Page 31 of The Problem with Princes
“He was really unhappy when I insisted we go inside and sit down.” Tyrone makes a face. “But I was still angry, and I just couldn’t bring myself to return to the palace.”
I frown. “But it seems Sander had reason to be concerned.”
“I suppose.” He lifts a shoulder. “You just ended up being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Umm, I was pretty much in the right place at the right time. Wouldn’t you say?” If I hadn’t been there at the bakery, we wouldn’t even be talking right now.
He grins. “You think bumping into me was you being in the right place at the right time?”
I absently place my hand on my belly. No, there was nothing right about that encounter. “I’m referring to the coffee house.”
A soft smile plays on his lips. “You were definitely in the right place then. And I thank you for not ignoring it. After our previous encounter, most people would have pretended they didn’t see anything, not that I could blame them.”
The tram finally comes into view, moving slowly down the cables toward us. Sander presses his hand to his ear and casts a glare at Tyrone.
Tyrone places his fingers to his lips and whispers. “That is the sign that we are being too loud, and he can’t hear what his guys are saying in his earpiece.”
We both stay quiet, which is okay with me. My eyes are focused on the tram bumping and swaying its way down the cable. I can’t believe I agreed to set foot on that death trap.
ChapterEleven
The tram comesto a stop in the dock. Is that even what you call a parking spot for a tram? I have no idea.
The door slides open and Sander steps inside, making a sweep of the car.
I lean over and whisper to Tyrone. “Does he think someone got into the car while it was coming down the lines? I’m pretty sure we would have seen that, right?”
Ty shrugs. “I bet James Bond could get in without us seeing.” He stares at me with one eye slightly narrowed. “For someone who has gained so much knowledge from movies, I’m surprised you even questioned that.”
I roll my eyes. And he gives me a shoulder bump. I like this easy back and forth we have going on.
“I’ve decided to keep all my movie knowledge to myself from now on.” I grimace. “It hasn’t done me much good, lately.”
He chuckles.
Sander steps out of the tram and motions them inside while he does a visual check around the car.
“The guy was pretty sneaky.”
“Sander takes his job very seriously. No one should have been able to get that close to my car. The fact that someone got under the car, cut the brake line, and then got away—without one of his men seeing? It’s not good. I was worried he might resign.” He whispers the last part.
Sander steps over and speaks to the two men he is obviously leaving down here to stand watch. Then Sander steps in and shuts the door behind him. The tram lurches forward and I reach out and grab Ty’s hand. But not in a romantic way. I think I actually see him flinch as I squeeze his fingers.
Tyrone leads me to one side of the car, deftly removing his hand from mine. “One of my favorite views is of the valley below, especially at this time of the year.” He points to a cluster of trees, their leaves varying shades of orange and yellow.
“I can’t believe you get the change in color here. The weather seems too temperate.”
“For the most part, it is,” he says. “This is the only place on the island where it happens.” He scoots closer and points to something else in the distance. But I’m at a loss to repeat what he is telling me. His cologne fills my nose. It isn’t strong or overpowering; rather it’s just subtle enough that I want to lean into him more, just to breathe him in. It doesn’t help that I can feel the warmth from his body mixing with my own.It’s a delicious distraction. But it’s a distraction I can’t afford. I’ll be better off waiting for the tram to fall off the cable and plummet to the earth.
I clear my throat and focus on where he is pointing. I make the mistake of looking out the windows in the front of the tram. The car bounces on the lines and I put my hands to either side, helping to balance and calm my nerves at the same time. I don’t dare take Ty’s hand again. The ground below disappears, and the trees look smaller and smaller with each minute we climb.
He puts a hand on my arm. “Are you okay?”
I nod and smile my fake smile. “I’m a little afraid of heights.”
He rubs at his hand. “Yeah, I figured that out.”
Maybe if we start talking, I can get my mind off the images of the tram coming off the cable and plummeting to the valley below in a fiery ball. I have no idea how the fiery ball comes into play. I’m fairly certain there is nothing on the car that will cause a fire. But who ever said fears are rational?
