“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I want to remember this.”
~~o0o~~
They must have been in the barn for hours, Celina realized as she rested exhausted on Diego. She’d missed her lift into town for sure. She’d have to wait until tomorrow and try to get a lift to the airport some other way. She wasn’t too worried. There would be plenty of people leaving the estate after the match and heading home.
“I’m going to take a shower,” Diego said as he gently eased himself away. Lifting her, he steadied her on her feet. He smiled as he removed several strands of hay from her hair. “No one will ever guess where you’ve been,” he remarked with a wicked grin.
“Do you care what people think?”
“Not at all. They’ll think me lucky.”
Lucky? If only he knew. As she picked up her shirt and put it on, another shower of hay floated out. As she brushed herself down, she asked, “How do you manage to stay looking so good?” Diego could have stepped out of the pages of a magazine. His hair was a little tousled, but apart from that, he looked amazing.
“Shower,” he said firmly. “I can read your thoughts, and no, we can’t stay in the barn all night.”
“We could be together in the shower?” she suggested without thinking.
Diego’s lips pressed down in wry agreement. “My place is better than yours.”
What was she thinking even suggesting it? She couldn’t share Diego’s shower. She had to leave soon and had final preparations to make. She wasn’t thinking, Celina concluded. “Another time,” she said lightly, wishing that were true.
~~o0o~~
She took a long, hot shower by herself in the deserted staff block. Her body was still singing from Diego’s touch. She would never forget tonight. She would never forget him. She didn’t want to leave, but she must. Retracing the path his hands had taken, she felt as numb as a stone-cold fish. That was good. She should get used to feeling nothing as soon as she could. Where she was going, it was better that way.
She came out of the staff block, meaning to head to the tech suite to check her final preparations for the trip. Her heart lurched, seeing Amber standing with the grooms in the stable yard. Amber shot her a questioning look. Did she know? Had she guessed? Had the grooms said something about Celina wanting a lift to town?
“Their vehicle broke down,” Amber explained as Celina walked up to the group. “I was just on my way to find Alexei. And you?” She gave Celina a keen stare.
“Taking a last stroll before bedtime—thought I might check things in the tech suite.” She shrugged.
Amber looked in no way convinced. “Had a good night?”
“Very good.” She relaxed as they exchanged a knowing smile. That was better. Amber guessing that she’d been with Diego was safer than guessing where she intended to go next.
“Is a replacement vehicle on its way?” she asked the head groom, trying not to sound too interested.
“Yes,” he confirmed. “But it won’t arrive tonight.”
“Were you thinking of going into town with them?” Amber queried as the grooms walked away. “You’re not thinking of doing anything stupid, are you?”
“Like going into town for a drink?”
“You know what I mean,” Amber insisted. “Like launching a one-woman assault on the slavers?”
“As if I’d do that.” She laughed, but it sounded brittle and false. “Though, if I did go, I’d leave you clues so you could get the team to follow me.”
“Don’t even joke,” Amber warned.
“Who says I’m joking?” She forced another laugh.
“Just don’t.” Amber frowned. “I’ve got to go. Alexei’s expecting me.” She walked away but stopped halfway across the yard to throw a worried look at Celina.
Celina waved and hoped her expression was reassuring. If Amber knew her plan, she’d tell Alexei, and then Diego would find out.
“Hey…”
She smiled to see Diego jogging down the wide sweep of steps in front of his grand mansion. “Back to the party?” he suggested, swinging a protective arm around her shoulders.
She loved the way he made her feel. Any contact between them made her heart soar, but his increasing interest suggested he would find her clues, and he would act on them too. “I was going to drop by the tech suite.”
“No work tonight,” he said firmly.
“Okay.” She knew that look in his eyes. He was thinking of another type of celebration altogether, one that was exclusive to them. Anticipation of pleasure made heat flash through her veins. There was no chance of a lift into town, and she could still check her preparations in the morning.
“Back to mine?” he suggested.
“Why not?” she asked, nestling close as he led her back toward his imposing home.
