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The host was giving an intro and quick background on her first guests. Macey liked Jessie’s show. The lady was classy, real, and not snarky or overly sensational.
This would be good. She had this. As long as she didn’t look at Ray. But she might have to look at him when he spoke, or that would be an obvious tell. Dang, she didn’t know. She’d never been trained in diplomacy while falling in love with the wrong brother.
“Oh, my.” Jessie beamed at them as she finished her intro. “If you two aren’t the most gorgeous couple of the century. Welcome, welcome. I’m ecstatic to have you on my show.”
“Thank you, Jessie.” Tristan was all confidence and charm. “We’re honored to be here.”
“Yes we are,” Macey inserted. She smiled at the camera, then looked at Tristan and pretended he was Ray. It kind of worked.
“Ooh, you two are … sparky.”
Oh good. Maybe it was working.
“And the twin, General Raymond, is here with us as well. Hello, handsome. Are you truly unattached?” Jessie winked at Ray, and Macey’s stomach tightened. She clung to Tristan’s hand.
“It’s all right.” Tristan leaned in close and whispered against her ear as Ray grinned and flirted with Jessie. “Put the claws away.”
Macey laughed. Too loud. Interrupting Ray and Jessie’s flirtations.
“What are you two whispering and laughing about?” Jessie raised an eyebrow. “Never mind. Keep your secrets, but we need to hear this incredible royal romance firsthand—how you met, fell in love, the proposal. Spill it all.”
Tristan, luckily, started talking. Macey pitched in a few details. She prayed nonstop in her head, and that helped.
She could feel Ray. His presence distracted her, but it also strengthened her. As did heaven above. She and Tristan talked, laughed, and showed off the gorgeous ring she’d put back on her finger after swimming. The ring was beautiful. An heirloom with a lot of significance and meaning for this royal family. It fit her finger, but it didn’t fit her personality.
She forced herself to look at Tristan as if he was her soul mate and cuddle as close to him as she could without actually climbing onto his lap. Somehow the time passed, and she thought she might make it through.
“Now, Prince Raymond,” Jessie redirected when Macey was certain their fifteen-minute slot was up. “You handsome hunk, you. It’s rumored that you and your brother switched places for the press conference and you’realsohead over heels for your future sister-in-law.”
Macey’s body got far too warm. If only she could be with Ray. Handsome hunk? He was, but he was so much more. She let herself look at him but tried to hide the longing.
Ray smiled easily for the camera. “Obviously Macey is an incredible lady and T is a lucky, lucky man.”
Fire raced through her as Ray gifted her with his incredible smile. Her lips trembled as she tried to return the smile without revealing Ray’s smile made her body turn to liquid heat.
“But I wouldnevermake a play for my brother’s fiancée. My family and responsibilities always come first, and you can easily see how gone Macey is over T and vice versa. They’re perfect together.” Ray said all of this with a confident grin at Jessie, and no obvious feelings for Macey. The fire and warmth cooled to freezing, and Macey shivered. Ray would never make a play for her.Never.
Tristan rubbed her arm with his hand and whispered, “Almost there. You’re doing amazing.”
“Thank you,” she whispered back into his neck.
“You see?” Ray said. “They can’t even get through this interview without getting lost in their own world.”
“I can see that.” Jessie grinned and winked. “We’re over our time slot, but I think the producers will forgive us. We are going to make time for a kiss for the lovebirds.”
Macey’s gut twisted uncomfortably as the studio audience cheered.
“Yes!” Tristan crowed as if kissing her was the only thing he wanted in this world. He turned her toward him, releasing his hold on her hand and cupping her jawline.
She looked into his eyes as if she loved him, and tried to imagine he was Ray. Tristan flashed a cocky grin and then bowed his head closer, and their lips met. She felt … lips. No sparks. No warmth. No tingles. No joy and love.
Tristan increased the pressure of the kiss and she forced herself to act like it was amazing. She wrapped both hands around his neck and kissed him back with a gusto she hoped didn’t look as fake as it felt.
“Okay, okay, you two. Wow! We are tragically out of time. You can kiss more in private.”
Tristan pulled back and grinned. “Don’t worry, we will.”
Everyone laughed, they said their goodbyes, and finally the cameraman signaled it was over.
