“Will you let himposefor you?”
She grinned.“Yes.I’m not trying to play a mean paparazzo.”
“Of course not.You’re too nice.”Heath offered her his elbow, and she accepted it.
Quinn didn’t want to think about how nice it felt to be strolling with him like this.They’d walked together many times, and she’d even taken his arm occasionally.Why would the simple act of calling him her fiancé make him even more attractive?And that kiss.
No.That train of thought led nowhere.She might care for him as more than a friend, but it could only ever be a short-term romance.And she didn’t want to jeopardize their friendship.Quinn had alotof acquaintances but only a few close friends.She couldn’t risk the few she had.Could she?
When she shifted her bag for the third time, Heath took it from her again.
“Thanks,” she said, and he shrugged.
The crowd made it necessary to stay close together.The proximity had Quinn or Heath’s arms bumping repeatedly.And every time it happened, a tingle of attraction ran up her arm.
What had she been thinking to claim him as her fiancé?
6
By the time the sun finally set, Heath’s feet hurt.He had thought he walked around the castle and the grounds enough that with his weightlifting routine, he was fit.Apparently not.He was exhausted and still had a good three hours of work yet to do for REKD Gaming.
“You have enough pictures for today?Including the duke-let?”he asked Quinn as she packed her gear.
“Yes.I’m glad I saved Farmer Tullis’s corn maze for tomorrow.Viktor’s excited to see it.”
“Well, I’m starving.That corn dog at four wasn’t nearly filling enough.”His stomach growled to back up his claim.
“You poor thing.You’re spoiled by Deb’s cooking.”
“True enough.”
Heath watched as the last of the guests who had entered via the farmer’s entrance went back through the gate.His biggest concern about the security was the people Trace had mentioned earlier.
“What are you frowning about?”Quinn asked.After Heath explained, she nodded.“I overheard your dad and Coop talking about the possibility of needing to bring in additional security.I hope you make enough from the fees to pay for the expense.”
“Isn’t that always the key when running a business?”he asked.
“Don’t I know it.”Quinn heaved out a sigh.“By the time I figure in the number of hours I put into editing the photos for my clients, my hourly wage is a lot lower than most people think.”
“That’s because you’re a perfectionist.”
“That’s true enough.And speaking of editing, I have a lot of it to do.”She yawned.
“You going to leave your gear in the bridge apartment?”Heath asked, not wanting their time together to end yet.
“Tempting as the thought is, I need to download this to my computer.”Quinn sent him a tired grin.“Go get some of Deb’s leftovers.You know she saved some for you.”
She headed toward Wildstone.He waited a couple of minutes until the staff had locked the gate by the farm before turning toward the Citadel.Three men stood some distance away, watching him.Heath hesitated only a moment before striding toward them.
“Good evening, my Lord.I hope you enjoyed your first day of our Harvest Festival.Our simple activities are probably different from the ones in your country.Isn’t it between Germany and Denmark?Do you have traditions from both countries?”
He continued walking toward home and Viktor joined him, easily keeping pace.Heath couldn’t help wondering if the man’s feet hurt too.
“Glenloria is an old country, and we have fought to maintain our independence, something which has been difficult through the years, most recently during World War II, as I’m sure you would understand.”
“Yes.I read the Nazis occupied your country.”
“It was a difficult time for all of Europe.”
