Royal Line by Carrie Ryan (lightweight ebook reader .txt) 📗

though, I’ve never seen him this rigid and stubborn before. He’s being a right pain in the ass.”

That made me laugh. “Ugh, thank God. I thought it was just me. What have I ever done to him?”

“I don’t know. I guess I’m saying don’t lose faith or hope. He’s a good guy.”

I read between the lines of what she wasn’t saying. “And you’d rather I didn’t hurt him?”

She shrugged. “That too. He’s the only family I’ve got. I don’t need him moping around.”

“I’m aware that he had a wife before, and he lost her. I’m not trying to mess with him. I’m just trying to figure out what the hell is happening to me and get back to my life.”

She cocked her head. “Maybe it’s none of my business, but I think you could be good for him.”

I laughed at that. “Hardly. He probably needs someone a little more open. Someone who knows exactly who she is in the world and what she needs. I don’t think I’m that person.”

“Maybe you are exactly what he needs.”

I just blinked at her. “Well, I guess we’ll see about that.”

“I guess we will.”

I leaned closer, studying her face. “What about you? You said you and Kannon aren’t a thing, but how about anyone else on the team? Olly’s very attractive.” It had been awhile since I’d had girl talk like this. Rian was even busier than I was, and while we talked nearly every day, I didn’t have many friends back home, thanks to my position. I had Kate, and was forever grateful I did, but she couldn’t always be there.

She gagged. “Oh my God, the boys are like my brothers. Where I worked before, it was a boys’ club, and I was a moron and fell in love with my boss. You know, as one does. I could see the disaster coming. I just didn’t duck and dive quickly enough, and I got hurt. I’ve put relationships on pause for a minute.”

“There’s nothing wrong with taking a beat. While I might not be one for love, I am very good at fixing people up.” At least I thought I was. I hadn’t heard any complaints from those at court and in my other life at work.

She laughed. “Oh no, I beg you. Please, I’m not really good at being fixed up.”

“Oh come on, we could go trolling on the internet. Maybe next time you’re in Paris, you can meet my friend Rian and we can all go out.”

Sparrow grinned at that. “Now that I can get behind.”

I smiled. “You know what’s funny? Talking to you made me realize I haven’t had a good girl chat in a million years. It’s nice to have that again.”

Sparrow grinned. “When Kannon said princess, I thought we were getting, you know, a Kardashian or something.”

I snorted a laugh. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I can bust it out if I have to.”

She chuckled. “Please, no.”

“A lot of people tell me I’m not what they expected, which is good, I guess, but it also makes me feel somehow lacking. It’s nice to have a friend who isn’t worried about trying to date one of my brothers or who is only hanging out with me because I can get them into some A-list parties. Being assigned to guard me, notwithstanding, I think I like you.”

Sparrow grinned. “I think I like you too. You’re not so bad for a princess.”

“And you aren’t so bad for a bodyguard. Now please, tell me what you like in a guy, or a girl. I can find you someone.”

She laughed. “I’m not going to get out of this, am I?”

“Nope, and apparently, I’ve got nothing but time.”

She flushed and ran a hand through her hair. “Okay, fine. I’ve got a list of requirements.”

I laughed and closed down all of my work stuff. “Okay, how about we start with a Charlie Hunnam type and go from there.”

“I do like how you think.”

Chapter 14 London

Cue the solo ballad

After Sparrow left, I returned to my room and sat in the middle of the bed, trying my best to put my thoughts together. I had to figure out a way to help my brothers nullify the succession law. I also needed to figure out exactly who had the most to gain, who was after me, and why.

Not to mention the fact that I still had to figure out how to get back into my boss’s good graces. I’d had two opportunities and blown them both. When this mess was over, I wanted a life. A real one. And like it or not, Roman was going to have to give it to me.

All of that filtered through my mind, but they weren’t the only thoughts I was wrestling with.

Not when Kannon echoed through my thoughts and made me think of things I needed that I couldn’t have.

It had to be the emotions of everything else tumbling through my brain for me to feel like this.

I barely knew him, but I felt him. He had told me his deepest and darkest secrets, and he had leaned on me.

Maybe for him, it could be just sex. It could just be flesh and need and desire.

And I would have to be okay with that.

What worried me most was the idea that I kind of wanted more.

Could I fall for him?

No, I couldn’t. That would put me in the lane of every single woman in history who had fallen for the man who had saved her life.

But I needed to save my own life. I needed a life that was mine, one that I had fought for, and could continue working on.

I had to focus on that and not on the idea that a man who touched me, who said he craved me, could want anything more.

Because going down that path would only hurt us both in the end.

But I wanted it. Wanted him. No man had ever touched me like that. No man had ever made