A Royal Mess and Her Knight To Remember by Jill Shalvis

He stepped close again. “How’s this for a compliment? You’re making me hot. All the time. I fantasize in the middle of a workday about you, about this, about us. About things I’ve convinced myself I don’t need.”
    â€œI don’t need them, either.”
    â€œOkay.” He took a breath. “So we both fantasize, but…”
    She sighed. “There’s always a but.”
    â€œBut my life isn’t exactly laid out for this.”
    â€œAnd mine is?” She laughed and shook her head. “No, it is not. Believe me.”
    â€œNatalia, everything I am, everything I do, is this ranch. Women have tried to fit in here with me before, but they get tired of playing second fiddle to this place, and…well, I’m left alone and disappointed.”
    â€œI’m sorry for that, more than sorry, but I’m temporary.”
    â€œExactly. So what the hell are we doing?”
    â€œI don’t know. Scratching an itch?”
    â€œScratching an—” Shocked, he stared at her. “Where did you learn such a thing?”
    â€œOh, I see.” Her eyes chilled. “It’s one thing for a man to suggest an affair. But if a woman…if she has…”
    â€œAn itch?”
    â€œNever mind! Just forget it.”
    â€œWait.” His head was still spinning. “Now I’ve insulted you.”
    She sputtered, then laughed. Then, before he could so much as blink, she shoved away from him and turned her back, staring up at the moon, her arms wrapped tightly around the body he’d been molding with his hands only a few moments ago.
    â€œNatalia.” A little wary, he came up behind her,set his hands on her shoulders, which she promptly shrugged off. “Let’s try this again.”
    â€œOkay.” She drew a deep breath. “I’m sorry I brought it up. It was stupid.”
    â€œNo,” he said, looking at her beautiful profile. “It wasn’t.”
    â€œBut just because I thought about…scratching that itch, you should know, it wasn’t a declaration of undying love.” She dropped her gaze from the moon and landed those huge, dark gold, expressive eyes on him. “I wouldn’t expect you to love me.”
    His heart twisted. “Natalia—”
    â€œIt’s a one-night stand, Tim, that’s all. Only technically, I have several nights, not just one.”
    His body responded immediately, but it took his brain a moment longer. “You deserve more than that. You deserve time, and a man taking it to get to know you.”
    â€œYou want to know me? How’s this? I’m the middle kid. I’m usually pretty easygoing, that is when I’m not in Texas. And contrary to what I’ve shown you, I’m known as being pretty damn tough and fearless. And though you might not believe that by looking at me at the moment—” she broke off to glance down at her plain jeans and T-shirt “—I’m into clothes. I also love to ski. Unfortunately for me, Texas doesn’t seem to have many hills.” She smiled,but when he just looked at her, it slowly faded. “And I’m a princess, which brings us back to the delusional crazy woman thing. I’d nearly forgotten. I’m just another one of your pity hires.”
    â€œNatalia—”
    â€œNo.” With dignity, she backed away. “In a few more days I’ll have earned myself enough to get where I need to go, which is all I really wanted. To see what it was like to be just me, without any expectations or preconceived notions. To support myself. Without the title. End of story.” She reached the gate. “I appreciate all you’ve done, but I think we should get back to the boss-and-employee relationship.” And with her head high, shoulders extremely straight, she walked toward the house.
    Looking every bit like a princess in denim.
    Â 
    N ATALIA MANAGED to avoid conversation with