Though Cassie wasn’t sure what to think about socializing with royals when she herself was pretending not to be one, she nodded. “I’d like that. Thank you.”

“Let’s plan on eight o’clock in the breakfast room.”

“We’ll see you then.” Levi stood and walked them to the door. As soon as they left, Levi turned back to face her. “I need to check in with my staff. Would you like to come with me?”

Though part of her didn’t want to be alone, she shook her head. “I think I’ll stay here for now. Maybe I can distract myself with work.”

“As soon as I get all my updates, I’ll come back. It shouldn’t be more than an hour.”

“You don’t have to babysit me,” Cassie said. “I can manage on my own.”

He crossed the room and sat beside her again. He dropped his hand on her knee, and his eyes met hers. “I know today hasn’t been easy. I want to be here for you.”

“As my bodyguard.”

“I want to be here for you,” Levi corrected before he stood. “I’ll be back in an hour.”

“Levi?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

* * *

Cassie dominated Levi’s thoughts as he passed through the wide halls and headed toward his office. He hadn’t meant to kiss her. But he had been thinking of doing exactly that since the day she arrived at the chateau.

In his head, he knew the situation between them couldn’t go beyond the oasis they had created here in Meridia, but that hadn’t kept him from losing the battle against his willpower. Had he not seen her at her most vulnerable, he might have been able to keep his distance. Maybe.

It was too late to go back now. Over the past few days, she had shown him glimpses of the real Cassie, a woman who, under normal circumstances, Levi would have actively pursued a relationship with. Of course, he hadn’t lived in normal circumstances for years.

Since his breakup with Belinda, the few relationships he had attempted had all come during the weeks he had been Stateside, usually lasting less than two months before he would move on to the next assignment. Mexico, Italy, Venezuela, and now Meridia. If he lumped all of his days in the United States together since joining the Agency, he doubted he would reach a full year.

Seven years he had been working undercover for the CIA, and for the first time, he found himself thoroughly conflicted. The agency could be so much more helpful if they knew why the Escobar family was important to the country of Sereno, yet he couldn’t bring himself to betray Cassie’s confidence, even though that was what his duty demanded of him.

Levi dropped into the chair behind his desk and picked up the phone. He checked in with his security team to find all was well. Though he didn’t expect anything new from the CIA, he checked his secure email anyway. Nothing.