Page 12 of Once Upon a Royal Billionaire

She nodded. But someone was gonna have to tell her first. Was she available? Was she ready to date again? She glanced back at Rhett, who still hadn’t stopped looking in their direction. Then she searched the room full of men she’d known since she was a little girl. She used to think this would be the last place she’d find a husband, but now she knew that some of the best men she’d ever met were all in this house. And she’d known them her whole life.

But she had a business to think of and even more important, a daughter. She just didn’t think she could have another relationship. After her first, did she really want one?

5

Rhett wanted to punch his friend. Brooks’ smiles, Emily’s laughs, his arm across her shoulders—it all made him ill, even though he had no right to feel that way. Two weeks. What would he do with these two weeks? Convince Emily to let him date her again? Watch while one of the other guys got smart and scooped her up right in front of his eyes?

The party was winding down. He’d watched Emily make her way around the room, talking to all the guys. Rhett assumed she was getting their support for her new financial venture. He was proud of her. And he couldn’t believe how far she’d come. Mountain Blue was one of the most respected sports and recreation gear companies in the world.

The guys started to trickle out, except for Brooks, Carlson, and a few of the Valdez brothers. Rhett hoped Emily was lingering to talk with him. But she hadn’t come near him at all. Rhett texted his staff, telling them when to come clean up. He was suddenly tired.

None of the old games were as fun for him anymore. Maybe he would hit the sack early and the guys could show themselves out. They’d done it countless times before. Emily laughed, and Brooks put his hand on the small of her back. Rhett ignored them, rolling his shoulders as he stepped into his office. A couple things from the committee on environmental reform were weighing on him. Perhaps he would check a few emails.

He left the door cracked and was soon lost in his overflowing inbox.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when the soft clearing of a throat caught his attention.

He looked up. “Emily.” The pleased rush that roared in his ears made him smile. He checked his watch. “Oh, wow, it’s late. I’m sorry. Have you been there long?”

“In the doorway? No.” She stepped closer. “Can I come in?”

“Sure, yes, of course.”

She walked around the office, studying his pictures on the walls, mostly of waterskiing. She stopped at one of her winning the water ski championship.

“This is incredible. I haven’t seen this picture in years.”

“It’s when you won Worlds.” He stood, making his way to stand next to her. “I’m actually in it. If you look really closely, you’ll see my blurry photo bomb.”

She squinted, her eyes close to the image. “Oh yep, I see you, wearing red.”

“The very one.”

She turned to him, standing closer than he expected. “You keep it hanging on your wall?” She backed up to lean against the wall, and Rhett missed her nearness.

He stepped closer. “I do. And sometimes I come and look at it.”

“You do?”

“Yes, this woman here, she inspires me. She entered this championship in the men’s category and kicked our sorry skiis to the shoreline. She dug in around each buoy, showing us how talent and grit can change the world.”

Her eyes widened, and she opened her mouth but said nothing. Then she swallowed.

“You’re amazing, Emily. I hope things are going well for you. That someone in your life tells you how great you are, and often.”

Her face clouded in pain, and she turned away.

“Cause I’m happy to fill that role.”

“You’d be my royal flatterer?”

“Well, sure. I do find it easy to point out your awesomeness whenever it’s required, but I was thinking I could be a bit more than that.”

Her eyes shone. “I just don’t know how I let so much time go by without trying to reconnect.”

“It’s how we roll though, isn’t it? Too busy to connect with people outside of our day-to-day life.”

“Is that how we roll?”

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