"Why?" he asked her. "You didn't do anything. Though I'm still a little confused as to why you told me about Lisette's plans before telling Janne, or my brother."
Blythe looked like she didn't understand the need for the question. "It was about you, you had a right to know."
"Sure, but first? I thought you didn't want to see me again."
"I never said that." She huffed out a breath. "I see you plenty, when I'm visiting the palace the same time you are."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know." She walked to the other side of the room and looked down at the book he'd been studying when she knocked. "Looks complicated."
He shrugged. Economic theory was pretty straight forward if you understood the parameters. "Not really."
She made a sound of disbelief. "Somehow I doubt that."
"Have you had dinner?" he asked her.
"No."
"Would you like to order something in?" He wasn't in the mood to go out and being seen in a woman's company wasn't smart right now.
Even his sister-in-law's best friend.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"It's just dinner."
"Is it?"
He gave her a wry look. "Not everything is a big drama."
"I don't know," she said, sounding unconvinced. "I've spent enough time around your family to suspect it is when it comes to the House of Asgersen."
Her words startled a laugh out of him. "You could be right. I thought we were a boring family, but ever since Janne married Holger things have been pretty damn interesting. And to think everyone believed she would make such a perfect Crown Princess because of her quiet and laid-back manner."
Blythe laughed. "Janice has never hesitated to stand up for herself. It's why I was so startled when she agreed to marry your brother."
"It was expected of her."
"Yes, but she'd spent most of her life in America, not Tapt Oyer."
"Nevertheless, she is a member of the nobility. She was raised to put duty above personal happiness from birth."
"Were you?" Blythe's beautiful blue gaze searched his.
He shrugged. "Can you doubt it? I am a prince, my sense of duty is written into my DNA, I am sure."
Blythe abruptly moved back to her chair by the fireplace and sat down. "Yes. Dinner. Let's get some. I want pasta."
He wondered what had changed her mind, but didn't ask. He was curiously loathe to eat a solitary dinner, so he was simply glad she'd agreed to stay.
Tor pulled up his delivery app and found his favorite Italian restaurant. He handed her the phone. "Order what you want."
Her fingers brushed his as she took the device. Both inhaled sharply at the contact.
Neither spoke.
She tapped a few times on the phone and held it back to him. Tor made his order and then sent off a quick text to his security detail, letting them know food was arriving for him at their place.