“Are your parents here?” Jamie asked as Liam poured them both tea. He’d been so entrenched with working on base and helping out with his father’s campaign from a distance that he’d missed out on Liam’s arrival until he got a call from the other man last night.
“Father and Mother will arrive in two days. I’m a bit early, traveling under a private visit due to a slew of off-the-record meetings. You know how it is.” Liam waved his hand in a dismissive manner. “I’m sure you and I will be seeing loads of each other in the next few days.”
Liam was here representing not only the Crown but the United Metahuman Group. Certain levels of classified information were best transferred with someone of rank. Jamie knew tomorrow would most likely be back-to-back meetings for both of them, but today their time was their own.
“Perhaps,” Jamie replied, thinking about the flurry of activity happening in the intelligence division Sean had warned him about.
“I know that tone. You have something fun lined up, don’t you?”
Jamie took a sip of his tea and shrugged. “If you mean lunch, then yes. Everyone should be there.”
“Sounds fantastic. I’m looking forward to a day of no glad-handing. I’ll get enough of that in the lead-up to the State Dinner.”
“You think you’d be used to that part of your job by now. You’ve only had thirty-two years of learning to perfect it.”
“Ha bloody ha. Please tell me you’re still attending the State Dinner?”
“Yes, though I don’t know how much we’ll get to interact. My family is a bit radioactive right now. If President Rodriguez hadn’t insisted we come at your specific request, I don’t think we would be going.”
“I suppose it’s a good thing I’m a prince, yes? I’ll make sure you’re given your due.”
“Don’t make me throw a sugar cube at you.”
Liam winked at him. “Finish your tea so we can leave.”
They spent a few more minutes chatting about innocuous subjects that wouldn’t be out of character for either of them. Jamie was under no illusion about the ambassador’s residence being primed for spying on guests. He’d be more shocked if recording devicesweren’tembedded in the walls, or if the AI controlling the residence’s system wasn’t spying. It was the name of the game, even with the special relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
They left their empty tea cups on the table, heading for the front door, where neither were surprised to see Sir Philip Jones, British Ambassador to the United States, waiting for them. A man twenty years their senior, with brown hair going silver at the temples and piercing blue eyes, Philip had cut his teeth on politics.
For all his rank, Jamie knew the ambassador wasn’t read in on Liam’s classified identity, nor his own. So the tight smile directed at Jamie wasn’t really welcoming, but it was coldly polite, as only the British could do.
“I understand you won’t be joining us for lunch or dinner due to prior engagements. Is that still accurate, sir?” Philip asked, directing the question to Liam.
“Yes, Mr. Jones. Do tell Sophia I’ll make myself available when my parents are in town. I wouldn’t want her to think me rude,” Liam replied.
“Of course. I hope you and your…friend have a lovely day. If anything comes up that needs your attention, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
Jamie managed to hold back his laughter until they were in his Bentley and driving off the compound property.
“Yourfriend?” Jamie said around a laugh. “Either he thinks we’re dating or that I’m a bad influence on you.”
“Honestly, he’s had a stick up his arse since I arrived and refused the usual security detail. When he tried to go over my head, he got smacked down,” Liam sighed.
“Running your playboy persona while you’re here, I take it?”
“Not so much playboy as arrogant wanker.”
“If the shoe fits.”
Liam punched Jamie hard in the arm. Jamie barely felt the blow. “For that, I’m ransacking your whiskey collection.”
“Of course you are.”
Jamie flashed him a smile before focusing his attention on the road. He and Liam had been close friends since they were ten years old, despite the distance, with their lives following similar paths over the years. They’d been friends-with-benefits when a third party was involved for several years when they were younger before the novelty wore off. Liam’s rank as royalty aside, they moved in the same social circles, came from the same ultra-wealthy backgrounds, and had the same outlook on life. Before Jamie met Katie, Liam was his first, true friend.
Which was why when they finally made it to the condo in the West End where Kyle waited, Jamie had the good sense to apologize in the wake of Liam’s friendly outrage when the Englishman zeroed in on Kyle’s engagement ring.
“Whatisthat?” Liam said in an affronted voice, pointing at the ring Kyle wore. “And why in bloodyhelldidn’t you tell me?”
