The Prince’s Forbidden Lover(10)

“You’re going the wrong way,” Rais commented, taking her upper arm and pulling her back towards the dining room. “You need coffee I suspect. I’ll show you the way.”

Joline didn’t like that offer. It kept this enticing man too close. “If you could just give me directions, I can find it on my own. I don’t want to disrupt your day.”

“Too late for that, isn’t it?” he suggested, looking down into her pretty, hazel eyes. “Anyway, I am eager to continue our discussion. And I’d love to hear more about how you and my little sister know each other. I don’t think there are two people so completely opposite than you and my flighty little sister.”

Joline bristled at his characterization of his sister as flighty! “You really don’t know your sister very well if you think of her in that way. She’s actually a…” Joline stopped herself. She was about to explain how brilliant Shantra was, but that might reveal her friend’s secret and that could be dangerous. “She’s sweet and kind and wonderful to everyone she meets.” Goodness, Joline just described a dog! Shantra wasn’t anything like that.

“Of course she is. But she’s not exactly the go-getter like you, is she?”

Joline had no idea how to defend Shantra who had purposely cultivated that kind of impression in her brothers’ minds over the years in order to throw them off of what she was really like. “You’d be surprised,” was all she would say. “She’s extremely intelligent and…”

“Dining room,” he pointed out. He held the door for her, then walked in after her.

“You don’t need to…”

“Coffee,” he told her. “From the dark circles under your beautiful eyes, the priority is coffee, I’m suspecting,” and picked up a delicate china cup, filling it with fragrant coffee from an enormous silver urn. “Cream or sugar?” he asked.

“Just black,” Joline replied weakly. She’d have to take that cup of coffee from him. But what if their fingers touched?

She accomplished the transfer with minimal fuss but it was iffy for a moment. Joline glanced up into his eyes and realized that he knew exactly what she’d been trying to do.

Turning away from him so that he couldn’t see her blush, she walked over to one of the chairs, sitting down before she fell down. “Shantra mentioned you most likely wouldn’t be here during this weekend. You’re normally out traveling the world.”

“That’s true,” he agreed, bringing his own coffee over to the seat right next to her. “But I’m here this weekend. I have some state business to attend to.”

That was news. “I thought you were in charge of all financial matters for the family.”

“I am, but I also am the Minister of Finance. That takes me all over the world, ensuring that Kilar’s financial interests are protected, but it also brings me home quite often.”

Joline absorbed that additional information, wishing she could ask him questions. There were so many financial questions that she encountered every day and this man’s experience could be invaluable. But there was no way she could impose on him. That would be rude.

“Ask me,” he coaxed.

Joline’s eyes moved back up to his dark gaze and she held her breath as she looked up at the man. “Ask?”

He leaned back against the plush cushions of the dining room chair. “You obviously want to ask me something, but are holding back. Feel free,” he encouraged, taking a sip of his coffee.

Joline opened her mouth, more than ready to take him up on his offer. But then she stopped herself. This man was a prince! He was a real live, genuine prince of a hugely powerful country! She shouldn’t even be sitting next to him. Not with her history!

“I’m fine,” she finally replied, waving her hand to dismiss his permission and feign disinterest. She then turned and held onto her cup with both hands, afraid that if she didn’t hold on, she might just explode with questions.

He laughed softly, surprised by her reticence to ask him business questions. Most people didn’t even hesitate, trying to trick him into revealing his investment strategies, future business plans or, for those who were a bit more crass, ask him how much he was truly worth.

“We’ll save that conversation for pillow talk then,” he announced and stood up. “How about some breakfast?” he offered. “The palace chef is excellent.” He didn’t wait for her agreement, but took two plates and started filling them up from the silver chafing dishes. “What do you like to eat for breakfast?” he asked, looking over her shoulder.