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He gave her a ghost of a smile, but then his lips tightened with determination and his gaze deepened. “You’ve never seen me drive, but I can best most race car drivers. I don’t drive slow and steady, but for you … I will. Iwillwin this race, Madeline.”
Madeline’s heart thumped out of control. Nolan, King of Augustine, wanted to win her? Was it only because of the passionate need she’d seen and felt earlier, or could it be deeper?
There was no way to answer that right now.
She nodded to him, backed up, and shut the door. Leaning against it, she prayed for strength, thanked her father above for his help earlier, and at the same time cursed herself for not simply kissing Nolan and seeing where that would lead.
No. As deeply attracted as she was to Nolan, she had no clue if either of them would stop at kissing. Letting passion rule would lead to a quick burn and nothing good. She’d always expected Chad to honor women, be morally strong, and wait for marriage. She had to follow her own advice.
She had to be strong.
Now to figure out how to do so when Nolan was determined to ‘win this race.’ Whatever that meant to him.
ChapterEight
Nolan was discouragedand frustrated with himself as he walked away from Madeline’s door that night. She thought he was driven by passion and need. He couldn’t deny those two factors were present, but it was much more with Madeline. He was falling too fast, and it was a heady feeling. With Madeline, it wasn’t only about her beauty. She was a smart, classy, yet sassy woman. He saw all of her and wanted all of her in his life—discussing issues about their kingdom, bantering and flirting, spending time with each other and their families, and growing closer and comfortable. He’d been very comfortable with Anne. The thing he couldn’t remember was feeling these sparks and this drive to be close every moment. It had probably been too long.
Nolan focused back on Madeline. He knew self-control; he’d slow down and prove to her that they were friends and that friendship could develop into much more.
* * *
The following month passed far too quickly. Each day was sweet torture. Madeline became a constant figure in Nolan’s life, and he savored every moment of it. Forcing himself not to pull her close and hold her was a relentless exercise in self-restraint.
They hiked each morning, discussing numerous topics, laughing, and teasing. Three mornings a week, she’d taken to lifting weights with him. It’d been fun to ‘teach’ her, and he’d enjoyed touching her as he did. They ate every meal together, always with plenty to talk about, and often he caught her giving him longing and interested glances. He sent his fair share of yearning looks her way too. She sat through the endless meetings that he and Tristan had to take part in or be the instigators and conductors of. After each meeting, they’d discuss and she’d give him and Tristan insight and ideas they both appreciated. She was brilliant and well-read and helpful.
The evenings were his favorite. He and Madeline had dinner with Kiera and whoever else was at the castle. His children had come by a lot more often than usual. Chad, Hope, and Faith came only twice, busy between his military career and traveling to America to keep Lady Fit running.
Nolan wasn’t certain if his family was simply interested in what was developing between him and Madeline, or if they were drawn to be close to her just as he was. For as strong, brilliant, and independent of a woman as she was, she was also a natural nurturer. Even his adult children wanted to talk with her, get her advice, and always seemed to savor her ‘lots of love’ hugs hello and goodbye. He’d gladly take lots of love from her. Maybe someday.
After dinner, they’d either swim or go on long walks with Kiera, his adorable girl showing off her ‘tricks’. Sometimes Kiera would let them use the spa therapy section of the upper level. The pace of the spa was a little slow for his daughter. Kiera was constantly hugging, showing off for, and chatting with Madeline. She seemed as comfortable with and invested as Nolan was. Well, maybe not quite as invested, but he was in so deep at this point nobody could be at that same level. Who could blame him? Madeline was captivating and mesmerizing. A year ago, when people asked if he’d date or marry again, he’d tried not to scoff at them. Now being with Madeline nonstop was all he yearned for.
Nolan had done as she requested and hadn’t tried to kiss or hold her in the past month. They did touch often, him escorting her with her hand through his elbow or Kiera having them get close in the swimming pool. He loved those times, but it was also driving him insane. Holding back became more difficult with every passing day. If only he could show her with his words, touch, and kiss exactly how important and all-consuming she was to him. He would never push moral boundaries, but he would definitely kiss her thoroughly.
Parliament seemed content with Madeline’s reports that Naomi Rindlesbacher was in no way involved or in contact with the king, but they hadn’t ended her emissary mission. The press somehow hadn’t caught wind of Madeline staying in the castle and ‘dating’ him. It seemed parliament was better at keeping their mouths shut than he’d realized. It warmed his heart that the guards and castle staff were loyal to him and hadn’t gone spreading rumors.
They finished up meetings early on a beautiful August evening and had almost an hour until dinner. “Could I persuade you to accompany me on a drive?” he asked Madeline when Tristan excused himself to go find Jennifer.
She was wearing a pink blouse and fitted navy blue skirt today, with high heels that showcased her lovely calf muscles.
“I’ve been wondering all month when you’d ask me that.” She gave him a sassy look. “Here I’ve been worried that the overconfident king had exaggerated his driving skills. Why else wouldn’t we have gone on a drive for you to show off?”
He chuckled, loving the way she teased him, but that reminder of his ‘driving skills’ sent him back to that torturous night when he’d almost kissed her and she’d accused him of using her for a quick burn and then asked him to slow down their relationship. “It’s time to prove my skills.”
Offering his arm, he walked her to the side staircase and down to the garage. Two guards followed, Sergeant Braxton and a newer man. He’d introduced himself, but Nolan hadn’t nailed the memory of the guard’s name in his mind yet. That was one problem with getting older; names didn’t stick as well.
“Does it bother you that we rarely leave the castle?” he asked her as they walked.
“No.” Madeline glanced up at him. “We hike every morning. It’s near impossible to go stir crazy with all the space, windows, balconies, retractable walls, and absolutely gorgeous scenery inside and out. When you have your own gym, spa, and swimming pool, it’s difficult to complain.”
“True. But I know you’re accustomed to your freedom and being an independent woman.”
“I’m hardly captive here.”
Nolan walked her to the passenger door of his black Lamborghini Veneno Roadster. The door lifted for him, but he stopped her before she could climb in.
“I wish for you to be captive, or rather captivated … by me.”
Her eyes widened, and she blinked up at him. “I guess that all depends on your driving ability,” she said breathlessly.
