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“Hey.” T put up his hands. “I trust you, Ray. Whatever you think is best.”
Ray’s stance and heart softened. His brother. They’d been inseparable since birth and, though they butted heads and fought sometimes, they were fiercely loyal to each other and their family. T was a natural leader and would be a fabulous king someday, but he was always willing to listen to and trust Ray and his ideas, especially regarding military, protection, or police matters.
“Thanks, T.”
His brother nodded, but there was something in his blue eyes. Ray was still in for a grilling.
“Let’s get Macey set up in my room and move some of my clothes and things to your room before dinner.”
“Sounds good.”
Macey was watching Ray closely, but she got distracted when they walked into T’s open bedroom and living quarters. Ray and T’s rooms both faced the mountainside with the river, falls, and a view of the lake their mum had died in. It was beautiful, but sometimes a hard reminder of what they’d lost.
They got Macey’s suitcases and the fancy, formal dresses, wraps, jewelry, and shoes that Ariana, the family’s royal stylist, had brought in, moved into Ray’s closet. She pitched in to help move his clothes, which for some reason felt really intimate to Ray. The thought of her sleeping in his bed … he rubbed at his suddenly burning neck.
“We’re going to be late for dinner,” T said, glancing at his Panerai watch. “Sorry to not give you much time to primp, Macey.”
“Oh, no, you’re fine.” She shrugged. She looked absolutely irresistible. “I’m not much of a primper.”
Could she get more perfect? He loved how unassuming and naturally beautiful she was.
“Of course you aren’t,” T said smoothly, his gaze far too appreciative. “Naturally beautiful.”
Ray’s elbow nailed his brother’s gut of its own volition.
T gasped out and rocked forward slightly, giving Ray a look that said they were duking it out very soon or Ray was explaining. He’d prefer the fight. Elbowing T had been a natural reaction to his brother complimenting Macey. Ray wanted to be saying those words.
Macey’s eyes widened, and she pushed at her nose. The odd move she did often reminded Ray of someone pushing their glasses up on their nose. Did she normally wear glasses?
“Is five minutes enough time?” Ray asked, pushing his brother out of his suite.
“Sure, but … wait.”
Ray and T both stopped and turned. T rubbing at his gut.
“Do I need to wear one of the formal dresses?”
“Not tonight. Just family and maybe Philippe, if his wife isn’t begging him to come home,” Ray told her. “What you have on would be great, or if you have a summery dress or shorts that are more comfortable than the tight skirt, you’re welcome to change.”
“Okay, thanks.” She looked unsure. Ray wanted to stay and help her choose her outfit for tonight. That was ludicrous. He’d never paid much attention to women’s clothing, besides noticing that a woman looked attractive in a certain outfit.
T and Ray walked out of Ray’s suite, shutting the door behind them. They had barely entered T’s suite when he whirled and shoved Ray.
Ray stood his ground. Barely.
“What was that?”
Ray clenched his fist and tried to think of a good explanation. Nothing came. “Macey is already fake engaged to you,” he said slowly, scrambling. “You don’t need to give her empty compliments and try to charm her unless cameras are rolling.”
“Empty compliments?” T’s eyes narrowed. “Maceyisnaturally beautiful, and from what I’ve seen, unassuming and sweet. You don’t agree?”
“I do agree.” Ray had never really tried to mask his feelings from his twin, but he was an expert at masking them in military and diplomatic situations. “I just felt you were putting it on a little thick.” It was a lame excuse, and they both knew it.
Rushing ahead of his brother, he hurried to use the bathroom and freshen up a little. He had to control himself better. If T figured out how gone he was over Macey, his brother would scheme a way to let Ray date her. Sadly, Macey wasn’t here to date either one of them. They needed to stay the course, reassure their people, keep T safe, and find their mum’s murderer.
Then Macey would go back to America.
Ray’s gut churned. The only thing worse than fighting his feelings for her and being jealous of his brother being able to fake an engagement to her was thinking about her leaving.
