1
SHEP
IHAD A bad feeling about this.
It wasn’t just the fact that the streets of Monaco were overflowing with a cheering crowd waiting for a glimpse of their prince and his bride-to-be that had me on edge, but it sure as hell didn’t help.
“This is an even bigger crowd than the last time we were here,” Kai said, scooting forward in his seat, those innocent eyes wide and excited. He hit the button to lower the window, and while my first instinct was to shove him back from inviting onlookers into the privacy of our limo, I instead cut my eyes at Lucien.
I didn’t have to say a word as my longtime friend—brother at this point, really—smirked at the irritation I knew was written all over my face.
“Relax, Shep,” he said, stretching his long legs out like he didn’t have a care in the world. His hand rested on Kai’s lower back, always touching, always connected, even as his younger boyfriend smiled and waved at everyone we passed.
“Easy for you to say,” I muttered as I continually scanned the crowd, my body hyper alert, as always. Living in the public eye my whole life meant never letting your guard down, but it wasmore than that today. We had a wild card on our hands, and there was no telling how the day would unfold.
“Here. Take the edge off.” Lucien leaned forward and held his freshly topped glass of champagne out to me.
When I shook my head, he shrugged, his gaze drifting back to Kai.
“Theo’s not going to do anything stupid.”
“If that was a guarantee, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Sure you would.” He shot me a wink. “Someone from American political royalty has to make an appearance. And no offense to your father, but you’re much easier on the eyes.”
The car began to slow behind the procession of vehicles heading toward the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate, and as we idled there waiting our turn, someone in the crowd caught sight of me and began to shout.
“Shepard! Look, it’s Shepard Winchester?—”
Fuck.
It didn’t take more than a few seconds before others caught on to who was inside, and as more of the crowd began shouting my name, I didn’t have any other choice but to give them a charming smile and wave.
Kai looked back at me, a sheepish look on his face, and as the car began to move again, he rolled the window back up.
“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking?—”
“It’s fine,” I said. It wasn’t, but the last thing I wanted was to rain on his parade. He’d been good for Lucien, and his excitement over coming back to Monaco and being here for the royal weddingwasa little infectious.
Even if love was the last thing I was in the mood to celebrate.
That was a whole other issue, though, and one I’d happily left back in New York City. At least here I only had Lucien and Kai to contend with. Whereas back in the city it seemed everywhere I looked, one of my brothers was leaving the single life behind.
It wasn’t that I begrudged them a happily-ever-after, but did it have to happen when mine had up and vanished right before my very eyes?
“Shep?”
“Sorry, what?” I shook myself out of that depressing headspace and turned to see Lucien looking at me expectantly.
“They’re waiting for you.”
Shit.I hadn’t even noticed the door being pulled open. So much for paying attention.
Jesus, get your head in the game, asshole.
I brushed a hand down my suit jacket and gave myself a final once-over, then stepped out of the car. The second I emerged, recognition dawned, and the crowd surrounding the front entrance of the church let out a joyous cheer like I was about to give some sort of performance—and in a way, I was.
I plastered on my most charming smile, and as I waved to the masses, every single hour of publicity training I’d been through in my younger years resurfaced. That was what happened when your father campaigned for years on end and then became the president of the United States. You learned how to smile when you were miserable. Wave when you wanted to flip off a camera. Be cordial even when someone was a total asshole.
