Page 56 of Some Like It Scandalous
“It’s been a hard week for him.” Richard leaned his head back against the pillows, his eyes drifting half-closed. She thought he drifted into sleep, but then he spoke. “Ask, Anna.”
“Am I that transparent?” Guilt nibbled at her, the attorney needed to recover.
“No, but caring about him isn’t always easy.” His eyes opened. “So ask. I can’t promise I’ll answer.”
“He’s pushing me away—but I don’t think he wants me to go. I told him I loved him and it was perfect and magical and then cold and distant. He’s giving me a million reasons to leave.”
“And you are looking for one to stay?” He sighed at her slow nod. “I can’t answer that for you—or for him. One of the reasons our friendship works is he trusts me to keep his confidences.”
“Do I have a reason to hope? That I haven’t inescapably screwed this up for us? I—I had this feeling in his office that day that he wanted something from me. And then again later… There are moments when he’s Charlie and others where he’s not.” Anna rubbed a hand over her mouth and shook her head. “I feel like I know him so very well and at other times…he’s a complete stranger.”
“He’s a man, Anna. He’s the same man he’s always been.” Richard shifted in the bed, reaching for the remote, and she leaned forward to nudge it closer. He gave her a small smile of gratitude and then hit the button to sit the headrest up. His face went pale with the struggle, but he looked at her steadily. “But that’s not really what you want to know.”
Does he love me?If he did—if he loved her—that was reason enough to stay, to do everything she could to make the past up to him. To prove to him every day that she wouldn’t leave this time.
And if he doesn’t…
Then maybe they could bury all this pain between them and really get on with their lives. That thought made her ill. She’d convinced herself for years that she was better off without him.
She didn’t think she could do it twice.
“I should let you rest.”
“You should talk to him.”
“I’ve tried,” she snapped, then bit her lip with a grimace. “I’m sorry, it’s not your fault. I have tried to talk to him. I told him I love him and every time I do he shuts down. It’s like he’s trying to box me up and close the walls in and keep me from getting too close. I hurt him, Rick. I know I did. I can’t take back what I did—I can’t give him back those ten years after I walked away. I don’t even know where to start. But I love him. I want to be there for him and he won’t let me.”
“Don’t give him the choice.” Richard fell silent, a struggle playing out over his features. For all that he was a brilliant poker player, the urge to say something etched into his face. But the firm line of his mouth compressing told her he wouldn’t. “I can’t tell you what you want to know. Being a prince isn’t easy—not for any of the brothers. You’re basing a lot of what you know about the last few years on what the news reports, aren’t you?”
He turned the question back on her and Anna nodded slowly. “I watched every special, reviewed the Google alerts when his name was mentioned—” Embarrassment heated her face. “I just wanted to know he was okay.”
“Nothing wrong with that—but ask yourself this. Have you watched the news reports over the last couple of weeks since the two of you saw each other again?”
The ridiculous speculation, the aborted wedding announcement from Nikole and the interviews with classmates she didn’t even recall—the kernels of the truth were in the story, but they made up such a small part of it. The news stories she followed rarely reflected the information she read in the foundation guidebook or even bore a passing resemblance to the man she knew in college—the man she knew now.
“There you go.” Richard closed his eyes. “Now you’re thinking.”
“You’re a good friend, Rick.”
“I’m the best.” His lips curved into a fleeting half smile before his expression sobered. “Don’t hurt him again, Anna. I like you—but I don’t think I can forgive you twice.”
Rising, she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Feel better.”
He patted her hand, and though she appreciated the gesture it remained an awkward moment. Richard was Charlie’s guy—his best friend, his confidant, the man he trusted. They shared history, good times and bad. He’d been there when Anna hadn’t.
“Have fun at the party.” He gave her a small smile of encouragement.
“Oh, I’m sure it will be a blast.” She left him to sleep and walked out to find Kyle and the others waiting for her. Still chewing over what she knew and what she didn’t, who he was and whom the world saw.
She waited until they were in the car and leaned forward. “Kyle?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“How long have you worked for Ch—the prince?”
“About five years, ma’am. Usually his American stops, but occasionally in Europe.”
“Can I ask you a question?” She nibbled the inside of her lip.
