“I . . . I don’t know. I might be jumping to conclusions, but . . .”

Levi took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. “Come sit down.” He didn’t lead her back to the table but rather to the love seat in the middle of the room.

Cassie sat, gathering her thoughts as Levi settled beside her. “I was thinking about everything I told you last night.”

“And?”

“One element of the succession agreement keeps playing over in my mind,” Cassie said. “For the Escobar family to take control, the last member of my family would have to die of natural causes.”

“Yes, I remember you saying that.”

“I have to ask the question, Why now?” Cassie said. “It’s not like my sisters or I are about to have children of our own. None of us is even dating anyone, so why would someone choose now to try to kill me? Unless . . .” Cassie swallowed hard and pushed herself to speak her fears aloud. “Unless my father is dying.”

Levi took her hand in his again. When she looked up, the truth reflected on his face. A sob welled up within her even as he spoke the words she had prayed never to hear again. “He has cancer. I’m afraid it’s terminal.”

“No.” The word escaped her in a whisper, her hand lifting to cover her mouth.

“I only found out late last night,” Levi said.

She blinked rapidly, but this time, she couldn’t keep her emotions at bay.

Levi shifted closer, his arm reaching around her shoulders. She buried her face into his shoulder, the floodgates opening. Tears streamed down her face, and sobs shook her body.

“I’m so sorry,” Levi whispered as he drew her closer.

Minutes ticked by as the storm raged, erupted, and finally faded into the last trickle of tears. She sat up and rubbed both hands over her cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

“I never cry in front of people.” She swiped at her tears again. “I must be an absolute mess.”

“You’re beautiful,” Levi countered.

The statement so simply delivered held more impact than a dozen flowery compliments. Surprised by the spurt of attraction at such a time, she focused once more on Levi’s news. “Tell me what you know. Have the doctors said how long . . . ?” She couldn’t finish the question.

Levi apparently didn’t expect her to. “A year, give or take,” he said. “My under­standing is that he planned to have you step into his role after the first of the year.”

“Eight months from now.”

“Yes. That gives us some time to find out who knows about your father, and who in the Escobar family is trying to inherit your country.”

“When do we start?”

“Breakfast first,” Levi said. “A very wise woman told me that everyone needs to take a few minutes every day to spend with the people who are important to them. I thought I would take that advice this morning.”