Mild panic coursed through Maggie. Did her sister know?
Before either woman could speak, a tall figure strode from a side hallway and toward them like some kind of heat-seeking missile.
"There you are. I'm glad I caught you."
Valentin!
Her cousin, the crown prince, swept both sisters into a hug that rivaled Dad's. And Maggie felt the hot prick of tears again.
Seriously? What was wrong with her?
Being back after all this time was making her off-kilter and over-emotional.
Or maybe it was that she'd always imagined Tirith an ice princess, shut off from real affection and warmth in the family castle.
But that didn't seem to be true. Bea had hugged her. And now Valentin, who walked beside them as they made their way toward the lower level of the castle and the garage, Maggie's destination.
"Annika is attending the naval base celebration with me," he said.
Annika. Annika. Maggie had to rack her brain before she remembered Annika was his current girlfriend. They must be serious if she was attending a royal event at his side.
Or maybe they'd been serious for a while and Maggie hadn’t known it.
Tirith was also supposed to attend the recognition ceremony for a general who'd served in the Glorvaird service for three decades.
"She's a little nervous,” Valentin said, “so I thought maybe you'd ride in the limo with us and... talk to her." He gave a shrug that Maggie had seen before when Miles was talking about Scarlett. The one that meantwomen stuff, as if he were baffled.
Bea still had her arm tucked through Maggie's and gave her side an unobtrusive nudge. Was that meant to be atee-heeor a warning?
Maggie had to fight off that hysterical giggle again. Tirith would likely be great at dispensing advice about handling royal events. She participated often enough.
Maggie was hanging on to the distraction her cousin and sister presented. Every time she thought about this stupid ribbon cutting, she wanted to throw up. What was she going to tell Valetin's girlfriend that would ease her nerves?
"I'm sure that's fine," she murmured when it was clear Valentin was waiting for an answer.
He kissed her cheek and went on his way.
When she and Bea reached the garage door, a security guard in a suit and wired at the ear spoke softly into the air and held it open.
Bea let go.
Maggie froze.
Everything so far this morning, all the pretending, could be erased if she turned around now and confessed.
Once she stepped through that door, she was committed to this crazy charade.
Tirith needed her.
And Maggie hadn't come through once before. She’d let everyone down when it counted most.
She had to do this.
She stepped through the door alone.
Luc Moreno was a born politician.His mother had said so when he was a three-year-old standing front of a counter at the sweet shop. He’d cajoled her until she gave in and let him get a treat.
He knew how to get things done. A whisper in the right ear could pave the way when money and intent weren't enough.
