Page 63 of Out of Office Nights
‘Did you not ask him?’
His jaw rippled. ‘He spoke in metaphors and euphemisms, and I’m not in the mood for it.’
Like a moth to a flame, her gaze zipped to him then lingered as they stepped out. Lines bracketed his mouth, and his forehead was pinched in a permanent frown. He looked…haggard. Or as haggard as the most magnificent prince in the world could look.
Her heart dipped. Did it really have to do with her? If so could she…daredshe take the chance?
She blinked when he handed his helmet to the footman. ‘Aren’t you riding your bike?’
His eyes lingered on the sleek machine then shook his head. ‘I’m taking you home as requested. And since you may be carrying my child, your days of riding with me, while brief, are over. So we’ll use the car.’
He opened the door to the town car that pulled up and slid in after her. Thinking he would push for answers, she exhaled slowly when silence reigned on the short journey.
Inside, the staff were absent, probably by some secret palace signal.
They faced each other in the foyer, too many words crowding the air. In the end, she turned to the stairs and climbed, searingly aware he followed close behind. The sound of the studio doors shutting behind him set her heart pounding.
His sharp intake of breath drew her to find him staring at her sketches. The designs she’d been dying to show him. In the light of the gamble she was considering, it felt small. Insignificant.
‘Sabeen, these are incredible.’
His praise warmed her for all of ten seconds, before fear crowded in. ‘Thank you. Teo—’
‘What did you mean?’ he sliced in, his own tension mounting.
She knew exactly what he meant. ‘Everyone seems to think I’m the cause for your…for whatever is going on with you.’
His eyes narrowed then understanding dawned. ‘Valenti?’
‘And your father. I took him to task for it when maybe I shouldn’t have.’
He didn’t answer. His hands propped on his hips, his mouth still tight. ‘I thought he’d never been here in this studio or shown any interest in my work,’ he muttered. ‘It turned out I was wrong.’ Her heart caught at the bleakness in his voice. ‘About a few things, actually.’
‘I’m sorry.’
His head bowed for a full minute. ‘Don’t be. He’s set me straight on some things this past week.’
Sabeen’s heart squeezed tighter. Everything about his demeanour screamed a profound discovery. One that weighed heavily on him.
‘Wh-what?’
‘That I’ve wasted time trying to prove my existence when I didn’t need to. That I was chasing foolish dreams out of…’ He shook his head, a tense smile twitching across his face before it died. ‘It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters.’
His words shut off as a roar filled her ears. If nothing mattered, was she about to risk everything for nothing? ‘If nothing matters and everything’s fine with you and your father, why does everyone claim you’re in pain? Why do you only work in here when I’m not around? Why are you sleeping in the guest suite instead of your own bedroom?’
Bleakness flashed in his eyes before he could hide it. And although his mouth twisted, Sabeen saw his sombreness. Dare she say, his pain?
Even as he scoffed, his hand rose to rub at his chest. In the exact place her own chest ached. ‘You think a few changes means you have some insight into me? Perhaps even how to manage me,tesoro?’
‘They’re simple questions, Teo. Answer them and we can move on.’
She’d taken so many bold steps these last couple of weeks. Steps he’d pushed and prodded and dared her into taking. She wasn’t going to back away now.
‘Move on, or use them as excuses? You already gave your condition about keeping things secret, or have you forgotten?’
Pain rippled through her. ‘I haven’t forgotten.’
He waited a beat, then spread his arms wide. ‘And? Are you about to tell me you’ve changed your mind? That you care why I can’t sleep in my own bed now?’
