Temptation crooked a finger and Kaitlin dug her nails into her palms. At least think about it, wailed her inner voice, but this time Kaitlin was prepared, and common sense was ready and waiting.
‘The risk is too great. All it takes is for one reporter to suspect. Hell, we could have been photographed through the window just now. And I won’t risk the scandal for the sake of a few hours in bed.’
Her parents would be livid, the press would have a field-day and she would have regrets—because it wasn’t Lady Kaitlin Derwent’s style.
‘So from now on it is business all the way. I’ll see you in the morning.’
CHAPTER NINE
DANIEL LOOKED ACROSS the private jet to where Kaitlin sat, back ramrod-straight, not so much as a crease in her white and blue floral dress, her focus apparently completely on the book in her hand. No sign now of the Kaitlin of two days before, curled up on the sofa, relaxed and animated, as she talked about her plans for the teens.
That Kaitlin had gone for good after the kiss they had shared—a kiss that still haunted his body and his mind. Despite the common sense that told him he had been a fool one hundred times over to suggest a fling with Kaitlin. Kaitlin was too complex, too different from the women he usually slept with.
Plus, the idea was fraught with risks of disastrous consequences for either or both of them. Three days with Kaitlin wasn’t worth the risk of having his family unearthed. Three days with him wasn’t worth Kaitlin scuppering her chances of a reunion with Prince Frederick or an alliance with some other member of royalty.
That was what she wanted—the path she had chosen or had had chosen for her—a life of wealth and security and pomp and ceremony and children. He could offer her only the first, on a temporary basis—hardly an offer worth consideration. And an offer he should never had considered.
He must have been mad to so much as kiss her.
Since then she had been coolly polite, kept herself distant both physically and mentally, and they hadn’t exchanged a word in private, hadn’t spent more than a minute alone. But, hell, he had a captive audience now, at forty thousand feet in the air—there was nowhere for her to go and his inner devil prompted him to speak.
‘Good book?’ he enquired.
‘Very, thank you.’
‘Hmm... Because I can’t help but notice you haven’t turned a page in the past twenty minutes.’
Her lips pressed together in clear annoyance. ‘You must be mistaken.’
‘I don’t think so. You do realise that even though we have decided not to pursue our attraction further that doesn’t mean we have to give up on actual conversation?’
‘Conversation is overrated.’ Kaitlin shook her head. ‘Sorry—that was rude. But it was conversation that led us to being so stupid, so it seems to me that we should keep all contact to a minimum.’
‘I don’t think that will work.
‘Why?’
‘Because I figure we need to talk about what happened and this seems like a good opportunity.’
‘There is nothing to say.’
‘So you still want to try and pretend it didn’t happen?’
‘Yup.’
‘Make like that kiss was imaginary?’
‘Yup.’
‘Not going to work. You don’t want the press or anyone to suspect a connection between us—but ignoring our attraction will make our body language awkward and we’ll pitch a vibe someone like April Fotherington will pick up. We have a press conference scheduled before the ball. And after.’
‘So what’s your solution?’
‘We spend as much time together as possible and eradicate the awkwardness.’
He could almost see another negative trembling on her lips, and then she closed her eyes and muttered something under her breath. Something that sounded like, ‘Lady Kaitlin, do your stuff.’
Opening her eyes, she looked at him coolly. ‘Fair enough. We’ll give that a try. Let’s start now and discuss the plan for Venice.’ Leaning down, she pulled out the ubiquitous notebook. ‘I’ve already looked at all the auction items and done some research. I’ve also studied the guest list and identified any people I know—art gallery owners or family friends—so I’ll make sure I network with them, raise awareness so that people will dig deep at the auction. I’ll also see if I can persuade a few more donations out of people as surprise items for the auction.’