Gill’s gaze was locked on her. Not only that, but he was walking toward her.
Kat’s pulse skyrocketed. Cardio workout not required.
The room seemed smaller in spite of the high ceiling. The prince was tall—an inch, maybe two over six feet—but his presence seemed much larger.
The dog waved his paw again.
Maximillian. Her cheeks warmed. The prince wanted his dog. He wasn’t here for her.
A twinge of disappointment shot out of nowhere.
Not how she should be feeling about a man like Gill. A man—make that a prince—who didn’t hide the fact he hated her.
Must be his hotness factor.
“I’d stop petting Maximillian.” Gill came even closer. “Or he’ll be after you for rubs while you’re here.”
“I don’t mind.”
“Because you love animals.”
He hadn’t asked a question, but she answered anyway. “Yes.”
Gill stood at the side of her bed. A raw, earthy scent replaced his expensive aftershave from earlier. His leg was mere inches from hers. One slight move and she would bump into him. The temptation to do just that to see his reaction was strong.
Bad idea. Best not to agitate the beast.
Shehadenjoyed poking and prodding him when she was younger. Maybe that was part of the reason he acted so annoyed around her.
“You and Sophie weren’t at dinner,” he said.
That must have made him happy, but he wasn’t smiling. “We ate in her room.”
“Jennings said you were tired.”
“I am.”
Kat scooted further toward the middle of the bed to put more distance between her and Gill. Less temptation as well as a lower chance for accidental contact. She didn’t want him to think she was attracted to him.
“But I also wanted Sophie to feel free to eat,” Kat admitted. “Her diet is stupid. Please tell me you’re not in favor of her losing weight before her wedding day.”
“You still speak your mind.”
He made that sound like a crime. Maybe in Alistonia it was. “Yes.”
“The diet is not stupid,” he said. “My mother and the duchess are concerned about wedding pictures, even though Sophie looks fine as she is. In my family, you must pick your battles.”
Unbelievable. Of any battle, he should pick this one for Sophie’s sake. No way would Kat let this go.
“The dietisstupid.” She leveled a hard stare at him. “Losing twenty pounds would not be healthy for Sophie.”
His mouth dropped open. “Twenty? My mother said five.”
“The two mothers changed their minds about the amount. It went from five to ten to twenty. This is not only unnecessary, but also dangerous. If I have to steal food for Sophie to eat while I’m here, I will.”
“There’s no need for you to do that.” The words came out quick, as if he knew what to do. “I’ll speak with my mother to keep you from having to resort to theft.”
“Thank you. Sophie will be happy, and I’m relieved I won’t end up in the dungeon.”
