“You’re ridiculous,” Henry commented, turning the bolt as per her instructions. “There. Is that right, then?”
“You’re holding back. She’s an old one, so the bolts come loose at the slightest bump or rattle. Crank it until she won’t turn for you anymore.”
Henry complied, letting out a small grunt as he gave it his all. “Why does everything you say sound so filthy?”
“It’s a gift.” Then she looked down at his wrist and grimaced. “Oh, no! Your sleeve is dirty. I told you I should be the one with my hands in her.”
“See? Absolutely raunchy.”
She sniggered, shaking her head at him. “Seriously, Henry. Your sleeve has an oil stain on it. If you’ve got some club soda, I can get that out, and no one will know.”
Henry quirked his eyebrow at her, tilting his head to the side at her fretting. “Wow. Who do you work for that runs such a tight ship? We’re not nearly so strict around here.”
“Lady Tremaine,” she replied with a closed expression that chased away all the lightness from her features.
“Who?”
“Exactly.” Then, as if catching herself being sassy, she straightened, looking over her shoulder. “That was rude. I didn’t mean that. I just meant that this is her first time at one of your events. She was invited by the Baron. She’s very excited to be here; I shouldn’t have been so rude.”
“Ah,” Henry replied with a knowing nod. “Carlotta mentioned the Baron’s date was a bit of a pain.”
She giggled, but then caught herself in the scandalous act. She stepped back and fiddled with her sleeve, and Henry could practically see the guilt washing over her in waves at speaking her true mind. “Lady Tremaine is particular. Lots of very successful and amazing people have a keen eye for detail.”
Henry turned to her, confused at her sudden shift. “I guess that’s true. You alright?”
She shook her head, biting down on her lower lip. “I don’t like to gossip. It makes me feel dirty to say mean things about other people, even if they’re true.”
Henry studied her slight movements as if she were a strange bug he couldn’t help but be endeared to. His social life was peppered with, and surrounded by, gossip. It’s what made the tabloid world go ’round. “Then you’ll have to forgive me while I try to catch up. If I leave the house without a tie on, the rumors start to spread that I’m on the brink of losing my title and my fortune. A citizen who doesn’t appreciate gossip? I think you just might be the first.” He tossed the wrench back into the box, and then watched while she straightened it, hooking it inside the tin lid on a small loop he hadn’t thought to look for. “I wonder what you might say if you gave in to such tawdries as gossip. You look like you have oceans inside of you, just begging to burst out.”
Her eyes darted around, noting that all the other drivers were in their cars, waiting out the event with their noses buried in books or tablets. Still, she lowered her voice. “I might say that Lady Tremaine could find the flaw in anything—create a smudge on a pure canvas with her imagination, and then blame the world for not being as sparkly as everyone else sees it.”
Henry leaned in, utterly captivated by her response, and felt privileged that he’d been the lucky one to coax the truth out of her. “You can’t confess your true thoughts to me and still keep your name a secret. We’re old friends now. You can’t be ‘Henry’ to me anymore.”
She shook her head, a bashful smile playing on her lips. “I’m no one you’ll see after today. Let’s just let this be a fun memory.”
Henry’s lips pursed at her secretive nature. “I’m just going to ask Lady Tremaine who her beautiful driver is.”
All the play fled from her face as her eyes grew wide in earnest. “Don’t. Please. She doesn’t like when people notice me. It’ll get me into trouble.”
Henry’s brows pushed together as he frowned. “I hardly think it’s possible not to notice you. I mean, look at you.” He motioned to her face and then her form, but then straightened awkwardly, hoping he hadn’t been inappropriate. She had a trim waist, a sweet curve to her hips, and sizeable breasts he tried not to glance at. “Sorry. But have you seen the other drivers? You’re a diamond in a sea of trolls.”
Her chin lowered as if to savor the compliment. When her eyes lifted again to meet his, true appreciation shone there, bathing him with the full force of her beauty. “See? You can’t be doing that. You just went and said the perfect thing. How’s a girl supposed to resist charm like that?”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I think I should get your name for my good behavior.”
She opened her mouth, but closed it again when her stomach rumbled. “You should go back to your party. I’m keeping you from the fun.”
“Come on inside. I’ll get you something to eat.”
For the first time in their exchange, she looked scared. Her gaze shifted toward the palace, and she visibly backed away. “No. I mean, no thank you. I’m not hungry.” As if on cue, her stomach growled again. “Ignore that. It makes that sound sometimes.”
“When you’re hungry?” he asked, perplexed. “Funny, that.” When she didn’t concede, he motioned to the gazebo in the backyard. “How about the outdoors? Are you allowed to eat with me there?”
She met his eyes with a look that told him something was burning to burst out of her, but her lips kept whatever confession she had tucked tight inside. “I think that would be okay. So long as no one sees us.”
Henry craned his neck back to look at her from a slightly different angle. “Is this… Is this what it feels like when someone’s ashamed to be seen with a person? I’ll admit, that’s a first for me.”
She shook her head apologetically. “No! No, it’s not that. Who would be ashamed to be seen with you? You’re perfectly nice. It’s just that Lady Tremaine wouldn’t approve. When she gets cross, she’s… unpleasant to live with.” She covered her mouth and let out a bleat of frustration. “You’re a bad influence on me! I never gossiped this much before I met you.”
Henry’s cocky smile crept back onto his features. “That’s what they call me. Bad Boy Henry.”
She sniggered at him and picked up the toolbox. “They call you Prince Charming, and they’re not wrong.” She walked with him to the gazebo, sitting down a respectable distance from him. Her dodgy glances didn’t stop until Henry offered her the bowl of strawberries he’d left on the bench, and her eyes zoomed in on the goodness.
“Have some,” Henry said when it was clear she wasn’t presumptuous enough to take what she wanted.
“Are you sure?”
She was so adorable, but Henry couldn’t enjoy the sight of her cuteness. There was something sad about a woman who was astonished over a bowl of fruit being shared with her. As if she didn’t deserve nice things such as… food. “Help yourself. I can get you an extra dinner from the kitchen, too.”
“No, no. Don’t go to any trouble. This is plenty.” She bit into a berry, moaning at the luxury. “Oh, these are amazing. Have you tasted them? They’re so fresh.”
Henry chewed on his lower lip, reminding himself to be a gentleman. Watching her eat was positively erotic, her lips wrapping around each berry, savoring every bite. He draped his arm across the back of the bench behind her, loving that he could fulfill a need she had.
“I’m being rude,” she said apologetically, and then offered him the bowl. “I’m sorry, I’m plowing through more than my half. Here.”
He could’ve watched her eat forever, but at her insistence, he opened his mouth and moved his chin a little nearer, wondering if he could tempt her closer.
Her cheeks heated as she glanced around, confirming that they were alone. “Bad Boy Henry, indeed.” She smirked as she fed him a berry, wetting her lips when she brushed her fingertips across the curve of his mouth. Then she pulled back, caution flaring in her eyes. “We can’t do that,” she whispered, offering him the bowl.
“Can’t do what? My arm is broken. In fact, it’s fallen clean off. I’m utterly helpless. Are you the kind of person who turns her back on the wounded?” He feigned a pitiful sniffle and gave her a clear shot of his puppy dog eyes. “If it helps, I served a term in the army, so technically I’m a war vet.”
She shook her head at him. “You are absolutely incorrigible.” Despite her scolding, she pressed another berry to his lips, letting him kiss her fingertips this time. Her breathing grew uneven at the slow tease, taking in Henry’s hungry eyes with unconcealed longing.
And yet, she continued. Another strawberry, and another—each one brought the two inching closer until he could smell the sweetness of her breath.
Henry wanted to pounce, to devour her lower lip that seemed to call to him and erase all higher brain functions. Though he still didn’t know her name, he was desperate to kiss her. Through her hesitance she leaned in, and Henry knew this was the green light he was yearning for. No one captured his attention like she had. No one made him wonder as much as her.
The moment he leaned in, Carlotta’s voice broke through the grounds. “Henry! Son, are you out there? Your father’s looking for you.”
Henry was crestfallen when she jumped up and shoved the bowl of berries at him. “I have to go! I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… I wasn’t thinking!”
“Wait! It’s just Carlotta. She doesn’t care.”
“I’m supposed to be waiting in the car. You never saw me out here!”
Henry wanted to grab her and demand she tell him her name, birthday, address, shoe size, favorite color, and a million other things. He wanted so much more, but she was already scurrying off the gazebo and running away. Henry stood, his fist clenched in frustration with himself. He’d never cared much who occupied the seat next to him—there was always someone to take it. But now that he finally had an opinion about who sat there, he couldn’t keep her in one place long enough to understand her.
What’s more, she’d only eaten a handful of fruit, and he wondered if she needed more.
“Henry, don’t you make me come out there.”
“Coming, Carlotta.” He clutched the bowl, wanting to follow after her, but knowing he had to tend to his duties. His entire body tightened with regret as she trotted up the embankment toward the driveway, disappearing into her car as she locked herself inside.