‘You do? Really?’
‘Really. I don’t say things I don’t mean, Gabriella.’ She could see his sincerity and it warmed her, as did his toe-curling smile.
‘And now why don’t you start with me?’ he said.
For a minute she had no idea what he meant. Start with him how? Perhaps she could move forward, lift her hand, touch his cheek, move her hand down and cover the beat of his heart, stand on tiptoe, brush her lips against his...
Bad idea. That box was ticked; kissing him again would mess with her head, fuzz her brain, to say nothing of pandering to his ego. And that wasn’t what he meant anyway, she realised as she saw him turn to scan the bookshelves.
‘I would like you to choose me a book,’ he continued.
Gathering herself together, she looked round at the shelves. ‘A book?’ she echoed.
‘Yes. You have shown me how important books are to you—I would like to try and understand that.’
The idea touched her; perhaps all he could offer was an alliance, but at least he was trying and she appreciated that. ‘OK. That sounds good.’ A few moments’ thought and she headed over to a corner of the room. ‘This is where I’ve put my keeper shelf. Here, try this and this.’ The first a book she was sure he’d love, an incredibly clever account of the life of a centenarian, and second, ‘This is a book I’ve read and reread all my life. A Canadian classic—the story of a red-haired girl.’ An orphan like herself.
Reaching out, he accepted the books and she forced herself not to react as his hand brushed hers; told herself it was scientifically impossible to have such heightened sensitivity that the fleeting contact triggered a shiver over her skin.
‘Thank you,’ he said.
‘I hope you enjoy them, but if you don’t that’s fine too. There are plenty of others I can suggest.’ Resisting the urge to reach out and grab his hand, to put scientific theory to test, she reminded herself of why Cesar was here. ‘We seem to have got distracted—what happens next? With us?’
‘I suggest we go on a date.’
‘A date? So, like a fake date?’ Visions of being paraded in front of the press filled her brain. ‘How would it work?’
‘Leave it to me. What is your schedule today?’
Gabi checked her netbook diary, showed the screen to Cesar, who scanned the timetable and grimaced. ‘Is this a sample of a typical day?’
Gabi nodded. ‘There is so much to learn.’
‘There are different ways to learn,’ he said. ‘I will pick you up at twelve; you are supposed to be studying.’
It was time she set aside to studying Casavallian history, wanting to learn as much as she could about her country, the country she would soon rule over.
‘Leave it all to me,’ he declared. ‘Just dress up warm.’ Now his smile would melt the polar ice caps and she felt her toes curl. ‘And don’t look so worried. A date with me is not an ordeal. I promise.’ Now his voice was a low, deep melted-chocolate rumble that slid over her skin. ‘The idea is to have fun.’
Fun. Surely that was a good thing, right? As long as she kept her head, remembered the date part was a show for the press. Yet unwanted anticipation sizzled her veins. Giving up, she smiled back. ‘I’ll wear my favourite toque.’
CHAPTER SIX
GABRIELLA WAS TRUE to her word. At twelve exactly she entered the reception room with a red and white striped woollen hat sitting jauntily atop her head; she wore a red fleece-lined coat over jeans. And worry in her eyes.
‘I take it the press are waiting outside.’
‘Yes, but it’ll be fine,’ Cesar said. ‘Trust me. We only have to face them for a few minutes tops until we get to the car. And your hat...“toque”, was it?...it will bring you luck. Come.’ Without thinking, he held out a hand and when she put her hand in his, he felt a sudden warmth. Hand-holding was not something he did—too cosy, too intimate... Belatedly he reminded himself it would look good for the cameras, felt a jangle of discomfort that that hadn’t been his motivation. Enough. ‘Ready?’
She nodded and he pushed the door open and they walked hand in hand towards the car, a security detail between them and the pack of reporters.
‘Where are you going, Princess?’
‘Is it a date, Cesar?’
He smiled easily, but said nothing as the door to the car was held open for them and Gabriella slid in.
Once in the car, he directed the driver to, ‘Go, Roberto.’