Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“I’m a citizen, and you’re my niece and assistant. I broached it with Frost, who said he was certain he could make that happen.”
She threw her arms around Uncle Willy with a squeal. She could live here! With Jack and Ian? And away from her family?
“I’m guessing that’s a yes?”
“Yes! Oh no . . . wait. I can’t.” She eased back, chewing her lip.
“What’s wrong, dear?”
“Indie,” she whispered. “I can’t leave her. She needs me.”
“Ahh. Yes. That is a problem. We might have to think that through. Do you think she’d move here?”
“I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. There’s nothing to apologize for. We will just head back to London.”
A sad sigh escaped her as a car headed toward them.
They’d decided it was better to drive than walk out here. Uncle Willy had decided to include some camels in his photos. They had already arrived with their handlers who weren’t looking that pleased to be here.
To her surprise, the vehicle didn’t hold the royal family or their guards. Instead, out got Jameson.
What was he doing here?
Ian walked over and slapped him on the back as Jack joined them.
“Dear? Are you all right?”
“Yes, sorry, Uncle Willy,” she said as more people arrived. “Let’s do this.”
Four hours later, Maggie managed a break. She was hot and sweaty, and her body ached.
“Maggie, can you get me some water, dear?” Uncle Willy called out.
“Yep!”
She turned and her hip protested. She managed to keep upright, but as she looked up, she saw two men frowning at her.
Ian moved first, walking toward her.
“I’ve got to get some water for Uncle Willy,” she said to him.
“Jack is getting the water. You’re going to come and sit down.”
“But I’ve got more to do. I have to stay with him in case he needs something.”
“He needs to rest too. Jameson is talking to him now.”
“Everything all right?” Ian asked as he led her to the crew tent and pointed at a chair.
“Oh, yes. Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You’ve just seemed a bit off. Sit.”
“Ian, this is my job.”
“Sit. You need to rest. I saw how you were favoring your hip.”
Darn it. She sat with a huff, but her body screamed with relief. Ian gave her a bottle of icy water. “Drink all of that.”
She saluted him as Jack wandered over.
“Jameson has convinced William to take a break and sit for fifteen minutes. Hey, baby, you all right?” Jack crouched in front of her.
“She needs to rest and rehydrate. And eat.” Ian handed her a protein bar, which he’d already opened.
She glanced up at him.
“If it’s already open, you have to eat it. A waste otherwise.”
“Cheeky assbaboon,” she muttered.
“Is that better or worse than a dickfly?” Jack asked, tilting his head to the side.
“About the same,” she replied, watching as Jameson led her uncle over to the tent.
She was tense, wondering what they were talking about.
“Was it something to do with your uncle?” Ian asked quietly.
She shot her gaze back to his. “What?”
“Whatever Jameson said to upset you the other day in the hospital was something to do with your uncle, wasn’t it?”
There was understanding in his eyes. “Did he tell you? He had no right to do that!”
“Relax, baby.” Jack patted her knee. “Jameson hasn’t said a word to us. But we have noticed a few things about him.”
She breathed in deep and let it out slowly. “I don’t . . . I can’t . . .”
“It’s all right,” Jack reassured her. “You don’t have to speak about it right now.” He placed his hand on her thigh, while Ian massaged the back of her neck.
It was at that moment that Jameson and her uncle reached the tent. Uncle Willy seemed to be telling him a story about when they were in Vietnam. She held in a groan. It better not be about the time she got food poisoning. No one needed to hear that story.
Least of all, proper, put-together, always gorgeous Jameson.
“And I’ve never seen her run so fast, poor girl. Ahh, Maggie, there you are with your two young chaps.”
She blushed and risked a glance up at Jameson. He was staring down at where Jack had his hand on her thigh. Then, over to Ian, who was now lightly squeezing her shoulder.
“Uncle Willy, you’re not telling Jameson stories about me, are you?”
“Such a funny story. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Nothing to be embarrassed about?
She completely disagreed.
“Maggie, how is your hip?” Jameson walked over as Jack got up to grab Uncle Willy something to eat.
“It’s fine, thanks.”
“Maggie,” Ian said in a low voice.
Even Jack shot her a look of disapproval as Jameson’s mouth tightened.
“It’s nothing I can’t deal with,” she said quietly as Uncle Willy started talking to Hux, who had walked in to get some water. “I’m all good.”
“Here, you need to take some painkillers.” Jameson grabbed his medical bag, pulling out a bottle.