“So, you guys met at the academy?” I motioned between them.
“Yeah.” Theo nodded, clearing his throat. “We were bunkmates, and he was my navigator/co-pilot during training. We spent a lot of time together.”
Silence filled the space after Theo’s response. Lennox stayed silent and aloof, with his arms crossed in front, his legs out wide.
Dalton wasn’t warm and fuzzy, but hell, this guy was making me miss him. Dalton, at least, was polite enough to respond and talk to me, acting human. This guy was a robot, and I might have accidentally turned off his switch.
A buzzing noise came from Theo’s pocket.
“Guess who that is.” He sighed, grabbing his phone with one hand. “I have to answer this.” He curved away, walking a few feet, leaving me alone with the new bodyguard while he talked to his father.
Lennox looked straight ahead. Thorny silence pricked at my skin.
“So any fun, embarrassing stories you can tell me? Blackmail on the prince I can be part of?”
Lennox’s head jerked enough to know he heard me, his lips slightly pressing together, but he stayed mute, like I was beneath his response.
Silence. Awkward.
I was bad enough with people, but this guy brought out my bristly, snarky side.
“Wow. I can already see how much fun we’re all going to have together.”
“I’m not here to have fun, your ladyship. I’m not a fucking clown for your entertainment. I’m here to protect the prince. That’s it.”
I jerked back with an inhale, anger flaring up my throat like acid. What the fuck was wrong with this guy? How could he already hate me?
“I detest clowns. Nothing I hate more.” I stepped closer, my voice low. He didn’t move, not even a flinch, but I could feel his eyes trained on me. “But I think I might still prefer one over you.”
“Good.” His lips twitched with a cruel smirk. “Then we know exactly where the other stands, don’t we, my lady?”
I watched him for a beat, fury huffing out my nose before I responded. “We. Sure. Do.”
Chapter 6
Rolling, lazy green hills gave way to the bustling city life. Pavements, buildings, and air thicker than the countryside’s, heavy with pollution and energy.
My eyes were trained out the window but not really capturing anything. My nervous energy concentrated on the plastic water bottle in my hand, my fingers restless and needing an outlet.
“Miss?” A voice came from up front, jerking my head away from the activity rushing around outside the window. My gaze connected to dark eyes in the rearview mirror staring back at me with a slight annoyance before dropping down to my hands.
Crunch. Crack. Pop.
The high-pitched sound of crinkling plastic reverberated through the black SUV, like ice being put straight on your spine.
“Oh. Sorry.” I shook my head, tossing the empty container in the cupholder, stretching my fingers.
“Nervous?” His eyes met mine briefly again, easing my tension just a bit. Seeing Dalton get out of the private car when it came to my house to pick me up strangely elated me. He felt familiar. Comfortable. I almost ran over and hugged him.
“Fuck. Yes,” I bluntly spit out. “Wouldn’t you be? Tough enough to meet the parents of your boyfriend in normal circumstances.”
“You never met them before?” Dalton turned back to the road, weaving in and out of the horrendous city traffic. I loved visiting the city; you couldn’t deny the energy and excitement. But I was a country girl. I wanted land to have room for all my future rescue animals that couldn’t find a home.
“No.” My fingers went back to wringing each other, not able to sit idle. “Growing up, I saw them a few times from afar, but my family isn’t at the level to mingle with the King and Queen of Great Victoria. And they never came to the school when Theo and I were dating.”
Theo preferred that they never came to visit him. He saw them on holidays, and if they came, it would cause tremendous preparation, chaos, and disruption for just a few hours.
“You’ll do fine, my lady.” Dalton curved the car around a statue set at the beginning of the Royal Mile, heading toward the palace. Theo’s great-grandmother, Elenore, the old queen of Great Victoria, perched on a throne with the family’s scepter and orb in each hand, reminding me of the history I was stepping into.
“Fine?” I snorted. “Do you not know me by now?”
He snickered, making me smile, happy it was him who was here at this moment since Theo couldn’t be.
When Theo called, wanting me to come up that weekend to meet with his family, I almost convinced myself to move to Cuba. It wasn’t like I knew it wouldn’t eventually happen if Theo and I continued to see each other, but that was in the future. Not today. Not in the next twenty minutes.
“I’m sorry I can’t be with you the whole way,” Theo had said to me the night before on the phone. “I have so much to do, and it takes more guards and scheduling if I go just to come right back.”
“I understand.” I did. Still wanted to puke, though. “It’s pointless for you to come here. I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll be there the moment you step out of the car. I promise. I ha—”
“Theo,” I cut him off. “I’ll. Be. Fine.”
“I know.” He sighed. “Why I love you.” A tremble pulsated in my lungs at his declaration. It still shocked me. The time apart seemed to solidify what he wanted; he was all in. Secure in this notion, while I still felt like I was scrambling to catch up.
“You ready, miss?” Dalton slowed the SUV, turning down a private lane away from the public eye. Security halted us only a few yards in.
“No.” I gulped, seeing the top of the palace, flags flying high, pronouncing the royal family was in residence. “You want to go to Cuba?”
He wagged his head, laughing. “Tempting, my lady.” His window went down, greeting the guards. They quickly checked the car underneath and in back, only nodding to me, before we were cleared to go through.
Knots constricted in my throat and stomach as the castle came into full view. I had never been in it, my family not on the list to get an invitation to dine with the king and queen. I had been by it many times, heard Theo talk about growing up in the formal house, but never set foot on the grounds. I never imagined this was how I would experience the palace. As Prince Theodore’s girlfriend.
“You can do this. You will not be awkward, babble, or fall on your face,” I muttered to myself. Dalton pulled the car to the front of the steps where none other than Lennox stood, looking like several tree stumps had been shoved up his arse.
“Oh, please say he’s not waiting for me.” My stomach dropped with disappointment. “Keep the car going, D-man. We’re going to Cuba. Actually, anywhere you want to go. My treat.”
Dalton grinned, catching my gaze in the mirror again. “Not a fan of the new bodyguard?”
“Not at all.” I pulled myself up between the front seat. “Are you?”
Dalton stayed silent, but his mouth thinned.
“Enough said.” I nodded. “What happened? I was so upset when you weren’t there earlier this week.”