Page 94 of Christmas at the Castle
His heart rate ticked up. “What are you suggesting?”
“Friends.”
“Friends.” He didn’t like the sound of that. “I’m not in the habit of kissing friends the way we kissed.”
She sighed. “That was great, but…”
Tension tightened his shoulder. “I should have known a ‘but’ was coming.”
“Being friends would be best.”
Logically, he knew that, but a knot formed in his chest. An ache he didn’t understand. “I wish—”
“You don’t make wishes.”
This time, he wanted to. “I wish we could forget about everyone else and enjoy the rest of the time you’re here.”
“We can do what we’ve been doing…”
That sounded promising. Maybe being friends wouldn’t be so bad.
“…except no more kissing.”
His lips wanted to protest, but he respected Kat. She was doing what she thought best for herself, him, and his family. She was correct. He’d miss kissing her, but they couldn’t be more than friends.
“When do you leave?” he asked.
“December twenty-sixth.”
“Plenty of time for BFFs to hang out.” Saying the words was simple. He hoped the execution was, too. “What do you say?”
She took a breath. Smiled. And stuck out her hand. “Sounds great. I could use another BFF now that mine’s getting married.”
*
Early the nextday, Kat stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Her tired eyes showed her lack of sleep. “BFFs, really? What are you doing?”
No answer came because she didn’t know. Oh, she was trying to figure it out. She’d been analyzing every word, every touch, every kiss exchanged with Gill from the day she arrived at the castle over a week ago until last night’s dinner where the queen kept watching her with suspicion, but Kat hadn’t come to any conclusions.
Only frustrations.
She groaned. Being friends was not going to work.
Her feelings for Gill went so much deeper than the bonds of friendship. Her affection for him kept growing, doubling each of the past two days. Too bad nothing but friendship was possible between them.
“I hate this.”
But she never wanted to do anything to hurt Sophie and her family. Kat brushed her hair. The least she could do was look good for her friend.
“If only I felt this way about Jamie.”
Sure, the marquess was a giant flirt and big fun. He was also kind and considerate, but friendship was the only thing she felt toward him.
“Life isn’t fair.”
But she’d known that from a young age.
Her cell phone buzzed. The sign she’d received a text. She glanced at the name on the screen. SVS aka Sophie von Strausser.
