Sven kissed his grandmother’s cheek. “How are you today?”
“I’m fine, sweetheart,” Hilda answered. “Bryn has made certain that I took the correct medications and she’s been a dear keeping me company. Is there any word on Eva?”
He nodded. “Martin said that she is showing signs of improvement. She has a long road to recovery, but we’re no longer in too much fear that we’re going to lose her.”
Freya motioned for Bryn. “Come on, sweetheart. We need to get you dressed.”
“I am dressed.” Bryn smoothed her T-shirt and jeans. She suddenly felt a bit self-conscious compared to Freya’s immaculately tailored suit.
“I had some things sent to your room that make you more… royal. Come on. I’ll help you.”
“Where are we going?” She looked at Sven. “Are you going too?”
“Oh, I’m going,” he responded with a grin. “We’re going to a brunch.” He didn’t offer any further details. “And please don’t argue with my mother. She’s much easier to deal with if you just go along with her.”
Freya stopped at the door. “Mother, do you want to go with us?”
Hilda shook her head. “I’m comfortable here. But it’s good to see you up and about again. You were getting quite depressing to be around.”
Bryn waited for an argument to break out, but Freya simply laughed. “I agree. I was quite the downer.” She gestured to the door. “Come on. Let’s go get ready.”
Sven followed them down the hallway. “I’ll wait out here. Seems like that’s what I’m best at doing.”
Bryn gave him a sharp look before she was ushered inside. Her heart flip flopped when she caught the wink he gave her before Freya closed the door behind them.
Chapter Fourteen
Sven
Sven watched Bryn’s face as they pulled up in front of the Bread and Biscuit. He couldn’t quite read the expression that she tried to hide but didn’t quite succeed.
“You’ve been here before?”
She nodded, her lips tight together. “Not exactly the best experience.” She told him about the cold shoulders that she had received.
“I promise that you won’t get that reaction this time.”
“You’re assuming that I want to give them a second chance.” Her tone was so droll that he almost laughed. Only his mother’s slap to his leg maintained his composure.
“Dear, I’m sure that they just misunderstood your intentions,” Freya offered. “You arrived at a very difficult time for Stagholt, with Sven being injured and all.”
“I know,” Bryn conceded. “They had no idea who I was.”
As expected, he was greeted with smiles and well wishes as soon as they walked in the door. He kept his hand possessively on Bryn’s shoulder. He had feared that she would appear standoffish and uncomfortable, but she fell into character in an instant. She almost melted into his side and when she took his hand, she squeezed it like she was reassuring him and not the other way around.
Freya disappeared into the kitchen to visit with the owners who were apparently old friends. Sven led Bryn to a table in thecorner, away from the windows and where they were protected by the walls. Sven knew that Lars was around with some of the other guards, but every detail in their favor helped.
He sipped his coffee after the steady stream of visitors to their table slowed. He watched Bryn close her eyes and moan in satisfaction as she bit into a pastry.
I wonder if that’s what she looks like when she’s making love.
The thought popped out of nowhere and he had to shift to adjust his pants as his body leapt to attention. Almost as if she could read his thoughts, Bryn suddenly met his eyes. Her tongue darted out and she licked her lips.
Sven’s breath froze in his chest. A new wave of desire pulsed through him.
“What exactly are we doing?” she asked.
“We’re having a very public breakfast at the hottest gossip spot in Stagholt,” he informed her in a low voice. “By this afternoon, word will have spread all over town that we were seen together.”
