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‘Um…no. Everything’s fine. But… I’m here with…with someone who is a little sceptical about my condition. I’d like you to explain it to him, please.’
A slight hesitation ensued. ‘Unfortunately this isn’t the first time one of my patients has faced this, but I’m reluctant to do this over the phone without—’
‘I’m happy for you to record my consent, Dr Ramsey. I just need to you to tell Prince—him—about my condition.’
The doctor sighed. ‘If you’re sure. Am I on speaker?’
‘Yes. Go ahead.’
In brisk words he explained her diagnosis of retrograde amnesia, how there was no telling when or if her memories would return, and the importance of her not unduly stressing over it—which was easier said than done.
Prince Azar Domene listened to the prognosis with a thunderous frown which didn’t disappear once she’d thanked her doctor and ended the call.
In silence he paced the small space, and she felt the atmosphere charging until she was seconds from exploding.
‘You visited Nick’s graveside with your son,’ he bit out, and the sharp edge to his voice jangled her nerves anew.
‘You already know that, since you had me followed.’
A tic rippled in his jaw, and there was a curious hesitation in his face before he bit out, ‘Is he Max’s father?’
Heat crept up her face. As much as she wanted to be worldly about it, or consign it to her amnesia, she couldn’t help but feel a sting of chagrin and shame for her situation. Because this time three years ago she wouldn’t have believed herself capable of sleeping with a man she’d just met—especially a spoilt trust fund playboy who believed the world was his for the taking.
‘I… I think so, yes.’
His nostrils pinched in a sharp inhalation. ‘You mean you don’t know?’
Exasperated, she waved her phone at him. ‘I can call Dr Ramsey back, if you’d like him to go over it again?’
‘He’s only given me your diagnosis. He doesn’t know everything you claim you can’t remember. You obviously knew Nick. Do you remember sleeping with him?’
The edge in his voice was deadlier, his eyes boring into hers with a ferocity that made her every nerve quiver with apprehension.
‘My private life is none of your business, Your Highness,’ she bit out, cursing the new wave of heat that rushed up her face. ‘But for the sake getting rid of you for good, I can tell you one of my last memories of Nick is of discussing a job with him. I don’t know whether or not I actually did this job. That’s the last thing I remember of my life here in Vegas before I woke up in hospital three months pregnant…’ She paused, the overwhelming memory washing over her. ‘I was told someone found me hurt and wandering near a truck stop in California.’
‘California?’ he echoed sharply, and disbelief, shock and scepticism were in his gaze.
‘Does that mean anything to you?’ she asked, equally sharply.
His nostrils flared, but he shook his head. ‘Go on.’
She bristled at the command, but she’d opened this door. She needed to finish quickly so he’d leave her alone.
‘I had no identification with me, so no one knew who I was until I woke up from my coma. Now, have I satisfied whatever morbid curiosity makes you think we’re connected?’
He stared at her for a charged minute, then he prowled close. Closer. Until she could see the flecks of molten silver in his light grey eyes. Until she feared she would be sucked into the mesmerising vortex of his aura.
‘No, Eden. We’re nowhere near done. Do you want to know why?’
She didn’t. Shereallydidn’t. Because she was suddenly terrified of his answer. Terrified of the real reason he was here. The reason he’d reacted so viscerally to her last night.
‘Not particularly. And for the last time, you need to leave.’
CHAPTER THREE
AMNESIA.
Such a simple cluster of letters for a profound, life-changing turn of events. As an immutable safeguard, considering he was heir to a powerful throne, a DNA test to establish true paternity was unquestionably necessary. The doctor’s credentials and connection to Eden would also need to be verified.