Page 23 of The Princess Home for Christmas

Chapter 9

After several hours of planning and talking and laughing and one glorious kiss, she led Thomas back across the palace in the direction of the press room. Seraphina had been texting them both, and after a phone call, they had decided upon what information was available for the world to know and what wasn’t.

She squeezed Thomas’ hand like it was a lifeline.

“You aren’t nervous to talk to the group are you?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s not that.” She’d spoken at many summits, at the university, at fund raisers, galas, and events. What made her ill was this sudden personal disclosure to so many. But she held her head high and let all the breath out of her lungs, slowly. “We are gonna knock their socks off.”

Thomas grinned. “That’s the spirit.”

One thing they both agreed upon was that any time the press would give them attention, they would use it to draw attention to others truly in need. And so today was no different.

Dahlia was going to announce the literacy event that the palace sponsored every year as a part of the holiday festivities. During the tree lighting, children could come and choose one gift under the tree, all were donated and wrapped books. And then the extras were sent to under privileged schools, some in Torren but most in other countries. This year, Dahlia wanted to send them to the tent city, but she kept that information very quiet so that it didn’t draw any connection between her and refugees.

Thomas’ phone dinged. But he left it in his pocket.

“Aren’t you going to see who keeps trying to reach you?”

He turned a deep shade of red. “No. Whoever it is can wait.”

“What if it’s your mother?”

“It’s not.”

“How do you know?”

“Why do you care about this?” He reached in his pocket and turned off the dinger. “There, now you won’t hear it.”

“But what is going on? I never get that many texts. You must have received 25 in the last three minutes alone.”

“Who knows? Maybe someone has access to my phone number now.”

Alarm bells echoed in her head. “Do you think they can do that? Could they track your calls? How secure is your phone? Might they be able to reach my number through yours?”

He stopped and placed a hand on her arm. “Dahlia. No. It’s nothing like that. It’s probably one person who I am ignoring lately and doesn’t appreciate the lack of attention.”

“And so she texts you nonstop? Is she unwell?”

“How did you know this particular dedicated texter was female?”

“Just assumed.” Of course she was female. Who else would stalk him like that? “Is she healthy? Maybe she’s like a real stalker. Should we get Lucan to investigate?”

“No.” His voice was sharper than she’d ever heard it and she stepped back.

“Ok.” Her soft voice in response settled heavily over them as they waited outside the press room door.

Seraphina approached. “You two ready for this?” She looked from one to the other. “Where are the smiles? You look like the gloom of death instead of happy and in love?”

Dahlia agreed she was right, and besides, it wasn’t any business of hers who texted Thomas. She needed to get a handle on herself. Take control of the situation. Sure she liked Thomas, but there were also other guys in the world. She grabbed him by the front of his suitcoat. “I think she’s right. I think we should kick some fanny in there.” She stood on tiptoes. “You in?”

His grin grew wider and he tilted his head, placing his lips on hers. Then he murmured. “You know it.”

The door opened as their lips touched and Dahlia felt the flash of cameras on her face, lighting against the gold of her closed eyelids. She smiled mid-kiss and then they turned to greet a room full of press representatives.

They made their way to the microphone, Dahlia not quite recovering from her blush, people shouting questions all the way.

Not all questions were answered, and with Thomas’ help, they controlled the tone and direction of the meeting. Dahlia began to relax and felt more and more grateful for Thomas and his skill and experience in dealing with the press. No wonder they loved him. No wonder he could manage the lifestyle he did. They ate out of his hand.

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