“At least nothing bad happened.”
“Thanks for helping me to remember.”
“I wonder what it was about that day that the memory stuck in your mind.”
“I’m not sure.”
The truth was, it happened a day or two before her mother died. Could it mean something? Had the police been wrong? Was her mother’s death more than a mugging? Or was she just letting herself get caught up in her father’s suspicions?
Annabelle didn’t want to get into details of the murder with Grayson. As it was, she’d exposed more of herself to this stranger than she’d ever intended. It would be best to stop things right here.
CHAPTER THREE
GRAYSON HAD RESERVATIONS.
The site for Fo Shizzle was not what he’d been envisioning.
Sure, what he’d seen so far of Mirraccino was beautiful. Maybe not as striking as Annabelle, but it definitely came in a close second. The South Shore was a mix of history and modernization. The view of the blue waters of the Mediterranean was stunning. But it just didn’t seem like the right fit for one of his Fo Shizzle Cafés.
“So what did you think?” Annabelle’s voice drew him from his thoughts.
“I think you’ve done a commendable job with this revitalization project. I think it’s going to be a huge success.” Now how did he word this so as not to hurt her feelings? After all, she’d been a wonderful hostess. And to be honest, he didn’t want this to end. This was the most relaxed he’d felt in more than a year...ever since the accident and the ensuing scandal.
“But...?”
“What?” He’d let his mind wonder and hadn’t heard what she’d been saying.
“You like the South Shore, however I detect there’s a but coming. So out with it. What isn’t working for you?”
He paused, struggling to find the right words. “I was under the impression that the site of the café would be in the heart of the city. This area is nothing like the locations of the other cafés. The way the South Shore was described in the proposal was that it was an up-and-coming area. This,” he outstretched his arms at the varying shops, “is very reserved. It’s an area that would be frequented by a more mature clientele.”
“We are in the process of revitalizing the area—the proposal was a projection. I was certain if I could get a representative of Fo Shizzle here that they would see the potential. I’m sure your café will be a huge draw. I’ve spoken with the tourism department and they can insert photos and captions prominently in their promo.”
His brow arched. He had not expected this bit of news. He couldn’t deny that free advertising would help, but would it be enough? “The thing is, my cafés are designed for younger people, high school, college and young adults. The cafés do not cater to a more mature audience. They can be a bit loud at times, especially during an online tournament. The decor is a bit dark with prints of our most popular avatars. Do you know much about our games?”
She shook her head. “Since you can only play on a closed circuit within one of your cafés, I’ve never had the opportunity. But the research looks intriguing. And I think it would be a hit here with the young crowd.”
“To be a success, this area would have to be heavily frequented by young people—”
“And that’s what we want.” She smiled at him as though she had all of the answers. “I have research studies broken out by demographic.”
He liked numbers and charts. “Could I take a look at them?”
She nodded. “Most definitely. I had a copy in my purse, but I also have them at the palace along with an investment package with detailed figures and projections. I wanted you to have a feel for the area before we dove into the numbers.”
He glanced around the piazza. “I’m just not sure about this setting. Don’t get me wrong—it’s beautiful, but it’s not quite as urban as our other locations.”
“In the reviews I’ve read about Fo Shizzle, they say young people come from miles away just to hang out and take part in the high-stakes gaming tournaments. You’ve definitely latched on to a great idea. And I hear the coffee’s not so bad either.”
“The coffee is actually quite good.” He’d made sure of that. Being a coder, he lived on a steady stream of caffeine when he was on a roll. And he was picky about the flavor. He wouldn’t have anything less than the best for his cafés—just as he would only have the top-of-the-line games. The newest titles. And the best quality.
Annabelle gave him a speculative look as though figuring out his unshaven appearance and his longer-than-usual hair. It was not his standard appearance—not unless he was on a deadline for a new program rollout. When it came to business, all else came in a distant second, third or lower ranking.
When she didn’t vocalize her thoughts about his appearance, he added, “I’m usually a little more cleaned up.” Why was he making excuses for his appearance? It wasn’t like he was going to ask her out on a date or anything. Still, he heard himself say, “It’s just with the media and all, sometimes it’s easier to travel incognito.”
She nodded but still didn’t say anything.
He hated to admit it, but he really did want to know what she was thinking. Did he really look that bad? His hand moved to his jaw. His fingers stroked his beard. It was quickly filling in. Soon it would start to get bushy. He didn’t warm to the thought.
Beards were okay on some guys, but not him. It just wasn’t his thing. “Is it really that bad?”
She shrugged. “It’s okay.”
Definitely not a ringing endorsement for his new look.
“I guess it doesn’t matter much if I shave or not now that my picture is all over social media. And it’s not like I’m going to be here much longer—”
“What? You mean you’re leaving? Already?”
He nodded. “I have to keep scouting for a headquarters for my Mediterranean expansion.”
“But this is it. The South Shore will be perfect.”
Was that a glimmer of worry reflected in her eyes? Surely she couldn’t be that invested in doing business with him. And if she was, he had to ask himself why. What was driving her to close this deal?
He cleared his throat. “I’m not ready to make a decision of this magnitude. I have plans to visit Rome, Milan and Athens next.”
“And when will you be leaving?”
“In the morning—”
“But you can’t.” She pressed her lips together as though regretting the outburst.
“Why not?”
“Because you still have to file a report with the police. There’s the theft and...and you’re an eyewitness. They’ll probably want you to testify.”
She had a point. And as much as he would like to fly off into the sunset, he wouldn’t shirk his duty. “You know, the only reason I walked away is because you said you weren’t going to press charges so I figured there was no reason for me to stick around.”
“I was truly considering it, but the policeman convinced me it wouldn’t be in anyone’s best interest. So it looks like you’ll be hanging around Mirraccino a bit longer. And I would love to show you more of this beautiful land.”
How much more was there to see? And did she really think another day of playing tourist was really going to change his mind?
“I don’t know.” He glanced at his wristwatch. It was getting late. “Maybe I could swing by the police station now and give them my statement.”
“It’s Friday. And it’s late in the afternoon. I’m sure the people you’ll need to speak with will be gone for the weekend or at least have one foot out the door.”
“Can’t I just give my statement to an officer? Surely the whole police force doesn’t go home early for the weekend.”
Annabelle smiled. “Funny. But I meant you’ll probably have to speak with some of the cle
rical or legal people.”
He nodded. “I suppose they might do things a bit differently from what I’m accustomed to in the States.”
Annabelle nodded. “Now let’s see about getting you situated.”
“I have a room at the hotel in the city.”
“I was thinking of something different. How about being a guest at the royal palace?”
Had he heard her correctly? She was inviting him to stay in the palace with the king? “Are you serious?”
“Of course I’m serious. The king is my uncle.”
“And you live there—at the palace, that is?”
“At the moment, I do. I’ve been living there while working in Mirraccino for the past couple of years.”
There was a lot about Lady Annabelle that intrigued him. And honestly, what would it hurt if he took a few more days before moving on?
Annabelle was the first person to interest him in a long time—just not romantically. It wasn’t that he didn’t find her exceedingly attractive. He did. But he refused to get sucked into another relationship. He’d been through enough. His heart was still mending.
“Oh, please say that you’ll stay. I’ve already had a suite made up for you. And...and the King is expecting you at dinner tonight.”
“The king wants to meet me?”
Her cheeks bloomed with color and her gaze didn’t quite meet his as she nodded.
He suspected she was just saying anything to get him to stay. He had to admit no one had ever dangled an invitation to meet a king before him in order to help with a business deal. What made this amazing woman feel as though she had to jump to such lengths to get him to close this deal?
“Tell the truth,” he said. “The king, he isn’t expecting me at dinner, is he?”
Her gaze finally met his. “No, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem. The suite truly is prepared and awaiting your arrival, as well as the financial projections. We can go over them together if you like.”
He couldn’t help but smile at the eagerness reflected on her face. “You know, I’ve never stayed in a palace before.” When her eyes widened and her glossy lips lifted into a smile, he said, “We’ll just need to pick up my luggage at the hotel and then I’d very much enjoy staying with you—erm, staying at the palace.”
A visit to a royal palace, what could possibly go wrong?
Security would be heavy and the paparazzi would be nonexistent. It would be a win-win.
But who would keep him from getting lost in Lady Annabelle’s brown eyes?
* * *
At last, Annabelle got through on the phone to the police department.
And without playing the royal card, she was able to speak with someone in authority. They told her to stop by in the morning and they’d see about getting some of her possessions back to her. She wasn’t sure what some consisted of, but it was a start.
“Everything okay?” Grayson asked.
She nodded. “They’d like you to stop by tomorrow and give them a statement.”
He didn’t say anything as he turned to stare out the window as they approached the palace gates. She chose to take his silence as a good sign, but she couldn’t help but worry just a bit about the impression he’d gotten of Mirraccino. She could only hope the financial projections packet she’d put together would outweigh everything else.
Annabelle sat in the back of her sedan with Grayson as Berto ushered them past the security gates and onto the royal grounds. Annabelle had to admit that after living here for the past couple of years she’d begun to take the palace’s beauty for granted.
She turned to Grayson to find him staring out the window. He seemed to be taking in the manicured lawns, the towering palm trees and the red-and-white border of flowers lining the long and winding drive.
“This place is remarkable.” Grayson said, drawing her from her thoughts. “We have nothing like this where I come from.”
“You’re from California, right?”
He nodded, but he never took his gaze off the colorful scenery. “I couldn’t even imagine what it must be like to live here.”
“You get used to it.” As strange as that might sound, this big place felt like home to her. “Is this your first visit to Mirraccino?”
“Yes.” He still didn’t look at her.
The turrets of the palace were first to come into view. They were colorful with stripes of yellow, pink, aqua and gold. Annabelle found herself looking at them through new eyes.
And then the palace in its entirety loomed. It was enormous, even compared to her family’s spacious mansion back in Halencia. While her home in Halencia was all white, the palace was created in warm shades of tan and coral with some accents done in aqua. It was simple and yet stunning.
And with the afternoon sun’s rays, the palace practically gleamed. When she was a little girl, she’d thought the palace was magical. She’d always wanted to be a princess, but her mother assured her that she didn’t need to be a princess to be special.
Being the daughter of the Duke of Halencia, she was addressed as Lady Annabelle. It gave her recognition in high society but not much else. Her father’s estate would eventually revert to her older brother, the Earl of Halencia. She used to think it was unfair, but now she appreciated having choices in life.
The car pulled to a stop outside the palace. Berto rushed to get the car door. Annabelle alighted from the car followed by Grayson.
Grayson turned to her. “Why is the South Shore so important to you that you’d go out of your way for me?”
She schooled her features, trying to hide any hint of her desperation. “The South Shore was a pet project of the crown prince. He brought me in on the project at the beginning. When his responsibilities drew him away, I promised to see that it was finished.”
“So you’re keeping a promise to the prince?” Grayson arched a brow.
“He’s my friend as well as my cousin,” she was quick to clarify.
“That’s right. You did mention the king was your uncle. So this is a family favor of sorts?”
“Yes. You could put it that way.” If that’s what he wanted to believe, who was she to change his mind? Because in the beginning that’s all it had been. Now it was her way to prove herself to her father. “But in the process, I’ve really come to care about the people of the South Shore and I want to see it flourish.”
He smiled at her, making her stomach quiver with the sensation of butterflies. “In that case, lead the way.”
She didn’t normally enter through the main door, but Grayson was a special guest—pivotal to her future. It wouldn’t hurt to give him the VIP treatment.
Berto swung open the enormous wooden door with the large brass handle. They stepped inside the palace and once again she consciously surveyed her surroundings from the marble floor of the grand entryway to the high ceiling with the crystal chandelier suspended in the center. As a little girl, when there was a royal ball, she’d sneak down here and dance around the table in the center of the floor. She’d pretend that she truly was a princess attending the ball. Oh, the silly things kids did.
Grayson took in the opulent room. “I couldn’t even imagine what it must be like to live here.”
She shrugged. “It has its protocols and a system that it’s best not to tamper with, but other than that I imagine it’s like most other homes.”
Grayson laughed. “I don’t think so.”
Just then, Alfred, the butler, came rushing into the room. “Lady Annabelle, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you arrive.”
“No problem. I was just showing Mr. Landers around.”
The butler gave her guest a discerning once-over. “Yes, ma’am. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No, thanks. I was just going to show Mr. Landers to his suite of rooms so he ca
n freshen up. Could you let the kitchen know that there will be one more for dinner?”
“Yes, ma’am. Shall I inform the king?”
Normally, she would say yes, but seeing as Grayson was a special guest who could make such a difference to her future, she said, “I’ll speak to my uncle. Thank you.”
Annabelle showed Grayson to the sweeping steps to the upstairs. A comfortable silence engulfed them as Grayson continued to take in his surroundings. She had to admit the palace was a lot more like a museum than a home. There were so many priceless works of art and gifts from other nations.
But more than anything, she wondered what thoughts were going through Grayson’s mind. There was so much she wanted to know about him. As her uncle said often, knowledge was power. And she needed the power to push through this business deal.
She tried to tell herself that was the only reason she wanted to know more about Grayson. After all, it had nothing to do with his good looks or the way he was able to connect with her back at the piazza.
No. It was none of those things. It was purely business.
CHAPTER FOUR
OKAY. SO MAYBE this isn’t so bad.
A vacation in a Mediterranean palace.
In fact, the palace is the perfect inspiration for a new game for Fo Shizzle.
Grayson sat in the formal dining room at a very large table. Did they really eat here every day? He might be rich, but he’d come from a humble beginning. He didn’t stand on airs and most of the time his dinner was eaten alone in front of his desktop computer.
Meeting the king had been a great honor. Thankfully Annabelle had instructed him on the proper protocol while they were in the car. He wondered how he should have greeted her considering she was the daughter of a duke. He’d hazard a guess it wasn’t to argue about what to do with her purse after the theft.
And try as he might, he couldn’t help but like Annabelle. Not that he would let her sunny smiles get to him. He’d learned his lesson about love, especially about loving someone in the spotlight. And Annabelle, with her constant bodyguard, was definitely someone who was used to living in the spotlight—a place where he felt uncomfortable.
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