Page 120 of Reluctantly Rogue

Linnea turns to me. “What do you think, Jonah?”

Oh, I see. She’s just going to put me on the spot. Just challenge me right in front of him?

I like that she’s feeling feisty. Maybe she’s enjoying having the two of us vying for her attention. She deserves that. And if that’s what she wants, I’ll give it to her.

“I think the senator would be lucky to have you on his arm. I think he’s exactly right about everything he said. You would be a fantastic senator’s wife, and First Lady.”

Her eyes widen. “Really?”

“Of course. Just like you would be a fantastic queen of Cara.”

Her eyes narrow. This is clearly not what she was expecting me to say. What did she think? That I was going to pound my chest and say, ‘no, he can’t have you because I want you?’ That she’ll be a fantasticbodyguard’swife?

“Of course, you would also be an amazing speaker. Or author. Or ambassador. Or advocate. Whatever your passion is, you would be amazing at it. You are talented, brilliant, passionate, and there’s nothing you can’t do. So really, Duchess, it’s up to you.” I pause, drilling my gaze into hers. “What doyouwant?”

It’s not that I’m not willing to fight for her.

But I don’t need to fight for her.

She needs to fight for herself. None of this is up to me or Waite. Or Torin. Or Diarmuid. Or her grandfather’s last wishes.

It is all up to her.

And goddammit, she is going to understand that.

She stares at me for several long seconds. Then she takes a breath and turns back to the senator. “Well, it seems that I have some things to think about.”

He nods. “Of course. I don’t want you to think that if you say yes to the gala, you're committed to anything else. We can go to the gala as friends, acquaintances, whatever you want. But I do want to get to know you better. And if we can do that over the next month and find that by the time of the gala, we can be more, I would be thrilled.”

She takes a breath. “That seems fair.”

It does. What he’s proposing is very fair.

I definitely want to punch him.

“Wonderful.” Waite seems pleased. And relieved.

“Meet me for breakfast tomorrow. Somewheresecure.” His eyes rest on me. “In fact, we could have breakfast at my place. I make fantastic eggs and there would be no security concerns. Not that I want to steal her away,” he says to me before looking at her again. “But I can send a car and we can stay in. It would be a chance to get to know each other better without cameras or crowds.”

I feel that he’s very aware that the words ‘steal her away’ poke at the possessive bear inside of me.

“That sounds…” Linnea casts a glance in my direction. “Nice.”

I knowsheis intentionally poking that bear.

I clear my throat. “We’ll talk about the transportation and security, but…that would be fine.” It wouldnotbe fucking fine, but I’m just here for whatever she needs.

I feel my shoulders tightening.

She turns a smile back to Christian. “I’ll text you for details.”

“Great.”

“But for now, I think I should call it a night,” Linnea tells Christian.

He’s clearly disappointed, but to his credit he nods. “Let me walk you out.”

Obviously, she doesn’t need this. I’m here. He’s probably assuming that I’ll give them some space and time to say goodnight “one on one”. But I slide out, hold out a hand, and watch as Christian does the same on the other side of the booth.

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