Page 10 of The Duke

Seraphina was not stupid.She knew when someone was trying to hide things from her. When she put it all together, the phone call at the airport, the reluctance to let her be a part of things, and kicking her out of their meeting, she knew they were hoping she didn’t discover something. Something to do with the environment and the well-being of the Mediterranean. That room had been crawling with royals. Her own country had not been represented. Unfortunately they did not share a part of the Mediterranean coastline. They were affected by it still. All the European nations were, all the countries of the world really. She asked for a car and driver. It was time she made contact with some new friends. Perhaps they knew what the Valdezes might be trying to hide. They could help her look in the right direction.

A little pinch of guilt reminded her that this was Trane she was planning to spy on, but she pushed it aside. He was certain he had nothing to hide so whatever she found would never harm him. In fact, the more deeply she researched, the better they would look in the end when she found nothing. She pushed forward with those thoughts as momentum. She hurried faster because she had promised to have dinner with Trane.

Chapter 7

Trane paced back and forth across his private balcony. She was late. Very late. An hour late. And he was not used to being kept waiting. In fact, besides Nico, he couldn’t think of a single other person who had ever kept him waiting. He pulled at his shirt sleeve and rotated his shoulders inside his suit coat. He had worn his favorite casual sport coat, Armani. They were the best at unassuming menswear. He wore her favorite cologne, tulips sat in the vase in the center of the table, and their now-cold dinner was being wheeled back to the kitchen to be reheated and brought when he informed them of her arrival. The playlist had already circled back to the beginning, and Trane’s frustration was reaching the breaking point.

He refused to text her after six times, asking if she were coming. His finger hovered over Lucan’s name. A single call in and he would know where she was. He pressed his lips together. No. He would not do that.

Tripp knocked on his doorframe, the door wide open. Trane called to him from outside. “Come on in. Nobody here but me.”

He stepped outside. “The night air is perfect this time of year.”

Trane eyed him. “Did you come here to talk to me about the weather?”

A smile or a shrug from Tripp and everyone was endeared, except Trane. “What do you want brother?”

He sat in what would have been Phina’s chair. “Nothing. I heard she wasn’t here so I came to see how you are.” He toyed with the vase of flowers. “And to let you know that I heard from an undisclosed source that she was on her way.” He stood. “Five minutes out.”

Trane watched him leave. When he was almost to the door, he called out, “Thank you.”

Tripp just waved and exited.

Trane asked for the food to be brought in ten minutes, restarted the playlist and sat in the corner of the couch in his sitting area, arms across the back of the leather, leg crossed on his knee. He tried to adjust his attitude, think pleasant thoughts, and not fidget. What was wrong with him? Well for one, he had set aside multiple things in his schedule so that he would be able to keep his date with Seraphina. His irritation rose again. He almost stood and started pacing again. But she texted. “Trane. I know we talked about dinner, but I am exhausted, just getting home. Can I take a rain check?”

He roared to his feet with a great silent disappointment. He texted back, “No, at least come see me. You have to eat. Low key, casual. My rooms.”

He waited. As irritated as he was that she was so late, he still wanted her to come.

He could almost hear her tired sigh. “Ok. I can never say no to you. Be right there.”

A large breath left his lips. She was coming.

Within about two minutes, she at last stood in his doorway. She looked like she’d been in business meetings, pencil skirt, jacket folded over her arm, white shirt. He decided he liked her in a business outfit. He’d like to go up against her in negotiations some time. She emanated an atmosphere of power, one he had never recognized before. Gone was the groupie waiting for Trane to be finished for today. Here stood someone he was going to have to work to please. Well, he was trying. He was giving all he could this last week, every spare moment.

She entered slowly, her eyes moving up the length of him. Everywhere they lingered tingled as though touched. He waited. When she at last stood in front of him, she reached down with one hand and slipped off her shoes. “Sorry I’m late.” She didn’t look a bit sorry, but Trane couldn’t feel angry, not when she stood above him, looking like she was ready to take on the world. He reached up to take her hand. When she responded with her own, he pulled her down, twisting her so she sat across his lap.

She laughed. “Trane, what!”

“I’ve been waiting on this lonely couch for an hour.” He growled and nuzzled her neck.

She leaned into him, her breath coming faster. He could feel the racing of her pulse under his fingers. “I said, I’m sorry.”

“But you’re not sorry. I think you were trying to punish me.” He tilted her back in his arms, his face above hers. “Weren’t you?

Her eyes widened, and he saw the desire in them. He knew she was as smitten as he. The trouble was, neither knew what to do with the other. She looked at his mouth, searched his face, and then relaxed into a lazy smile. “Are you gonna hold me here all night?”

“Oh no. I have much more planned for you.” He tilted her back up and helped her rise. The staff had entered and were setting up dinner out on the balcony. Again. “Let’s start though, by eating.”

“This is lovely!” She ran to the balcony. “Trane. Tulips. The balcony, everything.” She turned to him, stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I know I said I was tired, but really I’m famished. Thank you.”

“Do your meetings not provide food?”

A fleeting flash of discomfort crossed her features and then vanished. “Not that kind of meeting unfortunately.” She sat and the servant put a napkin in her lap. She looked expectantly at Trane.

He laughed, “All right, let’s eat.” He sat across from her and after his napkin had been placed, they were once again alone. “Bon appétit.”

For a moment, they were quiet, each intent on enjoying the meal. And he began to relax. He knew what it was like to be so busy that you couldn’t find time to eat, no matter who it was with. He understood. He had just never been on the receiving end of his busy schedule. And he found he didn’t like it. No wonder Seraphina had stepped away, put some distance between them.

---