Page 32 of The Rejected King
Clearly, he had no concept of what was going on here.
She looked at the couch to the side of her. It seemed safe enough; it was still on the living room side of the fireplace. Slowly, she lowered herself onto the sofa, trying her question again. “Which girls would you like to get to know better tomorrow?”
He shook his head. “I don’t care about that.”
“You don’t care about that?”
“No, you choose.”
Did the king not understand the entire point of the Promenade? If Emree chose the women for him, how was he ever supposed to make a connection? Then it hit her. He didn’t need to make a connection. He already planned to choose Patrice Kenson. She tried to ignore the uncomfortable twisting in her heart. What did she care if he chose Patrice? Emree had Portlend.
“Got it.” She pasted on a fake smile. “I’ll choose for you.” She said it like they had a shared secret, stopping just short of winking at him, though her tone clearly said she understood his plan.
The king smirked. “Okay.”
He walked to the living room side, stopping in front of her. He was so close, his legs a few inches from hers. She had to tilt her head way back to see his face. Why was he standing so awkwardly close? That wasn’t normal, and neither was the heat spreading inside her chest. He shoved his hands into his pockets, staring down at her, and Emree began fanning herself, looking around the room.
“Is it hot in here?” Because it was to Emree. If the king stayed this close, she would have sweat trickling down her back any second now.
King Davin looked around the room. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh,” Emree said, still fanning herself over and over.
“Everything went well tonight,” the king said. “You did a great job with the arrangements.”
“Thank you.” His compliment gave her a surge of happiness. More than it probably should have.
“Did everything go okay with the newswriters?” he asked.
She smiled. “Yes, much better than last time.”
“Good.” His eyes swept over her. Then his face turned to stone. “You looked beautiful tonight. Purple is a pretty color on you.”
Did the king just say she was beautiful? Her heart slammed against her chest, and her hand stopped fanning. Her mind needed full concentration to analyze what he’d said. Technically, he said she’dlookedbeautiful tonight. There was a big difference betweenyou’rebeautiful, andyou lookbeautiful. Emree needed to make sure her mind recognized that difference and the grumpy way he had said it.
She cleared her throat. “Thank you.”
“So you’re in the mood for romance,” he said.
Her eyebrows shot up. “Hmm?”
The side of his mouth tilted upward into that trademark smile she was beginning to love. “Your note said you were in the mood for romance.”
Emree let out a puff of air. “Right. Romancebooks.” She quickly stood. “I brought my favorite thinking you might...but on second thought, let’s stick to murder and revenge. It’s much better.”
Definitely better for her heart.
“You brought your favorite book for me?” he asked.
“Yes, but—”
“Can I see it?”
“Maybe another time,” Emree said, a little too loud. She pushed past the king to leave, but he caught the side of her shoulder bag, pulling her body back, so she stood in front of him. Close to him.
Too close to him.
Her eyes widened, and she sucked in a deep breath. She smelled his musky cologne. The heady scent begged her to close her eyes and shove her nose into the side of his neck.
