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 beginning to see that, since apparently I gave this dickfly the right to touch my knickers!”
The second guy made a strangled noise as though he was attempting to hold back a laugh.
“Dickfly?” Ian asked. “What the hell is a dickfly?”
“It’s you!” she countered, knowing that she should probably rein herself in.
The other man just made another strange noise. “Um, right you are. Here you go.”
Ian watched the mad woman take the piece of paper from Jack, holding it like she thought it was a bomb about to go off.
He was certain he’d never met anyone like her. Or seen anyone like her.
Long, dark hair that looked like it had once been contained in a braid was now partly falling around her face. If she had on makeup, he couldn’t tell.
She was wearing a dark gray T-shirt with rips, not ones he believed to have been put there purposefully. It was oversized and nearly covered the bottom of her denim shorts. She’d tucked it in at the front, revealing her belt buckle, which was gold and round and had the image of a smiley face on it. To finish, she was wearing a scuffed-up pair of black combat boots.
This was the assistant to one of the most famous photographers on the planet? He’d kind of expected someone more put-together. More corporate. Someone more like Chloe.
Not this scruffy, tiny nutcase.
“I need to see my uncle,” she insisted.
Ahh, that’s right. She didn’t need to dress to impress because her uncle was unlikely to fire her. Still, he thought she might have made a bit of an effort. She was going to be dealing with actual royalty. Surely, she didn’t want to embarrass her uncle.
“You’ll see him when I’ve dismissed you,” he told her sharply. “Now, sit down and read through the agreement.”
“And if I refuse to?” she asked.
“Then you’ll be sent back on the plane to London.”
She grew pale and he paused for a moment. Had that thought scared her? Why? Was there something back in London she didn’t want to face?
“You can’t do that. I’m here for a job.”
“I can if you’re a security risk,” he informed her. “And you are a risk if you haven’t read the agreement that you signed.”
Jack shot him an interested look. Ian knew he was acting like a nutter. He needed to be more professional than this. There was just something about her . . .
“You could get into trouble if you break a rule and ignorance is no excuse,” Jack told her gently.
She sighed and rolled her eyes heavenward. “Fine.” She stomped over toward a chair in the corner and sat.
Lord. She was such a brat.
His hand was itching to give that ass of hers a spanking.
Easy. She’s off-limits. She’s the job.
He and Jack hadn’t been assigned to watch the photographer and his assistant. That was going to be Beta Team’s job. But they were currently busy, which is why they were here today with Aleki who was in the other room with the photographer.
Ian started searching her stuff again. “You do know there are pharmacies here, don’t you?”
“Well, I didn’t know if they’d have what I need.”
“You need all of this?” He gaped at her. There were five different types of creams. As well as painkillers, antihistamines, cold and flu medicine, antacids, motion sickness tablets, and fever medication. Oh, and a digital thermometer.
He was actually getting worried. “Do you get sick a lot?”
“No.”
Why did he get the feeling she was lying to him?
“You shouldn’t lie to me.”
“Ian,” Jack said warningly.
“I liked the name Ian,” she said sadly. “I guess I’ll scratch that one off the list.”
“List of what?” Ian asked.
“Potential baby names.”
“You’re pregnant?” What the fuck? Why had no one told him? And where the hell was her man? Why had he let her travel all this way alone while she was pregnant?
“What? No. Are you saying I look pregnant? That’s rude.”
“I didn’t say that,” he retorted. Holy crap. How was this girl running rings around him? “You said Ian was on your baby list.”
“My best friend is pregnant. I’m making her a list of potential baby names. Ian is off.”
Jesus.
“What do you think of Jack?” Jack asked.
“That’s your name?” she asked.
Jack nodded with a smile.
“Hmm. It has potential.”
His smile widened into a grin.
Suck up. And no, that was not jealousy he was feeling.
“Why shouldn’t I lie to you? Because you’re a customs officer?” she asked, stealing his attention back.
No. Because it will get you a spanked bottom.
That was not something he could say.
“I’m not a customs officer. I’m part of the palace security.”
“Oh, you’re a bodyguard?”
“We prefer security specialist,” Jack told her. “But there’s no real customs department here as we don’t have that many visitors. Normally, someone from the palace security takes over that job. Your bags will also be screened and tested for drugs.”