“All right,principessa,” he murmurs against my mouth. “You can bake something. You can do whatever you like, as long as you stay with me.”
CHAPTER 7
Leah
The front dooropens to a chorus of muffled voices. I freeze, then shake my head and finish washing the big mixing bowl I used. The muffins are almost done. They’re cranberry and chocolate chip. I love breakfast foods that are secretly dessert.
Royal spent the first half of the baking session lounging in the doorway, watching me with a half-lidded eyes. He looked so smug, I had to ask, “These baking things… did you buy them for me? Like the clothes?”
“Yes.”
“It’s too much.”
He sauntered closer and cupped my face, ignoring the flour puffing around us. “Nothing is enough for my wife.”
Then he kissed me and my brain short-circuited. I managed to order him out of the kitchen to give me a few blissful minutes to myself.
Now I’m about to meet Royal’s cousin, and I’m covered in flour.Oh well.I might as well embrace who I am. I can’t be anyone else.
The voices round the hall and a brunette with sleek, straight hair and wearing a black pantsuit walks in, followed by Royal. I feel short and shabby in my sugar-dusted outfit.
Lula is more beautiful in person, dark and striking like Royal. She could be his sister.
“So you’re Leah,” she says, looking me up and down. Her expression is inscrutable, and I don’t know what she’s thinking. “I’m his cousin,” she explains, although I’m sure Royal’s already told her that I know who she is. “Royal has a lot of cousins.” The two of them exchange a look, and I can’t tell if there’s some secret meaning there, or an old joke.
“Okay,” I say, trying not to sound as awkward as I feel.
“It’s good to meet you.” She sets down her slim leather briefcase. The Prada stamp is visible on the corner of it. That’s a five thousand dollar briefcase. My brain blue screens.
Lula is offering me her hand. I grab it, my wet fingers sliding against her perfectly manicured ones.
“Oh sorry, I was just washing up.” I get a dish towel and hand it to her. I use too much force and it flies out of my grip and nearly hits her in the face. “Oh my god, I’m sorry!”
“That’s okay.” Her dark eyes twinkle. “She cooks and cleans?” Lula raises a brow at her cousin.
“Only if she wishes.” Royal crosses to my side and takes my left hand. His expression goes scarily blank.
“It’s on the windowsill,” I blurt. “I didn’t want to lose it while washing dishes.” The ring probably costs more than a year of Mr. Rossi’s rent.
Royal collects the ring and takes my hand to slide it firmly onto my finger. “This stays on your finger,” he murmurs. “Understand?”
“Once again, you didn’t ask me,” I tease, fluttering my fingers. The ring feels right on my hand. It’s so pretty. I’m ignoring the little fact that it contains a tracking device—for now.
“Leah,” Royal warns. His thumb strokes over my wrist.
“I understand. No more washing dishes. That’ll be your job.” I bump him with my hip.
“That can be arranged. I’m good at making things clean.”After I make things dirty,his dark gaze adds.
Behind us, Lula clears her throat. I step back from the cocoon of warmth Royal and I created, my cheeks flushed from our flirting.
Lula holds up her phone. “Hey, cuz, Enzo’s trying to reach you.”
Royal pulls his own phone out of his pocket. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll stay and get to know Leah,” Lula says.
Royal runs a finger over my breastbone, swiping up sugar. He holds my gaze as he licks his finger. “Sweet.”
