“Outside factors?” My mind begins to churn again.What does this girl know about me?Not that my life is some well-guarded secret.
She bites the side of her lip, and I again have the desire to kiss away that worry.
“Yeah, like stuff that has nothing to do with you making me react that way.”
Why do women like to speak in riddles? “I’m afraid I still don’t understand.”
She huffs, rolling her eyes to the grey sky, muttering something I can barely hear over the harsh wind coming off the sea.
I catch something aboutother men,and it clicks.Christ, how could I be so stupid?“Did someone hurt you before?”
She looks down again, throat bobbing as she swallows hard. That’s answer enough. Of course, there’s some huge reason why this gorgeous American woman would find herself not just transplanted to my small country, but also remaining single. And I’ve pushed her, made her uncomfortable. I want to lift her face back to mine, to fall under the spell of her amazing eyes, but she was hesitant to accept my hand earlier; perhaps she’s wary of my touch.
“Then I am truly sorry, Aurelia. I hope you’ll allow me the chance to prove that my intentions are pure.”
She does look up at me now and snorts the most adorably undignified laugh. “Are they?”
I shrug. “Hmm. About eighty-five percent.” I shoot her my best smoldering smirk. “I can keep a rein on the other fifteen.”
Her cheeks are already rosy from cold and exertion, but the color deepens, and her lips make a tight line. “See that you do.”
“Yes, mi’ lady,” I say as I place a hand over my heartin solemn promise. “May I join you for the rest of your run?”
“I, um, actually prefer to run alone,” she replies, once again shy. “I really should get going. The children will be awake soon.” She gives a small curtsy. “Your Highness.” And she’s off again, replacing her earbuds before I can get in another word.
I can’t help but watch her go. Her auburn ponytail swishes as she picks up pace. The outline of thick thighs in black leggings has blood rushing to the exact wrong place for a run. Aurelia turns a corner, perfectly round ass now out of sight, and I continue my own trek, all thoughts about duty and marriage and responsibilities pushed aside for an American nanny with legs I’d kill to have wrapped around my face.
