Page 16 of Afraid to Hope

“Bane.”

“I find your brashness unappealing, Bane.”

“You just lied to me again. You’re definitely interested in me, and I find you as attractive as hell.”

“You need to dial it back.”

Bane’s asymmetrical grin accompanied eyes that danced with merriment. “Liar, liar.”

“So, our”—Natasha twisted in her chair—“marriage. What’s our story?”

Bane studied her as he spoke. “Our attraction to each other was immediate. Like, boom!” He clapped his hands together, making Natasha jump. “In the hotel lobby. We met when we were checking in at the same time. We were never apart.”

Natasha snickered. “What an imagination. You can spin a story like no one I’ve ever known.”

“Work with me,” he encouraged. “It was wild and passionate. I proposed and we decided to marry before the second week was out.”

“No one who knows me is going to buy this.”

“Oh, they will. I am very convincing,” he said, grinning wolfishly.

Natasha’s insides flipped and fluttered.

“We got married on the beach. At sunset. Barefoot.”

Isn’t he the romantic?Surprised, Natasha nodded. If she ever married, saying her vows at sunset on a remote beach was her dream wedding. “Where were we exactly?”

“Fiji, and as far as our honeymoon, we’re still on it,” he drawled, giving her a sexy, crooked smile. His demeanor turned serious. “You can’t be uptight or prickly around me. You’ve got to sell it. Sell us. We both have to. Can you do that?”

Natasha drew a deep breath and sat up straighter. “I can. Next.” She squinted at him. “Interests and hobbies?”

“Many, and I’m open to exploring more. I participated in sports growing up. Worked the farm with my family. I enjoy hanging with my family and friends. Photography.”

“So, photography plays well into your cover.”

“Yep.”

“Tell me more.” She sat forward and placed her elbow on the table, supporting her chin on the heel of her hand. “I’m supposed to know you.”

“I enjoy the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, and tinkering.”

“I’ve never fished, but I’d like to try it. What’s tinkering?”

“Tinkering is figuring out how things work or getting them to work again, hands-on, experiential. My grandfather got me interested when he’d work on antique farm equipment. Keeps my mind and hands busy.”

Natasha studied Bane’s large hands. His broad fingers were long with wide nails, which he kept short. They looked strong enough to kill a man. Could they also be tender? She glanced up and sucked in her breath; intensity swirled in his hazel depths.

Bane’s rugged voice brushed across her nerves. “What about you?” he asked softly.

“I love to cook, garden, and stay active.”

“I like to eat. You enjoy games.”

Natasha nodded. “Very much. And I’m good at them.”

“So am I. We’re going to make an excellent team.”

A few hours had passed before Emmet asked Matilda to have Simon bring the car around. He faced Natasha and Bane. “While we’re waiting on Simon, a few things.”

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