“You don’t have to do that,” he said.
“We got pictures individually earlier today,” Cece added.
“Perhaps you did, but for now, you’re traveling partners and should have at least one picture together by which to remember this day.” Kate shook her hand in front of him. “Now, let me see your phone.”
Admitting defeat, he slid his phone out of his pocket and gave Kate a quick lesson on the camera function. He caught Cece’s gaze. Her face remained neutral, but he thought he detected unease in her eyes.
“Sorry,” he whispered, as they walked toward the castle wall.
“No reason to be. It’s just a quick picture, right?”
“Right,” he echoed.
They stood with their backs against the wall, leaving a foot of space between them.
“No, no, no. This won’t do,” Kate called out. “You’re too far apart and look miserable. What happened to the happy-go-lucky friends I met this morning? Move closer and smile.”
They inched toward each other, meeting in the middle. He couldn’t explain the sudden shyness between them, other than the assumption Kate had made that they were a couple. Capturing the moment forever in a photograph gave credence to that misconception.
“Thank you for the fruit,” Cece whispered, not turning her head. “I know what you were doing. You had grapes with breakfast this morning.”
Caught red-handed. He’d forgotten that small detail. “You’re welcome. I’m sorry there were olives in the chicken salad.”
“Not every new food I try will be a win, right?”
“Right.” He flashed a quick smile her way. “I’ll buy you a snack before we tour the gardens.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” Kate’s exuberant cry of delight brought several stares their way. She showed her husband the phone and whispered something unintelligible in Edwin’s ear.
James shrugged it off. The older couple had their eccentricities, which is what made them so delightful. He got his phone back and returned the device to his pocket without looking at the picture Kate took.
“Time to board,” Thad called out.
The foursome walked to the shuttle and found seats together. When they arrived in downtown Finlovia an hour later, they exchanged information. Edwin and Kate would be returning to the castle instead of disembarking downtown, but James made plans to meet Edwin for a game of chess later that evening.
Only as he walked to a pretzel stand to get the promised snack for Cece did he realized he’d barely through about Crystal that morning, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
Chapter Nine
“How was your spa day,” Cece asked Anya when they met up for the tour of the royal gardens. “Your face is glowing.”
“It was wonderful. I enjoyed every minute of the pampering and am fully energized after yesterday’s traveling. How was your tour of the ruins?”
“Equally fantastic. We met the most delightful British couple. They’ve been married fifty-five years, can you believe that?”
Anya whistled. “That’s an achievement.”
“That’s what we said.”
“You keep saying we.” Anya arched a brow. “Who’s the other person? A certain tall, dark, and handsome man?”
“Oh shush.” Cece rolled her eyes at her friend. “Yes, it was James, but it was unplanned. He ended up on the same tour after a mix up with the art tour he was scheduled to attend.”
“Methinks there might be a spark between you two.”
“Neither of us are looking for romance. I have trust issues after Daniel’s cheating, and James has his own set of issues. Now, please be quiet before things get weird,” she pleaded, seeing James walking toward them.
“You made it,” he said, greeting Anya. “How was your morning?”
