“Exactly my point. You must be there for your Mum. She will not want me at her dinner table. I’ll just remind her of the pain. Besides, who knows what is to come? What will transpire with your new sister? What will happen with my career?” She fought a losing battle with the tears. Gus brushed the dew from her cheeks with a tender touch. “I don’t know what LA will say in her piece about me or the diary, but we must be prepared. I’m not playing the pity card, I promise. But let’s just face it now. We’re not meant to be. I’m not Blue material.”
She jumped when the kettle whistled. Gus released her, shoving aside his overnight, glorious mess of hair. His blue gaze remained clear and determined. He was not fighting fair. Not at all.
She filled their cups and set out the cream and sweetener. Taking a scone each, they wandered round to the stools.
He bit into his scone with a nod of thanks. “I was hungry.”
“Mum’s going to try to make puffs today,” Daffy said. “Last time she did, we could’ve used them to replace the tires on Dad’s motor.”
Gus laughed, spewing crumbs. “I hear it’s an easy recipe.”
“Precisely, but my mum can make dough, grease, cinnamon, and powdered sugar into a hard, chemical compound.”
His laugh was so strong and lyrical. Daffy grabbed onto the melody and pressed record. To make a memory.
“I want you to come to the ball,” he said.
“Thank you, but no.”
“Too late. You already said you would. I won’t let you off. You’re a woman of your word, are you not?”
“Gus, when that story airs tonight, the world will explode. It may rival what happened with Coral. There is another royal child of our sovereign. Your family won’t see each other or me the same. I’m not sure I see me the same.”
He pulled her stool toward him and lowered his forehead to hers. “I see you the same and more. Know what Holland said?”
“I can only guess. Did it have a B-word in it?”
“Yes—brave. She lauded you for standing in front of the Royal Family and telling them something devastating. You showed courage.” With the pad of his thumb, he caressed an escaping tear. “‘Gus, go after her,’ she said. It took me a second to get myself together, but I’m here. I love you. Daffy, I let one woman walk out of my life without a backward glance. I’m not doing it again. Not when that woman is you.”
“Coral Winthrop was a loss.” Daffy sniffled. “Beautiful times ten. Smart. Rich. Influential.”
“Daffy, stop.” He made a face and she felt the sting of disappointment. She was playing the martyr and her prince didn’t find it sexy. “You know how you said you probably always loved me? On the drive down here, all I could think was how I wanted to tell you everything. How I couldn’t wait to introduce you to Coral and Robbi.” His hands circled her waist. “Ask your thoughts on how we could support Mum. Tell you how you’ve lived in my heart since our first video game marathon.”
“Where I beat you.”
“If I recall, my controller arm was broken.”
“Excuses will get you nowhere, Blue.”
His kiss was sudden, tasting of tea and scones. Of life. She hooked her hands on his muscular shoulders and surrendered. She’d take what he offered because she may never be here again.
Gus broke away and pulled her close, his breathing labored as he held her. “The silver lining of Coral leaving is I found my soul mate. I feel rather lucky. Blessed. Like the Divine cares about me. You cannot let us go because of Leslie Ann Parker’s actions. Because Mum hid a secret as large as the Hand of God. That’s on them, not you.”
“Maybe…but my footprint is on the path. I don’t want to ruin the ball for John and Holland. For your mum. She’s going to have enough to deal with. She doesn’t need me reminding her of it all.”
“Then I won’t go.”
“Gus, you must. It’s your brother. You cannot shirk your responsibility.”
“So where are we then? What? Just forget that we love each other?”
“Take a break. Let this blow over. See how we land. But, Gus, I won’t be at that ball. Based on what happens tonight, I may never leave my apartment.”
He released her and drank his tea. Ella texted that it was starting to rain and they were coming up. They greeted Gus and talked too loud about the rain and Mum’s puff attempts.
Dad and Ella set up in the bedroom while Daffy walked Gus to the elevator. Instead of leaning in for a kiss, she offered her hand. “Good luck. Have fun.”
But he held her and kissed her until she rose up on tiptoe and stepped into the elevator with him just as the doors slid closed.
