Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
I’ve heard all about that, as well as Cruce protecting the president’s niece and Bebe taking out a Russian mobster who’d set her up to go to prison.
I nod, smile, and then look Kynan in the eye. “I had an inappropriate relationship with Camille Winterbourne while on mission.”
Kynan’s mouth sags open for a moment, but he recovers, not even moving from his relaxed perch leaning back in his chair. “Care to explain?”
I shrug. “We had sex, more sex, and even more sex. Feelings got involved. I fell in love with her, she with me, but she’s a princess and I’m not royalty, so she’s there and I’m here. Just thought I should disclose my inappropriate behavior in case you want to fire me.”
“Why would I fire you?” Kynan asks dryly, now straightening in his chair. He leans forward, clasps his hands on his desk, and says, “I was having sex with Joslyn while I was protecting her.”
I blink at him in surprise, and he says, “True story. But I need to know, did it compromise your duties in any way?”
I shake my head. “I was probably more focused on protecting her.”
“And ultimately, you got the job done, taking out the assassin, saving the king’s life, and keeping his daughter safe. I’m surprised he didn’t offer her in marriage or even on a platter for such a job well done.”
I snort, imagining Camille on a platter surrounded by fruit, an apple in her mouth.
Kynan’s expression softens. “Sucks leaving someone you love.”
“Beyond sucks,” I mutter, picking at a string on my jeans.
“So go back and get her,” Kynan suggests, and my eyes snap to his. He looks at me as if what he said has merit. “If you love each other, I’m not sure what you’re doing here.”
“I work here,” I point out.
“Don’t be a dumbass,” he retorts and it makes me sit up straighter. “If you love each other, you make it work.”
“It would be kind of hard to do my job from Bretaria.” The sarcasm in my voice is thick.
It’s with heavy disappointment that Kynan regards me. I can see in his expression he thinks I’m about ten kinds of dumb. “You can do your job from anywhere, you know. Live in Bretaria, meet up with a team in the Congo for a mission. It would be just like deploying.”
My eyebrows draw inward with skepticism. “You’d let me do that?”
Kynan doesn’t respond, just lets me conclude that his is a sincere offer.
And while I appreciate it, it really doesn’t solve my problem. “We’re still not suitably matched.”
“What the fuck does that even mean?” he asks.
“She’s royalty, for fuck’s sake,” I growl. “It’s tradition. You have to be of royal blood or a multi-gazillionaire to even look at her.”
“Oh, bullshit,” Kynan says with a dismissive wave. “Thomas married Juliana, whose only claim to fame was she played volleyball for Brazil in the Olympics. She’s neither royal nor rich and not even in the top tier of volleyball players at the time either, as they didn’t medal.”
I reel back as if he just punched me square in the chest. As I breathe in, I wheeze a bit.
“Never crossed your mind, did it?” he asks.
“No, it never did,” I murmur, then a horrible feeling flushes through me. “But surely Camille thought of that at some point. She was the one always pointing out the requirements she had to meet for a marriage.”
Kynan wags his finger. “No. You don’t get to do that.”
“Do what?” I ask with a frown.
“Second-guess her. Especially when she’s not here to defend herself.”
I hear what he’s saying, but fuck if that kernel of doubt doesn’t explode into something bigger. Kynan’s eyes move past me to look at something outside his office. His mouth curves in a smirk, and he motions with his hand at someone to come in.
I sigh, because I want to continue to talk this out with Kynan. He’s the clear optimist, and I’ve decided we’re unworkable. I need him to knock some sense and rationality into me.
There’s a slight knock on the metal doorjamb. “I don’t want to intrude.”
My body goes numb and the hair rises on the back of my neck. I know that sweet voice, but no… there’s no way.
Kynan stands, looking at the person behind me. I don’t have the guts to turn around and see if my ears are playing tricks on me.
Then Kynan rounds his desk, walking past me with his hand out. “Princess Camille… it’s so very nice to meet you. I’m Kynan McGrath.”
My ears start ringing, and I don’t even hear what Camille says in return. Knowing her, she probably told him to call her Camille because she’s easygoing that way.
I shoot out of my chair and whip around, and yes… there she is. Looking a bit rumpled with dark circles under her eyes, but the same beautiful, indomitable Camille Winterbourne.