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“Nadia,” he says, sighing and shaking his head at me. “Come on, you didn’t even eat –“

“Cool, you’re the breakfast police as well as a gigantic roadblock!” I snap my eyes back down and step to the side to get around him.

But he just steps in front of me, blocking me again. “Nadia, I –“

“Would you get out of my way?”

“Would you justlisten to me?”

I stop in my tracks, again lifting my gaze to stare up at his face, totally livid. “WhywouldI, Cole? Every time I do you just remind me again why I think you’re crap –“

He closes his eyes and clenches his jaw for a moment, workinghardto hold back whatever his first impulse was.

And something in that stops me because…well. Because I think he’s trying. And I’m not sure I’ve seen that from him before.

Honestly, it’s surprise more than anything else that shuts me up.

“Nadia,” Cole says, loosing a long breath and opening his eyes, looking evenly down at me now. “Please, come back to the table and eat with us. I’m sorry that we made you uncomfortable. We’ll change the subject.”

“Nah,” I say, my surprise draining away and my anger retaking pride of place. I move again to step around Cole. This time he lets me and I put my tray down on the table.

“You didn’t eat anything, dear,” the woman says, looking worriedly between the food and me. “Would you like something else? We have –“

“Would you mind giving us a moment?” Cole says, giving the woman an apologetic smile – his most charming and princely. The woman blushes, laughs a little and nods, stepping away from the table.

“Seriously, now you’re turning women away from their jobs, Cole?” I ask, casting a hand toward the woman’s retreating form.

“If that’s what it takes to make you listen to me for thirty seconds, Nadia,” Cole replies, turning to me, cooler and more casual than he was a moment ago. “Then yes. I’ll fire every damn person in this tent.”

My brows shoot up at that. Especially since I see that he means it.

I cross my arms over my chest, a tacit invitation to continue even if I don’t say a word.

“Look, I’m sorry, Nadia,” Cole says, stepping closer to me and dropping his voice, his eyes fastened on me in a way that implies that as far as he’s concerned, I’m the only person in this tent. In the whole camp. “I’ve acted poorly towards you –“

I roll my eyes at the understatement and start to turn away.

But his hand shoots out, his palm cupping my elbow – in no way stopping me just…asking me to stay. I hesitate but then turn back.

I don’t really know why.

“I’m serious,” he murmurs, still giving me his full attention. “I’m so sorry. This has been…so hard on you, and I haven’t made it any easier. I’m sorry for Jude, and I’msofucking sorry about the ferry – I lost my mind there – and about last night. I wish I had –“

“It’s a lot of ‘sorry,’ Cole,” I say, my throat getting tight, my voice squeaky. I curse myself inwardly because…I definitely do not want this Alpha Prince to see me cry. “You should have just treated me better to begin with. You can’t just throw a bunch of sorrys at bad behavior and expect it to be fixed!”

Cole’s face falls when he sees me fight against my frustrated tears. His mouth twitches, the corners turning down into a desperate frown, and something in my heart clenches at that.

Because. All right. Maybe I haven’t given him enough credit either. Honestly…I never thought of Cole Kincaid as capable of deep emotion, not since we were kids. And throwing me manfully over his shoulder at the pier certainly didn’t help that perspective, painting him more as the big Alpha brute I think he is.

But that helpless little frown? I blink, stunned.

“Please, give me another shot,” Cole says, sighing and shaking his head, his fingers tightening just slightly on my elbow. “Tell me what’s wrong – what upset you so much.”

“It’s – it’s fuckingyou, Cole!” I say, less snappy and more full of woe as I tug my elbow from his hand, wanting freedom from his touch. “I left the Capital to getawayfrom you and your stupid claim! I wanted to come here andhelppeople – reallydo some good, when I feel like your stupiddadand his whole government are doing such a crap job!”

His eyebrows raise at this, I think genuinely shocked.

“But here you are!” I continue. “Butting in on my escape! At my camp, at my breakfast table! Talking aboutmating ceremoniesof all things?” My voice gets all high and squeaky. “And you didn’t think that would upset me? Honestly, I think maybe I should just go -”