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The young woman’s eyes lit up, but she didn’t say anything as she glanced over at the crown prince. He didn’t speak to Kayla, either, but rather conversed softly with his advisors, who had a list of questions.
Kayla handled the inquiries with calm and grace. Angelo couldn’t have done any better. She certainly was full of surprises, and he couldn’t be happier having her by his side.
* * *
It wasn’t until much later that Angelo walked with her toward their rooms. This was their first chance to talk privately since the presentation. As they strolled along the elegant hallways, Kayla waited anxiously to hear Angelo’s thoughts on how she’d handled her part of the meeting. She hoped he wasn’t too upset about her ignoring his dictate about the chapel.
Angelo stopped and turned to face her. “Stop looking so worried. You did an excellent job today.”
“I did?”
He nodded. “I owe you an apology for not listening to you and a thank-you for being so prepared.”
“Really? Even though I didn’t do what you said?”
He gazed deep into her eyes. “I think you have excellent instincts and the courage to follow them. You’ve got what it takes to have a very bright future.”
In her excitement, she threw her arms around him. He had no idea how much she needed this one perfect moment.
Coming back to earth, she grudgingly let go of him and stepped back. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
“You earned it. And you did well by knowing all of the answers to their questions. And you took notes of things that particularly interested them. I couldn’t have done any better.”
“You really mean that? You’re not just saying these things to make me feel better.”
He chuckled. “Did anyone ever tell you that you don’t take compliments well?”
She shrugged. “I guess I’m still wound up.”
“We make a great team.”
It was the first time he’d ever referred to them in that manner and she liked it. She really liked it. More than that, she liked him a lot—more than was wise. But that didn’t stop her heart from pounding in her chest when he gazed deeply into her eyes.
He was going to kiss her—again. She should turn away. She should pretend she didn’t know that he was interested in her. But her body had a will of its own, holding her in place. She knew that nothing good would come of it, but she wanted him to kiss her more than she wanted anything in that moment.
Angelo turned and continued down the hallway. The air that had been caught in her lungs rushed out. What had happened? It took her a second to gather her wits about her, and then she rushed to catch up to him.
They continued on in silence until they stopped outside her bedroom door. He turned to her again. “Thank you for everything. If I had done this alone, I wouldn’t have stood a chance of winning their favor. You were my ace in the hole.”
His gaze caught and held hers.
“I...I was?”
He nodded and stepped closer. “How could anyone turn you down?”
Her heart pitter-pattered harder and faster. She didn’t want this moment to end—not yet. It was her very own fairy tale. “Do you want to come inside?”
He tucked a loose curl behind her ear. Then the back of his fingers grazed down her cheek. “I don’t think that would be a good idea. We’re expected at dinner with the royal couple. It wouldn’t look right if we were late.”
The hammering of her heart drowned out her common sense. Because when he was looking at her that way and touching her so sweetly, all she could think about was kissing him—
She lifted up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. He didn’t move at first and she wondered if there was some way that she had misread the situation. But then his arms wrapped around her and pulled her hard against him. She’d been here before, but it never failed to excite her. He was thoughtful, sweet and kind. Nothing like her boss at the office. This was a different side of him, and she found him utterly irresistible.
Angelo braced his hands on her hips, moving an arm’s length away. “We need to stop now or we are never going to make it to that dinner.”
“Who needs dinner?” There was only one thing she was hungry for at that moment and she was staring at him.
“Don’t tempt me.” He smiled at her. “I don’t think that would help our pitch.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and proceeded down the hallway to his room.
