her with his unsettling eyes.
She lifted a shoulder. “I guess I like that I don’t have to be in control.”
Something in his expression shifted.
Did she say something wrong? “Mr. Dréan, I didn’t lie about my identity when I signed in at your library. I swear I’m not a security risk. If you call Charles, he’ll feel obliged to tell my parents, and they’ll only worry unnecessarily.”
“Your parents have a point. You have the reputation of a daredevil at the club.”
She frowned. “What’s this to you, anyway? I can’t imagine you’re concerned about my safety.”
His eyes tightened even as his lips tilted into a semblance of a smile. “Oh, but I am.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I want you to promise never to fly with anyone at the club again, unless it’s with me.”
She opened her mouth and then shut it again. It wasn’t the fact that he was a pilot that took her by surprise. It was common knowledge that the wealthy monastery owner piloted all kinds of planes. It was the strangeness of the request.
Finally, when most of the surprise had worn off, she only managed, “You?”
“I’m the only person I trust.”
Wow, he truly meant that. The conviction in his eyes said so.
“A lot safer than Frank,” he continued. “You agree? Good. Then it will save us both a lot of unpleasant explanations.”
Just like that. She opened her mouth again to argue, but he got up, indicating that the matter was closed for discussion. Well, she didn’t really have a choice. He was blackmailing her into not flying with anyone else but him, and she couldn’t fathom for what reason. She didn’t believe for one minute it was about her safety. He didn’t know her and had no reason to care about the remote possibility of her dying in a plane crash.
He lifted his eyes to a wall clock and smiled faintly back at her. “It’s almost dinner time. Would you care to join me?”
The invitation took her further aback. What was she to make of it? He’d just exposed her as a fake and a liar. A man like him couldn’t be interested in a woman like her, especially not since he’d indicated he didn’t trust her. Maybe he was just trying to be polite. What did she know about his foreign customs?
She got to her feet. “Thank you, but I have to go.”
“At least let me show you the part of the monastery that’s not open to the public. You’ll find the restoration interesting.”
Turning down the offer would seem rude under the circumstances. Showing interest in his project was the least she could do. After a beat’s hesitation, she accepted the arm he offered.
His muscles flexed when she placed her palm in the crook of his arm. His forearm felt hard and strong. Touching him through the thin barrier of his shirt felt way too personal. Being so close to him was disturbing. She tried not to show her discomfort, which was difficult, as she noticed from the corner of her eye that he was staring at her as they walked.
Despite her reservations, she did find the renovation interesting. He explained the work of an architect specializing in the restoration of historical Chilean buildings. Soon, she was enraptured, enjoying not only the subject, but also the musicality of his accent. He was an exemplary tour guide, putting her at ease and making her feel silly for doubting his intentions.
After they’d visited the upstairs rooms, Lann took her downstairs to the pool deck where a table was set for two. He pulled out a chair and stood waiting.
She adjusted the strap of her handbag on her shoulder, trying to think of a polite way to reject his insistence, and settled for a direct approach. “As I said, I can’t stay.”
“Do you have another engagement?”
She wasn’t going to lie for her convenience or his benefit. “No.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No.”
“Then please join me. I’d be delighted not to dine alone.”
A man like Lann never had to dine alone. The list of volunteers would be long. It felt like a mistake, but she let the handbag slip from her shoulder and stepped toward the chair. After all, he had access to information he could use against her. As long as he held that sword over her head, she’d have to dance to his tune.
Like a true gentleman, Lann seated her and draped a napkin over her lap before taking his place. Almost immediately, the man with the black suit appeared, carrying a