Page 36 of Tabloid Princess

No words.

No thoughts.

Nothing.

Brain.

Dead.

“I’m hoping your stunned silence means you approve.”

My tongue lolled out of my mouth. Hidden under the white stretch of cotton was a firm sculpted chest I didn’t know the public would be able to cope with. I couldn’t cope with it.

“You’re wearing a T-shirt,” I whispered, and he actually snorted. The prince snorted. At me.

“Here you go.” Freya came over and handed me a flyer. With the logo on, it had all our social media links. It looked cool and classy.

“You arranged this overnight?” I asked her.

“That’s my job.”

Wow. “Uh, thank you.”

The greens were staring at me, I didn’t dare to turn to check but I could feel them all the same.

“So what do we do with these?”

The prince stood up, placing his frankly wondrous chest right in my line of sight. “You wanted viral, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Then we need to get out there.”

My eyes widened and I pointed for the door. “Out there?”

Freya wandered off, her immaculate slim back and backside sashaying as though she were on a catwalk. “I’ll get you a T-shirt,” she said.

He was watching me, a hint of frustration just simmering under the surface. “This is what you wanted. Yes?”

“But…” I trailed off, not knowing how to express my question.

He waited with more patience than I deserved. “But?”

“But I get the impression you don’t like being out there in front of them.” I motioned to the front door and the press waiting outside. I hadn’t misunderstood him, had I?

He looked flummoxed. “It’s not about liking it. It’s my job.”

“To help us.”

“Yes.”

For some reason his acknowledgement helped me put things in perspective. My crazy brain had started to make things up. Like the fact he was here this week because of what I’d said in the graveyard. Or that he was wearing the T-shirt because I wanted things to go viral.

Stupid Leia. This is his job.

“Thank you.” I bobbed my head formally and then sat in my chair turning my back on him a little.

“I had an idea.” He hadn’t moved away. My throat tightened a little bit. Somehow, I managed to turn and force a polite smile.