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It was a knock that saidI am here. I am important. Please be excited that I am here. Hanna looked at Taryn. Taryn looked back at Hanna.
It was Phillip.
Taryn forced herself not to roll her eyes.
Of course, it was Phillip.
Taryn rose from her chair and went to answer the door. From the corner of her eye, she watched as Hanna straightened her posture on her perch next to Taryn’s chair.
Taryn opened the door, and there was Phillip.
He wore the colors of a warrior … red and black. The colors very clearly highlighted his status as an alpha male.
Phillip didn’t wear a tie, and the top two buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned.
Taryn could smell his cologne. It was sweet and musky. Heady.
She couldn’t help finding the way Phillip dressed as strange. He was very dressed up for a simple meeting about his parents’ party.
Phillip’s eyes sparkled when he smiled at Taryn as she let him into the conservatory. She didn’t miss the way his expression changed when he saw Hanna perched in the center of the room.
“Hello, Phillip,” Hanna called cheerily across the space.
Phillip swallowed hard before he spoke. “Good day to you, Hanna,” he answered.
He clearly isn’t happy to see her,Taryn thought to herself amusedly.I wonder why? Is it because she annoys him the way she annoys me? Or is it for some deeper reason?
These thoughts crossed Taryn’s mind as she showed Phillip into the conservatory.
“Hanna, you look so lovely. Shall I compare you to a fine summer’s day?”
“Isn’t that a line from a famous poem?” Taryn couldn’t help but snicker slightly.
Phillip didn’t answer Taryn’s wisecrack but turned his eyes back to her and smiled brightly. Instead of being cheered by the smile, all Taryn felt was discomfort.
The darkness in Phillip’s eyes was obvious to see.
Is he even trying to hide it? Or is he hoping that his smile will distract me?
She took a step away from Phillip but kept a smile fixed on her face.
Something is off.
“Dearest Taryn of Autumhart, thank you for making time for me today,” Phillip told Taryn. “You are very generous. Declan is allowing me to use the palace and staff, and there is a lot to work out. You meeting with me here today helps a lot.”
Taryn was still smiling as she walked side-by-side with Phillip.
Her theories about the man … who she hardly knew … changed wildly as they walked toward Taryn’s desk.
Maybe you’re just being fanciful. These are flights of imagination. So why do I feel like he’s hiding something?
“Don’t forget Hanna,” Taryn answered Phillip. “Hanna’s here to help.”
“You are looking sharp today, Phillip,” Hanna broke in, and Taryn shivered at the acerbity in Hanna’s voice.
“Thank you, Hanna,” Phillip answered. “I can tell you really mean that.”
“I do,” Hanna quipped.
