That wasn’t the maid’s voice. It was Angelo’s. He was back. But why?
When she didn’t say a word, he moved to her side. “Kayla, what’s the matter?”
She didn’t face him. “I...I thought you were the maid.”
“Obviously, I’m not. I forgot my phone so I came back. I didn’t want to miss a call from the royal family about the pitch.”
“Oh, okay.” She kept her head down and fidgeted with the pens on the table.
“Kayla, look at me.”
She shook her head.
“Kayla.” He knelt down next to her.
Oh, what did it matter? She lifted her face to him. “What do you need?”
“I need you to explain to me what’s wrong.” The concern was evident in the gentleness of his voice. “I thought we had everything worked out between us.”
“Is that what you call it?” He really wanted to know? Then fine. She’d tell him. “I call it ignoring the big pink elephant in the middle of the room.”
But that wasn’t the only reason she’d been crying. It seemed in the past few days that everything she cared about was disintegrating.
“Kayla, talk to me.”
His phone chimed. Saved by the bell so to speak. He checked the caller ID and then held up a finger for her to wait. He straightened and moved to the window, where he took the call.
This was her chance to escape his inevitable interrogation. She didn’t know where she would go. Suddenly gelato sounded divine. So what if she was wallowing in her own misery? She deserved some sugary comfort—until she figured out what to do next.
She moved to her room to splash some water on her face, repair her makeup and grab her purse. When she was ready to go, there was a knock at her door. She knew it was Angelo. She sighed. Why couldn’t he just leave well enough alone?
“Kayla, we need to talk.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
“NO, WE DON’T.” Kayla moved to the door and swung it open. “Not unless it’s about work. Other than that we have nothing to say.”
Frown lines bracketed Angelo’s face. “Did I hurt you that much?”
She glared at him. He really didn’t expect an answer, did he? “Please move. I’m on my way out.”
He moved aside and she passed by. She’d reached the exterior doorknob when he said, “Kayla, that was the prince’s representative on the phone.”
That stopped her in her tracks. Her heart pounded in her chest. Please don’t let the wedding fall through, too. She turned and scanned Angelo’s face. There were no hints of what had transpired on the phone.
“And...”
“The royal couple is steadfast in their decision that the chapel must be a part of the wedding. The bride was totally taken with the place. From what I understand that’s the reason Monte Calanetti was placed on the short list.”
“Did you try again to talk Louisa into letting them use it?”
His face creased with worry lines. “I did. And no matter what I said, she wanted no part of the wedding.”
Kayla worried her bottom lip. This wasn’t good. Not good at all. “This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have let the royal couple believe we could deliver something that we obviously can’t.”
“It’s not your fault. I thought that Louisa would change her mind. What I don’t understand is why she’s so adamant to avoid the royal wedding. Aren’t all women romantics at heart?”
“Obviously not. And it’s my fault. Everything is falling apart because of me.”