Page 13 of The Duke's Brother

The other guys razzed him and then they all hurried to their rooms. Trane couldn’t wait to peel off his wet clothes and soak in their hot tub.

He sent a message to Jenneca’s rooms through their servants. “Here’s my phone number. Call me. Hot tubs.”

About ten minutes later, his phone rang. He jumped to where it was sitting on the table. “Hello.”

“Tripp?” Her quiet voice clenched his heart. She was worried. He wanted to erase that nervous tone.

“Yes! I’ve now got your number.” He couldn’t keep the smile out of his voice. “So, we have a hot tub room here. And it’s sounding pretty great right now, but a little lonely…”

She breathed in. He could hear it, a little gasp. Was that a good gasp or a bad one? He couldn’t tell. He waited for a thick moment, full of his impatience.

“Ok, let me get my mom settled, and I’ll be there…uh, where is it?”

“I’ll come get you.”

“Sounds good. Thanks Tripp, for all of this.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in a few.”

Chapter 8

Jenneca tossed her phone on the bed. Her mother was already settled and sleeping in the room next door. But Jenneca needed a moment to process all that was happening. The man she had dreamed of being with for her whole life, Tripp Valdez, Prince of Torren, wanted to sit in the palace hot tubs right now, with her. After he rescued her and her mother from a tropical storm. She fell back onto her bead, staring at the gilded ceiling. And his voice. Mmm. She wanted to call him back just to hear him answer. So deep, gentle, the memory of it rumbled through, sending shivers down her neck.

She pulled on her sexiest suit, even though she told herself over and over again she was not a royal groupie. She was not trying to capture a prince. She hadn’t packed anything particularly fun, just more sensible for a ski trip, but she used what she had. Then she threw on her little dress cover-up. She washed her face, put on some waterproof mascara, and brushed her teeth. Put her hair on top of her head, checked her legs for prickly hairs. She was ready when she heard a knock on her door.

She opened it to find Tripp waiting, wearing a pair of swim shorts and a towel over his shoulder. For a moment she couldn’t say a word. He was magnificent. His chest nice and rounded, toned, his stomach tight down to his shorts. She laughed at his feet. “Socks?”

She loved a man in crisp white socks, but he looked funny with the bathing suit and socks.

He grinned, an adorable sheepish looking expression. “I don’t like to walk around in bare feet.”

She closed the door behind her and couldn’t resist slipping her hand into his that hung down by his side. “Thank you, Tripp. I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t driven by right when you did. Your family are like angels from heaven. We are so thankful.”

“I am happy you were home, you must have left on an early flight.”

“I did. We made the last commercial flight that wasn’t canceled, I heard.”

“It’s pretty bad out there. Tomorrow’s gonna be a struggle for many. We’ve got the whole family working in different parts of the island.” His face lined with worry.

“Would you rather get some sleep? That sounds hard, Tripp.”

“What? No way. This is the best part of my day.”

Her face warmed. “Mine too.”

“So I’m doing well. Best part of your day. So far, I’m better than an early, crowded commercial flight out of Austria, huge tropical storm, the destruction of your roof, and a house fire.”

She laughed. “Yes, you are way better than all of that.”

She swung his hand in hers, and she enjoyed the carefree wonder the motion created in her heart. Even though she knew Tripp would be facing sobering, difficult circumstances tomorrow, they both would be, she determined to make tonight enjoyable. Being trapped inside the palace with a prince didn’t seem like a groupie thing to do. It seemed very human and real, and his efforts to help her nearly overwhelmed her with his kindness. “You know, you really are the best family. We Falunas have been blessed to know the Valdez royals all these generations.”

He squeezed her hand. “And us, you. Sometime while you’re here we should look at the books, all the ancient records and early photographs of our families and the many baked goods you have provided the palace.”

She laughed. “I think only you and I would find such a search interesting.” She coughed. “Or maybe only me, and you are being a gentleman.”

“No, believe me when I say that I have gained a sudden interest in the Falunas and their bakery, and most especially their daughter.”

She felt her face heat more. Could any of this really be happening? Even with a shop destroyed past her ability to repair it, a mother who was not healing fast enough, she felt strength in his support and in his promise to help. She didn’t like to be the receiver of so much charity without an ability to repay. “How about we work out some kind of agreement with the palace to help pay back your help.”

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