Page 53 of Daniil
“Then why didn’t you ever reach out?”she asks, looking up at me.
“You left without even saying goodbye.It felt likeyoudidn’t want to hear from me.That’s why I was excited you were coming back—so I’d have another chance to prove that I was interested in more than sex.”
She abruptly stops walking and turns to me.“Is that true?Did you really want to see me again?Because from where I’m sitting, it feels like you’re saying things you think I want to hear so you can convince me to stay.”
I shake my head immediately.“No.That’s not true.Ask Lennox.I was excited for you to come back.I wanted to see you again, maybe ask you out on a proper date.She wouldn’t lie for me.Not to you.”
She pauses, searching my face carefully.“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you want to ask me out?I mean, there’s nothing wrong with me but you’re a prince and a playboy.Probably wealthier than anyone I’ve ever known.You can have anyone.And since you’re bisexual, that essentially opens up the whole world for you.”
“You do understand that being bisexual doesn’t mean I can’t be monogamous?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.I just meant you have a larger dating pool than the rest of us, so why pick the tomboy military girl?”
“Because from the first time I touched you, I was intrigued.”
“Again—why?There’s nothing special about me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”I reach out and run my fingers through a lock of her hair.“Your hair is gorgeous.The color reminds me of a sunset in the heart of summer.And your eyes are both beautiful and mysterious.Like emeralds, except with a soul.”
She’s wearing sunglasses so I can’t see them at the moment, but I can tell from her body language that she’s listening.Waiting for me to continue.And though I’ve never been much of a romantic, it comes easily with her.
“The physical attraction starts there,” I continue, “but then I found out more about you and everything I learned was a turn-on for me.Military—I love a woman who can give as good as she gets.A freakin’ helicopter pilot—come on, it doesn’t get much cooler thanthat.And then, when everything was on the line, you stepped up and saved a member of my family.”I hold up a hand to stop her when she starts to interrupt.“I understand you only did it because Lennox asked it of you, but the end result was the same.You showed bravery and strength, two things I admire a great deal.
“So yes, it started out as a good time.Sex.But even that was way above average.The more time I spent with you, the more I wanted.Touching you once was never going to be enough.Touching you a second time convinced me I needed to do something official.But you left before I could.”
She turns away, staring out at the horizon.
“You scared me,” she says after a moment.“Not physically.Just everything about you.Sex is one thing, but I couldn’t imagine a world where you chose me for more than that.And I didn’t want to be…disappointed.”
“I’m just a man, Courtney.”I reach for one of her hands, and though she still doesn’t look at me, she threads her fingers with mine.
“A rich, powerful one with a very convoluted past.”
“Does my past bother you?”
“The truth?”
“Absolutely.”
“What you did when you and Jesper divorced…bothers me a little.”
“Which thing?”I ask, since I don’t know how much she knows.
“You had two children together.Then you randomly decided not to be their father.Lots of divorced men are still fathers—why would you agree to it, even if he asked you to?”
There are so many answers to her question, it’s hard to narrow it down to one.
“That was a complicated time in my life.I did some things I’m not proud of and that’s one of them.”I gently tug her hand.“Can we walk as we talk?”
“Sure.”
I’m grateful she doesn’t pull her hand away.
“Jesper wanted children very badly.Me, I could take it or leave it, and I was honest about that.He said it didn’t matter—he had no problem raising them on his own if it came to that.That’s also why they’re both his biological children and not one of his and one of mine.I think deep down he knew I wasn’t as invested as he was.And then, when I broke his heart, the last thing I wanted to do was fight him about the kids.He asked me to walk away, and I did because it was easier, not necessarily because it was my choice.”
