“Theo and Katla mean a lot to me.” I sigh, my shoulders drooping in defeat. “Which means I’ll do anything they ask.” I run my hands up the lapels of his suit. “I just don’t want to lose you in the process.”
“You’re not going to lose me,” he says. “If anything, this will make us stronger.”
“Promise?”
He leans forward an inch more and presses a light kiss to my lips. “Promise.”
ChapterTwo
KELLER
“Thank you for meeting with me,” Theo says. “I know it’s late.”
“It’s fine. I had nothing planned but some light reading,” I answer. Some light reading and some dirty thoughts about Lilly from this morning that I planned on using while jacking off in the shower.
But plans changed.
Theo asked me to meet up with him in his bedroom, which I’ve done many times when I was his private secretary, so seeing him in his pajamas is nothing new to me.
“Katla is enjoying a nice long bath, so we have some time to ourselves.” Theo runs his hands over his lavish bedding while I lean forward in the chair I pulled up in front of his bed. Last time I was in this position, he was asking me to find Lilly, so my heart is racing, wondering if what we’re going to talk about has as much impact as that conversation had. His eyes lift to mine, and he asks, “How are you feeling?”
“How am I feeling?” I ask, not quite expecting that to be the conversation starter.
“Yes, I know that it’s been an onslaught of meetings and decisions since you came back from Harrogate. I wanted to make sure you were doing okay.”
“Oh, yeah.” I shift uncomfortably. “I mean, it’s been fine.”
Theo studies me. “Why don’t I believe you?”
Probably because you’ve known me since I was a child, and the role I’m currently in is one I would never have expected.
“Just need some time to get used to it is all. There’s an adjustment period.”
He nods. “You know, Katla had an adjustment period too. It takes a moment. It can be uncomfortable for someone to be thrust into the limelight who is not used to the attention.”
“It is, but I know it’ll get easier as time goes on.”
“And the wedding planning and requirements, you seem to guide Lilly through them so easily, but as I watched you take it all in, I noticed you were tense.”
Probably because I can’t sleep with my girl, my lifeline, the one thing that puts me at ease.
“Just a lot of changes,” I answer.
“You understand why we’re asking these things of you, correct?”
“Yes, sir,” I answer.
“Because it’s important to me, to this country to follow our traditions.”
“Yes, sir. It’s important to me as well,” I answer. “This country means everything to me.”
“Good, because this country is going to need you, Keller.” He picks up the glass of water that’s on his nightstand and takes a sip. “Can I be frank with you?”
“Please,” I answer.
“I know taking on this responsibility is a huge step for you, and it’s one of the reasons you ran away from Lilly initially.” I grind my teeth together, hating that I ran away, hating that the moment I got scared will forever be a part of my history with Lilly. I’ll never fully forgive myself for putting her in so much pain. “But I need you to step up, Keller. I need you to fit into this new role. I need to be able to rely on you for carrying the traditions of this country. You know I love my granddaughter, but she’s still learning about Torskethorpe, and it will take time to mold her into a version of herself that represents this country properly. Until then, I’m going to rely on you to take the lead.”
“Of course. You can count on me.”
