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Matteo had never found the elevator so stuffy. ‘It’s a congratulations present,’ he said smoothly, ‘and a thank-you for the work you did on the song.’
Her gaze held his for a moment and then she gave a wry smile. ‘Chill, Your Highness. It’s the necklace I love, not you. Shall we go?’
CHAPTER NINE
IT WAS like trying to tame a tiger.
He’d existed on his own for so long that even the thought of allowing someone close made him dangerous.
He’d given her a stunning present and then proceeded to virtually bolt from the elevator to escape her thanks. He was programmed to respond to the word love the way most people respond to fire. Alarms went off around him and evoked an immediate evacuation of the area.
Her brain ached with the complexity of handling their relationship.
And as if she didn’t have enough to think about, now she was expected to pose for photographs on the steps of the palace before the ball started.
‘Paparazzi photo call,’ she quipped, ‘otherwise known as feeding time at the zoo.’
He shot her a warning glance as the doors were opened. ‘Don’t speak. They can read lips.’
Izzy pinned a smile on her face and hoped they couldn’t read minds or the headlines were going to be interesting.
They stepped onto the steps at the front of the palace and Matteo closed his hand over hers as what felt like a million flashlights exploded.
‘Smile,’ he ordered in an undertone, so she dutifully smiled and gripped his hand so hard she was sure he’d have permanent indentations from the pressure of her nails on his flesh. And tonight he was very much the prince, cool and in control as he fielded the hoard of paparazzi and public eager for a glimpse of him.
Once inside, he drew her towards a line of people waiting to meet him.
‘They want to meet you, not me,’ Izzy muttered, but he propelled her forward, refusing to let her hide.
For the next hour she had no time to think about anything as she shook a million hands and said, ‘So pleased to meet you,’ again and again until finally they moved into the ballroom with its ornate ceiling and crystal chandeliers. Giant screens at the side of the stage were playing footage of previous Rock ‘n’ Royal concerts and Izzy’s heart sank as she discovered that she was seated next to one of Matteo’s most important guests, a sheikh.
Daunted by his severe expression but even more daunted by the prospect of an awkward silence, Izzy frantically searched her brain for something interesting to say that didn’t include the weather.
‘Do you know that camels are the only animal whose red blood cells are shaped like a sphere?’
The sheikh appeared startled by the question. ‘I did not know that.’
‘It’s to do with them getting dehydrated.’ Izzy picked up her fork but knew she wasn’t going to be able to eat a thing. She was too nervous. ‘The red blood cells don’t clump together. I find that fascinating.’ Realising that he was staring at her in astonishment her voice trailed off. ‘But I realise that most people don’t so maybe we should just talk about something else. The weather maybe.’ She was about to slide under the table when he smiled and that smile was surprisingly warm.
‘I find it fascinating too. Are you an expert in veterinary science?’
‘No. I’m not an expert in anything. But I did a project on camels at school.’ Grateful to him for being so nice, Izzy gave up on the food on her plate. ‘I think they start at a disadvantage because they’re noisy and smelly on the outside. And what you see on the outside isn’t always a reflection of what’s on the inside, is it?’
‘It is not. I am in complete agreement. If only more people remembered that, the world would indeed be a better place.’ The sheikh reached for his glass, and as he started to tell her more about his home and his family, she realised that however important he was, in the end he was just a person with hopes and insecurities like everyone else.
The me you don’t see.
Across the table her eyes met Matteo’s.
Despite everything they’d shared, he hadn’t lowered his guard. The emotional distance was still there. And she was starting to think it always would be.
Half wishing she could meet Carly so that she could punch her on the nose, Izzy carried on her conversation with the sheikh and enjoyed his company so much that she barely noticed the time passing until she heard the notes of her song playing and saw the music video playing on the big screen.
Her song.
Matteo raised his glass in a silent toast and as soon as the song ended he rose to his feet and silence fell across the packed ballroom, as if someone had hit a switch and turned off the sound.
He spoke eloquently, without the help of notes, highlighting the various charities that had been supported by the Prince’s Fund.
