Page 18 of The Duke

Phina turned away. “I know, Trane.”

He reached out and gently turned her head so that he could look into her eyes. “But I’m looking for a love even stronger.”

Her eyes widened.

“I’m looking for a love that can outlast all the sacrifices that come with being a royal, with being a Valdez. One that can weather any storm, which will last through the generations, all of them, that life brings.”

Phina’s eyes welled with tears and she swallowed.

“I’m trying, Phina. I want that with you.” His warm thumb wiped at a tear running down her cheek.

“Trane. These past few weeks have been magical with you, what I always hoped they could be, what I knew they could be, if we had a chance.”

He sat on the nearest boulder and patted the place next to him. “Let’s keep it this way. It will take work. I will need to keep trying with the time I have, but I think you’re worth it. We are worth it.”

She nodded. “Thank you.” She nudged at the rock in front of them, kind of absentmindedly kicking at it. “Although.”

“Although? Who says although after a statement like that?”

“Well now, stay with me. Although, I’m going to be the busy one for the next few weeks.”

“What do you mean?” It’s not like they swapped being busy. He was always, perpetually busy.

“I mean. I have a lot to do over the next few weeks and several important deadlines. I’m here for work, you know.”

And a portion of his elation at their romantic moment fizzled. “I am well aware you are here on assignment.” His voice sounded clipped.

“Well, there’s no need to be huffy about it. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” He looked the other direction. “Well, ok, something’s wrong. It would be nice to know you were actually here for me also. Not just some story for the paper, some goose chase for a fault in our treatment of the Mediterranean.”

“Some story? Trane, do you know me at all?”

“Oh I know you. Just how far will you go to get this story of yours, Phina? What dregs of humanity are you making deals with?”

She leaned away from him. “What are you talking about?”

“Well here you are on assignment to report on our use of the Mediterranean. You don’t find dating the Duke of Torren, who is running the summit on this very thing, a bit of a conflict of interest?”

“I guess I hadn’t let it get complicated like that. I can keep the two separate.”

“Can you? Should you?” How did their conversation go this direction?

“What are you saying?”

“I didn’t realize how much the whole idea of your reporting bothers me.”

“My job bothers you?”

“No, Phina, well, yes, when your job involves reporting about me and my family.”

And suddenly she recognized how being hours into a wilderness preserve might not be the best thing. What did he want her to do? Quit? “What are you saying?”

“I’m not saying anything, well, I guess I’m asking something. Where do your loyalties lie, Phina?”

She stood. “That’s not a fair question. What you are really asking is what will I do if I discover a story that makes you Valdez princes look bad.” She had asked herself that same question every day since receiving the assignment from her boss. “How can I even know the answer to that until the specific situation arises?”

He huffed out a breath and the silence that followed weighed her down. Finally, he said, “I would be able to answer that question, no problem.” He pulled out his phone.

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