“All right, I will.” His tone gave her pause. There was no contradiction. No hesitation. No “Ha ha, I won’t know you when you’re old.” And the desire to know him gripped her. But she fought it because longing for the impossible was a weakness of dreamers. “You’ve given Whinny freedom, Gemma. Restored her spirit.”
“I’m not sure I have that kind of power, but one thing I do know, they’ve restored me.”
“Are there any more blankets?” John said. “The hay isn’t the softest bed.”
“Plenty. Whoever lived here before left almost everything behind.” Gemma texted Imani to bring out more blankets and pillows. The prince made a bed on the right side of the sleeping dogs and Gemma the left.
She set an alarm for midnight while John texted Gunner, who’d gone back to the guest house, and Buck, letting them know his plan for the evening. Gunner replied he was on his way. He’d sleep in the car.
“He can sleep in the house if he wants. Or in here. The car doesn’t sound comfy.”
“He’s former special services. He can sleep anywhere. The car will suit. Gunner’s a good PO, he gives me my space and privacy. Though he was really nervous when I sent him home while you were in the convenience store.”
“I understand he’s not really a friend or companion, but isn’t it nice to know someone has your back?”
“Do you want someone to have your back, Gemma?”
There, he did it again. Keyed in on what she thought was a throwaway comment. “I thought I did once. But turns out he didn’t.”
“You have your family, your friends. Buck and JoJo, Haley.”
“You’re right, of course, yes, and that’s why I’ll spend the rest of my life in Hearts Bend.”
“You could do worse,” John said with a fun lilt in his voice, stretching out, hands locked behind his head.
“Yes, I could do worse.” Much worse. She knew because she’d already been down that road and somehow managed to live to tell.
“Prince Gus and Princess Daffy on a walking tour of The Haskells winery. The princess showed off her baby bump while sipping sparkling water.”
—Loyal Royals Blog
Remembering Princess Hollanddocumentary to air the evening of her memorial, August 31st, 8:00 p.m. on LTV-1.
— Princess Holland Blog
“Hamish Fickle joins us tomorrow morning to discuss the sale of the Midlands property and to talk about the prince’s investiture. Should he have to marry to take his oath? Plus, we’ll challenge the young MP to a game of Lauchtenland trivia.”
— Melissa Faris, Royal Reporter, the Morning Show
“The Chamber Office confirmed Dr. Ritter’s visit to the palace. ‘She’s had a touch of the flu. She’ll be fighting fit in a day or two,’ he said. We’re looking forward to seeing her at the Yacht Races during the August Renaissance. Back to you, Estelle.”
— Perry Copperfield, Cable News PF
Any update on Prince John and the girl he was carrying? My sources tell me it was nothing. A fair in some country. Maybe America?
— @RoyalFan on Instagram
Chapter Eleven
John
His phone startled him awake, ringing and rudely pulling him away from Holland with whom he snuggled, his arm wrapped about her waist, the feel and fragrance of her skin filling his senses.
He wanted to stay asleep, spooned with his wife, but his phone rudely beckoned. Fumbling through his bedding and bits of straw—straw?—he answered with a guttural, whispered, “What is it?”
He ran his hand over his rumpled hair and caught a piece of straw. Why did he have straw in his hair?
“Son? John?”
