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He gave a laugh. ‘Lots of people try to do that. Most of the time it doesn’t work.’ He turned around so he was walking backwards and facing her.
She wrinkled her nose. ‘Isn’t there a thing you’re supposed to do in mazes?’ She held up her hand. ‘That’s it, if you keep your left hand running along the hedges you’ll always find the way out.’
He shook his head. ‘Old wives’ tale. No truth in it at all.’
‘Really?’ She was suspicious now, not sure whether to believe him or not. The further they went into the maze, the darker it got. Shadows seemed to lurk around every corner. ‘I think I might have preferred this in the daytime,’ she joked.
‘Oh, come on,’ he teased. ‘What do you think is in here? Lions, tigers and bears?’
She shook her head at the film reference. ‘I was thinking more like goblins, warlocks and trolls.’
‘Ouch,’ he said. ‘What kind of kids’ stories did you read?’
‘The good ones.’
They kept walking. He backwards and she forwards. It was odd. It was cute. They were shielded from the world. She liked it that way. Here they could be anyone they wanted to be. Here, she could be with anyone she wanted to be.
They turned a corner and the maze changed. There was a paved area with a star in the middle and a wrought-iron bench. ‘Is this it? Have we reached the centre?’
He nodded and pulled her down onto the bench. She perched on the edge of his lap. ‘So,’ she said with a smile on her face. ‘Now we’ve reached the middle, what happens next?’
The words hung in the air between them. They both knew exactly what she meant.
Philippe slid his hands up around her neck. ‘How about you make good on the sacrifice you offered to make a little earlier?’
She frowned. ‘What one was that?’
He pulled her closer. ‘The one where you offered to heat me up,’ he whispered, his lips making a trail down the side of her face.
Their skin brushed together. Full of intent. ‘Oh, I have a rule,’ she said huskily, ‘that I always make good on my promises.’
A smile danced across her lips. ‘Somehow I like that,’ he said as his lips met hers.
And for a few moments she forgot about everything else. About the palace. About the press. And the fact she was kissing a prince. And just concentrated on the man whose lips were setting her world on fire.
CHAPTER TEN
BY THE TIME afternoon came around she was anxious to get started. The jet lag finally seemed to have eked its way out of her system, and her brain could only focus on how much time she’d spent kissing Philippe last night.
Her brain told her everything about it was wrong. Silly. Nothing could ever come of it. They were almost at opposite ends of a scale.
But her heart? It seemed to defy every piece of logic her brain could throw at her.
She took a quick glance in the mirror and pulled her fitted black suit jacket straight. They were visiting the hospital today so she could give him some feedback and advice about his future plans. She’d decided on the more professional look. She wanted people to take her seriously, to know that she was always committed to providing good health services. She picked up her bag and gave her lips a swipe with rose-coloured lipstick. The knee-length skirt and fitted jacket were smart—she knew that. But her bright blue shirt gave the splash of colour that revealed a bit more of the person that she was. Most professionals would pair the suit with heels but Arissa had spent enough hours in hospitals to know better and she slid on a pair of comfortable flats.
The knock at the door was almost simultaneous with her pulling it open. ‘Oh,’ she said in surprise.
Philippe was standing in a dark blue suit, paired with pale blue shirt and dark tie. She hadn’t seen him since last night and that first sight took her breath away.
He gave a casual grin. ‘You’re ready. Perfect. Do you need to eat before we go?’
She shook her head. ‘Nope. All ready. Let’s go. I can’t wait to see the hospital.’
He pulled a face. ‘There’s so much work to be done there. Don’t set your expectations too high. I keep telling myself if I want to build a proper health service for the country, I have to start somewhere.’ He gestured his elbow towards her and she slid her arm into his.
