. There wasn’t a man or woman alive who didn’t carry a dark secret with them like a boulder carried around their necks.
More than ever, I was curious as to what could trouble a sweet, intelligent, beautiful woman like Fleur. One thing was certain. I had every intention of finding out.
The awkwardness continued between us, the silence while I drove her home annoying as fuck. I’d tried to figure out something to say to her, but I’d never been interested in fake conversations for the sake of making them. Small talk was highly overrated.
“My driveway is up there on the left.”
Without glancing in my direction, she pointed toward where I was to go. The house itself was quaint, the small home placed in a beautiful setting, although the mountains would be difficult to see from anywhere inside the house. She had a colorful flag out front, the image of a hummingbird strange for this time of year, but the background a perfect match for her turquoise door.
I also noticed a shed that was a tiny representation of the house complete with the same color door and shutters.
She finally glanced in my direction while unfastening her seatbelt. “That’s my workshop.”
“Your workshop?”
Her laugh held some of the haughtiness from before. “I also dabble in making pottery. I sell a few pieces at the store. I like being creative. They aren’t masterpieces, but when I’d sitting at the pottery wheel, I’m at peace. Maybe you need to find a hobby. That could ease your suffering.”
“Pottery making will help ease my leg pain?”
The look she threw me immediately tested my physical resolve. My cock was at full attention once again.
“No, silly. Your mental suffering.” The laugh continued as she threw open the door.
“A day off, huh?”
“Yes. Errands and hoping to spend some time behind the wheel. I need to make a bowl or two for my shop.”
