Ludwig hadn’t felt that the minor details he was able to provide were very helpful, despite assurances from the artist and the police that they were, very much so.

The rest of that day, and the one after were a blur of activity where he hadn’t spent nearly enough time with Angelica, and thus she dominated his thoughts. As he pored over page after page of convicts mugshots, mentally, it was her face that kept appearing in his mind. But he forced himself to concentrate. He’d told her that he would do whatever he could, and having been a witness to the couple who warned pedestrians of the bomb, helping to identify one or both of them was all he could do to help now.

Last night when he took the now familiar tunnel route to the Harem, he found her in bed, already asleep, exhausted from her own busy day.

Tired as he was, he still longed to caress and kiss every inch of her, but he restrained his impulses, not wanting to wake her, and carefully got in bed, then even more carefully scooted up behind her and fell asleep, breathing in her scent.

Now he could only stare at her, marveling at how he’d gotten so lucky to find the most amazing creature he could’ve ever imagined.

She stirred beside him, waking up.

He ran his fingers along her arm until he got to her fingers. Then, he put her hand on his bare chest, pulling her closer to him, cuddling her, wanting to keep her there for as long as he could.

“What time is it?”

“I could grab my phone, but I really don’t want to move.” The gray light streaming in through a small gap in the curtains told him it was early enough that they could linger in bed. “I’ve been thinking about what you said about the people having no money to repair the buildings that were damaged in the bombing.”

“And what is that?” She really hadn’t spoken about it but she had been worried. The structural reports that were coming in showed a great deal more than they had initially thought. It may be because the buildings were old. Several of the shops and apartments above needed to be updated anyway. She just didn’t know how to do everything that needed to be done, and to help them financially the way they needed.

“As you know, I’m an engineer, plus I have experience in rebuilding.” He pulled her over his body. “I have a whole team that could come in and help. My payment is to be there to assist.”

That was a very peculiar statement. “You won’t be billing for your services?”

“Nein.” His grin widened. “All I want, in exchange for my time and the interest on the money I’ll be advancing—my money, not Siobhan’s or the bank’s—is that from today on, I am a fixture in your life. I know you’re very busy. I just want a commitment from you that when you do get some free time, you’ll share some of it with me.”

She propped her chin on her hand and looked up at him. “Not that I’m complaining but don’t you have a business to run and partners to answer to?”

He looked up at the ceiling, trying to figure out if he should tell her or not. What he really wanted to tell her was how he felt. He wanted to tell her how she made him feel. But he also got the sense that if he did that, she would run away. After having been on the other side of a similar conversation with Diane, he didn’t want to force the issue. Not unless he had to.

She narrowed her eyes up at him. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“I’m working. I’m looking into opening a Lekten Royal Bank branch here.” He sighed. “And I’m going back to Lekten today.”

Angelica didn’t know what to say. Was he really trying to tell her that he wanted to find a way to put down roots here? Was he trying to give her a sense of hope? Aragon was not his home. She knew that. What was he thinking?

It couldn’t be the sex. Yes, even being inexperienced she could tell it was good for both of them. But she refused to believe the sex was enough to sway the heart and mind of a man. Especially someone like Ludwig.

She wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but she stopped herself. What if he tells me and I don’t like his answer? Or what if he scares me with his answer?

Would he stay? If she continued to have days where he was pushed to the side and her country took precedence, would he stay for that? Would his ego allow it?

She kept her gaze away, afraid if she looked at him he’d see her feelings in her eyes. Feelings she didn’t quite understand herself. Or perhaps, simply couldn’t accept.

The truth of the matter was, she had no idea what she wanted apart from the fact that she wanted him.

As she continued to stare at him blankly, he began to worry.

Was she about to react the same way he had reacted to Diane? How was it that he found himself in a situation like this? In the bed of the most beautiful woman he could ever imagine…and not being wanted by her. What a strange turn of events.

“Really?” She sat up and got out of bed, gathered her robe and prepared for a shower. “Well, that should be interesting.”

“That should be interesting?”

She didn’t know how to have a conversation like this. The only people she was emotionally attached to were people who couldn’t leave her. She was starting to feel something for him and it terrified her.

The thought of settling down with a man like Ludwig…it was preposterous. She didn’t want to invest anything more in him emotionally only for him to decide that living with her was too hard.

She didn’t know the little things about him. His likes and dislikes or his relationship history, which must be pretty extensive, considering his reputation. She didn’t know if he simply wanted today with her, or something more.

Besides, if she had learned anything from Abelardo, it was that most men could not stand playing second fiddle to a woman. Especially not a strong man like Ludwig.

Eventually, she was going to have to find some man to marry. Her mother would insist on it. They needed heirs, and at some point, she was going to have to produce them. The idea of him wanting to settle down with someone like her was too good to be true.

She walked into the shower, her heart churning, her mind racing. Her mind kept calling up images of what their life could be. Which was moronic.

She blinked and turned the shower knob.

As the water fell over her, Angelica pretended the wetness on her face was only that: shower water.