LITMIR.BIZ

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“She was in a hurry. I don’t know if you’ll catch her.”

      He took long, quick strides until he was in the driveway. The car he’d put at her disposal was still parked. Well, that was a good sign. He still had a chance of finding her.

      The young driver came rushing over. “Sir, may I help you?”

      “Did you see Ms. Sarris?”

      He nodded. “She said that she wouldn’t need a ride this evening, sir. She said she wanted to walk.”

      “Which way did she go?”

      The young man pointed toward the beach.

      Demetrius set off after her. Still in a suit and tie, he wasn’t exactly dressed for a stroll on the beach, but that didn’t stop him. He was intent on setting things straight. He told himself that it was purely a business decision. The strain between them wasn’t conducive to productivity.

      He set off down the long set of steps at the back of the palace. They stretched down the cliff to the pristine beach below. He paused midway down the stairs and searched the shoreline. He immediately spotted her standing at the edge of the water, staring off into the distant horizon where the setting sun hovered low in the azure sky.

      As he rushed down the remaining stairs, he wondered what was going through her mind. At one point he’d been able to read her thoughts or so he liked to think. Back when they were together there had been times when a deep sadness was reflected in her eyes. It seemingly came from nowhere and when he asked her about it, she brushed it off and changed the subject. He never wanted to be responsible for causing her such pain, but last night he’d done just that and he’d witnessed that same look of pain again—pain he’d inflicted.

      He stopped behind her. “Zoe.”

      She didn’t move, but he knew that she’d heard him. Maybe it’d be easier this way. “I wanted to apologize. I was out of line last night. I’m not going to make excuses. I just want you to know that it won’t happen again.” Still, she didn’t move. He deserved her cold shoulder. “You should know that I confronted the king. He feels bad about not being more welcoming. I also initiated an investigation into the missing annulment papers.”

      Zoe spun around.

      “Why would you do that? Does Annabelle know?”

      Why did she keep worrying about Annabelle? Had they become that good of friends so quickly? Was she worried that Annabelle would stop talking to her if she knew they were married? He had to admit that he didn’t know much about the ways of women’s minds, but Annabelle didn’t strike him as the petty type.

      “You don’t have to worry. Even if Annabelle knew the truth about us, she’d still be your friend.”

      Zoe shook her head. “I don’t think so. Although I’m surprised you haven’t confided in her. Don’t you think she should know?”

      “No, I don’t.” He and Annabelle were acquaintances at best.

      “If I was planning to marry you, I’d want to know that you already have a wife—”

      “Marry?” What? Had he heard her correctly? “Annabelle and I?”

      Zoe nodded. “She’s perfect for you. An aristocrat’s daughter. Your country will have a strong ally in Halencia.”

      “Stop!” The unintentional boom of his voice had Zoe’s eyes opening wide. He made a point of lowering his voice. “Annabelle and I are not getting married.”

      “But after the annulment is resolved—”

      “Not then. Not ever.”

      Zoe’s brow wrinkled. “I don’t understand.”

      “Neither do I. Annabelle isn’t in Mirraccino to get married. Her father didn’t approve of her globe-trotting, partying ways. He thought a job would teach her some responsibility. Her father and my father put their heads together. In exchange for Annabelle being the face of the South Shore revitalization project that includes advertisements and billboards, her father agreed to be a large investor in the project. He will be attending the Royal Christmas Ball.”

      “He’s one of the people you need to impress?”

      Demetrius nodded. “Now do you understand? Annabelle has nothing to do with you and me.”

      “But you can’t launch a search for the annulment papers. People will talk. Rumors will start. What if the media finds out about you and me?”

      He rubbed the back of his neck. The muscles were tense and giving him a headache. “Honestly, I’m surprised the paparazzi hasn’t found out by now.”

      “But you’ve worked so hard to change your public persona—to get the people to respect you—”

      “And I have no intention of smearing my name. Everything will be done hush-hush under the direction of counsel.” He was struck by her genuine concern. If there was any doubt whatsoever of whether she’d signed the annulment papers or not, he had his answer now.

      “I hope they find them before someone else does.”

      “I do, too. But we’ll deal with that issue if we have to.”

      “So you believe me? You believe I wasn’t going to use the papers against you?”

      He shifted his weight from foot to foot. “I still have questions, but no, I don’t think you were planning to blackmail me or anything.”

      “I guess that will have to be enough.”

      He wasn’t sure where that left them, but he’d take it as a good sign. After all, there was no reason they had to be enemies. There were plenty of exes who were friends. Weren’t there?

      “It’s a nice evening for a walk. How about I walk you back to the beach house?”

      Surprise lit up her eyes. He thought for sure that she’d turn him down. He still wasn’t so sure he could pull off this friend thing, not when he remembered vividly the sweetness of her kisses. But he wanted to give it a try. They’d done the fighting thing and it wasn’t working for him. It was time for a change.

      Zoe nodded. “I’d like that.”

      “So would I.”

      Side by side, they strolled down the beach as the sun sunk lower on the horizon and the water rolled farther up the beach. When a strong breeze rushed past them, Zoe rubbed her arms and he realized she wasn’t wearing a jacket. He slipped off his suit coat and placed it over her shoulders.

      After all, that’s what friends do—look out for each other. With a little practice, he just might be able to pull this friendship off. And it felt so much better than arguing.

       CHAPTER NINE

      A PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE had formed.

      Dare she call it a friendship?

      Zoe had her hands full traveling between Residenza del Rosa, the palace and the beach house. Days turned into a week and then two weeks as rush orders were placed for state-of-the-art office furniture. The pieces were needed for the administrative suite on the second floor of the mansion. Those offices needed to be smart looking as well as functional. That was the easy part.

      The common rooms on the first floor would take more effort—more creativity. They would have a different function and hopefully portray a more relaxed mood.

      Today, the painting should be underway. She was anxious to see if the shades they’d settled on were the same calming colors once it covered the entire wall. She crossed her fingers for luck. They were running out of time to have additional colors specially mixed and delivered.

      The royal sedan pulled right up to the front of the mansion. She immediately noticed that the construction equipment

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