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Then Jonah looks at Torin. “Uh…that’s Abigail Landry.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Abigail Landry doesn’t like you.”
“That’s a bit of an overstatement,” Torin protests.
“Well…she didn’t seem to really be into you,” Jonah amends.
Torin doesn’t seem concerned. “That will change when she finds out that I have something she wants.”
Jonah straightens and faces him. “And what’s that?”
“Her dream job.”
“What’s her dream job?” I ask.
“Eliminating world hunger,” Torin says.
Oh, well, justthat.
He grins. “Specifically, she wants to build indoor farms in food deserts and supply fresh food to people, especially children, year-round regardless of climate and terrain.”
I just blink at him. Because that sounds amazing. Almost too good to be true.
“Cara is a food desert,” he continues. “We can’t grow anything here! Our soil is too thin and rocky, and our weather is too cool and windy. We import everything. It’s terrible for our economy and our ability to be independent and have strong national relations.”
My heart rate kicks up. This sounds like a perfect project for Torin to bring to Cara. Exactly the kind of thing to show Diarmuid that Torin understands what being a leader really entails.
“So you think she’ll want to come here because this is the perfect place to do her work and you, as the prince, can give her all the resources she could possibly need,” I say.
“Exactly,” he gives me a smug grin.
Okay, I’m catching on. If Torin is in love with a woman who is fully committed and really good for Cara, then Diarmuid would have to take that seriously. Diarmuid is not sympathetic to giving up love, but what if that love wasalsoan amazing queen? What if she’s capable of doing impressive, impactful things for the country? And what if Torin justmarriedher? Would the king make a spectacle out of forcing Torin todivorceher?
He definitely wouldn’t.
If we can convince the country that Torin is in love and show them that this Abigail is perfect forthemtoo, then Diarmuid wouldn’t dare go against public sentiment.
“If it will keep the king and the country from looking at Linnea as the next queen, then I’m on board,” Jonah says. “The sooneryouare on the throne, the sooner Linnea and I can come out and be a couple in public without worrying about how the king will react.”
Exactly. Diarmuid might still be upset when he finds out, but if Torin is king, Diarmuid won’t be able to reallydoanything about Jonah and me.
I’ll still feel guilty, I’m sure, but I can deal with that later.
“Then we’re all in agreement,” Torin says.
“We are,” Jonah says. “And if we leave in the next two hours, we can get there just in time.”
“Where are we going?” Torin asks.
“Louisiana. For a wedding.” Jonah grins. He rounds the desk and takes my hand, starting for the door.
“Torin’s wedding?” I ask.
That wouldn’t surprise me. The O’Gradys are very…impulsive at times.
And hey, I’m ready to get this plan going. Right now. I’ve waited long enough to tell everyone that I’m in love and I’m sick of having all of this secrecy and worry hanging over my head.