He nodded. “In fact, she kissed me first. And she kept doing it, so I kept letting her.”
Her grin was infectious. “Go, Axel. Good for you. I’m glad you found someone you like. So how do you know she works for the Duvall family?”
“Director Patmore spoke to her employer and called her Mrs. Duvall in the store when she and I were about to have a clandestine meeting. I had to stare at the snack shelf and pretend I didn’t know her until Mrs. Duvall and Patmore finally left.”
“Wow. A clandestine meeting? Pretending to not know her? Sounds exciting.”
“It’s awesome. I snuck her out to the swimming hole, but Cam caught us and made us go back because the Duvalls were looking for her.”
“I can’t wait to hear what Cam says. I’ll be sure to grill him when he gets home.”
“Tell him not to let it happen again.”
She nodded. “And she works for the Duvall family, you say? So interesting. I went to a birthday party for one of the sisters a few years ago on Alpha-Prime. My mother was hoping I could maybe snag a rich Duvall cousin to marry.” She rolled her eyes, then brightened. “You know what? Maybe I’ve met her. What does she look like?”
“She has gorgeous light green eyes. Her dark blond hair has red and gold streaks. She has the sweetest disposition and a giggle that makes my soul happy. She even danced with me in public.”
Ria frowned. “Wait a minute. Red and gold streaks in dark blonde hair?”
“Yep. Why? What’s up?”
“Are you sure she isn’t one of the Duvall daughters?”
Axel shook his head. “I don’t think so. She wasn’t dressed up or anything. And she wasn’t wearing a ton of makeup.”
Ria rolled her eyes. “Neither was I when I left theRoyal Caldera Forteduring last month’s port of call.”
“But she isn’t imperiously snippy.”
She scowled. “Neither am I.”
“And she’s sweet and nice and—”
“Are you trying to make me mad?”
“No. It’s just that most of the Alpha-Prime royalty I’ve met are snippy, overdressed and rude. But you are none of those things. You are awesome. Can you help me?”
“I don’t know how to. I don’t know anything about their servants, but I did meet all the daughters.” Ria said, “Wait. I think I have a picture.”
“Of what?”
“The Duvall sisters.”
She grabbed an electronic tablet, turned it on and swiped through several screens until she found the one she sought. “Here. The Duvall family from a few years ago. Does this look like her, the redhead?”
Axel focused on the formal photograph of several people. He recognized the older woman from the convenience store. He stuck a finger on the mother’s face. “That’s Mrs. Duvall. She looks really good for how old she must be to have kids in their twenties, but she can give a death stare like nobody’s business.”
“Well, she’s a mom. All moms can give a really good death stare when they need to. My mother, for example, does a premium death stare. I’ll have her show you one of these days.”
Axel laughed. “No need. I can easily picture your mother giving you a really great death stare.”
“What aboutyourmom? Does she have a really great death stare?”
“I don’t remember the death stare as much. I do remember that she can march really fast when she’s mad and has you by the scruff of your collar. Lucy’s employer can walk really fast, just like my mom.”
Ria and Axel turned back to the tablet.
Axel studied the photograph, looking at each of the girls in stair step order between the parents. The father looked very stern. Axel figured he was quite different from his own father, Zebulon. Axel’s father was fun-loving and always ready to talk if any of the boys needed to, which was rare because boys don’t talk so much. But he listened and he showed them all how to do things. Overall, he was a quiet soul, a thinker.
