Kingston blew out an exasperated breath. He acted like he didn’twantto get to know her. He could be following some unwritten rule that bodyguards weren’t supposed to talk to their gaurdee. She had no idea if such a rule existed as this was the first time she’d ever had a guard. If the rule was there, she was making life hard on the guy. Nyssa stifled her giggle. He’d ruined a perfectly good kiss, so she wasn’t feeling all that bad about teasing the giant of a man. “It could also be from Mother. She knows about my meeting today and may be sending me a necklace.”
No response.
“Maybe it’s from my gentleman …”
Kingston’s eyes darted to the corner.
“It is!” She let out a squeal and spun, sending her skirt flying about, and ducked into the room. “I promise. Ten minutes and I’ll be ready.”
He grunted as she shut the door.
Hurrying to the bed, she tried desperately to calm her racing pulse. She’d said goodbye to Tatum yesterday, and she’d meant it, but she was oh so happy that he didn’t hear what she was saying.
Setting the box in the middle of the bed, she traced her fingers over the gold inlay. “A box this beautiful must hold something wonderful.” Closing her eyes, she pulled the top off. A sweet, chocolatey smell filled her senses. Opening her eyes, she found a half sheet of paper on top.
“Turtles—for luck,” she read. Removing the tissue paper, she found a dozen chocolate and caramel sweets that did, indeed, look like little turtles. Squealing again, because she could hardly contain the joy bubbling up inside because of this gift, she threw her arms into the air.
Tatum hadn’t signed the card, but there was no mistaking who had sent this box. She hugged the lid to her chest, loving that he didn’tneedto sign his name and she knew it was from him. Sinking into the pillows, she covered her face with her hands, allowing her mind to drift to those perfect moments when he’d taken control of their kiss.
In the memory, she could see things she’d only just glimpsed before. His beard tickled her skin and he tasted like chocolate and sugar. His hand covered her lower back, spanning from side to side, and his chest was firm under her palms.
There was a knock at the door and she jumped to her feet, checking the tiara to make sure it hadn’t slipped.
“Time to be a princess.” She reached for her purse and, at the last second, tucked the card inside.
Chapter Fourteen
Tatum ended up in his less-than-shiny hotel, where he made a long overdue phone call. He had to clear the emotion from his throat several times as he dialed.
“Hey, Mom.” Tatum cradled the phone between his ear and shoulder.
“Tatum?”
He dug his fingers into her hair.She had to ask?Man, he was a crappy son. “Yeah, it’s me, Mom.”
“Well, hi there, darlin’. What part of the world are you in today?” Her stand mixer started up in the background.
Tatum smiled. His mom could fold laundry, bake bread, and talk on the phone without blinking an eye. “Washington, DC.”
“Hey, you’re stateside. No wonder the call sounds so clear. What are you doin’ out there?”
This was the hard part. “I, uh, I was in the hospital.”
The mixer stopped. The line was quiet. Tatum could see his mom leaning on both hands on the countertop as she closed her eyes to offer a quick prayer to her Maker. “Well, you’re talkin’, so that’s a good sign.”
Tatum chuckled. “I’m walkin’ too. Your prayers must be getting to the right ears.”
“Your poor guardian angel is gonna wring my neck for letting you get into all this. What happened?”
He rubbed one hand with the other. “My client was under fire and I got in the way.”
“Heaven help me.”
“I’m fine. The bullet went through my shoulder.”
“That’s a phrase no mother should ever hear.The bullet went through my anythingshould not be part of our conversations.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” He was. He was so sorry for the heartache and worry he caused his parents. He’d overheard his dad tell the barber once that the good Lord saved their hardest child for last because if he’d come first, they wouldn’t have had any more. He didn’t understand why he was the way he was until he entered the navy. They liked his calculating mind, strategic thinking, blind courage, and risk-taking tendencies. He excelled, moving up the ranks quickly and leading men. He hadn’t left the SEALS until he and Nelson had a plan. When he explained the plan to his parents, they invited him home—for good. Therefore, his mom’s next words weren’t a huge surprise.
