‘You’re welcome,’ said Sophie. ‘He’s absolutely gorgeous.’
‘I know he is—although I’m heavily biased, of course!’ Molly gave a wide smile. ‘I must say, it makes a nice change to meet one of Rafe’s girlfriends—we only ever get to read about them in the papers.’
But Sophie became aware of the silence which fell like an axe between them the instant Molly carried the baby from the room. She met the silvery glint of Rafe’s shadowed gaze, wondering if she was imagining the unspoken undercurrents which suddenly made the atmosphere seem so hostile.
‘I like your sister-in-law,’ she said.
‘I’m sure she’d be delighted to have the royal seal of approval.’ His voice grew rough. ‘But you didn’t think it might be wise to wait for me before coming down to breakfast?’
From the way he was glowering at her, Sophie felt as if she were in the dock. Yes, she probably should have waited so they could come down to breakfast together, but she’d needed to get away from him this morning. Needed to get her head straight and her senses back to something like normality. She’d been terrified of being caught staring dreamily at him when he opened his eyes, which had been what she’d wanted to do. She’d wanted to stare at him and stroke her fingertips over his skin and never stop, because what had happened during the night had thrilled and scared her in equal measure. The sex had been...
She swallowed. It had been unbelievable. Different from the first time and from the time on the plane. She hadn’t known it could be like that. So dreamy. So close. Just as it was supposed to be...as if two people really had become one.
She remembered his arms wrapping around her and how unbearably excited she’d felt as he’d pulled her close. His kisses had been barely there at first—his mouth grazing over hers as if he had all the time in the world. As if he were exploring her in slow motion and bringing her to life—cell by delicious cell. And when at last he’d entered her, his penetration had been deep. So deep that she had gasped and murmured his name. But she’d murmured a lot of other stuff too, after he’d brought her to that seemingly endless orgasm which had left her feeling blindsided. Things she hadn’t been planning to say but which had suddenly seemed to spring from her lips. Did he understand Greek? She sincerely hoped not. Or perhaps he did. Perhaps he’d guessed she’d been murmuring sweet nothings and that was why he was glaring at her in that accusatory way.
‘I thought it might be easier if I introduced myself, rather than you having to explain it. Get the whole Princess thing out of the way.’ She shrugged. ‘I have to say that both Molly and your brother took it very much in their stride. And besides,’ she added, when his expression still showed no sign of softening, ‘I didn’t want to disturb you. You were sleeping like a baby.’
‘Really?’ Dark brows arched upwards. ‘You seem obsessed by babies.’
‘I was playing with your nephew, Rafe,’ she said, from between gritted teeth. ‘That’s what people do when they meet a baby for the first time. What am I supposed to have done which is so wrong?’
‘Did you tell them why you were here?’
‘Yes. I explained I was hiding from the press and you were helping me. Was that the right thing to say—or the wrong thing? Should I have run a list of correct responses before you? Perhaps you could have written me a few guidelines.’
But he was saved from having to answer by the return of Nick, his half-brother—who was brushing stray flakes of snow away from his face and hair.
Tall as Rafe and almost as eye-catching, Nick Carter had the same black hair and sculpted features as his brother. Sophie watched as the two men greeted each other.
‘How are the roads?’ Rafe asked.
‘What roads? It’s like a wasteland out there,’ said Nick grimly. ‘And I’ve just heard they’ve closed all the major airports.’
‘You’re kidding?’
‘I wish I was. I haven’t dared break the news to Molly.’
‘Can’t you postpone the service?’
‘At this time of year? With non-stop carol services and a vicar who’s run ragged?’ Nick pulled a face. ‘Fat chance. Which means most people aren’t going to be able to get here in time. Just Dad and whoever his current squeeze is.’
‘And Sharla, of course,’ said Rafe, after a barely perceptible beat. ‘She’s coming by helicopter.’
Something in his tone alerted Sophie’s senses again. Something which had started troubling her last night though she couldn’t for the life of her work out what it was. What wasn’t he telling her? What was it about Sharla which was making him so edgy? Or was she simply in danger of reading too much into a casual conversation because she wasn’t used to being inside a private home like this? Sharla was probably as lovely as her twin sister—and Molly was a complete delight.
So she sat and chatted as Rafe ate buttered eggs and he and Nick drank their way through a pot of strong black coffee. And when Nick said he was going to speak to Molly, Rafe suggested to her that they go back upstairs. Sophie nodded, but her emotions were all over the place. He’d been very cool with her and she needed to remember that. To remind herself that he could be cold and curt, and it was only during sex that he seemed to show any emotion. But they weren’t real emotions. She needed to remember that, too. Even she, with her laughable lack of experience, could work that one out.
Back in their room the bed had been made and a fresh fire lit in the grate. Someone had put a huge spray of seasonal holly in a jug on one of the window ledges—its spiky green leaves and scarlet berries contrasting with the dramatic whiteness of the snow outside. It looked beautiful, almost tranquil, but tranquil was the last thing Sophie was feeling as Rafe closed the door. She went straight over to the dressing table, sat down in front of the mirror and started to unpin her hair.
In the reflection of the glass, she saw him frown—as if her reaction wasn’t what he’d been anticipating. He walked across the room and put his hands on her shoulders, starting to caress them in a way which instantly made her want to melt, but she forced herself to wriggle away.
‘Don’t,’ she said.
‘Really?’
She supposed it was an indication of his arrogance that the note of surprise in his voice sounded genuine. ‘Yes, really.’ Meeting his gaze in the mirror, she picked up the brush and began to attack her hair.
‘You’re bored with sex already?’
She gave a short laugh. ‘Don’t be disingenuous, Rafe. I’m sure there isn’t a woman alive who wouldn’t find you physically attractive but my emotions aren’t something you can turn on and off, like a tap.’
‘Why bring emotion into it?’ he questioned carelessly.
‘Well, what about simple manners, then?’ She put the brush down and turned on him. ‘You were cold and accusatory towards me downstairs, yet the minute we get back to the bedroom I’m supposed to fall straight into your arms?’
He seemed taken aback by her frankness. ‘You seemed to be getting very cosy with my family.’
‘So? Would you have preferred it if I’d been aloof? Don’t you realise that’s what people expect me to be? It was actually lovely to meet people who treated me normally. People I didn’t have to put at ease, the way I usually do. Who didn’t seem to care that I was a princess. What’s your problem with that?’
‘I just don’t want them getting any false ideas about our relationship,’ he growled.
‘Oh, I wouldn’t worry your head about that.’ She gave a short laugh. ‘I’m sure your attitude towards me will be enough to convince them that we have no lasting future. It’s just a pity you’re managing to ruin the present in the process. Great way to live your life.’
For