“It’s not about…”
“Not equal marriage. Some environmental bill.” He took a breath as Mère poured him a cup of tea. “I’m being rude, though. You must be the Mr. Kruse Prince Owen has told me unfortunately very little about.”
Keegan extended his hand, ready to shake, and Lucas just looked at it. “Royalty doesn’t shake,” he said.
“Oh, sorry. I just…” Keegan sealed his lips before offering an overdramatic…and absolutely ridiculous…curtsey. “Kidding. I don’t know what the proper—”
“It’s a pleasure meeting you,” Lucas said in a tone that promised he was less than enthusiastic about their meeting. “Sit down. I would love to get to know you more.”
“Careful, Lucas,” I said.
“I think the one who should be cautious is the one warning the King.”
“You’re it!” Cassie said from behind Keegan, her arm stretched out as she tagged him.
“Oh, am I? Really?” He chased after her as she headed into the hedge maze.
As I looked back to Lucas, it was apparent he had to stifle a smile.
“Yeah, he has that effect on me too,” I said, which seemed to bring back his expected temperament.
“I’ll deal with you momentarily,” he said, heading around me. “Mère,” he said, and she offered him a warm hug. As he pulled away, he kissed her cheek.
“Could Marilyn not make it today?” she asked.
“She was traveling all last week, so she needs the rest. It’s just for the meeting with the prime minister.”
“Funny. And here I believed your visit was more about a certain ambassador from the States.”
“I would be lying if I said I didn’t time it conveniently with his visit.”
“I figured as much.”
“At least I’m honest, dearest brother.”
I knew what he was suggesting about the ruse Keeg and I had put on, but if he understood what was happening between us, genuinely happening beyond the scheme I’d initially concocted, he would have known better than to say anything like that.
“Got you,” Keegan called out as he must’ve tagged Cassie back.
Despite my attempt at remaining serious, I started laughing, and Lucas laughed right on with me, reminding me that, despite our differences, we could still find a sort of childish amusement amid the most serious of situations.
“I almost got away!” Cassie said as she stepped out of the maze.
“Better luck next time,” Keeg said as he walked behind her, pulling his hat off and adjusting it so that it was sideways on his head.
An equally attractive look on him.
Although, really, when didn’t Keegan look sexy as hell?
“Daddy, I’m hungry,” Cassie said as she hurried to Lucas.
“Come now. I’ll fix you a plate,” Mère said.
We settled at the table, Keegan eyeing some of the royal guard dispersed around the garden, as if reflecting on his previous experience with them when they’d taken him down in the square before taking him prisoner.
“These guys with you all the time?” Keegan asked Lucas, who looked at him peculiarly.
“Certainly not,” Lucas said. “But throughout most of my day, yes.”
