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“No, you didn’t,” she said, turning. “Make me feel uncomfortable, that is. I do care. I’m not quite sure when things changed, but I care a lot.”
“But?” There was no mistaking the hesitancy in her voice. As much as her proclamation made his spirits want to soar, Armando held them in check and prayed what came next wasn’t rejection.
Rosa shrugged, palms up. “I don’t know what to think,” she said.
“Then don’t think,” he replied. “Just go with your heart.”
“I—I don’t know,” Rosa replied.
He made it sound easy. Just go with your heart. But what if your heart was frightened and confused? She had come to terms with her feelings being one-sided, only to hear him say they weren’t. How could she be sure this sudden realization wasn’t a reaction to another man coveting his possession? After all, Armando was used to having her undivided attention. Who was to say that once he claimed her attention again he wouldn’t lose interest? Chubby, divorced, insecure. Wasn’t as if she had a bucket load of qualities to offer.
Nor had he said he loved her. He cared for her, needed her, wanted her. All wonderful words, but none of them implied he was offering his heart. For all his talk of coming to life, he was essentially in the same place as before, unable or unwilling to give her a true emotional commitment. He was simply done trying to be fair. Flattering to think his desire for her was great enough to override his sense of honor.
On the other hand, her feelings wanted to override her common sense, so maybe they were even. As she watched him close the gap between them, she felt her heartbeat quicken to match her breath.
“You do know that we’re under the mistletoe yet again, don’t you?”
Damn sprig of berries had quite a knack for timing, didn’t it? Anticipation ran down her spine breaking what little hold common sense still had. Armando was going kiss her, and she was going to let him. She wanted to lose herself in his arms. Believe for a moment that his heart felt more than simple desire.
This time when he wrapped his arm around her waist, she slid against him willingly, aligning her hips against his with a smile.
“Appears to be our fate,” she whispered. “Mistletoe, that is.”
“You’ll get no complaints from me.” She could hear her heart beating in her ears as his head dipped toward hers. “Merry Christmas, Rosa.”
“Mer—” His kiss swallowed the rest of her wish. Rosa didn’t care if she spoke another word again. She’d waited her whole life to be kissed like this. Fully and deeply, with a need she felt all the way down to her toes.
They were both breathless when the moment ended. With their foreheads resting against each other, she felt Armando smile against her lips. “Merry Christmas,” he whispered again.
Rosa felt like a princess.
Behind them, a throat cleared. “I beg your pardon, Your Highness.”
The voice belonged to Vittorio Mastella, head of security. He stood in the doorway as statue-like as ever, dare she say even overly so, the way his hands were glued tight against his thighs. “I’ve been asked to deliver a message to you.”
Armando tightened his hold on her waist, clearly afraid she might flee. “If it’s Father, tell him I’m not feeling well, and I will see him in the morning,” he said, smiling at Rosa. “I’m in the middle of a very important discussion.”
“I’m afraid it’s not from your father.” The way his eyes flickered between the two of him made Rosa uneasy. Whatever the message, it sounded like unwanted news.
She couldn’t have been more right.
“Princess El Halwani has arrived,” Vittorio announced. “She’s on her way to the dining room as we speak.”
CHAPTER NINE
ENTER THE BIGGEST stumbling block of all. How on earth could Rosa have forgotten about Mona, the ultimate reason for holding back her heart? At the sound of her name, she broke free of Armando’s embrace. Easy enough since his grip had gone lax.
“Thank you, Vittorio,” Armando replied.
From his shell-shocked expression, it appeared he had forgotten about Mona as well. Small consolation, but Rosa took it nonetheless.
Vittorio bowed in response. “Again, I’m sorry for the interruption, Your Highness.”
“No need to apologize, Vittorio. Your timing was fine.”
Fortuitous even, Rosa would say. This was the second time she and Armando had been stopped from kissing. Maybe the universe knew the troubles that lay ahead and had stepped in to protect them. Certainly it had saved her from heartache tonight.
Partly, anyway.
The two of them stood listening to Vittorio’s receding footsteps. Armando looked as dazed as she felt. His eyes were flat and distant.
