Page 54 of Raul

Raul typed and clicked. “There. It’s on its way to Mikel.” He raised his intense blue eyes. “How would you feel about going through with the meeting with St. Germain?”

“Fine. He didn’t give off a violent vibe. But I would need cash,” she said, her pulse speeding up at the thought of continuing to help with the investigation since it meant extra time spent with her fascinating prince.

“We’ll see what Mikel thinks.” Raul gave her an approving nod. “But thank you for being willing to put yourself at risk.”

“I don’t consider it a dangerous assignment.” However, she basked in his appreciation.

He shifted in his chair, and she caught the tiny wince that tightened his lips.

“How is your ankle really feeling?” she asked, putting her hand against his cheek.

“It twinges every now and then, but I’ll be able to walk normally by Gabriel’s wedding,gracias a Dios.”

“Why do you care so much about that?” she asked.

A shadow crossed his face. “It’s the least I can do for Gabri.”

“You know he doesn’t care if you limp,” she said.

“But I do.” He turned so he could kiss her hand. “Let’s grab a couple of beers and sit on theterrazain the sunshine. There’s a very comfortable double lounge we can share.”

“As long as you’re certain your father won’t drop in unexpectedly while we’re sharing it.” She stood and pulled him up with her.

He bent to give her a kiss on the lips that made her insides spark before he smiled. “Pater is a very nice guy.”

“He’s the king,” she said flatly.

“You just need to get to know him.” Raul grinned. “Stay for dinner tonight. The whole family is coming here, and it’s very casual. You’ll have several friends at the dinner table already.”

“Oh, hell no!” She shook her head vigorously. “Too much royalty in one room.”

His grin vanished. “Do you think of me as royalty?”

She hesitated. She didn’t want to bring up the barrier between them until it forced their relationship to its inevitable end. “Sometimes. Like when I read the report you just typed up,” she admitted. “Or when the king stops in to check on you as his son.”

“Does it matter to you?” The shadows were back in his eyes.

She had to tread carefully.

“It would be less complicated if you were a commoner like me.” She held his gaze. “But then you wouldn’t be the complex, sexy, fascinating person that you are, so I can’t wish you weren’t the prince. It all goes together to makeyou.”

That was the truth, as far as it went.

“We’re just people,” he said, still solemn. “We breathe the same air and drink the same water as you do. We sprain our ankles and collapse when we get dehydrated.”

She shook her head. He would never be able to understand the size of the chasm between them. “This is getting too deep for me. Let’s grab those beers and work on our tans.”

He remained serious, searching her face. Finally, he shrugged and gave her a smile that seemed a little forced. “If we sunbathe naked, we won’t get any tan lines.”

The thought of lying naked in the sunshine, her arms and legs entwined with Raul’s, poured a glide of arousal through her body. “That might lead to other things we shouldn’t do when we’re exposed outside.”

An hour later, they lay snuggled together—fully clothed—on the two-person chaise longue, half dozing in the sun afterpolishing off a couple of Dark Lord Imperial Stouts each. Her head rested on his chest, rising and falling with his breath. Her legs were tangled with his, their bare feet touching. He had hiked up her T-shirt a few inches and was stroking bare skin, which sent tingles dancing through her.

Raul muttered under his breath and reached into his jeans pocket to pull out his phone.

Erica tensed and lifted her head as he scanned the message. “Is it your father?”

“No. Mikel. He’s at the palace and already has Quinn’s report on St. Germain.” He frowned. “Shall we ask him to join us?”