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“My stomach’s a little squeamish.”
He smiled. “I bet. Eating something will help.”
“I’ll try.” She took the plate. Their hands brushed, and she longed to hold his hand. She’d kissed him yesterday and he’d escorted her with his hand on her back, but they hadn’t held hands. No—she couldn’t hold his hand, and she had to learn how to deal with that. “Thank you.”
“Can I come talk to you while you eat?”
“Sure.” She felt all lit up at the thought. He wanted to talk to her. It was probably only about work, but she couldn’t tamp down the excitement.
She stepped back into the suite and to the small table, setting the plate down. Ray pulled out her chair and helped her into it. Her skin seemed to tingle from even the simplest touch from him. “Thank you,” she said again.
She bowed her head and said a brief, silent prayer, Thank you, Father in Heaven. Please help me get through this press conference and know how to help this family and to be with Ray if there is any way that miracle is possible. In the name of my Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Opening her eyes, she focused on Ray. He was seated across the small table and watching her steadily.
“Can you eat?”
“I’ll try.” She pulled off the foil. He’d loaded the plate with an omelet, a cinnamon roll that smelled divine, a small bowl of fruit and cottage cheese, and a small bowl of oatmeal with nuts and cinnamon sprinkling it. A napkin and silverware rested on top of the omelet. “Wow. Thank you.”
“I hope there’s something there you’ll like.”
“It all looks delicious. Maybe I am hungry.” She dug into a bite of omelet. It had veggies, cheese, and ham in it. “It is delicious.” It was a little awkward to have him watch her eat, especially because he’d seemed off this morning at the gym. “How did you know I didn’t have breakfast?”
“You saw my office.” He tilted his head. “I have camera angles of the entire castle, except for the bedrooms and bathrooms.”
“True. And you’ve been studying this hallway or the dining room watching for me?” She took another bite of omelet, her stomach settling a little bit with him here and some food in it, but her nerves were on edge waiting for his answer.
“Yes,” he admitted, holding her gaze.
“Why?”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
“About?” Yes, she silently cheered.
“T had an idea that I wanted to run by you.”
“Oh.” She deflated. This talk apparently wasn’t about their kiss yesterday or their attraction or their almost kisses or how they were going to navigate a relationship while she was pretend-engaged to his brother. They could wait and develop a relationship after the engagement was over. Any kind of hope would be great.
“For the press conference, T and I are going to switch places,” he said the words evenly, as if he were reading a report.
She had a spoonful of oatmeal almost to her mouth. She set it back in the bowl. The thought of standing next to Ray, holding his hand, pretending to be engaged to him, lit a fire inside her chest. It sounded comfortable and exciting. With Ray, she wouldn’t have to pretend she was drawn to him. She wondered if other people could see the sparks between them. Was that why Tristan had suggested it?
“Why?”
“If whoever is threatening him got their hands on a press pass, it could be a vulnerable time and he could be in danger. This way T will stand safely to the side looking like the general, and I’ll be in danger.” He smiled at that, revealing the dimple in his left cheek and a bit of emotion.
“Tristan came up with the idea?”
He nodded.
“Your brother wants you in danger?”
“No. Very few people outside of our family and a few close friends can tell us apart, especially when we’re in business suits that hide my extra twenty pounds of muscle.” He smiled a bit cockily. She liked it.
“I can tell you apart.” She took a drink of her water and leaned back in her chair.
“I know.” Ray’s eyes flashed with something tender and raw and appealing.
