Page 34 of Incognito

The indecision was killing him.

18

“Let me get this straight. He’s taking you to a kid’s party?”

Ella shook her head, tore the top off a sugar sachet, and tipped the contents into her short black coffee. “For a prince, the guy has no idea how to impress a woman.”

“He’s not trying to impress me,” Natasha said, sipping her mocha cappuccino and sighing with pleasure.

Dante didn’t have to. He impressed her just by being him.

Last night had sealed it.

Apart from being one of the sexiest men to walk the planet, Dante didn’t have many faults. Polite, cultured, approachable, he made other men pale in comparison.

Then he pulled out the big guns, showing her his soft side for animals and toys. Not fair. If she hadn’t liked him before, she would’ve fallen for him the moment he picked up that adorable rabbit and cuddled it.

“I think it’s sweet he’s taking me to his nephew’s party,” she said, spooning the last of a chocolate cannelloni into her mouth and smiling like she’d just gone to heaven. She’d tasted all the desserts in Luigi’s range and every calorie-laden morsel was to die for.

“Whoa Hold on a sec. You didn’t tell me it was his nephew’s party?” Ella’s eyes narrowed in speculation. “That puts an entirely different slant on proceedings.”

“You make it sound like a law case,” Natasha said, not minding her friend’s interrogation one bit.

It was a gorgeous Melbourne day, the type of crisp spring day with a hint of chill in the air but a glorious sun to warm you. She’d just finished her third last shift as stand-in concierge, organised another payment to Clay, and the end of the week loomed, bringing her one step closer to saving Telford Towers with Dante’s help.

At last, her life seemed to be improving.

Though things could be better if Telford Towers were safe and Dante wasn’t a prince destined to ride off into the sunset in the not too distant future, but hey, no use wishing for the impossible.

She learned that a long time ago.

“Why do you think it’s a big deal he’s taking me to his nephew’s party?” Natasha lay down her fork and pushed away her plate, patting her stomach with a groan.

“Because it is.” Ella snapped her fingers like a magician conjuring up doves out of a hat. “He wants to introduce you to the family. That’s serious.”

Natasha rolled her eyes. “It’s his sister, not his entire family. And he’s only asking me to go to make sure nothing goes wrong with the animals or the jumping castle.”

Ella made a pfft sound. “He can pay anybody to do that.” She stirred her latte before taking a sip. “Want to know what I think?”

“I’m sure you’ll tell me anyway.”

“He wants to get the royal stamp of approval. You know, like having you vetted before taking any big steps.”

“You’re out of your mind,” Natasha muttered, hating the tiny, irrational surge of hope deep in her soul that her friend could be right.

She’d never been any good at playing the ‘what if’ game, but since she met Dante she’d found herself doing it all the time.

What if the attraction between them meant something?

What if it grew into something more?

What if fairytales did come true and she finally got the happily ever after she’d only ever dreamed about?

But ‘what ifs’ could be painful. They led to silly dreams and big letdowns. If anyone should know, she should.

Assessing her situation logically, the only big steps Dante would be taking would involve him heading to the airport and back to Calida in the near future.

Ella shrugged. “Hey, it’s just my opinion.”

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