Page 57 of Royal Charmer
Gabriel inclines his head regally. “Alice, thank you. It would be wise to end the charade as you said. If only Lucas had some of your good sense. I don’t blame you. From what I understand, you were in an unusually vulnerable state. I’m sorry my errant brother took advantage.”
I glance at Lucas, who’s scowling, and turn back to Gabriel, my heart in my throat. “No advantage taken.” I’m the one who threw myself at him in that limo, stupidly thinking our solid friendship would make casual sex possible. Except I’m hurting too much right now for it to truly have been casual. I’m such a mess. I wanted casual, terrified of a relationship, only now I realize it is a relationship of sorts, and it has to end. He broke my trust, broke his word.
“Vulnerable state?” Oscar asks, looking around the table. “Would somebody please fill me in?”
Anna shakes him off, glancing at Gabriel meaningfully.
“You can’t back out,” Lucas says, turning to me. “Jules likes you. He likes who I am with you.”
I blink rapidly, fighting back tears. I need to step away to protect my vulnerable heart. It’s barely pieced together as it is.
“You mean the princely manners?” Oscar asks. He turns to Anna. “He even pulled out her chair for her.”
“I’m curious too,” Anna says. “Who are you with her?”
Lucas turns to Anna. “I’m me, only more grounded. Respectable.”
I can’t take any more. I stand and glance around the table. “Excuse me, everyone. I’m not very hungry after all.” I push back my chair, and Lucas grabs my wrist. “Let go,” I snap.
“I’ll go with you.”
I lean down and whisper, “No. I need to be alone right now.” He releases me, and I tell everyone goodnight. I’m barely out the door when I hear Anna’s loud exclamation.
“Dammit! You scared her away!”
I shake my head and keep going. I’m not scared. I’m being smart. The red flag with Lucas is impossible to ignore—he lied. Game over.
Chapter Fifteen
Lucas
I give Alice some time to cool down before going up to her suite in the east wing. I imagine she’s typing furiously at her laptop with her headphones on, blocking out the world the way she does. She’s upset that I went against Gabriel’s wishes, but I knew it would be fine. And some part of me knew the attraction was too strong to keep away from her. I wanted to play her fiancé and make her smile by pulling out all the princely stops she dreamed of. All I have to do is explain it to her. She’s a romantic sort and will enjoy hearing my romantic-sounding intentions.
I knock just in case she can hear it, but she doesn’t answer. I push open the door and find her sitting on the living room sofa with her laptop, headphones on, her fingers fast and furious. She’s probably making sure the scoundrel (me) gets his comeuppance. I need to read this story. If people make the connection between me and the scoundrel in her story, and the fact that Alice and I are together, it’ll only damage my family’s reputation further. My rep is already on shaky ground. It could get ugly, especially if someone discovers we lied about the engagement.
I step into her peripheral vision, and she startles, taking her headphones off. She frowns. “You should’ve knocked.”
“I did.” I sit next to her on the sofa. “I’d love to read your story.”
Her lips form a mutinous line. “You’ll have to wait until it’s published. On second thought, no, you can’t read it. Oh, wait. You don’t care about no. You just do whatever you want—” her fingers dance through the air “—and think that charm and your crooked smile will let you get away with anything.” She hits save, closes the laptop with a bang, and sets it on the coffee table. “Excuse me. I’m very tired.”
“Alice.”
She stares straight ahead. “What?”
“I’m sorry you got caught up in Gabriel’s anger.”
Her eyes flash. “Don’t apologize for your brother. This isn’t about him. You disobeyed your king and conveniently kept it from me, which dragged me into the fray.”
“That’s what I was trying to say. I don’t want you in the fray.”
She looks up at me, hurt in her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me he was against it? I never would’ve gone through with it. You deliberately kept this from me.” Her voice chokes. “A lie of omission is still a lie. You swore on your life to be honest with me.”
I take her hand, and she yanks it away. I blow out a breath. “I went through with it because I liked being your dream fiancé. You deserve that.”
Her eyes well. “You could’ve told me. You know how much I need honesty after what I’ve been through.”
I speak from the heart. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think you’d go through with it, and I wanted to be with you. Making it a game was the easiest way to get closer to you.”
