Page 51 of Reluctantly Rogue

“Happy birthday, Jonah,” I finally say.

“Thanks, Linnea.”

Typically, the use of my title would be more formal and my name more intimate, but the way Jonah says Duchess always sounds affectionate, and a little hot, whereas he never calls me Linnea when we’re alone. His use of my name now makes me sad. I get it. He’s putting up a barrier.

And that's probably a good idea.

I don’t think I’ve hated being engaged before now as much as I do right now.

And I’ve really hated being engaged before now.

TODAY…

Chapter10

Iris Lee

DECLAN O’GRADY’S BODYGUARD, HEAD OF ROYAL BODYGUARDS

* * *

Iknow the guys prefer to communicate via our group text.

Actually, I know they prefer to communicate via their own group text that they think I don’t know about.

But I make them get on video calls every once in a while.

They don’t like calls where I canseethem, because I am a master at reading facial expressions and body language.

Especially the expressions and body language of Jonah Greene, Henry Dean, Colin Daly, and Miles Stafford.

I absolutely clean them out at poker.

“You’re going to Washington, D.C., with Linnea, without Torin?” I ask Jonah.

We’ve gone around and everyone has given a status update and what the next couple of weeks will bring for everyone.

Jonah shifts on his seat. “Yes.”

He’s being especially short in his answers. Which means there’s more going on here.

The guys think of me as an older sister. Some might think I’m more like a mother-figure to them since I give them assignments and I’m the one they check in with and call when they’re in trouble and need to be bailed out. Sometimes literally.

But one, at thirty-two, I’m not old enough to be any of their mothers. And two, mothers would lay down their lives for their children.

I love these guys, but four times a week I dream of firing them all and never seeing or speaking to them again. Ever.

Annoyed older sister definitely works though.

“Why?” I ask.

“She has some meetings. And Torin asked me to escort her.”

That’s weird. And he knows it. I scan the other faces on the call.

Colin is the hardest to read, and right now he’s trying to be stoic. But he knows something.

Miles looks interested, but I don’t think he actually knows anything about what’s going on here.

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