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“It’s—what did you call it? It’s the fifteenth century for men like my father.”
Kaz picked up his spoon, started to dip it into his bowl, then set it down.
“Let me be sure I understand this. You don’t want to get engaged. Sorry. Betrothed.”
“No.”
“You don’t want to marry the prince.”
“No.”
Kaz stared at her. “Goddammit, are you telling me the truth?”
She stared straight back, her gaze unflinching. Why was she saying all this to him? She didn’t know, but it was too late to take any of it back.
“The absolute truth.”
His expression was one of disbelief. She could hardly blame him.
“Did you tell this to Zach?”
She shook her head. “There would have been no point.”
“But you’re telling it to me.”
“Yes.”
“Because?”
Their eyes met. Held. Her heart thudded, and she broke the connection and looked down at her soup.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know.” His mouth twisted. “Could it be because you think I’m an easier mark? That I’ll turn my back and let you run?”
“Run?”
“Yes. Run.”
“You don’t understand. My mother is dying. She thinks this match is perfect. How could I run?”
“You tell me.”
She jerked her chin up and Kaz felt the breath rush from his lungs. Her eyes were bright with tears and even a cynic like him knew damn well that the tears were real.
A sob tore from her throat. Then she tossed her napkin on the table, shot to her feet and, just as he’d predicted, she ran.
CHAPTER FIVE
Kaz cursed and took off after her.
“Put it on my bill,” he told the startled hostess as he ran out the door… And stopped.
Now what?
Fifth Avenue was more crowded than the Long Island Expressway on a Friday night. Finding Katie would be like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.
Fear plucked at his gut. He told himself it was because she was his responsibility, that he had taken on the assignment of delivering her safely to her bridegroom—and, goddammit, there really was something wrong with using that word—but when he suddenly spotted her standing only a few feet away, he knew his fear had nothing to do with that.
