Page 38 of The Prince Who Loved Me

Brandi stood next to Wendy as they watched them ascend.

Crumbs, even standing there with her cousin was weird. Brandi wanted to tell her what happened with Sebastien, to sort out her feelings, but instead she remained frozen while Rob’s legs disappeared.

“Is Sebastien in his room?” Brandi asked.

“The Ginger Ninja took a spontaneous trip to Atlanta.” Wendy peered at Brandi.

Brandi looked down quickly, wondering if her cousin saw the disappointment in her expression. “Sebastien’s gone?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh.” He promised he would stay. Her stomach twisted. He better not turn out to be a man who said what she wanted to hear if it helped him get in with her.

No, he wouldn’t do that. He’d have a good reason for not keeping his promise. Besides, at least he didn’t move out of the Hall. It was just a little vacation.

Silence settled in the room. She glanced at Wendy, who immediately dropped her eyes and entered some information in the computer.

“What?” Brandi asked.

“Nothing.” Her cousin closed the laptop and put it back under the desk, lining it up with the edge of the shelf.

Wendy was lying about something. And since Brandi was also hiding things, she didn’t pursue it. Hmm. There was a pen on the counter. She picked it up and put it in the mason jar with the other writing instruments.

“What exciting is going on with you?” Wendy prodded.

“Another date tonight,” Brandi answered.

“Ah.” Wendy gave a knowing smile, but her eyes still held concern. “What about the guy from last night? I thought it wentwell.”

“Nick.” Brandi shrugged. Before Sebastien and last night, the date had been great. “I suppose. We have another date tomorrow.”

Something was definitely going on. The silence in the lobby grew unsettling, like there was something just beyond Brandi’s reach. She tried to figure it out.

Rob came back downstairs and slid next to Wendy, placing his hand on top of hers on the counter, both of them content with each other. So it wasn’t them. Sebastien, maybe? Even when they had arguments over the years, he never ran. They were always honest with each other. “Did Sebastien go to the art walk?”

“I think so. He was driving when he called me, so we didn’t talk long. He didn’t call you?”

“No.” That made her sad. The unsettled feeling grew. What if that kiss had ruined their friendship, despite Sebastien’s assurances?

Rob opened his mouth, but Wendy leaned against him and he closed it without saying anything.

“Okay.” Brandi didn’t exactly slam her hand down on the counter. “What’s going on?”

“With what?” Wendy asked.

“I don’t know,” Brandi said. “But I know there’s something. You’re all quiet and secretive and I can see your mind whirring.”

“My mind doesn’t whirr.”

It finally hit her. The slow smiles, the gentle caresses. She backed up, hands over her mouth. “Oh, my God. You’re engaged. You got engaged. Did you get engaged?”

“No.” Wendy’s voice went flat.

Brandi’s face grew hot and she covered her cheeks. “I’m sorry. Sorry, Rob. I didn’t mean to—”

“Not for my lack of trying.” His voice came out even flatter than Wendy’s, and he shot her a sour look.

“You haven’t yet passed my seasonal test,” Wendy said.