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“It’s okay.” She studied him. “It is interesting, what he sees …”
Ray’s body flushed. Malik had said he and T were both in love with her. Did Macey know Ray had fallen in love with her? Being around her so much, her sweetness and all of their shared interests had just yanked him in. T didn’t love her. Malik didn’t know the engagement was fake, but he could see she and T shared no sparks.
“If you want to head down and shower, I’ll wait for T,” he offered. If she didn’t leave soon, he’d forget his resolve and kiss her until she knew exactly how he felt about her.
Her dark eyes flashed with frustration. “Sounds good. See you soon.”
She whirled and strode off. Ray watched her go. Even when she was gone, he could still see her. He passed a hand over his face. Why couldn’t he find any answers to the murder, the notes, and how to not let the world know he wanted to steal his brother’s fiancée?
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Macey showered, put moisturizer on her face and body, and slid into a tank top and some soft cotton shorts. She brushed out her hair, brushed and flossed her teeth, kneeled to pray, then lay on the huge bed and read from the Bible, looking for answers and solace.
She felt … dejected. T said this would pass and someday she might have a chance with Ray. At the moment that day felt very far away. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed for faith and the ability to trust in God’s timing and plan not her own.
“Macey!” Tristan was banging on the bedroom door.
She rushed to open it. He stood in the doorframe, towering over her and looking … angry. She hadn’t seen Tristan angry.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“Ray’s been pacing, but then that stupid Jobe is trying to climb the wall again. Of course he had to go talk to the kid himself. Has to take care of everything himself.” He shook his head, not moving from the door frame. “This might be the only chance I have to talk to you.”
What would T want to talk about?
“Have you and Ray found anything in all your time spent researching and interviewing and inventing computer programs?”
“No,” she admitted. It was frustrating and embarrassing that she’d found nothing, had been no help to Ray. Would they give up on her? Send her back home? Even with the angst of wanting Ray while being fake engaged to Tristan, she loved it here. She loved being part of this family. She missed Sutton, Liz, Agatha, Gage, and Cassie, but she felt like this was where she belonged. If only Ray could love her and she could be with him.
“I’m fed up with all of it,” Tristan admitted, folding his arms tight across his chest and leaning against the doorframe. “I’m fed up with my brother. Ray is so in love with you. Malik saw it tonight, and the whole world saw it weeks ago when you did the press conference together.”
Macey’s heart raced out of control.
“Why won’t Ray admit it? He’s too honorable, so determined to save the kingdom by himself. I’m sick of it.”
Macey wished Ray would admit he loved her, but maybe he didn’t. Maybe his sense of honor was too strong. Who knew? She was glad Tristan was being so open about it, but if Ray wouldn’t let down his guard, what would it matter?
“Macey.” He straightened away from the door frame and wrapped his hands around her upper arms. “Can you at least admit it? Forget everything else, forget the threats, forget the murder investigation, forget you’re on a job. Do you or do you not love my brother?”
Macey stared into Tristan’s blue eyes, so like Ray’s but different. She wanted to scream that yes she loved Ray, she loved him and couldn’t deny it, but not if he would never admit it, would never act on it because he was too honorable. Or because maybe he liked her, but not enough to make a mess with the press and upset his dad, who was grieving so deeply and trying to hold everything together.
It wasn’t as bad as Steve because Ray would never betray all of them, but the humiliation of falling for a man who couldn’t reciprocate pried that wound back open. Add that to the humiliation that she wasn’t helping Ray solve the murder case or the death threats. What was she even doing here if she couldn’t find any answers?
“I respect your brother, but I don’t know him well enough to love him,” she lied.
Tristan let out a disbelieving guffaw, and then he bent down and kissed her.
Macey jolted in surprise. Tristan had kissed her on that talk show, but he’d never done it in private. She yanked away from him. “What are you doing?”
“Did you like that?” he demanded. “Do you feel anything when I kiss you?”
“No.”
“What do you feel when my brother kisses you?”
Macey could only stare at him, misery and longing for Ray battering her from within. She hadn’t kissed him since the press conference. It felt like longer than three weeks ago, yet she could remember every detail, every sensation, his scent, his strong body against her, his warm lips lighting her up all the way through.
“Excuse me,” she murmured, then darted around Tristan and out into the hallway. She didn’t know where she was going. Just away from Ray’s twin demanding answers out of her that she couldn’t give. She was almost to the main staircase when she saw a man storming up the stairs. She stopped and stared. It wasn’t just any man.
