Page 43 of A Wanton Adventure
“I did, and I think travelers will love the area, especially the lighthouse.”
“Good,” he said.
They continued to walk, but Diana finally stopped. “What is it you really want, Captain Monroe?”
He rubbed the back of his neck and grinned. He was quite boyish, and Diana wondered if he was younger than her thirty-one years. Eventually, he said, “I was hoping you would accompany me to dinner in Porto?”
Her eyes widened. Was the captain flirting with her? She smiled, flattered. But she hesitated. She wasn’t sure why.“Perhaps you could take a group of us to dinner? I know others would love to join.”
“Like Devons,” he said with curiosity.
“Yes, he and I will be writing about all our stops, and it is beneficial if we go to the same places.”
His eyes met hers. “Is that all it is?”
Was he asking if something existed between her and Devons? That wasn’t any of his business, regardless of if there were or weren’t. Diana frowned at him. “We are associates and friends.”
He leaned in close to her. “Perhaps, then, you and I can share a glass of champagne one night.”
The captain was flirting with her! She hadn’t forgotten Devons’s warning that a dalliance with Captain Monroe might cause complications for the club, but that wasn’t what prevented her from agreeing. Something was missing. What was wrong with her? She wanted a flirtation, and here was a man interested in having one. Annoyed she felt like saying no, she instead said, “Let’s make plans after we visit Porto.”
He smiled, seemingly delighted with her suggestion. As they walked, he told her about Porto and what they could expect to see. Unfortunately, Diana was only partially focused on his descriptions as her mind kept going back to her discussion with Devons from earlier. She couldn’t believe she revealed so much to him. He probably thought she was an emotional mess. Devons put her at ease in a way no one else could. Well, besides, Stuart. The thought disconcerted her. Well, not exactly like her husband. She and Devons were only friends, Diana reminded herself.
“Is everything fine?” Monroe asked her.
Diana blushed, realizing she had stopped with no explanation. “I’m sorry. Please continue.”
She did her best to listen to Monroe but her mind flitted back to Devons. They’d agreed to be just friends, and Diana knew thatwas the best decision. He needed to focus on himself, and she wanted something brief. Still, they’d kissed. A kiss she hadn’t forgotten about. Yet the thought of pursuing an interlude with Devons, she suspected, wouldn’t be so simple. No, Diana didn’t want or need anything that would prove to be complicated. She pushed away the absurd notion of having any type of liaison with Devons and did her best to engage with Monroe.
Later that evening, Diana sat at the desk in her room, trying to form her thoughts about what to share with all of London. This would be her first missive about their trip and the first one printed in the papers. She was nervous. She wanted it to be exciting, clever, and intriguing. Things Diana felt she was none of.
“Good evening,” her aunt said, knocking on the door between them.
Diana rose and opened it for her. “I thought you were asleep, Aunt.”
“I’m about to, but I wanted to say goodnight.”
Diana smiled. “Thank you.”
Her aunt studied her, and Diana shifted nervously under her intense gaze. “You have come into your own away from England.”
“We haven’t been gone that long.”
“No, but I see it already. Travel suits you. And so does Devons,” she said with a wink.
Diana’s brows shot up at her statement. “I have no idea what you mean.”
Her aunt smiled at her slyly. “I think the man holds atendrefor you.”
A laugh escaped Diana. “That is ridiculous. He could have any woman he likes.”
“Oh, calm down. I’m not saying he is in love or going to propose, but he desires you. You can see it when he watches you.”
“He isn’t interested in pursuing any type of relationship right now.”
Her aunt tilted her head. “You two are becoming rather close. What has he told you?”
Diana wouldn’t reveal Devons’s broken heart. That was his story to tell. She shrugged and said, “Nothing.”
