Chapter Twenty-eight

NATE

It was one of the hardest things I'd done to go to my bedroom and leave Alex to head to his. I wanted to hold him, kiss him, and have hot sex because that snog outside had revved me up. But more than anything, I wanted to be with him.

As I settled under the duvet, I realised I hadn't told him I'd been kicked out. Tomorrow would be soon enough for that. I could get a room in a hotel, where he could spend time with me if he could sneak away from the Fortescues.

Despite thoughts of Alex, I slept badly. Dreams of Mrs Fortescue shifting into a dragon and eating me were disturbing, to say the least, and when I managed to fall asleep again, I dreamed of Ella crying. Then the snarl of Steven's Ferrari woke me at three am. It seemed that Charlie wasn't the only party animal in the family.

When I next woke and found it was daylight, the first thing I did was reach for my phone to text Alex. When are you going for breakfast?

As I lay waiting for his reply, I looked around the room. It wouldn't take me long to pack, but I needed coffee first, as long as Mrs Fortescue wasn't at the breakfast table.

I snatched up my phone when a text came in. Been frog-marched to a river cruise today, so breakfast was hours ago. :sadface:

Damn it. I'd thought the days of group outings were over now the ice between the two families had been broken. See you this evening? I've been evicted, btw. I'll text where to meet.

If I don't turn up, you'll know we hit an iceberg.

I breakfasted in solitary splendour, which was vastly better than encountering any Fortescues at the table. Once I'd finished, I wasn't sure what to do next. I needed to pack, though I should also re-read my notes for this afternoon's interview. As all the Fortescues appeared to be out, I'd do that first.

I was surprised the interview hadn't been cancelled in the circumstances. Perhaps I should withdraw, but there was the tantalising possibility of getting into their bank and finding some useful intel for Bim. And I wanted them to offer me the job for my own reasons. I wanted the reassurance that I was good enough to be promoted. I'd blamed my circumstances for my stalled career, but sometimes, lying awake in the early hours, I found myself wondering if that was the real reason. If the Fortescues offered me this role, I'd know, once and for all, that I was good enough.

Sunshine streamed through the drawing room windows as I tried to concentrate on my notes. Thoughts of Alex kept intruding. How amazing he was, how generous he was, forgiving me so readily for hurting him the way I had, and the addiction of his kisses. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to wait till tonight to see him again.

"Nate." Steven stood in the doorway, a mug in each hand. "I'd like to talk to you."

Nothing could have been less welcome. "I'm busy."

"Just for a moment," he said. "Look, I've brought coffee as a peace offering. I was a bit of a dick the other night."

The same as he'd been every other time I'd met him. But I'd kill for another coffee, so I took it.

"I hear you helped Charlie out." He lowered his bulk into a chair, facing me. "Have to admit, I was surprised. I thought the two of you were over years ago."

"We were," I said.

"How long do you think he'll need to be there? Munich, isn't it?"

"I'm unsure." I wasn't going to tell him anything about Charlie. A swift subject change was in order. "I'm surprised you're not at work."

"I have things to tie up here," he said.

When that appeared to be the extent of his contribution to the conversation, I cudgelled my brain for something more to say. "Are you still in Wealth Management?"

His jaw clenched as he stared suspiciously at me. "Are you trying to get information out of me?"

I'd been attempting to make polite conversation. Somehow, I'd forgotten how ill-equipped Steven was for such a venture. Or for anything, really. Except perhaps riding a bicycle.

"Just passing the time," I said, weighing up how badly I needed this coffee. Not that badly, I decided, and glanced around for somewhere to put the mug so I could leave.

"I'm sorry," Steven said, which was a first. "Confidentiality is drilled into us from the very start, so I was a little too quick off the mark there."

Damn him, how was it he couldn't do anything right? Of all the times to apologise. It would be churlish for me to leave now.

I nodded slightly to acknowledge his apology and we sat in awkward silence.

ALEX

This was like being a schoolkid again, being marched in a group through the city centre to the river. At least we didn't have to hold hands in a crocodile.

The only reason I was along was because Margaret had ordered it. "Anna wants to scope out her future son-in-law a bit more," she'd said. "She's noticed you don't often come with us on these outings and asked specifically for your presence. I'll keep an ear out, so leave me to deal with it if she crosses a line."

It was a beautiful morning down by the river. There'd been a frost overnight, and mist hung over the water, shrouding the graceful stone arches of Pulteney Bridge in a ghostly haze. A striking scene for a photo. Not so great in reality, with the scent of dampness and polluted river water overpowering to dragon senses. I shoved my hands in my pockets, trying not to freeze my butt off as we waited for the boat's captain to stop talking to Anna Fortescue and let us board. Apparently, there was food and drink aboard, and I was famished. It was almost an hour since breakfast. If I didn't get something to eat soon, I'd probably pass out. Let us on board, damn it.

The reason for the delay was some sort of problem with the engine, and Anna Fortescue suggested coffee in a nearby café while that was sorted out. I took the opportunity to stop Margaret from going in with the others, and I told her what Nate had said about the Fortescues' ruthlessness.

She pursed her lips and didn't speak for a moment or two. "Bearing in mind that is only Nate Mortimer's opinion—"

"He spent years with them, and from what he said, his family's the same."

"Only Mortimer's opinion," she repeated sternly, "I still think this is too dangerous a game for us to be playing. I think we'll have a need to go home tomorrow."

She took hold of my hand, something so unusual I didn't want to hear what was coming next. "Alex, darling, I hate to use you like this, but one way we could get out of this situation without causing offence is to let it slip about your mother being human. I doubt they'll be interested in pursuing a partnership between you and Ella after that, and none of the others here are directly in line to the succession. I think that'll get us out of it quite nicely, but I won't do it without your permission."

"I don't give a toss what they think of me," I said truthfully. "Tell them whatever you want so long as it gets me off the hook for today."

"I suppose you've earned that. No doubt you intend to do things I don't want to know about with that Mortimer dragon."

"He's called Nate," I snapped, because it smarted that she was still treating him as if he was no different from the Fortescues. "He can't help the family he was born into. And being a banker isn't a sin on its own. Neither is being wealthy."

Shit. I had no idea where that anger had come from. But as I stared in horror at Margaret, waiting for her to tell me she'd have my wings andtail for such impertinence, I realised the truth of what I'd said.

All this time, I'd been thinking how much I cared for Nate despite the fact he was a rich banker. As he'd said to Ella about Jane Austen, that was denying his full identity. I'd made up my mind what bankers were like before I'd even met one. My attitude was no different from the way Anna Fortescue judged me.

"Well," Margaret said. "I'm beginning to think the family won't be in such bad hands when your father and I have shuffled off this mortal coil, although you do need to work on your diplomacy, Alex."

Deeply relieved, I dared to kiss her cheek before turning to get the hell out of there. On my way past the café window, I threw a salute at Fiona and got a betrayed glare in return. Then a text. You're deserting me to the most awkward river cruise ever?

Dead right. I have better things to do.

Such as Nate. I really wanted to do Nate. I sped up as I thought of all the things we could do with everyone else out of the house.

NATE

"My father said he's thinking of offering you a job." Steven broke the lengthening silence while I drank my coffee.

"He is. That's what I need to do now—prep for the meeting this afternoon."

"They won't have you, you know."

"I'm sorry?"

He'd sounded so sure.

"You're a Mortimer."

"I'm aware of that fact. As is your father, and also your uncle, whom I'm meeting later."

Steven flushed dark red. Suddenly, I didn't care about politeness. I hated this prick. I stood up to leave, and the room moved. Strange. I must need some fresh air.

"See you around," I said, or tried to. It came out sounding as if I'd necked a bottle of vodka. What the hell? I was swaying, reaching out blindly to the back of the chair to steady myself. What was wrong with me?

"Come on, Nate. Finish your coffee."

Steven was standing in front of me, yet I hadn't seen him move. He tipped my head back, his fingers digging into the hinge of my jaw to force it open. When I tried to push him away, my arms wouldn't work. I choked as he poured the last dregs of coffee down my throat, and he let me go.

"What've you done?" My thoughts were coming through a fog, yet I knew I had to get away from him. I staggered towards the doorway, but there were two of them, and both were moving. The world was whirling. I was lying down. Rug against my cheek. Couldn't move.

Tried to speak. Garbled sounds, then the floor moved like the sea and everything faded away.