“You’ve spent your entire life wanting to explore this part of yourself, yes? And now you’re in a situation where you have permission to be close to a man you’re attracted to, where you can test the waters without the usual complications of being in the public eye.”
“But what if he doesn’t want me?”
“What if he does? What if you’re so busy worrying about rejection that you miss the signals he’s actually sending?”
I was quiet for a moment, processing that. “How do I know if he’s sending signals?”
“Oh, Greg…” Floris’s voice was fond and exasperated in equal measure. “Physical proximity. Touch. Watch how he responds when you’re close to him. Does he lean in or pull away? Does his breathing change? Does he find excuses to touch you back?”
Heat crept up my neck. “I don’t know if I’m brave enough for that kind of experimentation.”
“Bullshit. You’re brave enough to give up your comfortable royal life for a year in America. You’re brave enough to live with a stranger and trust him with your safety. You’re certainly brave enough to sit close to an attractive man and see how he reacts.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“Because itissimple. You want him, he might want you back, and you’re already in the perfect situation to find out. Stop being so bloody British about everything and just… try.”
I found myself laughing despite my nerves. “Just try?”
“Create an opportunity for closeness. Watch a film together, share a meal, study together on the sofa. Find an excuse to be near him and pay attention to how he responds.” Floris paused. “When Orson and I were figuring things out, half the battle was learning to read each other’s signals. The other half was having the courage to act on what we saw.”
“And if I’m wrong? If I misread things and make everything awkward?”
“Then you blame the fake dating. You say you got caught up in the role, apologize for any confusion, and move forward as friends and professional associates.” Floris’s voice was practical but kind. “But what if you’re right? What if this gorgeous American bodyguard is as confused and attracted as you are? What if you spend the entire year wondering, ‘what if’ when you could have spent it discovering something wonderful?”
I closed my eyes, letting his words sink in. Floris had a point. He had several points, actually. I’d been so focused on all the ways this could go wrong that I hadn’t considered how it might go right. “How did you know? With Orson, I mean. How did you know he was attracted to you as well?”
“The way he looked at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. The way he found excuses to touch my arm when we talked. The way he lingered in conversations, like he didn’t want them to end.” He paused. “And eventually, the way he responded when I kissed him.”
My heart jumped. “You kissed him first?”
“I should’ve done it sooner, in hindsight, but I guess we needed some time to get there.” I could hear the smile in Floris’s voice. “Sometimes, you have to be brave enough to go after what you want.”
I heard footsteps in the hallway right outside our suite—Bash returning from his workout. “I should go. He’s coming back.”
“Greg,” Floris said seriously. “Promise me you’ll try. Not today, necessarily, but soon. Promise me you won’t let fear keep you from something that could be wonderful.”
“I promise,” I said, and was surprised to find that I meant it.
“Good. And text me updates. I want to hear everything.”
The call ended just as I heard Bash’s key in the lock. I set my phone aside and tried to look casual, like I hadn’t spent the last half-hour plotting to seduce my bodyguard.
“Good workout?” I asked as he entered, noting the way his T-shirt clung to his chest and how his hair was damp with sweat. Floris’s words echoed in my mind:Create an opportunity for closeness.Our weekends so far had been… professional, for lack of a better word. I’d studied or read, he’d done the same, and we’d been together but separate. This would change things. This would be doing something truly together.
“Yeah, thanks.” Bash headed toward the bathroom, presumably to shower and change.
“Actually… it’s Saturday, and we’ve been so focused on studying lately, that I was thinking… Fancy watching something tonight? Just relax?”
Bash paused in the doorway, looking back at me with what might have been surprise. “Sure, that sounds good. What did you have in mind?”
“Oh, I don’t know yet, but I’m sure we can find something we’ll both like.”
He grinned. “You sure about that? So far, my tastes lean more toward the ‘let’s blow things up and ask questions later’ movies while you’re more into the ‘let’s talk and figure stuff out’ stuff.”
I huffed in pretend offense. “There’s nothing wrong with attempting diplomacy before resorting to brute strength.”
His grin widened, and then he flexed, showing off those sculpted shoulders and biceps, sending my entire system into overdrive. “I prefer to be more physical.”
