Why was he doing this? Eve stuffed her brush back into her bag. It was so totally out of character. For both of them, she realized. If she had written a play with Alexander as the lead, she would never have staged a scene like the one that had just occurred. No one would believe it.

So why didn’t she ask him? Before she could laugh the idea off, it began to make sense. She was a blunt, no-nonsense woman; Alexander was a cautious diplomat. She’d put the question to him flat-out, then watch him dangle for words. Pleased with the plan, she swung back into the corridor.

“An improvement,” Alexander said easily, and took her arm before she could evade it.

“Thank you. I think we should talk.”

“Good idea.” He pushed the stage door open and led her outside. “We can take a drive before we go home.”

“It’s not necessary. It won’t take long.”

“I’m sure it’s more than necessary for you to have some fresh air after being cooped up all day.” When he opened the door of the steel-gray Mercedes, Eve stopped.

“What’s this?”

“My car.”

“But there’s no driver.”

“Would you like to see my license?” When she continued to hesitate, he smiled. “Eve, you’re not afraid of being alone with me, are you?”

“Of course not.” She tried to sound indignant, but looked restlessly over her shoulder. Two bodyguards, blank-faced and burly, stood at the car behind them. “Besides, you’re never really alone.”

Alexander followed the direction of her gaze. The quick sensation of restraint didn’t reach his eyes. “Unfortunately some things other than fresh air are necessary.”

What he felt didn’t reach his eyes, didn’t show on his face, but she thought she caught a trace of it in his voice. “You hate it.”

He glanced back, surprised and more than a little wary that she’d seen what he so carefully tried to hide. “It’s a waste of time to hate the necessary.” Alexander gestured her into the car, shut the door behind her and rounded the hood. He didn’t glance at or acknowledge the guards. “Your seat belt,” he murmured as he started the engine.

“What? Oh.” Eve stopped rehearsing her speech and pulled the harness into place. “I’ve always enjoyed driving around Cordina,” she began. Be friendly, she advised herself. Be casual, then zero in when he least expects it. “It’s such a lovely city. No skyscrapers, no steel-and-glass boxes.”

“We continue to fight certain kinds of progress.” He eased into the light traffic. “Several times hotel chains have lobbied to build resorts. The advantages are there, of course, an increase in employment, tourism.”

“No.” She shook her head as she studied the town. “It could never be worth it.”

“This from the daughter of a builder?”