The knot in my stomach intensifies. I squeeze my eyes shut as I work up the courage to tell her about my encounter with Jennings.
“What is it, Payton? You’re making that face.” She frowns at me.
“What face?”
“The one you always make when you have something difficult to tell me.”
I take a deep breath. “The bloke who slammed me during the game knows who I really am.”
Emalia leans closer to the camera. “You mean…?”
I nod. “He suggested I go back to my real job as a royal wannabe in Tillendale.”
She appears thoughtful. “Though indelicate, he has a point.”
“Emalia!” I draw her name out like I used to when we fought as children.
With a twist of her shoulders, she poses for dramatic effect. “Sorry, not sorry?”
“This could be terrible. What if he leaks it to the press?” I growl.
Worry flits through the same blue eyes we inherited from our mother. “There’s a good chance he will, Payton. Perhaps you should drop the facade and tell everyone the truth. That’s one way to get ahead of it and lessen the potential damage. Or, better still, you could just use it as an excuse to come home.”
She’s right about preempting this, but I’ve no idea how. Yet.
“I’ll mull it over.”
“The part about telling the truth or coming home?”
I shoot her a scathing look. “Don’t even go there.”
“Fine. I’ll leave it be.” She raises her hands in surrender, then hesitates. “By the way, what do you think of Lily?”
Every nerve in my body goes into full alert. What did Lily share in those reports? I school my expression to stay neutral. “She’s professional, diligent, and thorough.”
And stronger than she looks. I won’t mention that, though. But she’s also stunning, sexy as hell, and challenging in the best of ways. Should I add that she has a grip on my heart that may prove fatal to my future love life if I can’t have her?
She studies me, then her eyes widen. “You fancy her!”
I snort. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Emalia points at me. “There. I see it in your face. Has something happened between you two?”
“No! Of course not.” At least that’s the truth, even though I wish it weren’t.
“Admit it. You find her attractive.” My sister’s like a forward digging for a rebound in the crease.Relentless.
“I’d be a buffoon not to, but as I said earlier, she’s the epitome of professionalism.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear she’s immune to your charms.”
I’m not. Quite the opposite. Somehow, I have to figure out a way to up my game. Or use my charms, as my sister calls them, to better advantage.
Judging by my sister’s mysterious smile, something about this pleases her. “Why are you so interested in her?”
“I like her. We seemed to click when I interviewed her. I’m considering offering her a permanent position on my security detail.”
A permanent position?
