I don’t think you’re cold.’
She smiled at him almost shyly. Their initial distrust and differences had been put aside – at least for the moment. It seemed so obvious to her now. What she first thought was conceit and arrogance wasn’t that at all. It was part of a defence mechanism, a shield. Creating an armour against the world was hardly something she could criticise him about when she spent so much time, perhaps too much, behind her own. She could see, feel, that it was a relief for both of them to have a break from it, even for a just a few moments, revealing themselves to each other, if no one else.
‘So,’ Hero began, ‘you do actually have a fear of commitment, just not your own.’
He thought about that for a moment, then gave her a lopsided smile. ‘I guess so.’
She nodded, understanding, empathising, before breaking eye contact with him. Nick drew another deep breath before pulling her back closer. Without thinking, Hero let her body follow, feeling the warmth of him through the fine material of her gown. His slow, steady breaths soothed her. She knew she was on dangerous ground. But right at this moment, she didn’t care. Right now, it felt as though this was exactly where she should be. Resting her hands on the warm, muscular arm that encircled her waist, she didn’t need – didn’t want – that mask she usually wore. And as she felt his lips softly brush her hair, Hero closed her eyes and let the moment envelop her.
‘You tired?’ Nick’s deep tones drifted close to her ear.
‘A little,’ she replied. The truth was she could so easily stay here with this man, feeling his strength and his comfort, and not move for the next several days. It had been a long, although beautiful, day. Emotions had run high and Juliet had burst into tears on more than one occasion, especially with Hero. Hero’s eyes, as always, remained dry but Juliet knew it wasn’t because she didn’t care. Crying just wasn’t something she did. Not for a long time. She’d smiled as the ceremony came to its climax and everyone cheered, welcoming Juliet into her new family and her new life. Again, Hero had smiled. Smiling was the only way to stop the panic rising in her. Suddenly she felt alone. Out here in this land where their father had been born but that had meant nothing to either of his daughters. Now, to one it meant everything, and Hero felt cast adrift.
‘What’s up?’
‘Nothing.’ She closed her eyes again, pushing away the panic that had begun to creep towards her again. Her hands tightened almost imperceptibly on Nick’s arm.
‘So why don’t I believe you?’
She shrugged against him.
Feeling the soft kiss on her hair, her breaths gradually slowed. What was it with this man who could make her mad one moment and chase away her demons in the next.
‘You know your sister is worried about you.’ His words were a statement, not a question.
‘I know. She doesn’t need to be though. I’m fine.’
‘She thinks you work too hard.’
‘I like keeping busy.’
‘There’s keeping busy, and there’s back-to-back assignments.’
Hero drew in a breath and let it out slowly, concentrating on the glittering stars and the warmth of Nick’s body behind her.
‘A girl has to pay the rent,’ she said, trying to lighten the mood, not to mention deflect the enquiry.
‘I don’t mean to be nosy, but I’m pretty sure you’ve probably got that covered.’
‘Maybe. But I like to be sure.’
‘Why do I get the feeling there’s more to this?’ Nick asked, getting his answer as he felt Hero’s body tense within his arms.
‘Of course there isn’t. I just like to be sure I’m financially prepared and independent. I know that’s still quite a radical view to take in some parts, but that’s what happens when you invite outsiders into your world.’
Nick smiled. ‘Not me. I’m all for that.’
‘Good to hear.’
‘So, what do you do to relax?’
‘I …’ What did she do to relax? She spent time with Anya shopping, and visiting restaurants. She liked to read but the only times she ever seemed to be able to sit down with a book was on a long-haul flight like the one that had brought her here, although even then she never seemed to get far as fatigue overtook her and sleep won over reading.
‘What do you do to relax?’ Hero turned the question on him.
She felt the deep rumble of laughter as he squeezed her a little more. ‘Oh no, you don’t. I asked first.’
She sighed dramatically.
‘And don’t try and pull that diva stuff on me. I know you better than that now.’
She could hear the smile in his voice as he teased her.
‘I suppose I go out with friends to relax.’
‘And do you?’
‘Do I what?’
‘Relax. It’s just that you’ve seemed as tight as a wound spring all day here.’
‘No, I haven’t.’
Nick tipped her up and twisted positions so that her legs now lay over his and she was looking up into his face in surprise.
‘What are you doing?’
‘If you’re going to fib to me, you have to look me in the eye when you do it.’
Hero drew herself up. ‘I’m not fibbing.’ Was she?
In the low light from the function room’s porch, she met his eyes and he knew that she was.
‘I don’t know anyone here. It’s different.’ Her voice was soft, and Nick pulled her a little closer, not just so that he could hear her but because there was something so hurt, so fractured in that tone that made him want to wrap his arms around her and protect her from whatever it was that had created that pain.
‘You know me.’
A flicker of a smile danced on her face. ‘I think that probably goes for most of the women in this district from what I’ve witnessed today.’
He grinned at her, even white teeth showing against the dark shadow on his jawline.
‘Point taken. OK, so you know all our family, and most people here are pretty easy going and I find it hard to see that someone would turn down the opportunity of talking to a stunner like you.’
She dropped her gaze, knowing that, in a way, he was right. What she’d got used to at home, though, was wondering whether they were talking to her because they were interested, or whether it was because they wanted to be seen to be talking to her, or because they thought she might be useful in furthering their own cause. She knew how cynical her slant on it all was. Unfortunately, it seemed to prove itself over and over.
