Chapter 58 He’s a What?
Hallie tried to soldier on and try to get some work done, despite fantasies of what she could be missing swirling before her eyes. It was possibly the biggest temptation of her life, and she knew it could lead to the biggest heartbreak as well.
It had been easier back when she didn’t know Luke that well... the sight of him taking off his shirt in the middle of the yard as he shoveled manure was certainly picturesque, but back then he was just some pretty boy who didn’t have much importance to her.
Now, she had been entangled in his cat and mouse games and even won a few rounds, she thought she knew who he was, but maybe she was completely wrong.
Could she control her own emotions enough not to fall for him?
As if to confuse her more, the phone rang, and it was Finn.
“Sorry I’ve been out of touch,” he said.
“That’s fine.” In truth, with everything else that was going on, she hadn’t really noticed, but she was glad to hear from him.
“I enjoyed our workout, but I’ve been thinking, we should go on a real date. I’ll buy you dinner.”
Maybe this was a sign that she was meant to be with someone who was much more straightforward and easier to deal with.
She had missed simply going out for a date with someone who was not necessarily a hopeless playboy.
“That sounds great,” she replied.
Now that she thought about it, Finn had waited quite a long time to call her again. What if there was something wrong with him too? Oh well, the only way to find out was to go on that date.
***
TERRY FELT TOO RESENTFUL to do much work on the ranch.
She used to feel resentful because her parents gave her all the most challenging tasks, but now that Hallie seemed to be their favorite all of a sudden, Terry started to feel resentful because she suddenly realized she had been doing all the important decision-making tasks, but lately, Hallie got to do them too.
She couldn’t believe her younger sister was going to get in line ahead of her. It was all very well for now that Hallie was working in the city, but Terry didn’t trust this to last.
For now, she was making a pecan pie, her husband’s favorite dessert. Maybe their marriage had a chance after all.
Since Bill had discovered her “cheating” and been proven wrong, he had been acting much more sedate.
As he walked into the kitchen, there was a smile on his face, something she had only seen rarely these past few months.
“Honey, I found something you’re not going to believe!” he said happily.
“What is it?”
“Come with me...”
They went into his office, where a computer was running, a picture of a fancy-dressed young man on the screen.
“Look familiar?” Bill asked.
Terry stared at the screen for several seconds, unable to believe what was in front of her eyes.
“Is that... Luke?” she finally said. “He’s been using his real name?”
“Well, he ain’t a spy,” Bill replied, “Just the royal prince of Sarkadia.”
“He’s a what?...” Terry had never met a real prince before, which was not surprising, considering she had hardly ever left Texas.
Just for a brief moment, she wondered if her husband had been right to suspect her. Was she actually slightly attracted to Luke? Well, it couldn’t be helped. He was deadly handsome, and it was hard to resist the thought of a real-life prince.
But she couldn’t let herself be swayed by such sentimental thoughts.
“I hope you’re happy with my research.”
“I’m more than happy, honey,” Terry said. “All this time, he’s been hiding in plain sight. But now I’ve got him.”
“What are you going to do?”
Terry had been a formulating a plan, but now that she had extra information on Luke, it would work even better. He was going to be the one to reveal Hallie’s little misstep.
She dialed the number of Luke’s company and asked to speak to the boss.
“Luke, I’d like us to meet in person,” Terry said as soon as his self-satisfied voice came on the line.
“Why? Are you going to try to sell me Tupperware?” he asked. “I’m telling you right now, I don’t need any.”
“This is about your alliance with Hallie, or whatever you want to call it.”
“You mean my loving relationship with your beautiful sister?”
“Cut the crap,” Terry snapped. “I know your relationship isn’t real. And I know something else that you probably don’t want everyone else to know.”
“So, you found out,” Luke said, sounding like he might be taking her a little more seriously. “Well, I suppose there’s no getting out of this.”