by Leanne Banks
Daniel met her gaze and flipped her hair behind her shoulder. "The bullet barely grazed my forehead."
Erin felt the bile rise in the back of her throat. "You were bleeding. You were hurt."
He pulled her into his arms. "You could have been too."
"You saved my life," she told him, tears welling up in her eyes. "I've never been so frightened in my life." What if he'd been hit? What if she'd truly lost him? Even though she knew he would never belong to her, Erin couldn't bear the thought of his death. She began to tremble.
Daniel pulled slightly away and. frowned. "You're shaking," he said. "You must stop. You're okay and so am I." His expression shifted. "And it's been decided that you and I will return to Altaria tomorrow."
Erin searched his gaze. "Who made the decision? Security?"
"Security, the Connelly men and me. It's time for me to take the next step in the transition. I might like to pretend that this was a random drive-by shooting, but…" He drifted off, shaking his head.
"But it's entirely too coincidental that your interview was aired internationally last night and you were shot at in broad daylight this morning."
He nodded slowly. "For some reason, someone doesn't want me to be king."
Her heart twisted. She thought of her father, but knew he wouldn't go to such lengths. "Why?" she wondered aloud.
"I don't know. I can't spend time thinking about detractors. There's too much else I need to be doing. Security will do their job," he said.
Erin shook her head. "You could have lost your life. How can you shake this off so easily? Doesn't this give you second thoughts about becoming king?"
"No," he said with a determination in his eyes that could bend steel. "In fact, it makes me more certain than ever. Several people have been telling me this is a cream-puff job with the emphasis in my role on decorum. No real power to the position. No opportunity to make a difference. If there's no real power, then why does somebody want to kill me?"
* * *
Erin joined Daniel and several official security guards on a chartered jet bound for Altaria the following day. She had no idea what would happen once they arrived at the island. She only knew that things between her and Daniel were about to change in a drastic way.
They arrived late at night, as planned, with the goal of a low-key entrance. Word, however, must have gotten out, for a huge crowd of people and several official vehicles stood outside the airport waiting. The people waved welcome signs and cheered.
"You'll walk with me," Daniel said to Erin.
"Absolutely not," she said.
He blinked at her immediate disagreement. "Why not? Other than, 'It wouldn't be proper.'"
"That should be enough," she told him, her heart twisting in strange ways. "I don't want you facing any questions from the press regarding me."
"After that barracuda in Chicago, I can handle nosey questions from anyone."
"I insist," she said quietly.
He jammed his hand into his pocket impatiently. "You're going to be prissy about this, aren't you?"
"I prefer the word firm," she said and gently smiled. "You must meet your subjects. You represent their tie to the past and their hope in the future. Your very presence will be a tremendous source of comfort."
"Okay. But you have to come to the palace."
She shook her head.
"I'm not budging on this. If you need a job description, you are palace liaison, and your first duty is to escort Jordan to the palace and get him settled. I'm told he won't need to be quarantined."
Erin gaped at Daniel. "Jordan?"
Daniel nodded, pulling on a suit jacket. "That's appropriate. I want at least two on my side at the palace round the clock. That would be Jordan and you." He leaned toward her and kissed her. "Any last-minute protocol instructions? Is my tie straight?"
With numb fingers, Erin adjusted his tie. Daniel might fight it, but this was the beginning of the end for them. "Give them a chance to bow or curtsey. They want to show respect." A myriad of feelings tugged at her. "You are going to be a wonderful king," she told him.
His gaze grew serious. "I'll see you later at the palace."
* * *
Jordan wasn't particularly cooperative. Erin was forced to send a guard to secure a steak to bribe the beast to go along with her. She gave up trying to return him to the crate in which he'd made the transatlantic journey. Growling at every new human who crossed his path, Jordan finally settled down and stayed close to Erin as the limo left the airport and traveled toward the palace.
When he pawed at the window, she lowered it slightly.
The security guard frowned in disapproval.
"He's upset," she said. "He's had a rough couple of days."
Jordan spent the remainder of the ride panting and intermittently whining. He clearly wanted Daniel. Erin couldn't blame him. After they arrived at the palace, she took him for a short walk so he could take care of his business. By the time she was ready to take him inside, Daniel's motorcade had pulled into the private compound.
Jordan perked up his ears as the vehicles approached. When Daniel stepped from his vehicle, Erin nearly got whiplash holding Jordan in place. The animal began to whine and bark.
Daniel glanced up and spotted them. "Bring him over," he called.
Jordan dragged her along until they reached his master, when he began to whine and jump for joy.
Daniel petted him and murmured words of reassurance. He nodded up at the medieval stone palace, then glanced at her. "Looks like we should be able to squeeze in a royal protocol expert and palace liaison."
"Sir," she said, all too aware of the watching eyes all around them.
"Don't start with that," Daniel said.
"I must," she whispered. "At least when others are around. It's expected."
He frowned, clearly not pleased. "I don't like it," he said.
"If you'll pardon me for saying so, sir, you don't have to like it."
"I'm not in the mood to pardon much of anything, so let's go ahead and get past the goons," he muttered, waiting for her to join him.
"You must precede, sir," she reminded him.
Daniel swallowed a half dozen swearwords. He would adjust to the changes. He'd long ago learned the power of the ability to adapt. After the events of the last few days, Erin had to play royal subject for the sake of prying eyes. It bothered the hell out of him that they had to hide their true relationship, even though he understood the wisdom behind it.
A doorman greeted him with a polite bow, and Daniel shook his hand, almost surprising the starch out of the man. A palace guide led him through the castle. Although he was weary, he took in the sight of the lavish decorations and medieval unicorn tapestries, the red-tiled floors carpeted with Oriental rugs.
Daniel waited for a bow or curtsey, then shook hands with the next fifteen palace personnel. When he was introduced to the senior housekeeper, he requested a room for Erin.
Reaching his private quarters, he sent the guards and palace personnel away, and insisted Erin bring Jordan with her into his private domain. Ditching his jacket and tie, he prowled his surroundings. The formal sitting room was decorated with fine period furniture. It needed light, he thought, then wandered into a study with shelves of leather-bound volumes and a beautiful large desk his grandfather must have used.
Daniel's gut twisted at the image of his grandfather and all the Rosemeres before him sitting at that desk. He felt the weight of his title settle on his shoulders. His grandfather descended from a long line of Rosemeres who had ruled with compassion. Daniel was determined to continue the tradition, to continue the honor.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Jordan exploring his new surroundings, sniffing every inch of the place. He glanced up and saw Erin foraging in a small refrigerator. The sight of her eased the upheaval inside him.
"Would you like a sandwich?" she asked. "It appears someone stocked the refrigerator in anticipation of your arrival. Looks like ham, turk
ey, roast beef and cheese."
Thank God she'd ditched the sir. "I wish for a kiss," he said, and she turned to meet his gaze.
She looked soft and beautiful and like everything he'd never known he wanted but had needed.
She smiled and walked toward him, and Daniel felt the weight of the day grow lighter.
"A kiss. I can do that," she said, stretching on tiptoe to press her soft mouth to his.
Daniel closed his arms around her and savored the sensation of her body against his.
A knock sounded at the door, and he groaned. "I told them to go away."
Jordan barked at the door. "You should answer," she told him, nuzzling Daniel's cheek, then backing away. "I'll hold on to Jordan."
Daniel opened the door to a tall, reed-thin man with a receding hairline. "Your Majesty," he said. "My name is Gregor Paulus, Prince Marc's former assistant I beg you to forgive the intrusion. I was unable to meet you earlier because I was ordering a tray for your arrival. May I come in, sir?"
Although the man was politeness personified, something about him seemed pushy. Daniel put the first impression down to weariness and set it aside. "Thank you very much, Gregor."
Gregor stepped inside the door. When Jordan barked at him, the man nearly dropped his tray. Daniel rescued it in time.
"Gregor Paulus, this is Erin Lawrence, my protocol expert and palace liaison, and my dog, Jordan."
Gregor nodded at Erin and murmured a polite greeting. He glanced at Jordan and gingerly extended his hand to the dog's head. Daniel immediately concluded that Gregor was not a dog person.
Keeping one eye on Jordan, Gregor moved to the other side of the room. "I wanted to greet you personally, Your Majesty," he said. "I know you will be making many adjustments and I want you to know that I am at your service to help you in any way, day or night."
Daniel considered asking the proper man to walk his dog, but he didn't want to put Jordan in misery. "I appreciate your kind offer," Daniel said instead. "If I should need you, I will call. It was very kind of you to prepare the food. Tonight I plan to retire as soon as possible."
Gregor nodded, still glancing at Jordan. "Very good, sir. You are most welcome. Again, if you should need anything, anything at all, please do not hesitate to call me," he said and backed out of the door.
As soon as the man left, Daniel turned to Erin. "Is it just me or was that guy a little overboard?"
"He was extremely proper and respectful," she said and paused. "Oh, all right. Something about him gave me the willies."
"And he didn't like Jordan," Daniel added. "You can tell a lot about a person by whether they like dogs."
"I technically don't own a dog," Erin pointed out.
"Yes, but you want one," Daniel said and grinned. "Poodles are prissy, but they're still dogs. And Jordan likes you."
"He likes me when I have food," she corrected.
"I want you to stay in my room tonight," Daniel said, expecting a disagreement as he moved toward her.
Erin shook her head. "It's not proper. It wouldn't be right. Heaven forbid the palace aides start talking right away," she said. "I cannot allow you to—"
Daniel pressed his mouth over hers, swallowing the rest of her protests. He kissed her with the passion and frustration from his day. He claimed her mouth in blatant possessiveness, and her objections finally died.
* * *
The phone rang the following morning just as Erin and Daniel finished eating breakfast in his private quarters.
Daniel frowned. "Damn, this better not be happening all the time, or I'm gonna have to make this number unlisted to everyone." He picked up the phone. "Hello."
"Daniel." It was his brother Brett.
"Right here," Daniel said, hearing a mixture of impatience and tension in his brother's tone.
"It's about time. This is my third try, but they wouldn't let me through because His Majesty was sleeping."
Daniel winced. "I'll have to tell them to allow calls from my family members," he said and mouthed Brett's name in response to Erin's look of inquiry. "What's up?"
"Nothing good, but we're working on it. We're beginning to think that King Thomas and Prince Marc may have been murdered."
Daniel's blood turned to ice. "What?"
"Yeah, we don't think the boating accident was an accident, so we're hiring an investigator. His name is Albert Dessage. He's based in France and he'll be coming to Altaria. We've also got a detective, Elena Delgado, in the Special Investigative Unit of the Chicago Police Department to look into that little drive-by that happened to you."
Daniel took a moment to allow his brother's announcement to sink in. He wondered why. Why would someone have wanted to kill King Thomas? Daniel had never been close to his maternal grandfather, but he'd always gotten the impression King Thomas had been a proper king with integrity to spare.
"You still there?"
Daniel rubbed a hand over his face. "Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out whom I can trust here."
"Watch your back," Brett said.
"I will," Daniel said. He might not have chosen this situation, but he was determined to deal with it effectively. He suspected it wasn't the first trying situation he would face as monarch.
"And take pity on me," Brett added in a lighter tone. "I've been appointed to deal with the female detective."
Daniel grinned. "Why should I feel sorry for you, you dog? Something tells me you'll use that situation to your advantage."
"Ms. Delgado's probably a battle-ax. Besides, it's easy for you to say. You've got the pretty blonde with the sexy accent."
Daniel smiled at Erin. "I need some consolation."
"Yeah, right," Brett said in disbelief. "How's the palace?"
"Old, dark and the pipes rattle in the shower," he said. "But the temperature is seventy-three degrees and the view of the beach is great."
"It's fourteen degrees and snowing here."
Daniel laughed. "Come and visit."
"I can't. I've got to deal with the battle-ax. I better run. I meant what I said about you watching your back."
Daniel heard the heartfelt sincerity in his brother's voice and it warmed him. "I will. Thanks. Keep me posted."
Daniel hung up and met Erin's curious gaze. He crossed the room to her and took her in his arms. "I'm glad you're here with me," he said.
Her eyes widened. "Why?"
"Because the more I learn about things in Altaria, the less I think I can trust people. I know I can trust you."
Erin took a quick breath and looked downward. "Surely it can't be that bad. There must be others you can trust."
Daniel gave a laugh edged with gallows humor. "I'll be okay, but it's tricky right now. There's a strong possibility that King Thomas and Prince Marc were murdered. Add in the attempt on my life and it's not pretty."
She met his eyes again in disbelief. "King Thomas murdered?" She shook her head. "That's horrible. If it's true, then the same people might want you dead." The color drained from her cheeks and her eyes filled with fear. "Daniel, you must be very careful."
"I will be," he assured her, touched by the strength of her concern. When he had first met Erin, he never would have predicted that the prickly, proper woman could have such an impact on him. She was too young, too inexperienced. Now being with her felt nothing but right. He looked into her blue eyes and wondered if she knew she was becoming more and more important to him every day.
* * *
"King Thomas didn't get out among the people of Altaria frequently. He demonstrated the dignity and tradition of the throne in formal state appearances," the prime minister told Daniel during their first meeting in the palace's cabinet room. Daniel found himself surrounded by a dozen aides associated with either the PM or the palace.
"I agree that the state appearances are important for the people," Daniel said, thinking that if he heard the prime minister say "King Thomas did it this way" one more time, he was going to break a piece of the antique furniture. "Because the
citizens of Altaria are less familiar with me, I believe it would be wise to provide a greater degree of accessibility. They need to get to know me and I need to get to know them."
Louis Gettel, the reserved, intelligent middle-aged prime minister, cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. "May I inquire how you intend to get to know the citizens of Altaria, sir?"
"I'd like to visit some schools and farms. I'd like to invite some business owners to the palace to talk about their concerns," he said, and watched Louis's left eye twitch. Daniel considered joking about the fictional palace orgies he had planned to celebrate spring, but he bit back the audacious urge. "In the meantime, I've asked a friend to study the possibility of expanding the landing strip at the airport, and I am requesting a full financial and security audit of all government agencies, including the Rosemere Institute."
Louis nodded. "Your request will be honored, sir. Your assigned aides will—"
"I'll be interviewing for my own aides," Daniel said.
Louis lifted his eyebrows. "As you wish, sir."
"Mr. Gettel, may I speak frankly?" Daniel asked.
Surprise crossed the man's face. "Of course, sir."
"By all accounts, you are a superb prime minister. Altaria is fortunate to have you in its service," Daniel said.
"Why, thank you, sir," he said, clearly pleased and relieved at Daniel's observation.
"I have no interest in being prime minister of Altaria, and I am not King Thomas, but I do want to be the best damn king I can be."
Gettel blinked, as if Daniel presented one surprise after another. Daniel saw a sliver of wariness leave the man's eyes. His mouth eased into the slightest smile. "We can ask for no more, sir."
Daniel extended his hand and Gettel's shake was strong and sincere. Daniel felt a flicker of hope that his transition wouldn't be a complete walk through hell after all.
After the meeting, Daniel wandered through the palace in search of Erin. He wanted to tell her about his first meeting with the prime minister. Rounding a corner, he thought he heard her talking to someone in a parlor near the entrance of the palace. As he drew closer, the voices became clearer.
