Page 21 of Reluctantly Rogue

“I can go to the summit myself,” Linnea says. “You don't need to come.”

Torin frowns at her. “I'll be going.”

She lifts one shoulder. “Fine. We’ll both go.”

“Youdon’t need to come.”

“But I think we both know that’s not true,” she says calmly. “I’ve made the contacts there. I can introduce you.”

“I’m capable of introducing myself.”

“It will make them more comfortable to know we’re working together and that I’ve filled you in on all of our prior discussions and where things stand.”

Torin lifts a hand and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“She’s right,” I say. He knows it, but he so desperately wants Diarmuid to start seeinghimas a leader, his pride could easily cause him to make all this much harder than it needs to be. Linnea can help him start several steps ahead.

He blows out a breath and drops his hand. He looks at her. “You have to stop encouraging my grandfather.”

Now she does that thing where she draws herself up taller. “What do you think I'm encouraging him in?”

“You're encouraging him to see us as a couple.”

“Your grandfather has seen us as a couple since you were five and I was four and our grandfathers got drunk playing poker together.” She sighs. “Well, since Declan left anyway.”

“I think he actually was really hoping we’d all stay away and Saoirse would take over,” Torin mutters.

Saoirse is Torin’s niece. His sister had her out of wedlock just after leaving Cara. She’s the only O’Grady heir to not officially abdicate her title. If Torin hadn’t returned home, she would have been next in line after Diarmuid stepped down. Or died. Which was a real concern after his third heart attack.

The biggest problem is that Saoirse is only eleven.

And the only time she’s spent in Cara has been over the holidays.

“Maybe,” Linnea agrees.

“You could tell him you don't want to marry me.”

She crosses her arms. “But I do want to marry you.”

Torin sighs.

I get the impression they've had this conversation. They've been here for a year together. I just got here.

When Torin first came back to Cara to rescind his abdication, the general wisdom was that he no longer needed me. I had been assigned to be his bodyguard while he was in the United States. I was chosen to play the part of his best friend and college roommate. Which I did. I also now have a master’s degree in political science with a minor in criminal justice. And no student debt. But coming to Cara to keep him safe on a remote island in the middle of the North Atlantic, where there were already scads of security, seemed…unnecessary. And I’m an American. My family and friends were all in the States. Except for Torin. So I stayed behind.

The thing is, Torin has been my focus for a decade. Not just the guy I protected, but he'd become my best friend. More like a brother than anything.

Needless to say, Torin and I only lasted a year apart. He was restless and feeling frustrated. I was without direction.Hehad been my purpose. I came to Cara after only thirteen months. Gave up my life in the U.S., moved away from my family and the rest of my friends, to help Prince Torin become the best king, leader, and international influence he can possibly be.

And now I'm here, feeling the very familiar mix of exasperation and affection that I have felt for this man since the moment I met him.

“You mean that since we first talked about this, and you got to know me better, your decision to marry me hasn't changed?” Torin asks Linnea.

She shakes her head. “Marrying you is still the way for me to become queen. And I still want to dothat.”

“Still power-hungry, I see,” he says. But there's no heat behind his words. I don't think he actually believes that she's power hungry.

She drops her hands, takes a deep breath, and blows it out. “I told you before, we’ll get married, you'll become king, and then you can change the rule about the fact that an O’Grady has to be the one actually sitting on the throne. Change that rule, and you can leave again. I'll be left in charge. And we all know everything will be fine then.”

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