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It had better be the best soup I’ve ever had!
“Order whatever you’d like,” Charlie said, leaning over to murmur in my ear. “Don’t worry about the price.”
Uncertainty rippled through me. “Are you sure?”
“We’ll take care of you, Sam. Don’t worry.”
It was such an odd feeling, someone taking care of me instead. I was raising my son, giving him all the love and attention in the world, as well as fussing over Nana whenever she insisted on doing everything by herself even though I knew her joints were hurting her. So having Charlie assure me that everything was fine, that they’d take care of it, even something as simple as paying the bill, made me feel genuinely…well,caredfor.
“Be sure to order something for your son and grandmother, too,” he said.
“Really?”
He nodded. “We can ask them to pack it up for when we’re ready to leave. That way it’ll be nice and fresh for them.”
Under the tablecloth, I placed my hand on his knee. It was meant as a silent thank you. I didn’t expect him to place his hand on top of mine, giving my fingers a light squeeze.
“Thank you, Charlie.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Right,” Arianna said, rising from her chair. “Please excuse me. I’m going to wash up before appetizers arrive.”
Adam, being the closest to her, started to move. “Allow me to escort you, your grace.”
It was just the four of us left at the table. I thought they all looked very handsome. I couldn’t help but notice the way the ladies at a nearby table kept glancing over at Kris, Liam, and Charlie, whispering and giggling amongst themselves.
There it was again - that pang of jealousy in my chest. I knew it was irrational. It wasn’t like there was any law preventing them from looking, and it wasn’t as if I had any claim to them. I had to remind myself that we were only colleagues, and the jittery feeling in the pit of my stomach was unwarranted.
So were my clammy palms, my fluttery heart, and the uncontrollable flush of heat in my face whenever one of the guys so much as looked at me.
Is it possible that I have a crush…onallof them?
“Have you ever been to Macau?” Kris asked me from across the table.
“I’ve never left the country, actually.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I’ve never taken a private jet before, either.”
“It’s a long flight,” Charlie said, “but I’m sure you’ll like it.”
“I’m sure I will, although…”
“Although?” Liam prompted.
“I’m curious to know why the duchess doesn’t have a security team of her own. I mean, it’s great for us and your business, but I always thought members of the royal family were supposed to have someone guarding them.”
Kris leaned back in his chair casually. “The duchess is…Well, as you know from her dossier, she’s thirteenth in line for the throne. Coselia is a very small island kingdom, one that doesn’t have the means to provide its periphery family members with security details of their own. Everything the duchess has is the result of her business pursuits.”
“A self-made woman.”
“Precisely.”
I was just about to ask if he had ever been to Macau when someone approached our table. It was a young woman in a lovely royal blue dress, her platinum blonde hair pulled up into an elegant chignon.
“Hey, Kris.” She nodded to Liam and Charlie. “Boys.”
I could sense their discomfort just by looking at them. Beside me, Liam was as solid as a statue. Charlie pressed his lips into a thin line. And Kris… Kris looked positively put out.
“Jessica,” he grunted. “What are you doing here?”
