He’d emerged from his time with security forces and set up his own security company—Drakos Security. There was little information about it online except for the mention that Ares had invested in cutting-edge software that had made his security company one of the most in demand in the world. And worth billions.
Cassie huffed to herself now that he’d probably used thissoftwareto track her down.
She was dressed today in cut-off shorts, sneakers and a T-shirt that she’d tied in a knot at her waist. Her hair was now free of the temporary tie-dyed colours and up and stuffed under a baseball cap. She didn’t have contacts in her eyes to disguise their colour.
She’d leased a sailing boat from a marina on the other side of the island. She was going to avoid any more troublesome interactions by taking to the seas and doing some island hopping.
That would give her space to think and enjoy her freedom.Alone.She ignored the pang of loneliness.
Well,she thought to herself as she jumped down from the boat to the wooden walkway to untie it,better alone than being potentially drugged or mocked.
She had the rope in her hand and she was about to step back onto the boat when the skin on the back of her neck prickled and she went still.
No.
Slowly she turned around to see an all too familiar tall, broad figure just a few feet away. He was wearing board shorts and a short-sleeved polo shirt. He had a baseball cap too and it shadowed his face but she could still make out the hard, bearded jaw and that provocative mouth.
In fractured moments of sleep last night she’d dreamt of that mouth. Touching more than her lips.
‘What are you doing here?’ As she asked that question she noticed that he was carrying a scuffed holdall. She pointed to it. ‘What is that?’
He lifted it up and Cassie noticed the way his muscles bulged. She also remembered how hard his chest had felt against hers.
He said, ‘It’s my bag. I’m coming with you.’
Panic spiked. Cassie turned away and jumped lithely onto the boat. She turned to face him. ‘No, you’re not.’
He walked to where there was one more rope mooring the boat to the dock and he put his foot on top of the post. Cassie cursed inwardly.
‘Yes, I am. Your brother has acquired my services until such time as you’re done with this little trip and you’re back at the palace.’
Cassie shook her head. ‘No way, no how. He has no right to do this. I’ll pay you double whatever he’s paying you to leave me alone.’
‘It’s not about the money. He’s my friend and it’s a personal favour.’
Cassie smiled sweetly, belying the way her belly was cramping with tension. ‘Well, we were pretty friendly last night, maybe you’ll do me a personal favour and get lost?’ She had never been so rude in her life. But something about standing up to this man was a little shamefully exhilarating, especially when she’d spent all her life trying to make everyone else happy.
Now he smiled and Cassie almost fell off the boat. His mouth was wide and his teeth were very white and the smile completely transformed his face. Even though she knew it wasn’t a real smile. Lord help her if he ever did that. She scowled. She wasn’t going to ever see him smile for real and didn’t want to.
She secured the rope in her hand and went back down onto the walkway to untie the last rope mooring the boat to the jetty. She looked expressly at his foot and tried not to be so aware of his size. ‘Can you move your foot, please?’
‘Not until you tell me where you plan on going.’
She looked up from under the rim of her cap. ‘Island hopping, not that it’s any of your business. But after last night I’d prefer to take my chances with sharks at sea rather than the sharks on land.’
She bent down and pushed his foot off the bollard and lifted up the rope, moving back towards the boat. She hadn’t even unbalanced him.
‘I’m coming with you whether you like it or not, sweetheart.’
Cassie went rigid and turned back towards him. ‘I am not yoursweetheart. And I am leaving now on this boat. If you attempt to board I will call the marina police and have you arrested.’
‘And how will that look in the papers, hm? Crown Princess Cassandra running from her duties to be queen?’
Cassie’s mouth fell open and her eyes widened. ‘You wouldn’t dare.’
He shrugged one wide shoulder. ‘I’ve been given a brief and I don’t ever renege on an assignment and my assignment is you until you’re back at the palace under the protection of your own guards again, who, admittedly, need a refresher course in how to protect you.’
My assignment is you.Those words sent more than a frisson of awareness into Cassie’s blood.
