Softwasn’t something he could afford tonight. Not with another person’s life in his hands. And so, he’d taken all his thoughts and desires for Neese, tucked them against his chest, and smothered them under the vest. With his gear in place and his work face on, he was ready for just about anything.
Anything—except Neese walking through the door wearing a dress that made his tongue go dry. His eyes traveled from the peek-a-boo black sandals with an impossibly thin heel, up the silky black fabric wrapped and draped around every curve, to the shell necklace bright against her dark skin, and the shine on her ebony hair. He took all of her in, drank in her beauty like a man lost in the desert who’d found a well of clear water.
Atop her head sat a small gold tiara with three points. The breath caught in his chest and he felt as if he were falling out of an airplane, spiraling out of control.
She was the princess. Neese was the princess of Zimrada. The princess he’d spent the week trying to meet. He’d kissed her.
And she’d lied to him.
His breath came back with ragged vengeance.
She hadn’t seen him yet, had no reason to when Marius was smiling his pearly whites her direction.
The corners of her mouth turned down. She wasn’t happy.
And her eyes were dull. She was bored but determined.
She entered so quietly, her thin sandals, studded with jewels, didn’t make noise on the plush carpet.
He stared for far too long to be professional and her gaze drifted his direction. Their eyes met and a small gasp escaped her perfect pink mouth. She dropped her clutch and it bounced to his feet. He bent to retrieve it and held it out for her. Their eyes met and a storm of communication passed between them. She was shocked to see him there. Then pleased and warm inside. Then worried and ashamed for having lied to him. “Princess,” he said, hardly believing the word as it slipped out.
“Thank you,” she rasped, taking the clutch, her fingertips brushing his and sending fire up his hand and across his chest.
“You’re welcome,Princess.” The ice in his voice lay thick over the fire between them. The burning desire to hold her should have died under that much frost; it didn’t, and he knew there was much more to his feelings for Neese than a crush and a fun date.
Sadness tinted her eyes and Tatum had the strange sensation that he’d taken something precious from her, although what that could be he had no idea. If anything, she’d taken something from him.
A princess?For. The. Love.
She’d lied to him. A lie by omission was still a lie. Strangely, he wasn’t upset about being deceived. He should have been. On one level he knew he had the right to demand answers. But on another level, he understood the need to protect her identity—especially considering the issues facing her family back in Zimrada. Instead of grabbing her by the hand and hauling her to a secluded corner where he could find out what was going on, what was happening between them, and if she still thought about that kiss as much as he did, he dipped his chin and stepped back in place.
Remember your place.
How many times had he told his hired men that phrase? He’d drilled it into them. Stay neutral. Stay alert. Don’t let your emotions get in the way. Calculate.
He crossed his hands in front of him and stepped back towards the wall.
Neese—no, Princess Nyssa moved to greet the prince. Herdate. The word sat like a cold stone on his heart.
Behind her was the guy who had trailed them yesterday afternoon. Not the one he’d fought with in the street like a thug, but the other guy who had stared out the window at the bakery. He’d also been at the bowling alley. Suddenly, the interrupting phone call from the queen made a lot of sense. This guy was watching her and he’d called the queen when they got too close.
The cold stone sank his heart.
The princess wasn’t supposed to be with him.
The guard jerked his chin towards Tatum, but they didn’t speak. A movie clip from Tatum’s childhood played through his mind. It was fromThe Princess Bride, when the giant pounds on Miracle Max’s door and Miracle Max tells him to go away or he will call the Brute Squad. The giant says, “I’m on the Brute Squad.” And Miracle Max says, “Youarethe Brute Squad.”
This guywasthe Brute Squad.
Tatum should take comfort that such an imposing figure stood between the princess and harm, but for some reason, he didn’t like the guy. Probably because he was the reason Neese had asked to leave after their kiss. Still, ever since he first laid eyes on the brute, Tatum had a strange itch between his shoulder blades.
The brute took position on the opposite wall and stared at nothing. Tatum did the same, ignoring the other guard and trying to focus on why he was here in the first place.
A princess. Had he known …
His thoughts came to a screeching halt. Had he known she was the princess, he would have done everything the same. He wouldn’t change one moment with Neese.
Okay, he wouldnothave taken visiting royalty from the ballroom without security. And he wouldn’t have been stupid enough to think there was more to their time together than a fling. She couldn’t have been serious about the two of them. Heck, she practically dismissed him for the rest of her visit and yet she clearly had time to spend with a prince. So, he would have done several things differently. But he wouldn’t change how he felt about her, the bowling, the sweets, or the kisses. Those were the important moments.
