Page 10 of Striking
Saved by the five-year-old.
I take his hand in mine, then pick him up and toss him in the air. “That sounds like a good plan, Jakey.”
“Sounds more like you’re running away, little bee,” Rhys murmurs as I look back and smile.
“Maybe I am,” I taunt as I head for the ocean, and the prince coughs.
“Damn...” I swear I hear him curse, and okay, so maybe I add a little extra swing to my step. If I’m going to walk away, you better believe I’m going to make sure my ass looks good doing it.
“You come, too, Rhys,” Jake yells over my shoulder, and I know without a doubt there’ll be a victorious smile on the prince’s face if I turned around right now.
Rhys
No sooner have I ended my Zoom meeting with my private secretary than my phone is ringing with an incoming FaceTime from my sister.
I answer the call on my laptop and smile when Lennon’s face appears on the screen with my new nephew, Brennan, tucked in her arms. She’s positively glowing. “Hello, big brother.”
“Hello, poppet. How are you and the little man doing?”
She presses a kiss to the soft dark peach fuzz covering his head. “We’re good. How are you? I heard you bumped into Grace and Ares at the villa. Sorry about that. I must have mixed up the dates.”
Something about the look in her eye makes me think she knew exactly what she was doing. “Nothing to apologize for. Grace and Ares left a few hours ago, and I’m leaving tomorrow. It all worked out.”
“Did it?” She waits for me to answer, but Lennon hates silence and gives in quickly. “Did Bellamy go home with them? I told her she should stay for a few extra days and study in peace.”
“No. She stayed.” Short. Sweet. And to the point. Basically, I’m driving her crazy, and I know it.
Lennon’s eyes crinkle as she purses her lips.
She should never play poker.
That’s one of her many tells.
“Spit it out, poppet.” I lean back in the oversized leather office chair and wait her out. She’s not great at quiet. She’ll break soon enough.
“Bellamy is very pretty, isn’t she?” she asks with a singsongy lilt in her voice.
And there it is.
Her agenda.
“Stay in your own lane, Lennon.” The warning is weak. I’ve never been harsh with my sister, and I’m not about to start now. But I’m also not about to take advice on my love life from her either. “Nothing is happening between Bellamy Wilder and me.”
“There could be.” She smiles and pats Brennan’s back as their bulldog jumps up on the couch next to them. She’s relaxed. More relaxed than I’ve seen her in years. It’s a beautiful thing. “She’s a nice girl, Rhys. Maybe you should ask her out. She’d be so much better than the last few the paps have caught you with.”
“I’m leaving tomorrow. When would you like me to date her? When I’m back in Mornea and she’s in America?” I argue, knowing why she’s doing this. The press has been all over me to settle down since news of Lennon’s marriage broke. They’ve documented my every fucking move for years, but lately, the interest seems to have grown to an unbearable level. “I don’t have time to properly date anyone. I was lucky to be able to get away this weekend.” I soften my voice. I don’t want to worryher with how badly I needed a break. “You know the schedule Grandfather has me on.”
“But it’s barely forty-eight hours.”
“The crown never sleeps.”
Lennon adjusts Brennan in her arms, but it doesn’t mask her worry. “Are you okay, Rhys? Really okay? I feel like all you do is Grandfather’s bidding, mixed with the occasional bad life choice.”
My shoulders shake with silent laughter. “Those bad life choices you speak of aren’t choices. They’re just a little fun where I can find it.”
“Whatever you say, big brother.” She shakes her head but seems slightly lighter. “Relaxed looks good on you, Rhys. You should do it more often.”
“Funny. I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
