“They needed me to make a gesture, and I’ve done that. I came home for the Jubilee and announced my philanthropy. The whole country got to see us together. But right now…Marcel, I don’t want you here. I asked for this time away, and I need it. Please go back home and work on yourself. Figure out who you are and what you want. I promise, it isn’t me.”

And, oh God, it struck with such perfect clarity.

Brodie’s right for me.

She knew it down to her bones. Knew without a doubt she’d never meet anyone again who was so right for her.

He’s mine.

I’m his.

And yet…we live worlds apart.

Chapter Seventeen

Brodie sat on a rocker, Ruby on his lap as she shared her croissant with her stuffed chicken. One bite for her—as those little chicklet teeth chomped into the flaky dough—and one for Squawk.

“Faster, Bwodie.”

“You got it, peaches.” He rocked a little harder.

While everyone around him talked and laughed, he was filled with restless energy, waiting to find out what was going on.

Had Marcel come to bring her home? Or just to win her back?

At heart, Rosalina was dutiful. He didn’t think she’d marry the douchenozzle, but she would go home if her family needed her to play some role in advance of the vote. Because she could finish her work from there. They didn’t need to be in the same country to be business partners.

His heart thundered, and his body heated up so fast his skin prickled.

What worried him most was that she’d already checked off the main items on her list: getting drunk and having wild sex. She’d also had a hell of a lot of fun riding a mechanical bull and boarding a glacier.

So, was she done here?

No. He knew her. The taste she’d gotten would only make her crave more.

His oldest brother came over, and Ruby lifted her arms for him. Will scooped her off Brodie’s lap and set her on his hip.

“I hongry, Wheel.”

“You’ve got that croissant.”

She thrust it at him, one end soggy from her nibbles. “Scock don’t like it.”

“He doesn’t? Well, forget it then.” He turned and pitched the pastry off the porch and into the goat pen across the lawn.

A little hand cupping her mouth, Ruby giggled, her eyes glittering.

“Let’s get you something else to eat.” But Will didn’t go. Towering over him, his forehead creased in concern, he said, “You have any idea what’s going on?”

Brodie shook his head.

“You don’t want to go check on her?”

“It’s none of my business.”

“It sure looked like your business when I walked into your room this morning. I don’t know her issues, but I’d bet she could use a friend right now.”