Page 97 of Risky Match
Unfortunately, Bri didn’t turn out to be the person I thought she was. She’s a spy. Seducing me was part of her job.
My mind understands. My heart doesn’t. It aches to a level I never thought possible. I thought she was everything I could ever want. She filled me with love and comforted me. Our passion and chemistry were explosive. It was real to me. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for her.
Prince Adrian says, “I’m know what happened here. But I doubt anyone shared the whole story with you.”
With my best poker face, I say, “I’m not sure what you’re talking about. I’ve merely played tennis here.”
He chuckles. “I’m pleased to see you take your oath to our country seriously. So do I. I’m not asking you to share anything with me. And what I plan to tell you falls under the confidentiality agreement you signed with British Intelligence. Do you understand?”
Every time I think the worst is over, I’m wrong. He’s probably going rip my life further apart, but I might as well get it over with, so I say, “I do.”
“Good. I probably shouldn’t tell you this. But someone I care about is truly miserable. From what I can see in your face, I suspect you aren’t doing much better. I can’t stand by without trying to fix this situation. I just need you to listen. Will you do that for me?”
What is he talking about? Surely, it’s not Bri who’s miserable? Regardless, I’m a loyal British subject. When someone in the royal family wants to share something with me, who am I not to listen. “Of course, Your Royal Highness.”
“I’m now speaking as Adrian, not as a member of the royal family. Stephen and I were part of the intelligence team with Princess Brianna. She’s also like a sister to me. She’s a good person. She believed in you and defended you from the beginning. One reason she worked so hard on her mission was to prove your innocence. At first, we didn’t understand why. Then it became apparent that she had feelings for you—real feelings. I won’t ask you to confirm it, but we suspect you two have some history. If we’d known sooner, she wouldn’t have been assigned to this mission. In the end, it made her the perfect choice. She was determined to get to the truth. You may also recall that she’s the one who saved your life.”
“Thank you for telling me,” I say, feigning indifference. Inside, my stomach is churning. I’m not sure how to processthis. Did she really fight for me and believe in me? Is it possible that her feelings were as real as mine?
“You’re welcome. You two make a great couple. I hope you’ll give it a chance.”
“I can’t. She manipulated me and seduced me to gain information. I guess it was part of her job.”
“Oh. I see. You don’t think she actually cares about you. You think you were just part of a mission.”
“She’s always in the tabloids flitting from guy to guy. She probably uses her wiles in all her missions. The tabloids say she’s the...”
“Have you done all the outlandish things the tabloids have printed about you? Of course not. The tabloids are trash. She’s never become involved with anyone on her prior missions. If that’s who you think she is, you don’t deserve her.”
Realization dawns. After the betrayals by my prior coach, Noah, and Natalie, I immediately assumed that Bri was untrustworthy too. But she’s the one who fought for me, calmed me, encouraged me. Yes, she hid some things from me, but they weren’t things that caused me harm. Ultimately, they helped me.
I stare at the sky. “I’m a bloody fool, aren’t I?”
Adrian grins. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. You and Bri are both lovesick puppies that need to wake up before you lose the best thing that ever happened to either one of you.”
My face falls when I remember my conversation with her after I learned she was a spy. “It’s too late. You wouldn’t believe what I said to her.”
“We heard,” he admits.
“Of course you did. Harrington lied when he said no one was listening, didn’t he?”
Adrian waves off my comment. “That doesn’t matter. She’s here one more day. If you want to fix this, you better put a plan in place.”
“I may need help.”
“If you promise not to hurt her again, Stephen and I will help.”
“Do I have any chance of fixing this?” I ask, hopefully.
“Have you heard the termgrand gesture?” he asks with a smirk.
“Yes. Do you think that would work?”
He shakes his head. “No. Think bigger. You need a royal-worthy gesture.”
“In other words, I need to apologize profusely or do something extreme to prove my feelings to her.”
“You need to do both, and while you’re at it, add in some groveling.”
