Bella wrinkled her nose. “Surely you’re exaggerating.”
“I don’t think so. We’re talking about a throne that has been empty for seven decades. And a new king who is handsome and charismatic and single. Your whole family will be in the public eye.”
Gabriel slumped back in his chair. “Oh, goody.”
Rafe lapsed into silence. Bella excused herself to go to the ladies’ room. Maria fixed Gabriel with a half-apologetic stare. “Part of my job is going to be media spin and public relations. Since you seem to carry the black sheep reputation, I have to ask...are there are any situations we will need to know about?”
His chuckle was dry. “To the best of my knowledge, I have no secret offspring hidden about the state. And no outstanding warrants. The worst of my sins are more gray than black. Wouldn’t you agree, Rafe?”
His older brother grinned widely, for once looking almost carefree. “Far be it from me to weigh in on your confessional. But I promise, Maria, Gabriel won’t embarrass us. He’s too smooth and charming. If critics pop up, he’ll simply woo them or schmooze them. They’ll never know what hit them.”
Rafe’s assurances removed most of her concerns. Maybe Gabriel wasn’t quite the loose cannon she had expected. Which was a good thing for everyone involved.
When Bella returned to the table, the group rose to leave. Bella and Rafael were headed out to a party. Gabriel offered to walk Maria back to her hotel. Along the way, she was startled when he opened up to her in a very serious voice. “I’m worried about my brother,” he said, his voice flat. “I don’t want him to give up his life.”
“Has he said much to you?”
“Not really. But I found out today that he and my father have known about this monarchy thing for at least a couple of months.”
“And you didn’t?”
“No. Apparently the prime minister of Alma contacted our father and told him what was brewing...along with pointing out that Dad was not going to be king.”
“That must have been an uncomfortable conversation.”
“Indeed. Anyway, Rafael was sworn to secrecy until the delegation arrived. But it explains a lot.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, a few weeks ago, Rafe took off to Key West for an unexpected trip. I offered to go with him...we often fish and snorkel there together. But he told me no...that he needed some time alone to clear his head. At the moment, I had no idea what he was talking about.”
“But now you do.”
Gabriel paused in front of Maria’s hotel. “Yes. Now I do.”
She touched his arm. “You’ll be a big help to him. Whichever way the decision goes. I can tell he thinks a lot of you.”
“I appreciate the pep talk, Maria. It’s no wonder Alex is madly in love with you.”
“Excuse me?” She took a step backward in shock.
“Oh, come on. Surely you’ve noticed. Every time I get close to you, he practically bares his teeth at me.”
Her head pounded and her chest tightened with anxiety. “You’re mistaken. We’re colleagues. That’s all.”
“Trust me on this one. I’m a guy. I know how guys think.”
“He accused me of trying to cozy up to you so I could be a princess.”
Gabriel laughed out loud. “And do you want to be a princess?”
“Not particularly,” she said, truthful but wry.
He gave her an oddly sweet smile. “I think you and I will turn out to be good friends by the time this is all over. And I could use a friend right about now.”
“You have a reputation for being a party lover. I find it hard to believe you don’t have a confidante on every street corner.”
“Plenty of women in my life. I’ll admit to that. But they all want something. You’re an open book, Maria. I like you a lot, even if we aren’t romantically inclined.”
“And Alex?”
He grimaced. “I don’t have the same warm, fuzzy feelings about your boss. My family will tell you that I get a kick out of stirring up trouble. I could help you make him jealous.”
“No, thank you.” Imagining Alex’s glacial expression if he thought Maria was encouraging Gabriel’s interest made her cringe. “Besides, I told him there was nothing between us but friendship.”
“And did he believe you?”
“I don’t know what he believes,” she said, realizing that this was a highly inappropriate conversation to be having with a member of Alma’s prospective royal family. “I should go now,” she said quietly.
“I’ve embarrassed you. I’m sorry.”
“No. I’m fine. But I shouldn’t overstep my bounds. You and your family are very important to the future of Alma. I don’t want you to think I take that lightly.”
“No one thinks that, Maria. Believe it or not, none of us gives a damn about Alma’s class hierarchy.”
“You may not, but others do. I appreciate your taking the time tonight to let me talk to you. Please reiterate my thanks to your brother and sister.”
“So formal. So serious.”
She knew he was teasing her, but she was suddenly desperate to regain some sense of formality between them...as if Alex could see the fact that she and Gabriel were comfortable with each other. “Good night, Gabriel,” she said.
He watched her walk up the steps. “It will all work out, Maria. Things always do.”
“I hope you’re right.”
* * *
Alex paced the confines of his hotel room, feeling the walls close in around him. It had been eight hours, give or take, since he last saw Maria. If she had her way, the two of them wouldn’t meet again until Monday morning when they were surrounded by the Alma delegation.
He had handled things with her poorly from the beginning...probably, because for once in his life, he didn’t have a clear idea of how to proceed. Not in regard to the proposal and the Montoros. That path was well defined. It was his personal life that seemed out of control. Hell, up until the past few weeks, he hadn’t even allowed himself to imagine a personal life that included any woman on a permanent basis.
But with Maria at his side and under his nose day in and day out, it was becoming increasingly difficult to convince himself that he was a patriot first and a man second.
He glanced at his watch. It was late, but not too late. He wasn’t going to be able to sleep unless he saw her. That in itself was disturbing. They had known each other for a long time now. Had worked together in a number of settings. When had things started to change? When had he begun to notice the way her smile hit him in the gut? Or been stricken with the need to touch her? To make her laugh?
Grabbing up his key and his phone, he strode across the room. But when he jerked open the door in preparation for leaving, Maria stood in the hallway, her hand raised to knock.
Her arm dropped, and her eyes widened. “Alex.”
He pulled up short, his adrenaline-fueled momentum stymied by the fact that she had come to him. “Maria.”
To an outsider, the tableau would have seemed comical. Maria recovered first, already backing away. “You were going out,” she said. “I can talk to you later.”
He grabbed