Page 8 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

“The guards will note that I didn’t leave and come looking. They will then report that I did not leave your room.”

Her jaw tightened, frustration and understanding warring across her face.

“This is your father’s house,” I continued. Us being together in this house had always been the most difficult to navigate. I’d only ever tempted fate when there was a party to keep everyone occupied and eyes off of me and Kaylani.

She stared at me for a long moment.

“You’re right,” she finally admitted, her hands dropping.

I immediately wanted to gather her back up into my arms.

“Go, before I decide I don’t care and ruin our cover.”

Unable to stop myself, I reached out and tracked my fingers softly down her cheek.

“I love you.”

Loving her was the easy part. Surviving her was the challenge.

“Even though I’m a conniving, arrogant princess of trouble who’s probably going to get you killed?”

I stepped back, straightened my jacket, and forced myself into a version of me that could walk out her door without looking like the lovesick man I was.

I locked eyes with her. “Maybe more, because of it.”

Kaylani’s cheeks reddened. She’d never been the arrogant princess, but what I knew versus what the world saw were two very different things.

Turning, Kaylani called my name, and I glanced back.

“I love you, too.”

I smirked. “I sure hope so, you just married me.”

She smiled as I slipped out, heading quickly for the exit, my face made of stone. Once outside, I jogged over to the limo, where Charles waited. Dimitri had a half-dozen drivers, but Charles had been on his service for as long as I could remember.

“Nathaniel’s house,” I stated, hopping in the back.

“Right away, sir.” We pulled through the gates, and Charles glanced at me through the mirror. “Did you have a nice trip, sir?”

“Yes. Ms. Mikhailov did extremely well at the competition. There were no issues. I call that a very good trip,” I said.

“Very good, sir,” he replied evenly, though the glimmer in his eyes suggested he wondered if there might be more going on between Kaylani and me.

We fell into a comfortable silence for the rest of the drive to Nathaniel’s.

“Thank you, Charles,” I said as we arrived.

“Always happy to help, sir.”

Guy stood outside, cigarette dangling from his fingers.

“Anyone awake,” I asked, stepping up to him.

He shook his head and took another puff of his smoke.

“Anything I should know about before Nathaniel wakes up?”

“It’s been pretty quiet. Dimitri is off on one of his business trips,” he said, rolling his eyes.