Page 21 of Scandal Queen

Strangely calming, the ebb and flow of the sea soothed me. I don’t know how long I stood like that, just breathing, salt tanging my tongue.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked eventually, his arms slipping around me from behind and holding me tight.

“I’m thinking,” I turned to peck his cheek and then stared back out at the grey sea. “That I thought I’d had my hardest choice in having Daisy, keeping her, bringing her up by myself.”

“Wasn’t it?” His body stiffened beneath me.

“It was. Now it’s you. I’ve got to keep you.” I glanced up at him. “Being here is lovely, but it’s not going to last forever is it? We’ll have to go back.”

“We can stay for a while longer if you like? I’m liking it here.”

“How long?”

He shrugged, the green of his gaze deepening as he stared at the grey clouds overhead. “Even a prince is allowed a holiday.” He smiled but I knew he was putting it off. Soon we’d have to go back and face that hornet’s nest we’d made.

“A few days.”

“I’d like that.”

“Me too.” I turned and kissed him, the wind whipping my hair.

His kiss deepened, teasing into my mouth.

“Uh, get a room.”

We pulled apart, and open mouthed I turned to Daisy. “Who taught you to say that?”

She thought for a minute but then shrugged and Oliver and I stared at one another, a bubble built in my throat. “She’s only six,” I mouthed.

“Kids these days.” He grinned wide. “Come on,” he spoke louder to Daisy. “A couple of sandcastles then we should get you back to the cottage for a nap.”

She groaned but didn’t argue. The sea and brisk breeze had brought some colour to her cheeks, but I knew she must be tired. In fact, I felt exhausted too.

“I could do with a nap myself.” I linked my arm through his and he leant over, his breath brushing under my ear again.

“There’ll be no napping for us.”

I burned almost instantly, scorching in a pyre of my own desire. This man would be the end of me. I’d take it though. Without any hesitation.

Two days slipped by almost too quickly. Too idyllic, too perfect in the gradual routine we got into. Meals at the pub, nights in the gaudy bedroom. On the third day Daisy had obviously improved. Nap time had disappointingly reduced to a big fat zero.

Questions and expectation hung in the air. Oliver’s gaze became troubled. His phone rang more.

When my own rang as we sat watching the fifth viewing of Tangled, which I knew Oliver was enjoying as much as Daisy, I almost didn’t answer.

“Leia, it’s your phone.” That frown that had been creeping back in the last twelve hours deepened. “Remind me to talk to Bill about getting you a new contract.”

I watched him for a moment. I think his mental list of all the things he needed to do to keep Daisy and I safe grew by the minute.

The team had been here since the evening of our first trip to the beach. Bill, relentless in his service to his prince, just lingered in the background. I remembered to make him cups of tea though, which I think had been winning him around to his unexpected vacation on the bleak almost wintery edge of Cornwall.

I dug my phone out from my bag and blinked at the screen. “It’s just Molly.” I went to answer but then stopped. “Bloody hell, what day is it? She’s supposed to be coming back down on Saturday. It’s not Saturday yet is it?” I really didn’t know.

“It’s Thursday.” Oliver’s smile turned into a smirk. He knew the reason I’d lost track of days—him—long nights, easy days.

“Oh phew. That could have been awkward.”

Oliver’s expression darkened but not thinking anything of it I turned and answered the phone. “Hey,” I whispered turning for the kitchen which I stole into so as to not disturb the film.