Tarin watched her fade off to sleep, his heart hammering against his chest. “I did,” he murmured, turning off the light and holding her until the early hours of the morning, enjoying her soft breath on his skin as he considered the various ways he might convince her to stay with him. Forever.
Chapter 12
Rachel hummed as she walked into her office. She’d been with Tarin for more than a month now and she felt happy. Amazingly happy. She kept trying to find some other word for how she felt, but every time she tried to define her life right now, that word kept popping up. Happy.
The phone ringing brought her out of her happy haze and she lifted the receiver. “This is Rachel Morris,” she replied.
“Ms. Morris,” a deep voice replied, “This is Sargent Kingsley at the security office. You have visitors that aren’t on our list.”
His voice was admonishing and Rachel wondered who would dare to arrive at the palace without an official invitation. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Kingsley, but I didn’t invite anyone. Whoever…?”
“They identified themselves as your family members. Denise Morris?” He prompted. “And your mother, Pamela Morris and father, Mark Morris.”
Rachel went cold. “My family?” she whispered blankly. “That’s impossible! They live in Georgia. They aren’t…”
“Their identification has an Atlanta, Georgia address. Please come to the security office to identify these people.”’ And with that, the man hung up the phone, obviously irritated that someone who worked in the palace hadn’t followed the strict security protocols.
“Rachel, I don’t think that…” Tarin paused a foot away from her desk and frowned, trailing off when he saw her expression. “What’s wrong?” he demanded, dropping the file and coming around to pull her into his arms. “What’s happened? Are you hurt?”
She wound her arms around his waist. “I’m not hurt,” she told him. At least not physically, she added silently.
“You’re shaking! Tell me what’s wrong!”
He waved to his bodyguards, three of whom stepped into the office, scanning the room for threats.
“No!” she gasped, embarrassed. “I’m fine,” she assured him.
He stepped back to peer down at her, his hands gripping her upper arms gently, but firmly. “You’re not fine. You look like you’ve seen a ghost and you’re shaking like a leaf.”
She laid a hand on his chest. “I’m sorry. I just…I got a call from the palace security and…,” she closed her eyes. “My family is here. I wasn’t expecting them. I’m so sorry.”
He looked down at her, not really understanding. “Your family? Here?”
“Yes,” she replied, her legs going numb. This wasn’t good, she thought. If Tarin saw Denise…he’d be enthralled. Denise had always been the beauty in her family. Denise was lovely and vivacious and wonderful. Denise was the charmer. Rachel always felt like a shadow whenever Denise was around.
“Go collect your family,” he ordered a guard. “Escort them to my office.”
“No!” she gasped, pulling away, unaware that she was starting to hyperventilate. “I should go. I’m sorry, I’ll just…!” Rachel wasn’t sure what to do, panic was clouding her thoughts. “I’ll find out why they are here and I’ll get them settled.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to hide her fears.
“Why not bring them here?” he offered. “They can dine with us at the palace tonight.”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t want to impose,” she protested, feeling as if she’d suddenly reverted to formal manners, but she couldn’t help it. Her old habits were coming back to her and she couldn’t fight the instinctive need to hide.
“It’s not a bother, Rachel,” he told her softly.
She looked up at him, saw the concern in his eyes and…something snapped inside of her. “I have to go,” she told him, blinking back tears of frustration and fear. “Please?”
He sighed, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “Fine. But…call me, okay? Let me know how it goes.”
She nodded stiffly, then turned away. Grabbing her purse, she hurried towards the door. “I’ll let you know as soon as I find out why they arrived unexpectedly.”
Tarin watched her leave, frustration boiling in his gut. He felt powerless, which he hated. What the hell was going on? She’d been so happy this morning. But her family shows up and she’s suddenly tense and shy? What the hell?
It was a mystery and he hated mysteries. They needed to be solved. So, why the hell was he standing here?
Because he had yet another damn meeting, he realized as his aide stepped into Rachel’s office, pointedly checking his watch. Still, Tarin hesitated, looking out the door as if he could somehow see her again. But she was already out of sight.
Damn it, they were so close! Between the two of them, they’d chosen the architectural firm they were going to hire to design the university center. There was a big event planned in a week to announce the project to the rest of the country. He didn’t want to do it without Rachel. She’d been instrumental in the planning process, offering suggestions and urging him to promote different building practices that, in the end, would make the university center easier to maintain and more energy efficient. And it was all because of Rachel! She had to be there for the announcement!
She had to be there for him. He needed her in his life and couldn’t imagine not having her in his arms every night.
So, what was it about her family that created this intense sensation of dread?
Rachel hurried down the various hallways leading to the security office, not seeing the elaborate murals that had been created by some ancient artist centuries ago. Crossing her arms protectively over her stomach, she smiled through the administrative building security process, things she hadn’t done in over a month, because she’d
