Page 77 of Royal Caleva: Luis

“No. I need to be Grace’s mother now.” Her voice was like stone. “You need to be Grace’s father. The only contact we will have is in looking out for her best interests.”

Her expression said she wasn’t convinced he could be trusted with the latter.

“We cannot pretend that there is nothing between us.” He reached for her, but she flinched a step backward. He dropped his hands, clenching them into fists against his thighs.

“It was only a…a liaison. Isn’t that what you call your relationships?” she said. “It wasn’t meant to be long term anyway.”

But he wasn’t ready for it to end. He had just discovered the delight of her. “It was not meant to be only two nights,” he said.

“It shouldn’t have been even one,” she said. “Look at what a mess we made.”

“No, not a mess. Remember what pleasure we gave each other, what joy we found together, what we can look forward to as we grow closer.” His words held a desperation he couldn’t suppress. “Eve, don’t punish yourself for finding happiness or for giving it to me.”

“It’s not punishment. It’s reality,” she said, taking another step away from him, her posture rigid.

He had not felt this helpless since had gotten the news that Gabriel had been kidnapped. What words could he use to bring Eve back to him?

A quiet knock sounded on the office door. He wanted to curse and tell whoever it was to go away, but Eve went over to open it.

“Lo siento, Su Majestad, but you have a meeting at the palace in one hour,” Bruno said.

“Cancel it,” Luis said.

“It is with the U.S. ambassador,” Bruno insisted.

“Joder!” They had a sensitive matter to discuss that couldn’t wait. He turned to Eve. “You and Grace will come to the palace at…?” He looked at Bruno.

His assistant checked his tablet. “The two o’clock meeting can be canceled.”

“Before two, then,” Luis said. “We will talk. About everything.”

She nodded, her braid moving against her shoulder. God, he wanted to sink his fingers into the thickness of it and use it to tilt back her head so he could feast on her mouth.

“I’ll tell Grace what’s happened,” she said, her eyes unhappy.

He held her gaze. “Eve, she will be fine.”

But would he?

CHAPTER 20

Eve stood in front of the door to Grace’s suite, trying to pull her thoughts together. Fury, guilt, fear, and a yawning loneliness spiraled inside her. This conversation with her daughter would determine the trajectory of their lives, and Eve wasn’t nearly prepared enough.

She squared her shoulders and knocked. “Grace, it’s Mom.”

“Hey!” Grace swung the door open, wearing one of the teal terry cloth bathrobes they’d found in the suites’ closets. “I thought we weren’t having breakfast until eight.”

Eve stepped inside and hugged Grace, reveling in the smell of her daughter’s freshly shampooed hair and the feel of her young, strong body.

Grace returned the hug before she leaned away to examine Eve’s face. “Mom, are you okay?”

“Yes, but we have a situation.” Eve tucked a strand of hair behind Grace’s ear before she let her go. “We need to talk.”

Eve sat on the sofa while Grace plunked down in a chair beside it. “What’s going on?”

“A paparazzo took a photograph of your father and me on the beach two nights ago.” Eve fiddled with her braid. “We were just walking, but Luis was holding a bottle of champagne, and we were laughing. The media outlet that bought the picture has decided I’m the king’s new girlfriend…and they’re going to identify me as such when the photo is published.”

“I knew there was something going on between you two,” Grace said with satisfaction. “But what’s the big deal about the photo?”

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