Page 10 of Trap ’N’ Trace

As he drove away from the castle, he gunned the SUV toward the looming iron gates. He couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

Chapter Four

“Katrina, we need to talk.” Colin set his mug on the coffee table.

Emily had stayed late to make sure she was okay, and Francine—her cook and housekeeper—had left roasted tomato bisque and a warm, gooey Gruyere Panini. Colin had joined her for dinner, and she’d polished off her food.

“Isn’t that what we’ve been doing?” Well into the night, to be precise.

After driving her to pick up her car, they’d talked for hours. Now, Angus’s little snores were making her envious. The puppy was fast asleep on the dog bed she’d set in a corner of the living room. What she really wanted was to take a hot bath then fall into bed. Unfortunately, Colin had insisted on hearing every last detail.

“Not about that.” He clasped her hand, something he’d been doing a lot lately. Ever since her breakup with Chad. “About our future.”

Our future? The mug in her other hand froze halfway to her lips.

“We’re not kids anymore,” he continued. “You’re thirty-three, and I’m thirty-six. Your birthday is right around the corner.”

“I know that.” They’d grown up together and, despite his occasional snobbishness, had been friends for over twenty years. The food she’d just eaten soured in her stomach.

He squeezed her hand. “It’s time for us to settle down and have a family.”

She blinked. Surely, she’d misheard him. “What exactly do you mean?”

“I mean, you and me. We’re a good match. A good fit.”

“A good fit?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You make it sound like a business merger.”

“You know what I mean.” The look on his face became more determined, and the souring food in her belly turned into pure vinegar. “We come from the same backgrounds. We understand each other, and I would never hurt you.”

“What you mean is, you would never hurt me like Chad did.” She tugged her hand from his and set down her mug. The constant reminder of her latest failed relationship and very public breakup was a thorn in her side that she couldn’t pull out.

He nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. You know I don’t need your money.”

The tightness in her chest was her heart shriveling. Was this really what her personal life had boiled down to, a business transaction? That can’t be all there is. She shook her head. “I want to marry for love.” The words sounded naive, even to her. Especially considering how she’d all but given up on that ever happening, and he knew it because she’d vented to him about it. “But you don’t love me. Not like that, anyway.”

“I love you as a friend, and I respect you. I know you feel the same about me.” When he cupped her face, she willed her body to offer up some kind of physical response. It didn’t. Ironically, being in Agent Andrews’s arms had. “We’re different from other people, and we understand each other. We can make this work. We’re not getting any younger.”

That much was true, and until that moment she hadn’t realized that even men had biological clocks, and Colin had decided his was ticking away.

She dragged a hand down her face. Hers was, too. That didn’t mean she was ready to compromise all her hopes and dreams.

He let his hand drop. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I’m thinking that a marriage of convenience isn’t right for me, especially not for money reasons. I refuse to believe that I’m only destined to be with someone whose bank account rivals my own. That would pretty much eliminate all but one percent of the world’s male population. Maybe more.” It might also eliminate the possibility of ever finding someone who truly loved her. Her parents had married for love, and she always assumed she would, too.

“You should consider it, anyway. In time, I think you’ll change your mind. I’ll call you.” He leaned over and before she could turn away, he kissed her on the lips.

Again, not a flicker of sexual awareness. A moment later, he was gone. That was it. Business meeting over. Not that she would actually consider it, but was this what a marriage to Colin would be like? All business and no passion?

Yes, the nausea in her belly warned.

She stood and went to the window. It was too dark outside to see much except the soft glow of lights on the Tappan Zee Bridge. Despite rejecting Colin’s offer, she was tired of being alone without someone to share her life with. She’d even considered online dating under a made-up name. That would have been the only way to meet men without constantly wondering if they were secretly calculating her net worth. But she didn’t like the idea of being dishonest. Too bad she couldn’t pick the perfect guy from a catalogue.

It was tough, especially with all the world watching her every move.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her slumped posture. She had to stay strong. Whatever happened, she was not marrying Colin.

Wind buffeted the windows and heavy rain obscured most of the view. She couldn’t make them out in the darkness, but knew the Hudson was alive and dancing with whitecaps. It never ceased to amaze her how the river could be as shiny and reflective as a mirror one minute, rough and violent the next. Beautiful but at times, deadly.