Page 14

Jasmine

I stepped out of the building to find Ryburn waiting, giving him a small smile. "Hey."

"Hi," he said.

"So, you wanted a walk?"

"I just wanted to get you alone," he admitted.

"Alone alone, or alone alone?"

He laughed. "Whichever you want, Jasmine."

I swallowed hard. What did I want? Taz was right about the fact that either of us could be replaced, but that was a future thing. Right now, I was the one in Grower's Cove, and I needed to remember that.

"So." He cleared his throat. "What do you think of Grower's Cove so far?" He waved a hand outwards. Even here in the built-up part of the settlement, it was possible to see the plants everywhere. I wasn't entirely sure how they were managing to keep everything so vibrant in winter, but I supposed that was the power of dryads.

"It's absolutely beautiful," I said earnestly. "It's truly something to behold. I don't think I could've imagined this."

"That's what happens when a lot of dryads get together," he said with a fond note in his smile.

"You sound proud of your home."

He scratched his neck. "I am."

"And your brother seems nice."

"Adair is great. He's going to make a great father," Ryburn said. "He had his baby boy while I was away."

"I'm sorry you weren't here for it."

He shrugged. "It isn't a big deal," he responded.

"So now you're Uncle Ryburn. That must be weird." I thought about my own siblings and how strange it would be if one of them had a miniature version of themselves running around. Considering how Brew was talking about babies the other day, it was clear that I'd be finding out sooner rather than later. I just had to hope that he and Katie decided to tell people about their relationship first or there could be some awkward conversations coming.

"Uncle Ryburn," Ryburn repeated with a chuckle. "I guess I am. That's going to take a while to get used to it."

We lapsed into a tense silence, one which felt like both of us wanted to say something but weren't.

"So about last night," I started, not sure exactly where I was going with that yet.

Ryburn's lips curled up. "Yes, last night. That was unexpected. But great."

"It sure was. I don't usually get caught up in that. I mean, not when I'm on official business." I rubbed my arm. "I just wanted to make sure things aren't going to get awkward between us or impact the negotiation."

He nodded slowly. "Right, the negotiation. No, we can't let anything get in the way of that."

"Good, so we agree."

A sparkle appeared in his eyes, and he shifted his weight towards me. "What exactly are we agreeing on here? To not let things get awkward or not to do it again?"

My gaze dropped down to his mouth, and I instantly got flustered. Heat rushed up to my face as if I was sitting in front of that fire again with his lips on mine and his arm around my waist. My attention dropped even further down to his hands, and thoughts of how they'd touched me filled my mind. My whole body heated and it was easy to get caught in the thought of what might happen if I let a repeat happen.

Maybe even one where we had access to a bed and the chance to get clean first. It hadn't mattered much last night when everything had been about the way it felt and the need that had grown inside me, but I really would have rathered that I was cleaner the next time I slept with him.

The thought startled me. Not because I was thinking about the two of us together, that was inevitable after last night, but because I was thinking about it with such certainty. Like it was something that was going to happen.

Except that it couldn't.

I cleared my throat and moved back. This was exactly why I couldn't let myself get caught up in this attraction.

"We shouldn't do anything that puts the trade alliance at risk," I said, not sounding quite as firm as I wanted to. "Even if it sounds like we both want to."

He looked at me the same way I'd been looking at him. "And what if it doesn't put the trade alliance at risk?"

"That's playing with fire," I replied, even though I was instantly tempted. "We should be sensible. There's too much at stake."

He hummed. "I know you're right, but that doesn't stop this feeling from going away."

"What feeling?" I asked, knowing my question was inviting trouble.

Ryburn's gaze lingered on my lips this time. "The feeling that I want to kiss you again. Desperately."

My breath caught in my throat and I made a little sound I didn't recognise. "You can't. We shouldn't. Which I know are two different things."

He chuckled softly, which made him even more endearing. "I'm not going to."

That was a good thing so why did I feel so disappointed? Especially because I wanted to wrap my arms around his broad shoulders again, tangle my fingers in his hair, and kiss him until neither of us could breathe.

"It was a long day, you should get some rest," Ryburn said sensibly, leaning back to break the tension growing between us.

I swallowed hard. "Yes, you're right. See you tomorrow for the tour."

He smiled at me, revealing dimples. "I look forward to it, Jasmine."

My heart fluttered at the soft look in his eyes. "Me too. Good night."

I watched him leave, feeling a pang of regret as he made his way further away from me and the possibility of us sleeping together again disappeared along with him. There was a part of me that wanted to call out and tell him that I'd changed my mind, but I managed to keep control of it. I was going to have to satisfy myself by thinking about it. At least until after Taz had made her assessment and the alliance was in place, maybe then something could happen, but only then.