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Her face flared. “It was a happy scream. Happy we’re here. Happy we get to spend so much time together.”
His eyes widened slightly, but then he moved closer. Only a quarter of a step, but she could smell his warm, spicy amber and musk scent. Delicious. Almost as delicious as his accent and his face and all of him.
“You missed your favorite guard while you were in America?” he asked. It sounded like the way he’d always teased her, but it was more significant now. Things had changed between them.
“Ached for him, actually.”
Mason swallowed and studied her.
Kiera straightened away from the door frame and took a half step closer. She didn’t want to push him too hard or too fast and have him put up boundaries or walls. Their gazes were locked, and she could feel the warmth of his breath on her face. She wanted his breath to intermingle with hers. Were all her fantasies about to come true? He definitely wasn’t looking at her as if she were an adorable girl. This look was hot, delicious, and made her tingle from head to toe.
“Princess,” he murmured.
“Yes?” She nibbled at the corner of her bottom lip.
His eyes dropped, and then it happened. He leaned. He didn’t wrap her up tight—yet—but his large, well-built frame shadowed her completely.
His phone buzzed in his pocket.
He pulled in a quick breath, blinking as if awakened too soon. “Pardon me,” he murmured, stepping back and pulling his phone out. He glanced at it, and his brow furrowed. He strode down the wide upstairs hall as he swiped it open. “Miriam,” he murmured, as if he didn’t want Kiera to hear. “Did you receive my message?”
The door next to hers opened, and Sarah poked her head out. She looked past Kiera to Mason and then back to Kiera. “Well?” she mouthed.
Kiera raised her hands, not sure what to tell her friend. She put a finger to her lips, trying to listen in.
“Many apologies,” Mason was saying, “for the last-minute cancellation.” He listened then chuckled low and deep at something Miriam said.
Kiera’s stomach squirmed. Who was this ‘Miriam’?
“Thank you for being so fabulous about …” He suddenly glanced back at Kiera. His blue eyes searched hers, then he turned away again. “Everything. Goodbye.” He pocketed the phone and turned, his gaze swinging from Kiera to Sarah and back to Kiera.
Kiera wanted to demand to know who Miriam was and if they were dating. What had he canceled last minute and what was she being fabulous about? Nobody had indicated he had any kind of girlfriend. Her stomach squirmed.
“Did you have plans for tonight, Princess?” he asked as he walked back and stopped in front of her, not giving her the opportunity to pry the information from him.
“Hope said the kitchen would be stocked with food options. I’ll cook for everyone.”
“You’ll cook for everyone?” he asked, his voice dubious.
“A few things have changed about your favorite princess since you last saw me, Captain Henson.”
“That, my Fearless Princess, is an understatement.”
She grinned.Hisfearless princess? She heard Sarah laugh softly.
“You can be my sous chef,” she told him.
“I’d be honored.” He bowed slightly.
“I know.” She winked. “After we eat, I reserved two hours of the pools and spa area of the Arenas Resort. You and Sergeant Naples can swim with us, since we’re supposed to pretend to be couples and all that, and Lieutenant Mueller and Private Silva can monitor the interior of the area. The hotel’s security will lock down all entrances to the pools, spa, and locker rooms after we enter, and their guards will patrol the exterior.”
Mason studied her. He knew her ploy—getting him alone as much as possible and making Christmas magic and romance happen. Would he call her out on it? Try to block her efforts? If the look in his eyes and the comments he’d let slip were any indication, he was absolutely stunned, shocked, floored by her growing into a woman.
“Your wish is my command, princess.”
Her stomach hopped happily, and she grinned. “I hoped you’d say that.”
Mason looked … concerned.
