by Nana Malone
He laughed. “It’s okay. I’ll just call it my adventure for the day. There’s never a dull moment around you, Len.”
I eyed the passage along the street. The restaurant owner came out screaming apologies and asking about our well-being. He thought it was an accident. I knew better. That motorcycle rider must have had a silencer. His first shot had gone wide, just over my shoulder, and hit the wall. While the owner talked to us, I took out my phone and held it casually. We talked to him and assured him that we were fine. I snapped as many wide-angle shots as I could, trying to get the exact location of the bullet holes.
I’d heard the crackling of the brick wall when the shots hit, and that’s when I’d known something was wrong. Sebastian could have been hit. My guard had been down, all because I was in happy la-la land with him.
I had to remember why I was here. I had to do my job.
I left Sebastian at his apartment and unlocked the door to mine, ready to call Ariel to debrief, but I found her on my couch looking concerned.
“What the hell happened?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that someone took shots at us. We were just down the street, Ariel.”
“The prince is fine?”
I nodded. “Yeah, he’s fine. I shoved him into a pile of garbage and nearly brought an awning down on top of us, but he’s okay.”
My bestie searched my gaze. “And you? Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, but shit Ariel, that was really close. I was distracted and not paying attention.”
Ariel dragged her hands over her face. “I knew I should have gone with you.”
“No, it’s better you didn’t. There wasn’t anything you could have done about it. Besides, it’s my fault. I was distracted and … I don’t know—enjoying the moment or something. God, I was so stupid. I saw him go by the first time, and something told me to pay attention but I just didn’t. I was—”
Ariel stood and grabbed my hands. “Relax. It’s fine. You’re doing what you’re supposed to do by getting close to him and trying to get him to come home. And you did save his life. So everything went right. You’re fine.”
I shook my head. “I’m not fine, Ariel. I’m getting too close to him. This whole time, I was busy daydreaming. I was thinking about having dinner with him, like a fool. I almost got him killed. Maybe Michael was right.”
Ariel just wrapped her tiny body around me and held me tight. “You’re just spinning out. It was traumatic, but you’re okay. He. Is. Okay. That is the important thing. And you saved him. Imagine if he’d just been coming home from the bar, and we were only tracking him. Imagine how horrible that would have been. You did your job.”
“What I did was get lucky.”
“This isn’t on you.” She pulled back and smoothed my hair. “You saved his life. That is what matters.” She licked her lips as she studied me. “You’re not too close to him. You’re doing your job.”
I didn’t care what she said. I knew the truth. I was getting too close to him. If I wasn’t more careful, I was going to get him killed.
23
Penny …
“Penny, what happened?”
“I’m fine, Dad. And Sebastian is fine. I managed to protect him, and he didn’t notice anything was amiss.”
“But what the hell happened?”
“There was somebody on a motorcycle that came out of nowhere. Both shots missed. If they’d been on target, they would have hit me and then taken Sebastian out. It’s all on my report, Dad.”
“Your report? This is getting too dangerous. I knew the king sent you there to protect Sebastian as Royal Guard because he was worried about any potential enemies, but this is something else. We know where Sebastian is. We’ll bring enough guards so that we can force his hand and make him come home.”
“No, Dad. I can do this. Give me the chance.”
“Penny, at this point you’re endangering yourself for a mission.”
“Isn’t that what you do every day? Don’t you send Michael on missions? Don’t you put him in danger? Isn’t that the whole point of being Royal Guard?”
He started to speak but paused before finally saying, “This is different.”
“Why is this different? My whole life all I have heard is that this was the job, to protect the royal family. I’m doing that. I did it today.” Ariel’s words kept coming back to me. I had saved Sebastian’s life. Granted, I’d also been distracted in happy land like an idiot, but I wasn’t telling my father that. And I certainly left that bit of info out of my report.
“But you’re my daughter.”
“And Michael is your son. There’s no difference between us. Isn’t that what you and Mom always say?”
“Penny, you don’t have children yet. So you don’t understand what it’s like to read a report that someone shot at your daughter.”
I tried to remain calm and inhaled deeply. “I’m sorry you read it in a report, but I needed to file it. I would have called after, but you didn’t give me the chance.”
My words were met with silence.
“Dad, just answer one question. Would you be this angry if Michael had been shot at?”
“I would be just as worried, yes.”
“Fair enough, but would you demand that he come home? Would you demand that he walk away from his post? All you’ve ever talked about is the pride being a Royal Guard gives you. I’ve never felt that before. I’ve never had the opportunity because, let’s face it, up until today I was quite bad at it. But the one time I did my job well, you want me to cut tail and run? I don’t think so. That’s not how this goes. That’s not how it works. I have a job to do.”
“Look, Penny, I understand, but this is getting dangerous. You need to get Sebastian to come home, or I’m sending the guard there. I’ll talk to King Cassius. We’ll get—”
“You will do no such thing. Did you send Michael after me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Last week my big brother came to New York to tell me to stop playing toy soldier. To be the little woman and come back home where it was safe.”
“I didn’t send him, Penny. He had leave. How did he know you were in New York?”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure you have Robert to thank for that. I’d spoken to him earlier. I didn’t tell him where I was, but I think he deduced it from something he heard in the background.”
“Why the hell wouldn’t he bring that information to me?”
“Well, my guess is the two of them thought that they’d get the credit for finding Sebastian and bringing him back. My darling big brother told me to slink away and leave and he’d stay behind to protect Sebastian and call the guards as back up. So since you are now suggesting the same thing, I assume you’re on his side.”
“Penny, that’s not fair. I didn’t know your brother came to see you. He didn’t tell me, and he should have. I’ll address that with him.”
“Don’t bother. If I see any Royal Guard, I’ll tell Sebastian myself.”
“Penelope.”
“I have my mission direct from the king. Until I hear otherwise, I’ll assume that’s still my mission, but I’ll need to hear it from him directly. Otherwise, don’t bother trying to interfere.”
“Penny, I’m just trying to keep you safe.”
“And I would be fine with that if you could tell me that you would do the same thing for Michael. But you can’t, so I suggest you leave me alone and let me do my job.” Then I hung up. I’ve never hung up on my father before. Never once in my life had I even considered something like that. My hands were shaking. I couldn’t quite breathe. Just this once, I expected my father to have my back.
24
Penny …
Maybe Michael and my father were right. Maybe I was a fool thinking I could do this.
The problem was I couldn’t help it. I liked him. And that was going to be a problem for me because I couldn’t have the prince.
In the last week since the shooting happ
ened, I reminded myself of that fact every day. I was performing a job function. Nothing more. But that didn’t stop me from running out the door toward the bar to meet him like a woman who didn’t know she was going to get hurt.
Since the shooting I’d been extra paranoid. I hadn’t been able to force myself to leave his side. And what’s more, he seemed to enjoy my company and we’d been spending more and more time together. It was a good thing because I was running out of time. Three weeks.
You want to get close.
I did. But I could do my job and get him home where it was safe. I could separate my feelings. Couldn’t I?
He didn’t make it easy though. Because every time I was with him, he kept looking at me like he wanted to cross the line of friendship, and it made me want to cross it too.
Besides seeing me, he spent a fair amount of time with Lucas. When he was out with Lucas, Ariel and I had to work double duty with Blake Security. We had to keep from being seen and keep them both from doing something idiotic. Usually Lucas.
Since last week though, Sebastian had started inviting me out with them. That made things a lot easier. And thankfully, Ariel was damn good at disguises, so if she was on follow duty even I had a hard time recognizing her.
I yanked open the door of the bar, and the place was empty. Sebastian was behind the bar stocking bottles. He looked up with an easy smile. "I was wondering if you’d show up."
I shrugged and held up my laptop. "About the pictures that we took … I figured I could edit them. I had an idea for taking these and turning them into canvas prints with paint, so we'll see how it works."
He grinned at me. "Perfect. Can't wait to see what our progeny look like." I froze. He didn't seem to realize what he’d said.
I was an idiot. He clearly didn't mean my children with him. What was wrong with me? I was getting all caught up in believing the hype. Just because we were friends here didn't mean we were actually friends.
It certainly didn't mean he wanted me. Although the way he kissed me last week said otherwise. To him I was just a walk on the wild commoner side. If we were at home, this wouldn’t stick.
No. I’d promised myself I was going to forget that kiss.
The problem was I liked him … a lot. Whether or not that was entirely appropriate was the question.
"Yeah, open it up. I'll show you how to do some shading and messing around in Photoshop. We’ll change the make-up of the images, and you can use them to make whatever art and painting you want to."
"That would be awesome. Thank you. Once I saw some of the pictures I had an idea, and I can't seem to let it go."
He continued stocking. "We’ll take a look. Just give me a few minutes to finish up."
I took my usual seat. But even as I opened the laptop, I couldn’t help but watch him. "Actually, there's something else I'd like to learn."
He laughed. "Oh boy. Does this particular skill require me to hide or sneak in anywhere?"
"No. And that was not my fault. I did not know it was a private affair. I just saw the event listed and figured we go." There’d been a gallery opening I wanted to attend. How was I supposed to know it was a closed event?
"You know what? At least life with you is never dull." He planted his arms on the bar, and my gaze was immediately drawn to his strong, tanned forearms. "So, what do you want to learn?"
"Can you teach me how to bartend?"
His brow furrowed. "You want to learn how to make drinks?"
"I've never done it. I've never even waited tables or anything like that."
"Seriously?"
"Nope. I've always just worked for my parents. You know, as an … uh, intern. File this. Answer that call. Fetch me coffee. This looks far more fun."
“What the lady wants, the lady gets! Come on around. I can show you how to do a couple things. What do you want to learn how to make?"
The words were out of my mouth before I could even think to recall them. "Teach me how to do a blow job."
His gaze immediately dropped to my lips. Suddenly I felt too hot, my skin too tight.
His voice went low and husky. "Are you sure you want to start with that? If you want we could start easy. Those can get a little complicated."
I shook my head. "Nope. That's where I want to start. They were so delicious."
Sebastian threw his head back and let out a roar of laughter. It was only then that I realized exactly what I'd asked him to help me make, and the innuendo that followed after.
My face flamed. "Shit. That's not what I meant."
* * *
Sebastian …
Oh shit. I tried to shove my mind away from the automatic place it went. Somewhere very dirty, somewhere damn near euphoric. The idea of teaching her how to do a blow job just the way I liked it. Jesus Christ. I stared at her blankly for a moment. Thinking, willing my brain to come on line. And when it finally did, I shook my head a little bit. “The shot. Right. The girly drink from the other night."
She nodded. Of course. “It kind of tasted like chocolate. And as an added bonus, it was on fire. So of course, I’d like to make that."
Right. I’d teach her how to make that. Because teaching her how to give a blow job was not on the appropriate list of what friends to do. And I was the one who’d made that distinction after I kissed her at my apartment. I wanted to make sure that she understood that I didn't have time for a relationship. We didn't have time for any of this. Except now, with her standing in front of me with her cocky, sassy smile, all I wanted to do was kiss her again and touch her and teach her how to give blow jobs. Make. I meant how to make blow jobs. Fuck. "Sure. I'll just go get more Kahlua."
“But isn't there some—“
I disappeared behind the bar and went into the back hallway. Yes. There was plenty of Kahlua out there. But I needed a fucking minute. She was standing there all soft and warm and sexy, and fuck she smelled amazing. I didn't know what it was but it reminded me of home, and all I wanted to do was kiss her again. I really wanted to do a fuck lot more than just kiss her.
But I wasn't going to because that's not why I was here. I had another couple of weeks at best before my little excursion would be called off and I’d be forced to go back home. But I wasn't going without Lucas. They needed Lucas. Because once the vote was done and my father had enough support to officially make Lucas royalty, then I would be free.
Properly free. Not this bullshit rendition where I always saw myself somehow being dragged or forced back. And that's what I had to focus on. Not Len. Not my memory of her lips, or the way she parted them on a gasp, or how she tasted like sweet spice, injecting my veins with pure lust and adrenaline.
No. A girl like that needed permanence. As the prince, I couldn’t be what she needed. Someone who understood duty and honor. According to law in the Winston Isles, I couldn’t even have her if I wanted to because she had no royal blood. Like my father, some kind of suitable wife from some noble family would be chosen for me.
And I was not looking for complicated. I was looking for the ultimate freedom … from the crown, from everything. Where I could just chase the sunlight and the perfect shots and that was all that mattered. Beholden to no one.
I knew she understood. She was an artist. Of course, she understood the need to not be encumbered, the need to not be forced into a rigid box. Wasn’t that why she had left her family?
"Hey, you? I was trying to tell you there was plenty of Kahlua out there."
In the dimness of the storeroom, the soft light danced and lit her skin, making it look luminescent. "I must not have seen it. Let's get back to the bar, and I'll teach you how to make that drink."
She put the bottle down on the counter and followed me, crossing her arms. "What gives? You’re acting weird. Weirder than normal."
"How do you know I’m acting weird?" I swallowed hard. "You barely know me. For all you know, this is completely normal behavior."
"Sure. I'll buy it. It’s like you’re trying to avoid me, and I don't know
why. Did I do something? Did I say something? Or you heard of my terrible bartending skills and you refuse to teach me?"
I shook my head. I had to get out of this small, confined space with her. “No. Let’s go. Let’s get back out there and make the drink."
She shook her head. "No. Tell me what's going on. A minute ago, you were fine. Next thing I know, you’re running from me and hiding in here."
The words were out before I could stop them. "Because I am fucking dying to kiss you. Because I’m literally dying to teach you how to do a blow job. Just not the kind you’re thinking.”
I pushed away from the opposite counter and advanced toward her. "Ever since that night with the mouse in your place, it's all I’ve been thinking about. Then there was that kiss in my apartment. I know you feel it too. The pull into each other’s orbit. And then of course, I've already seen that ridiculous body you have hiding under those clothes. It should be illegal for you to wear clothes. And you’re distracting me from what I’m supposed to be doing. I can still fucking feel the imprint of your body against mine."
She stared at me, lips parted, eyes wide, every part the innocent ingénue. She had no idea what she was doing to me. "But I—”
"Jesus. You don't even know how sexy you are, do you? And there's something so fucking familiar about you. Like every time I talk to you I’m coming home. And I can't seem to stop that feeling. And it's the last fucking thing I need right now."
She squared her shoulders. "Then why even hang out with me? I’ve been minding my own business."
I threw up my hands with each word, my voice rising. "Minding your own business? First, there was your ass sticking in the air, taunting me, tempting me. Next time I see you, you’re half naked from the shower. Then you're at the club, saving me from overzealous women and I break a little and fucking sniff you. What is that even? I have never done that before in my life. You're everywhere. Under my fucking skin. I can’t escape you even when I try, for fuck’s sake.”
