"You looked so... " She broke off, laughing harder. "So serious. So worried. Like I was about to tell you Catherine declared war or something."
The tension that had been coiling in his chest loosened slightly, replaced by confusion and the faint stirring of embarrassment.
"This isn't funny, Victoria," Alex said, though his voice lacked real heat. "Catherine knowing about us... that's serious. That could..."
"Could what?" Victoria interrupted, still grinning as she reached up to run her fingers through his hair with obvious affection. "Ruin everything? Expose our secret?"
Her touch was gentle, fond, and when she looked at him her eyes held nothing but warmth.
"You look so cute when you worry like this," she murmured, her voice softening into something tender. "All protective and strategic, ready to defend against threats that don't exist."
Alex felt heat creep up his neck. "Victoria..."
