Actually, she was doing great. Her movements concise and confident, she set out his mismatched plates and folded paper napkins into neat, dainty triangles. Amused, he saw that she’d purchased a small bouquet of flowers during her quick trip to the grocers. The purple lupines and pink roses now sprouted from his prized beer stein. He had to admit they added a nice touch of color to the otherwise drab kitchen area.
So did she. She wore the jeans she’d purchased yesterday and had borrowed another of his soccer shirts. The hem of the hunter-green shirt fell well below her hips, unfortunately, but when she leaned across the counter to refill his coffee mug, the deep-V neckline gave him a tantalizing glimpse of creamy slopes.
Promising the hopeful hound he would be fed later, she perched on the stool beside Dom and served them both. The eggs tasted as good as they looked. He was halfway through his when he gave her an update.
“While I was out jogging, I got a text with a copy of your driver’s license attached. I also downloaded the application form for a replacement passport. I’ll print both after breakfast, then we’ll make an appointment with the consular office.”
Natalie nodded. The bits and pieces of her life seemed to be falling into place. She just wished they would fall faster. Maybe this excursion to Karlenburgh Castle would help. Suddenly impatient, she hopped off her stool and rinsed her dish in the sink.
“Are you finished?” she asked.
He relinquished his plate but snagged the last cinnamon bun before she could whisk the basket away. She did a quick kitchen cleanup and changed back into her red tank top. Her straw tote hooked over her shoulder, she waited impatiently while Dom extracted a lightweight jacket from his wardrobe.
“You’ll need this. It can get cool up in the mountains.”
* * *
She was disappointed when he decreed the hound wouldn’t join them on the expedition…and surprised when he introduced her to the girl in the apartment downstairs who looked after the animal during his frequent absences.
The dog-sitter wasn’t the sultry, predatory single Natalie had imagined. Instead she looked to be about nine or ten, with a splash of freckles across her nose and a backpack that indicated she’d been just about to depart for school.
When she dropped to her knees to return the hound’s eager kisses, her papa came to the door. Dom introduced Natalie and explained that they might return late. “I would appreciate it if Katya would walk him after school, as per our usual agreement.”
The father smiled fondly at his daughter and replied in heavily accented English. “But of course, Dominic. They will both enjoy the exercise. We still have the bones and bag of food you left last time. If you are late, we’ll feed him, yes?”
“We should not call him Dominic anymore, Papa.” The girl sent Dom an impish grin. “We should address you as Your Grace, shouldn’t we?”
“You do,” he retorted, tugging on her ear, “and I won’t let you download any more songs from my iTunes account.”
Giggling, she pulled away and reminded him of a promise he looked as though he would prefer to forget. “You’re coming to my school, aren’t you? I want to show off my important neighbor.”
“Yes, yes. I will.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
“When?”
“Katya,” her father said in gentle reproof.
“But Dom’s on vacation now. He told us so.” Her arm looped around the dog’s neck, she turned accusing eyes on her upstairs neighbor. “So when will you come?”
Natalie had to bite the inside of her lip to keep from laughing. The kid had him nailed and knew it.
“Next week,” he promised reluctantly.
“When next week?”
“Katya, enough!”
“But, Papa, I need to tell my teacher when to expect the Grand Duke of Karlenburgh.”
Groaning, Dom committed to Tuesday afternoon if her teacher concurred. Then he grasped Natalie’s elbow and steered her toward the garage stairs.
“Let’s get out of here before she makes me promise to wear a crown and a purple robe.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Watch yourself, woman.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
She knew him well enough now to laugh off his bad-tempered growl. As they started down the winding streets of Castle Hill, though, she added another facet to his growing list of alter egos. Undercover Agent. Grand Duke. Rescuer of damsels in distress. Loving older brother. Adopter of stray hounds. And now friend to an obviously adoring preteen.
Then there was that other side to him. The hot, sexy marauder whose ancestors had swept down from the Steppes. Sitting right next to her, so close that all she had to do was slide a glance at his profile to remember his taste and his scent and the feel of all those hard muscles pressed against her.