Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“I don’t know.” She sips her bubbly. “I’ve always had it. And can I just say, that new guy? Nick? He’s so handsome.”
I look at the man again and shrug. He’s no Sebastian.
“I’ll give you that. Tall, dark, and handsome with a strong chin is never a horrible combination.”
“I wouldn’t mind having him guard my body,” she says, making us both giggle.
“I think this champagne is going to my head.”
“That and the incredible massage and facials,” she agrees. “But so worth it.”
I nod. These few hours were nice, but I’m ready to get back to Sebastian, to tell him all about my afternoon.
We finish our drinks and then walk into the locker room where we change back into our dresses. Soon, we’re whisked back to the palace.
“Thanks for going with me,” I say to Ellie as I give her a hug just inside the palace doors. “I had a great time.”
“Me, too. We’ll do it again.” She smiles brightly before stumbling off toward her own living quarters. I walk in the opposite direction, to Sebastian’s apartment. I’m nearly there when my heel catches on the rug, and I pitch forward. Nick catches me just before I fall on my face.
“Easy there,” he says.
I laugh and brace my hand on his chest as I right myself.
“Thanks. I guess you’re good for something, after all.”
He smiles, just as the door of the apartment opens and Sebastian walks out of it.
“What in the hell is going on?”
Chapter Seven
Sebastian
I NEVER UNDERSTOOD the term seeing red until this moment.
Nick has his arms around Nina, and she’s smiling up at him as if they’re sharing an intimate joke between lovers.
And that is not okay.
“Sir,” Nick says, clearing his throat. “I just stopped her from falling.”
“I don’t know why I’m such a klutz. Thanks, Nick.” She walks to me, smiling happily. “Hey there, handsome prince.”
“That’ll be all,” I say to Nick, dismissing him and leading Nina into my flat, closing the door behind us. When we’re alone, I turn to her, anger and other emotions I’m not comfortable labeling coursing through me. “What the hell was that all about?”
She sits on the couch and frowns up at me. “What?”
“That.” I gesture to the hallway. “You and Nick in a bloody embrace.”
She blinks slowly as if she’s trying to understand what I’m saying.
“Am I speaking English? Because I can use a different language if you’re more comfortable.”
“Don’t speak to me like that,” she says softly. “You may be royalty, but you don’t get to belittle me. Today or any day.”
“I apologize.”
“I had too much champagne.” She rubs her temple. “And a fabulous massage. So I was clumsy, and Nick caught me before I plowed face-first into that five-hundred-year-old table and took my teeth out.”
I cross my arms over my chest, watching her quietly. I was going out of my mind not able to find her. I didn’t know where she went.
Only to find her in the arms of her bodyguard.
“You look mad.”
“Frustrated,” I reply. “Where were you?”
“I went to the spa with Ellie.” I raise a brow at the use of my sister’s nickname. Only those closest to her get to call her that. “And we had a blissful few hours that didn’t include being here in the palace.”
“Do you hate it here?”
“No, of course not. But I haven’t left in a week, Sebastian. I just needed a break.”
Of course. I’m a bloody idiot.
“And your mother, who I think likes me by the way, suggested that Ellie and I go to the spa. It was really nice.”
“I’m glad.” I sit across from her and drag my hand down my face. “I’m sorry for behaving like a buffoon.”
“A buffoon?” She grins. “You say the funniest things.”
“You are a bit pissed, aren’t you?”
She nods and bites her lip, then crosses over to me and climbs into my lap.
I wrap my arms around her and bury my face into her neck. “I couldn’t find you. I came back here to have dinner with you, and you weren’t here.”
“I’m sorry.” She brushes her fingers through my hair, and I’m immediately calmer.
“Why didn’t you answer your mobile?”
“I turned it off three days ago.”
“What? Why?”
She sighs and lays her head on my shoulder. “Because I used to be Christian’s publicist. Which means most media outlets have my number.”
“Fuck.” I kiss her head. “You’re being bombarded.”
“Pretty much. So, I check it once a day to message Christian and make sure my mom’s okay, and then I turn it off again. Christian has Mary’s number if there’s an emergency.”
“I’m so sorry, darling. We can change your number.”
“I know, and I will. But I’ve had enough going on. It’s really not that big of a deal.”
She burrows deeper against me. She insists that she doesn’t like to be touched, but we’ve touched constantly this past week when we’re together.