Page 37 of Incognito

“I couldn’t have done it without Natasha,” he said, his frown clearing as he smiled at her, warming her from the inside out.

“Hmm.”

Gina’s guarded response and sideways stare almost sent Natasha scuttling back to the motorbike, but at that moment a small boy ran around the corner of the sandstone mansion, screamed, and lunged at Dante.

“Hey, Paolo, my little man. Happy birthday,” Dante said, squatting to hug the little boy close, before picking him up and swinging him high in the air, eliciting more ear-splitting shrieks.

Natasha’s breath caught in her throat as she watched Dante and Paolo laughing, before Dante stopped spinning Paolo and their foreheads touched as they rubbed noses.

The joy on their faces, the emotion of a special shared moment, made her heart clench.

She wanted that.

She craved a special connection, the heart-wrenching elation that came with being with the right person, and sharing a family with them.

In that moment, in the waning afternoon sunlight on a clear Melbourne day, it hit her.

She wanted that special connection with Dante.

The realisation made her shiver and she wrapped her arms around her middle, reluctant to acknowledge the startling revelation and determined to ignore it.

Her discombobulation must be a result of the excitement after that damn motorbike ride. The stupid speed machine had rattled her brain. But the longer she tried to deny it, the more her gaze was drawn to the cosy picture of uncle and nephew cuddling and how much Dante affected her.

“Dante is smitten with my son.”

Natasha managed a polite smile for Gina and nodded. “He sure is. Not that I blame him. Your son’s adorable.”

“Spoken like a woman who doesn’t have children.” Gina’s cynical laugh raised the hairs on the back of Natasha’s neck and she wracked her brain for something to say.

“You have a lovely home. Do you enjoy living in Melbourne?”

This time, Gina’s harsh cackle bordered on a snort. “Melbourne is convenient. We’re settled here now and it’s far enough away from Calida to keep me sane.”

The bitterness in Gina’s voice surprised Natasha, and before she could say anything else or make frantic eye signals in Dante’s direction for him to save her from his embittered sister, Gina stepped closer. and dropped her tone to barely whisper pitch.

“Dante’s not like me though.” Her low tone, barely above a whisper, made Natasha uncomfortable. “He is a born and bred Calidian. It is his destiny to be crowned the country’s leader.”

“I’m sure it is,” Natasha said, wishing she’d opted for a quiet afternoon in her room rather than this.

“You know this thing between you and my brother can’t be serious, don’t you? When he returns, he’ll be taking a bride and ascending to the throne, so don’t grow too attached.” Gina made a tsk-tsk sound that annoyed Natasha more than the truth bombs she detonated. “My brother has a duty to our homeland and won’t give that up even for… what you can offer.” Gina shrugged. “After the trouble you’ve gone to for my son’s party, I feel it only fair to warn you.”

Icy dread trickled through Natasha’s veins. Nothing Gina said surprised her. She’d known Dante had responsibilities back home; he’d said as much.

As for what she could offer, it didn’t take a genius to figure out what Gina implied.

But it still hurt.

The cold, harsh reality, that Dante could only be toying with her, hoping for a final fling before settling down, hurt. A lot.

Fixing a brittle smile in place, she nodded at Gina. “Thanks for your concern, but Dante and I are just friends.”

With that, Natasha forced her feet to move and walked over to Dante and Paolo, where the little curly haired cherub took one look at her and ducked his head into the crook of his uncle’s shoulder.

“Paolo, meet my friend Natasha. She helped me bring the animals and jumping castle here. And later, you’ll see what she helped me choose for your present. Please use your manners and say hello.”

Dante winked at her and tickled Paolo, who lifted his head and peeked at her with wonder in his dark eyes.

“Tasha? My birfday?”

---