Page 133 of The Promised Prince
“I thought I had the entire walk up to the door to work out what I wanted to say.” Trev’s voice was deep and full of nervousness. “I guess I better think quick.”
Renna couldn’t think of anything to say herself. All she could think about was how fast her heart was racing.
“You look so beautiful.” Trev paused, smiling as he glanced over her. “And stronger. Farm life has been good to you.” He nodded at Preetis, Nellie, and Mangum. “Hello.”
The trio returned the greeting in perfect unison.
“We have work out back we need to get done,” Mangum said, shuffling Preetis and Nellie around the side of the house.
That wasn’t obvious at all.
“I’m sorry to stop your work,” Trev called after them. He looked around at the stone wall they were repairing, then at the house and the farm. “It’s incredible, Renna. You’re incredible.”
The line of transporters behind him was like a procession of black ants. “I see you brought everyone,” she said.
He shrugged in his easy way. “They come with the job. Don’t worry, though. I told them all to stay in the transporters.”
“Congratulations on being king.” Renna didn’t mean the words to sound so negative, but they did.
He laughed it off. “There was no one else who wanted the job, so I got it by default...literally.”
Renna bent down and started picking up rocks again. “Well, thanks for stopping by to say hi, but we’ve got to get back to work.”
Trev shook his head, smiling, amusement in his eyes. “I didn’t come to just say hi, and I think you know that.”
“I don’t know what you came for. I haven’t heard from you or seen you in months. Why would I have any clue what you are here for?” She tried to hide the bitterness she felt inside but was pretty confident she wasn’t doing a good job.
“I’m sorry I didn’t write. Things were so crazy after the shooting, and I was just trying to figure everything out.”
“It’s understandable. Your wife had just died and—”
He sighed. “She wasn’t my wife. Not yet, at least.”
“Well, she was about to be, but who needs to argue about a few minutes here or there?” Renna gave a tight smile.
“I can see you’re upset with me, and rightfully so, but I’m just so happy to see you right now.”
She didn’t want to be upset with him, but she couldn’t help it. Her anger was her only defense mechanism, a way to protect her heart from getting hurt again.
She raised her chin. “So why did you come?”
He took a step forward, obviously nervous. “To tell you I love you. To tell you that you belong with me. To tell you that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. That you’re the only one for me.”
“Well.” She raised her shoulders. “The only one for younow that Seran is gone.”
Trev threw his head back in obvious frustration. “Why do you have to make everything so difficult?”
“What did you expect me to say?” She folded her arms across her chest, standing her ground.
“I don’t know, that you love me too?” He shrugged. “Would that be so hard?”
“Now you love me? Now that you’re the king and your fiancée is dead, and no one can be mad at you for being with me? That’s when you decide you love me?”
“I loved you all along. Ask anyone!” His toe kicked the dirt in front of him. “You seem to be the only person who didn’t know. And you weren’t at the wedding. You don’t know that I wasn’t going to marry Seran.”
Renna straightened, trying to make sense of his words.
“Before all the chaos happened, I was about to call it off. I was choosing you. I wanted to marry you.”
