They pulled into the palace and she breathed deeply in satisfaction. “I love your home.”
“Thank you. You look good here.”
She grinned. “I have a free afternoon until tomorrow when I dig in.”
His eyes clouded and she immediately regretted her open enthusiasm. Here came that guilty spark.
“I have meetings…”
She held up a hand. “Say no more. I will unpack and reacquaint myself with the staff.” She tried not to want even more of his time, but living here might make that more difficult than ever. If she knew he was within these same walls, how could she be happy with what had been so exciting just days ago, a brief phone call?
Her rooms were lovely. The view, exquisite. Thirty minutes after settling in, Trane knocked on her opened door.
She drank in his tall frame in the doorway.
“I have five minutes.” He was slightly out of breath.
“Ha. Did you run here?”
His mouth quirked up. “I did.” Then he stepped into the room, reaching for her hand. “Let’s go out here.”
He opened her sliding glass door from the sitting room where she had been reading. The distant sounds of waves crashing reached them, even up on the plateau where the palace stood. The blue of water stretched all around them in every direction. He led her to the railing. “I love that water.”
She breathed in the air. “I can’t wait to get out on it.”
He turned around, leaning his hips against the railing, to talk to her. “I can’t wait to get you out on it. I was thinking the lake first?”
“Perfect. I can take pictures and make some notes, perhaps do a test of the water…”
He shook his head. “No. This is just for us.”
Was he trying to hide something? She at once hated her assignment to be there as a reporter. But as she searched his face, she saw only an earnest effort and a hint of insecurity.
So she shrugged, a small blush to her face. “Ok. That sounds nice.”
“Nice.” He shook his head. “Nice. She says. Phina. It’s going to be amazing. Me. You. The boat. The lake.”
She moved to stand in front of him. “You’re right of course. I’m just trying to get used to this new you.” She tilted her head. “Or the old you come back. I don’t know what this is.” She stepped closer, looking up into his face, heart pounding at her daring. “But I like it, whatever it is.”
“I do too.” He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her up against him.
It felt so nice to be wrapped in his arms, and his heart beat underneath her cheek.
Then his phone dinged. And again. Before he could scramble to find it, she stepped away. Disappointment filled her. She tried to hide it, but he noticed of course. “Five minutes is up.” He tapped her nose. “This is killing me, but I’ll take it over a quick phone call any day. See you for dinner?” His face filled with hope.
“You’re on.”
“Thank you.” Then he turned and ran out her door. Literally ran.
She shook her head. She didn’t know what she did to deserve this new attention but she wasn’t complaining, more like praying it would never end.
Chapter 6
Trane ran down the long hallway, stopping at the corner before he would be visible from the conference room. Nico came up behind him. “What are you doing, Trane?”
He caught his breath. “Just trying to fit in some Seraphina time.” He shrugged.
Nico’s eyes held sympathy. “I’m so happy to be past all that.” He gripped his shoulder. “Hang tough, brother. I’ll get them started in there. You compose yourself.”
He straightened. “I’m all right. After you.” He gestured for Nico to proceed him and they both entered together. He was grateful for the strength of two and for the backing of the crown. This meeting was critical to creating a strong coalition for the Mediterranean environmental summit. They moved to the front of the room and sat. Trane cleared his throat and began his slide show on the far wall. After a brief intro and the first slide, the door slid open.
All eyes moved to Seraphina who stepped in and closed the door behind her, notebook and pencil in hand.
Trane paused mid-sentence. “Seraphina?”
“I thought you wouldn’t mind if I joined you?”
He looked around the room, concern on nearly half the faces. “Um, in what capacity?”
“Excuse me?”
“Well, this is a no press meeting.” He hated the immediate awkwardness between them and with the group. But part of the reason their meetings had been so successful is that they all knew the deliberations, the arguments, the honest concerns would be kept confidential. That after all the brainstorming, they would come forward with a unified plan.
“Oh, I see.” She pocketed her notebook and leaned back against the wall.
Nico shifted beside him.
Trane stood. “Excuse me a moment.” He nodded to the group and then gestured that Seraphina meet him outside the door.
As soon as the door shut, she said, “You said I could participate in meetings, be a part of the planning.”
“Of course you can, but not these meetings. How much do you think we can get accomplished in there if they think they could be quoted for your paper at any moment?”
“They shouldn’t care if they’ve nothing to hide.”
“It’s not that. Everyone has room for improvement. We are trying to do what’s best for the Mediterranean in the best way we can. It needs to be something that as a group, we all can get behind. It won’t work if we come up with something half the countries refuse to honor.”
“So you’re going to cave on what’s important.”
“No, of course not.” He looked back inside to where Nico was talking, but half the room was watching him. “Look, Phina. I have to get back in there. I plan to have a press conference early next week. You will have a front row seat.” He raised his eyebrows.
She frowned, but nodded. “Ok, see you later.”
He watched her go, but knew this conversation was not finished. She was way more persistent than he had planned. If she caused problems with the meetings or the summit, she would have to go. He hated the thought, but this was too important to risk anything going wrong. He took a deep breath before re-entering the room.
Immediately the prince of another small island similar to Torren said, “What is this? A reporter? What information are you feeding her?”
The others grumbled.
Trane held up his hands. “Nothing at all. She is a personal friend who will be attending the press conference and all other events for the press. We just had a miscommunication about what other meetings she would be invited to. But that has been cleared up.”
“From the looks of it, not without some collateral damage.” Some of those in the room chuckled.
He cleared his throat. “Yes, well, wish me luck. Dinner might be a cold affair tonight.”
The mood lightened, and he was able to finish his PowerPoint. They were all in agreement about most points. Things were progressing just as he hoped they would.
When they had at last cleared out of the room, Nico sat back in his chair with hands behind his head. “What are you gonna do?
“What are you talking about?” Trane bristled. He didn’t need his previously incompetent brother questioning his plans.
“Whoa there, relax brother. Just trying to help.”
Trane fell into the seat beside Nico. “I know. I’m sorry. It’s just…difficult to try to make things work with a woman when so many other things are going on.” He stared at the wall. “Important things.”
“And then she shows up in the middle of it.”
“Exactly. It reminded me that even though my purpose is to spend time with her, she is here to write a story.”
“We are going to need to watch out for that one. How did she even know you were meeting and where?”
“And she’s bold as brass, walking in here like that with her innocent eyes.” Trane had undere
stimated Phina. He had to admit he was impressed, but he couldn’t have her disturbing his plans. Seraphina as his girlfriend was one thing. Seraphina as his adversary, was quite another.
“Lucan will keep track of her.”
“I know. That was my thought but she’ll totally know what he’s doing. I would like to have some sort of relationship when all this is done.”
Nico thought a moment longer. Then his phone dinged. “Jo!”
Trane’s mouth lifted in a wide smile. “Does she have time? Phina loves Jo, thinks she saved the crown.”
Nico eyed him.
“Sorry, but it’s true.”
He shrugged. “It’s ok, half the country agrees with her.” He started texting. “I’ll see what she thinks. I know better than to answer for her.” He grimaced.
“All she needs to do is just keep our little spy company during key times. It won’t be that difficult. I’m sure Seraphina has other things to do besides wait around at the palace.”
Seraphina was not stupid. She knew when someone was trying to hide things from her. When she put it all together, the phone call at the airport, the reluctance to let her be a part of things, and kicking her out of their meeting, she knew they were hoping she didn’t discover something. Something to do with the environment and the well-being of the Mediterranean. That room had been crawling with royals. Her own country had not been represented. Unfortunately they did not share a part of the Mediterranean coastline. They were affected by it still. All the European nations were, all the countries of the world really. She asked for a car and driver. It was time she made contact with some new friends. Perhaps they knew what the Valdezes might be trying to hide. They could help her look in the right direction.
A little pinch of guilt reminded her that this was Trane she was planning to spy on, but she pushed it aside. He was certain he had nothing to hide so whatever she found would never harm him. In fact, the more deeply she researched, the better they would look in the end when she found nothing. She pushed forward with those thoughts as momentum. She hurried faster because she had promised to have dinner with Trane.
Chapter 7
Trane paced back and forth across his private balcony. She was late. Very late. An hour late. And he was not used to being kept waiting. In fact, besides Nico, he couldn’t think of a single other person who had ever kept him waiting. He pulled at his shirt sleeve and rotated his shoulders inside his suit coat. He had worn his favorite casual sport coat, Armani. They were the best at unassuming menswear. He wore her favorite cologne, tulips sat in the vase in the center of the table, and their now-cold dinner was being wheeled back to the kitchen to be reheated and brought when he informed them of her arrival. The playlist had already circled back to the beginning, and Trane’s frustration was reaching the breaking point.
He refused to text her after six times, asking if she were coming. His finger hovered over Lucan’s name. A single call in and he would know where she was. He pressed his lips together. No. He would not do that.
Tripp knocked on his doorframe, the door wide open. Trane called to him from outside. “Come on in. Nobody here but me.”
He stepped outside. “The night air is perfect this time of year.”
Trane eyed him. “Did you come here to talk to me about the weather?”
A smile or a shrug from Tripp and everyone was endeared, except Trane. “What do you want brother?”
He sat in what would have been Phina’s chair. “Nothing. I heard she wasn’t here so I came to see how you are.” He toyed with the vase of flowers. “And to let you know that I heard from an undisclosed source that she was on her way.” He stood. “Five minutes out.”
Trane watched him leave. When he was almost to the door, he called out, “Thank you.”
Tripp just waved and exited.
Trane asked for the food to be brought in ten minutes, restarted the playlist and sat in the corner of the couch in his sitting area, arms across the back of the leather, leg crossed on his knee. He tried to adjust his attitude, think pleasant thoughts, and not fidget. What was wrong with him? Well for one, he had set aside multiple things in his schedule so that he would be able to keep his date with Seraphina. His irritation rose again. He almost stood and started pacing again. But she texted. “Trane. I know we talked about dinner, but I am exhausted, just getting home. Can I take a rain check?”
He roared to his feet with a great silent disappointment. He texted back, “No, at least come see me. You have to eat. Low key, casual. My rooms.”
He waited. As irritated as he was that she was so late, he still wanted her to come.
He could almost hear her tired sigh. “Ok. I can never say no to you. Be right there.”
A large breath left his lips. She was coming.
Within about two minutes, she at last stood in his doorway. She looked like she’d been in business meetings, pencil skirt, jacket folded over her arm, white shirt. He decided he liked her in a business outfit. He’d like to go up against her in negotiations some time. She emanated an atmosphere of power, one he had never recognized before. Gone was the groupie waiting for Trane to be finished for today. Here stood someone he was going to have to work to please. Well, he was trying. He was giving all he could this last week, every spare moment.
She entered slowly, her eyes moving up the length of him. Everywhere they lingered tingled as though touched. He waited. When she at last stood in front of him, she reached down with one hand and slipped off her shoes. “Sorry I’m late.” She didn’t look a bit sorry, but Trane couldn’t feel angry, not when she stood above him, looking like she was ready to take on the world. He reached up to take her hand. When she responded with her own, he pulled her down, twisting her so she sat across his lap.
She laughed. “Trane, what!”
“I’ve been waiting on this lonely couch for an hour.” He growled and nuzzled her neck.
She leaned into him, her breath coming faster. He could feel the racing of her pulse under his fingers. “I said, I’m sorry.”
“But you’re not sorry. I think you were trying to punish me.” He tilted her back in his arms, his face above hers. “Weren’t you?
Her eyes widened, and he saw the desire in them. He knew she was as smitten as he. The trouble was, neither knew what to do with the other. She looked at his mouth, searched his face, and then relaxed into a lazy smile. “Are you gonna hold me here all night?”
“Oh no. I have much more planned for you.” He tilted her back up and helped her rise. The staff had entered and were setting up dinner out on the balcony. Again. “Let’s start though, by eating.”
“This is lovely!” She ran to the balcony. “Trane. Tulips. The balcony, everything.” She turned to him, stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I know I said I was tired, but really I’m famished. Thank you.”
“Do your meetings not provide food?”
A fleeting flash of discomfort crossed her features and then vanished. “Not that kind of meeting unfortunately.” She sat and the servant put a napkin in her lap. She looked expectantly at Trane.
He laughed, “All right, let’s eat.” He sat across from her and after his napkin had been placed, they were once again alone. “Bon appétit.”
For a moment, they were quiet, each intent on enjoying the meal. And he began to relax. He knew what it was like to be so busy that you couldn’t find time to eat, no matter who it was with. He understood. He had just never been on the receiving end of his busy schedule. And he found he didn’t like it. No wonder Seraphina had stepped away, put some distance between them.
“So, tell me about your meetings. Where did you go?”
She swallowed. He could tell it was too soon. She winced to get past the big piece of bread. “Just some connections. I went into town where they met me.”
“Who? Are they people we should pull in for our deliberations?” He was always looking for expert sources to consult.
“Uh-uh.” She waved a finger at him.
“What?” Confused, he waited.
“I can’t divulge my source.”
He grunted. “Huh.” If they couldn’t talk about her day, and his day was confidential as well, what could they discuss? “The ribbon cutting!”
She swallowed her water. “What about it?”
“I meant to ask you. I would be honored if you would be my date for the event.” He leaned across the table on one arm.
“The press will talk.” Her eyes squinted in concern.
He remembered all too clearly the last time they mentioned he and Seraphina together. “Let them. I want everyone to know my intentions toward you.”
Her eyes widened. “You do? And what are your intentions toward me?” A slow smile grew across her mouth.
“To spend as much time with you as I can.”
She laced her fingers through his and held onto his hand. “I’ve liked it so far.” She searched his face. “I hope it continues.”
“Me too. Phina, that’s the plan.” He rubbed his thumb over the tops of her knuckles. “Barring some national emergency, my spare time is yours.” He frowned. “And if we had a national emergency I would just have to bring you in close with us so I didn’t have to worry about you.”
She swallowed, and he could see the concern flicker across her face almost before it did. She didn’t trust him or his intentions. He didn’t blame her. But some of his unpredictability was way beyond his control. The Crown came first. But she had to understand that at least a little. She was raised a royal and had kept him waiting today.
Then she laughed. “Why are you frowning?” She reached forward to run a finger along his forehead. “You can never hide your feelings. It’s one thing I love about you.” She stood, pulling him back inside toward the couch. “Tell me what’s bothering you.”
More than happy to move to the couch, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to his side while they walked. “I was just thinking about how complicated it is for us royals.”
“The press?”
He waved his hand. “You press don’t bother me. It’s an expected part of the job.”
The Duke (Billionaire Royals Book 3) Page 3
