Page 31 of Royal Caleva: Luis

Not that Eve could stop this train now that it was barreling down the tracks.

“May I request that you bring some of your Scotcheroos tomorrow?” Luis’s eyes gleamed. “And perhaps share the recipe with my chef?”

Eve slanted him a skeptical glance but nodded. “I’m sending a batch back with Mikel for your team, so you can grab one of those if you get a craving.”

Luis lifted his eyebrows at her. “Are you trying to subvert the loyalty of my staff? Because Scotcheroos might do it.”

“I’ve used them to bribe a couple of professors,” Grace volunteered. “Works every time.”

Her daughter radiated delight as her gaze traveled from Eve to her father. Eve felt a flare of anger. This was what Grace should have had all her life—two parents to support and love her. Damn Ben for being a selfish, narcissistic jerk!

Grace cast an odd, apologetic look at Eve before turning to her father. “This might be too difficult to arrange, but would you like to come to my graduation ceremony?” Grace asked. “It would be fantastic to have you there.”

His face blazed with joy, and Eve’s heart melted.

“I would be honored to attend,” he said. “Please tell me the date so I can make sure it is on my calendar.”

“The date is engraved on my brain,” Grace said. “I’ll text it to you. Oh, wait, am I allowed to do that?”

For a moment, he looked uncomfortable. “As long as you use the secure cell phone Mikel brought you.”

The king issue was starting to come to the fore…and Luis didn’t want it to.

“Got it,” Grace said, unbothered.

His smile held relief. He swallowed the last of his brandy and stood. “We all have to work tomorrow, so I will say goodbye. It has been the most pleasurable of evenings.”

Grace and Eve rose as well.

“There’s one thing I want to confirm,” Eve said, her shoulders tight with tension. “I assume you won’t announce the news concerning Grace until she has made decisions about her legal standing as your daughter?”

“Of course not.” Luis looked offended, but his expression softened when he gazed at Grace. “Our relationship will be private until you wish to share it with the world. Then we will discuss the best way to handle the revelation together.”

Eve felt a sense of reprieve, although she wished she could discuss this situation with one of her levelheaded friends. An outside perspective would be useful.

“I won’t say anything either,” Grace said with a nod.

Grace also wouldn’t be able to lean on the support of her friends. Eve would have to try to view this crazy development in their lives from every possible angle and guide Grace to her decision solo, a daunting prospect. All the secrecy made her role even harder in many ways.

“You should know,” Luis said, his face solemn, “that my heart wants me to stand on the highest tower of Castillo Draconago and shout to the entire world that you are my daughter.”

Eve fell a little in love with the man right then because Grace’s eyes brimmed with tears, even as a huge smile spread across her face. “Thank you,” Grace said in a voice that quavered slightly.

As they started toward the door, Eve realized that Luis had left his blazer draped over the back of the dining room chair. “Let me get your jacket,” she said, pivoting.

As she collected it, she marveled at the gloriously soft wool and caught again the distinctive scent that made her think of open water. She was tempted to rub the jacket’s lapel against her cheek.

“Muchas gracias,” he said, taking it from her with a slight bow.

More Spanish words had crept into his speech as the night had gone on, perhaps as he had grown more comfortable with them. She liked that. Not to mention that his elegant baritone made the Spanish sound like music that rippled inside her.

When they entered the front hallway, Eve started at the sight of Mikel standing by the front door, holding the Scotcheroo-filled plastic container she had given him earlier. Somehow, he managed to make it look normal for the king’s scary security chief to be carrying Tupperware.

But how had he known Luis was ready to leave? She shrugged internally. A king’s security was beyond her.

Mikel nodded to her and opened the front door, the drift of air sending the fragrance of vaho hibiscus swirling around them from the vase on the table.

“Oh, that smells so good.” Grace closed her eyes and inhaled.

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