“I’m usually a little more cleaned up.” Why was he making excuses for his appearance? It wasn’t like he was going to ask her out on a date or anything. Still, he heard himself say, “It’s just with the media and all, sometimes it’s easier to travel incognito.”
She nodded but still didn’t say anything.
He hated to admit it, but he really did want to know what she was thinking. Did he really look that bad? His hand moved to his jaw. His fingers stroked his beard. It was quickly filling in. Soon it would start to get bushy. He didn’t warm to the thought.
Beards were okay on some guys, but not him. It just wasn’t his thing. “Is it really that bad?”
She shrugged. “It’s okay.”
Definitely not a ringing endorsement for his new look.
“I guess it doesn’t matter much if I shave or not now that my picture is all over social media. And it’s not like I’m going to be here much longer—”
“What? You mean you’re leaving? Already?”
He nodded. “I have to keep scouting for a headquarters for my Mediterranean expansion.”
“But this is it. The South Shore will be perfect.”
Was that a glimmer of worry reflected in her eyes? Surely she couldn’t be that invested in doing business with him. And if she was, he had to ask himself why. What was driving her to close this deal?
He cleared his throat. “I’m not ready to make a decision of this magnitude. I have plans to visit Rome, Milan and Athens next.”
“And when will you be leaving?”
“In the morning—”
“But you can’t.” She pressed her lips together as though regretting the outburst.
“Why not?”
“Because you still have to file a report with the police. There’s the theft and...and you’re an eyewitness. They’ll probably want you to testify.”
She had a point. And as much as he would like to fly off into the sunset, he wouldn’t shirk his duty. “You know, the only reason I walked away is because you said you weren’t going to press charges so I figured there was no reason for me to stick around.”
“I was truly considering it, but the policeman convinced me it wouldn’t be in anyone’s best interest. So it looks like you’ll be hanging around Mirraccino a bit longer. And I would love to show you more of this beautiful land.”
How much more was there to see? And did she really think another day of playing tourist was really going to change his mind?
“I don’t know.” He glanced at his wristwatch. It was getting late. “Maybe I could swing by the police station now and give them my statement.”
“It’s Friday. And it’s late in the afternoon. I’m sure the people you’ll need to speak with will be gone for the weekend or at least have one foot out the door.”
“Can’t I just give my statement to an officer? Surely the whole police force doesn’t go home early for the weekend.”
Annabelle smiled. “Funny. But I meant you’ll probably have to speak with some of the clerical or legal people.”
He nodded. “I suppose they might do things a bit differently from what I’m accustomed to in the States.”
Annabelle nodded. “Now let’s see about getting you situated.”
“I have a room at the hotel in the city.”
“I was thinking of something different. How about being a guest at the royal palace?”
Had he heard her correctly? She was inviting him to stay in the palace with the king? “Are you serious?”
“Of course I’m serious. The king is my uncle.”
“And you live there—at the palace, that is?”
“At the moment, I do. I’ve been living there while working in Mirraccino for the past couple of years.”
There was a lot about Lady Annabelle that intrigued him. And honestly, what would it hurt if he took a few more days before moving on?
Annabelle was the first person to interest him in a long time—just not romantically. It wasn’t that he didn’t find her exceedingly attractive. He did. But he refused to get sucked into another relationship. He’d been through enough. His heart was still mending.
“Oh, please say that you’ll stay. I’ve already had a suite made up for you. And...and the King is expecting you at dinner tonight.”
“The king wants to meet me?”
Her cheeks bloomed with color and her gaze didn’t quite meet his as she nodded.
He suspected she was just saying anything to get him to stay. He had to admit no one had ever dangled an invitation to meet a king before him in order to help with a business deal. What made this amazing woman feel as though she had to jump to such lengths to get him to close this deal?
“Tell the truth,” he said. “The king, he isn’t expecting me at dinner, is he?”
Her gaze finally met his. “No, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem. The suite truly is prepared and awaiting your arrival, as well as the financial projections. We can go over them together if you like.”
He couldn’t help but smile at the eagerness reflected on her face. “You know, I’ve never stayed in a palace before.” When her eyes widened and her glossy lips lifted into a smile, he said, “We’ll just need to pick up my luggage at the hotel and then I’d very much enjoy staying with you—erm, staying at the palace.”
A visit to a royal palace, what could possibly go wrong?
Security would be heavy and the paparazzi would be nonexistent. It would be a win-win.
But who would keep him from getting lost in Lady Annabelle’s brown eyes?
* * *
At last, Annabelle got through on the phone to the police department.
And without playing the royal card, she was able to speak with someone in authority. They told her to stop by in the morning and they’d see about getting some of her possessions back to her. She wasn’t sure what some consisted of, but it was a start.
“Everything okay?” Grayson asked.
She nodded. “They’d like you to stop by tomorrow and give them a statement.”
He didn’t say anything as he turned to stare out the window as they approached the palace gates. She chose to take his silence as a good sign, but she couldn’t help but worry just a bit about the impression he’d gotten of Mirraccino. She could only hope the financial projections packet she’d put together would outweigh everything else.
Annabelle sat in the back of her sedan with Grayson as Berto ushered them past the security gates and onto the royal grounds. Annabelle had to admit that after living here for the past couple of years she’d begun to take the palace’s beauty for granted.
She turned to Grayson to find him staring out the window. He seemed to be taking in the manicured lawns, the towering palm trees and the red-and-white border of flowers lining the long and winding drive.
“This place is remarkable.” Grayson said, drawing her from her thoughts. “We have nothing like this where I come from.”
“You’re from California, right?”
He nodded, but he never took his gaze off the colorful scenery. “I couldn’t even imagine what it must be like to live here.”
“You get used to it.” As strange as that might sound, this big place felt like home to her. “Is this your first visit to Mirraccino?”