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Macey’s pulse settled. “I would love that. Thank you.”
He gave her a smile, but it was filled with regret. They walked side by side to Kiera’s room. Macey’s heart felt like it was already breaking. Seeing Kiera would help a lot. She saw no way for her and Ray to get past his declaration to never make a play for her, his determination to do the right thing.
She had to focus on finding the note writer and the murderer and keeping up the ploy with Tristan. It stunk, but as Ray had reminded her, this was her job. Macey had never planned on more for herself than working hard, being smart, and doing a good job.
Burying her dreams of loving Ray shouldn’t be so excruciating.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Ray stormed to T’s suite, cussing himself for being such a baby about watching T and Macey kiss for the talk show as he ripped off his tie and changed out of his suit. He paced the room, staring out the dark windows. He’d never felt such ugly jealousy in his life. He thought he’d kept a stupid smile on his face throughout the show. He’d somehow survived T holding, giggling with, and even kissing Macey with his heart still beating and without hitting his brother. He could be grateful for something.
T burst into the suite after ten-thirty. What had T and Macey been doing for the last hour? That kiss played through his mind, and Ray’s fists tightened. T met his gaze and just shook his head, his blue eyes full of remorse. Ray knew his brother wanted to make things better for him, wanted him to be with Macey, but they both had to play their roles right now. T said nothing, just lifted a hand to him and walked into his closet. Ray appreciated the self-restraint. He probably shouldn’t have hit him earlier.
He kneeled and prayed a lengthy, desperate prayer. His Father above and his mum had to help him. They both wanted him to find the murderer, find who was threatening T, and heaven didn’t want Ray killing his twin brother for kissing Macey instead of keeping T safe like he’d pledged to do … all important things.
T was such a great man, and a great brother. It wasn’t his fault they were caught in this awful threesome. He would take the media’s hailstorm and pave the way for Ray to be with Macey if Ray said the word.
Sadly, Ray couldn’t let him.
He lay down and finally slept from the mental exhaustion.
The next morning, he admired the bruises Tiny had given him as he slipped into gym clothes and as he and T picked up Macey and climbed the stairs to the gym. He didn’t even stare at her. He recommitted, for the hundredth time, to keep his hands and eyes off her, concentrate on his job, and somehow get through this blasted fake engagement.
He worked himself into exhaustion, mostly keeping his gaze from straying to Macey. All three of them were quiet, somber, focused on what needed to be done. Even T was subdued, not joking around like he usually would.
After their workout, they focused on work. T didn’t even try to get Ray to fulfill his end of the bet for the media figuring out the truth and sit through two days of meetings while T played with Macey. His brother knew how on edge he was.
Ray spent the day with Macey in his office. She had headphones in most of the day and watched the many interviews he, Jensen, and the agency from Germany had done with anyone associated with his mum, any possible suspect.
He tried to work. Somehow, he got through the day.
Most days started following a pattern over the next two weeks. Ray, T, and Macey worked out together in the morning, then he and Macey accompanied T to lunches, functions, or visits throughout the country. Everybody she met was impressed by her and they heard often how lucky T was. Ray tried not to think about that.
When T had online meetings or work at the castle with their father, Ray and Macey brainstormed in his office or she helped him with his load of responsibilities that were stacking up after taking so much time as T’s personal bodyguard. Those days were his favorites. They weren’t finding any answers or new information on the murder case, but he loved being with her.
On Sundays, they went to the village church with guards trailing them. They intermingled with people Ray and T had known their entire lives. Ray kept a sharp eye out, but he couldn’t see any of these people hurting his brother or his mum.
In the evenings, they had dinner, usually with just the family. Almost every night, they were able to spend time with Kiera. His little sister was such a light and a delight. They swam often, messed around in the solarium and the spa, and went on walks through the gardens or short hikes around the lake or to the nearby waterfall.
Sometimes Kiera’s nanny, Lisa, would join them. Ray didn’t like the way the young lady looked at T as if his brother was a pastry she wanted to consume, but he knew a lot of women went nuts over the handsome crown prince. Lisa was great with Kiera, and she gradually warmed up to Macey. How anyone could resist Macey was beyond him.
Ray was falling so hard for her. No. He’d already fallen. He was just falling deeper and deeper. He prayed diligently and felt like he displayed superhuman self-control by keeping his hands off her. Not looking at her was impossible, but he tried. She and T acted their part in public, but at home they treated each other like friends, which helped Ray not slit his innocent brother’s throat while he slept.
Sadly, they were making no progress in finding the murderer or the ‘Enforcer.’ More notes were found daily, and now they threatened both T and Macey. Nobody ever saw who left them. There were never fingerprints. They were printed on an HP OfficeJet Pro 6978, not that knowing that helped anything. The castle had none of that model. They searched purchases of the printer, but with online purchases it was impossible to find them all. Ray couldn’t storm into everybody’s homes and see who was using their printer far too often.
Late one night, Jobe made it up the hill and to the castle walls before Jacob caught him. Philippe put him in jail for a night. Lisa promised she’d broken up with him over a month ago, seeming embarrassed about the whole thing. Stupid twenty-year-old heartbroken and hormonal kid anyway.
On a Wednesday night, almost three weeks since Macey had arrived, they’d just prayed over dinner when Malik strutted into the dining room.
“Malik!” Kiera screamed out first, jumping out of her chair and running to him.
“Hey, wild child.” Malik picked her up and hugged her, then tossed her in the air as if she were a four-year-old. Kiera screamed in delight.
Ray, T, Macey, and their dad all stood. Malik and their dad shook hands and did a manly embrace. Ray greeted his brother with a hug.
“You’re looking thick and fine,” Malik told him.
“You’re looking thicker and finer,” Ray said back.
