Every year that Cash had played the Monte-Carlo Masters, he’d always jogged to and from practice. That day, for the first time, he grabbed a cab back to the harbour. Exhaustion swamped him. Two months off the court had put a serious dent not only in his fitness but also his sharpness—how well he saw the ball. All of it, bound together, made him dread the next week.

Brad had killed him on court, and Jamie had murdered him in the gym afterwards. His body ached all over. He’d need an ice bath and a massage to stand any chance of moving the next day, let alone being able to do it all over again.

Climbing up to Rupe’s boat was a feat of sheer willpower. It had to be, because he had nothing left in his legs. He managed to make it back to the stateroom without bumping into Rupe, who loved it when Cash struggled physically. It made Rupe feel better about his own piss-poor fitness levels.

Cash staggered into the stateroom and dropped his bag beside the door. Natalia was lying on the couch, reading a book, her feet resting on the arm. She glanced up and smiled, one of those smiles that instantly lifted his spirits.

“Hey, how was it?”

He moved her legs, wincing as he eased himself into the space next to her, and placed her feet in his lap. “Fucking awful.”

“Want me to run you a bath?”

Cash shook his head. “I need an ice bath.”

She pulled a face. “Rather you than me.”

“It’s the only way I’ll be able to move tomorrow.”

“Brad didn’t go easy on you, then?”

“I think he upped the ante on purpose. He’s certainly made his point.” Cash painfully climbed to his feet, already feeling stiffness in his hamstrings. “Best get this over with.”

He called down to the kitchen and asked for a couple of sacks of ice to be brought up. While he waited, he filled the bath halfway with cold water. When the ice arrived, he tipped it in, stripped down to his boxers, gritted his teeth, and stepped into the tub. He hissed and clenched his jaw as the freezing water bit into his skin. His teeth began chattering, and after five minutes, he couldn’t feel his feet.

Natalia poked her head around the bathroom door, her expression one of concern. “Cash, what do you need when you get out?”

“Warm clothes and a hot drink.”

“How long do you have to stay in there?”

“Fifteen long fucking minutes.”

She disappeared for a few moments. When she returned, she sat on the edge of the bath and began massaging his shoulders. He groaned and pressed closer to her. “That feels good.”

As soon as the alarm went off, Cash flew out of the bath and grabbed a towel.

“I’ve put some clothes on the bed,” Natalia said. “I’ll pop to the kitchen and fetch you a coffee. Get under the covers.”

“Now you’re talking,” he said.

She shook her head slightly. “You have a one-track mind.”

By the time she returned five minutes later with a large mug of coffee, Cash had burrowed under the quilt. His teeth had stopped chattering, but his body still felt cold.

“Here,” she said, passing him the mug. “Can’t you take a hot shower?”

“No. I need to warm up slowly.”

“I’ve never seen you take an ice bath after training.”

He sipped his coffee. “I don’t usually need to. Brad’s a bastard.”

She laughed. “He’s got your best interests at heart. How was it really?”

He grimaced. “I’m not as sharp as I should be.” When worry crossed her face, he squeezed her hand. “There’s plenty of time. How was your day?”

“Yeah, good. We got Em a dress for her date tonight.”

He waggled his eyebrows playfully. “And what did you get?”

She tapped the side of her nose with her forefinger. “You’ll have to wait and see. I left your credit card on the dresser.”

“Thanks,” he said, making a mental note to get her added to his account and have a second card sent out. He finished the coffee, put the mug on the bedside table, and flung the bedcovers to one side. “Get in. You’ll have me warmed up in no time.”

* * *

Rupe had agreed to go ashore for the evening, and with Emmalee on her date, Cash and Natalia would be alone. She was getting ready in Emmalee’s room because, apparently, she needed Emmalee’s help to get into the dress. She still hadn’t shown it to Cash, but he hoped she’d gone with less is more.

He headed up on deck, still stiff but not as sore as earlier. The ice bath and deep-tissue massage must have been working their magic. Spring had arrived in the Mediterranean, and he’d asked the staff to set up a table outside where they could dine and appreciate the spectacular view of Monte Carlo.

He corked a bottle of champagne––one glass wouldn’t hurt too much––and took a sip. For once, Rupe’s taste lived up to his bank balance. Cash glanced at the label. Jesus, Rupe had gone all out.

A gentle cough sounded behind him, and he turned around. It took a moment or two to find his voice. Rupe wasn’t the only one who’d gone all out.

“Wow.” His breathing quickened as Natalia walked slowly towards him.

She grazed her teeth over her bottom lip. “Is it too tarty?”

“Are you kidding?”

The dress was the colour of a fine burgundy, rich and dark. It plunged down to her navel, giving him a good eyeful of her magnificent cleavage, and a long side slit showed off one very shapely leg. Around the middle, a thin gold belt cinched her waist. She’d left her hair loose and kept her makeup light. Every part of him ached to touch her.

“Come here.” He held out his hand. She put her silver clutch bag on the table and took it. “You look stunning. If this is what you come back with, I’ll send you shopping more often.” He pulled her into his arms, and they began to dance around the deck.

“There’s no music,” she said. He began to hum out of tune, and she laughed. “Oh well, I guess you can’t be good at everything.”

He chuckled and spun her around. He loved to dance. It reminded him of happier times with Mum, before everything turned to shit. He shook the negative thought from his head. His mother would dance again. He was certain of it.

“I missed you today,” he said, pressing his cheek to hers.

“Missed you too.”

He pulled back and tilted his head to the side. “But you had a good time with Emmalee?”

“We had a great time.”

“Are you hungry? Rupe’s had the staff go the extra mile.”

“Very.” Her lips brushed his ear. “And not only for food.”

Cash’s stomach was tied in knots. He could barely force the food down, what with Natalia dressed in the sexiest outfit he’d ever seen, and the fact she kept rubbing her calf against his leg and touching his hand, his arm, his face. All he wanted was to rip the damned dress off and make love to her right there on the deck. He was about to suggest it when she gave him a flirtatious glance.

“Do you want your present?”

He slowly raked a gaze over her body. “I thought I already had it.”

“I bought you something else. With my own money.” She wrinkled her nose. “Well, the bank’s money. But it’s kind of the same thing.”

A rush of excitement made his pulse jump. “I never get gifts.”

Melancholy darkened her face. “That’s so sad.”

He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’m about to get one.”

“You are.” She pushed her chair back and walked across to the table where she’d left her bag. Intrigued, Cash followed. She pulled out a small square box and held it in the palm of her hand. “Open it,” she urged, pressing her palm closer to him.

Cash took hold of the box and flipped the lid. Inside, nestled on dark-blue satin, lay a pair of silver cufflinks in the shape of tiny tennis rackets. “Oh, wow, baby. They’re great.”

“Turn them over. Look on the inside.”

He did as she asked, and his heart flipped. She’d had them inscribed with the letter C intertwined with four points of the letter N. He lifted his eyes to hers.

“I love them.”

“Honestly?”

“Yes.” He removed the cufflinks he’d put on earlier and replaced them with the ones Natalia had bought, thrilled with the thought behind the gift. His hands curved around her waist, and he pulled her towards him. “Why didn’t you come into my life sooner?”

She gave the secret smile she kept only for him. “Because you weren’t ready for me until now.”