Page 41 of Royal Charmer
I let him off the hook. I don’t want him to play the part if it’s going to be like this. “You don’t have to.”
He meets my eyes, his gaze intense. “I want to.”
“Oh.” I think on that for a moment, confused. “I’m missing something here, then. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just need some time to get into sightseeing. I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
But he seemed cheerful this morning. That is, until we went shopping. I relax. “Ohhh, guys don’t like shopping. That’s what it is. Now you’ll have more fun.”
“I don’t mind. I liked seeing you in that gown, even if you couldn’t breathe.”
“You want me to faint at the ball?” I ask in mock anger.
His lips curve into a crooked smile. “I would catch you.”
I smile back, pleased we’re getting back to our normal banter. “I can totally picture that! And then he carries her off to a private alcove, where he wakes her from her swoon with a kiss.” My mind carries the scene forward. “She’s terribly compromised. When they return to the ball, there are witnesses that saw them go off alone together. Theymustmarry, or she’ll be ruined, her reputation in tatters.”
“You’re writing out loud again,” he says in a teasing voice. “Your voice gets dreamy and a little bit British.”
“What? I don’t do a British accent!”
He grins and says, “Maybe it’s just your Regency-style word choice. You certainly don’t sound American.”
“How funny! I had no idea.” At least Mason never commented on it. Of course, we didn’t live together. We planned to after the wedding, but he didn’t like any of the places we looked at and finally said I could just move in to his apartment when the time came. It hits me that he wasn’t just being picky, he was trying to decide between going through with our wedding or jumping ship for Riley. Mason dragging his feet should’ve been a red flag. Why couldn’t this all have been clear back then? I wouldn’t have been so blindsided.
“Alice?”
“Huh?”
“I said I like hearing you write out loud. It’s adorable.”
My cheeks flush. “Oh.”
He takes my hand, entwining our fingers together, a more intimate hold than before when he simply tucked my hand in his. I still, looking straight ahead, my heart pounding because this feels like real affection and desire together, my personal relationship trigger, and I’mthis closeto freaking out.
I don’t know what to do or say. I can enjoy myself when I know the parameters of the game, but things are getting fuzzy, and it’s making me very nervous. I don’t think Lucas would mean to hurt me but, ultimately, he would. Because he would walk away easily, on to the next woman. And my barely pieced together heart would be shattered beyond repair.
Calm down.He’s just holding your hand.
Lucas looks over at me, studying my expression. “What?”
I stare down at our entwined fingers, my ruby engagement ring sparkling up at me. I keep my voice low. “Are we holding hands because of the game?”
“It’s making you uncomfortable.” He releases my hand.
“I’m sorry. I feel…I don’t know. It’s kind of weird and confusing. I’m sure it’s just because of Mason being—”
“No problem.” He shifts his body away from me, looking out the window.
I hope I didn’t screw up. I was being honest, speaking up about my feelings in a way I rarely do with a man.
I miss his touch already.
Chapter Twelve
Lucas
I’m acting weird and making her uncomfortable. This is a first. I’m known for being smooth and charming, yet with Alice I’m as awkward as an adolescent. And I wasn’t even awkward then! It’s this damn attraction. This would be so much easier if I wasn’t drawn in by her soft feminine sexyeverything. My God, her voice, her scent, her lush body. It’s driving me insane. I’m seriously considering taking the jet back to Villroy, skipping the whole sightseeing thing, and then flying back solo on Monday for my meeting, but one look at Alice’s excitement as we pull up to Versailles has me taking it all back.
