Royal Target by Traci Hunter Abramson Page A

you that I might need to know where you are?”
    “No, it didn’t. I left that information with Levi. That seemed sufficient,” Janessa said, irony lacing her tone. “If you have something to discuss, I’m here now.”
    “We have several things to discuss, actually.” Garrett gestured stiffly toward the door. Instead of moving into the parlor, he led her up the stairs. “We need to speak privately.”
    They walked in silence, annoyance vibrating from both of them. Garrett felt the waves of irritation rolling off of Janessa, but both of them controlled their tempers as they passed by several servants and entered his private quarters. Pushing open the door, he pointed to the sitting area. “Sit down.”
    Her chin shot up. “I’d rather stand.” She waited for him to close the door before speaking again. “In case you haven’t forgotten, I am not one of your subjects. I’m here to help your family.” She held his stare. “I don’t appreciate being treated like a servant.”
    “Even guests should be courteous enough to tell their hosts when they are going somewhere,” Garrett shot back before he thought to check his temper.
    Janessa ignored whatever truth might have been in his statement and folded her arms across her chest. “What was so urgent that you needed to talk to me right now?”
    Garrett took a steadying breath and tried to summon a reasonable tone. “My father has requested that we join the family for dinner at the palace in Calene this evening. He wants to announce our engagement tomorrow and prefers to meet you before the reporters arrive for the press conference.”
    “Then I guess I had better go pack.” Irritation still hummed through Janessa’s voice. Before she could cross to the door, Garrett took her hand.
    “I was worried about you,” he blurted out. “I went looking for you, and no one knew where you were.”
    Her posture relaxed slightly. “You already knew that I was devoted to my religious beliefs. I didn’t think it was necessary to announce that I go to church on Sundays.”
    “A lot of people don’t.”
    “I’m not a lot of people.”
    “I know,” Garrett said softly. “There’s one more thing.”
    “What?”
    Instead of answering her, he crossed into his bedroom. A moment later, he returned with a jeweler’s box in his hand.
    Janessa’s gaze remained on the box as he opened it to reveal the ring he had chosen. “I believe it’s time you start wearing this.”
    She swallowed hard, saying nothing as he drew the ring from its case and reached for her hand. Her eyes darted up to his as he slid the ring on her finger. When Garrett lifted her hand to his lips, lingering a moment longer than expected, a mixture of confusion, frustration, and pleasure crossed her face.
    To Garrett’s surprise, she stepped back quickly and tugged her hand free. “I really should go pack.”
    “There’s something else we need to discuss.” Garrett waited for her eyes to meet his. “Our personal lives are about to become very public.”
    He stepped closer. She stepped back.
    “We don’t have a personal life—only the illusion of one,” Janessa insisted as she tried to keep her voice controlled. “As I tried to tell you last night, nothing can develop between us. I have a job to do.”
    “We both have a job to do,” Garrett clarified. “That doesn’t change the fact that I have feelings for you.”
    “I’m flattered, really,” Janessa managed. “But you’re wasting your time. I don’t want a romantic relationship with someone outside of my faith. I’m sorry, but we can’t be more than just friends.”
    Garrett studied her silently. He could tell her everything—that he too understood her religious convictions, that he knew the Book of Mormon was true, and that he believed her church was headed by a living prophet. He also understood that if there were no barriers between them, and he continued to act on his attraction, it was possible he could distract her from her