Page 19 of The Prince's Secret Daughter
“We should…,” she started to say, but then movement behind him caught her eye. “Who is that?”
Everyone, including the bodyguards standing around the vehicle, turned to focus on the man in the distance. He didn’t look dangerous. Was he there to watch the building? A security guard? But why? There wasn’t anything here to steal. The buildings looked ready to collapse with a strong wind!
“This place looks abandoned,” Helen commented as she stepped out of the SUV. Raj stood next to her, protecting her with his body. She shivered as he put his arm around her waist, pulling her in closer as if shielding her from the stranger, who had disappeared into the mess of debris surrounding the building.
“I agree,” Raj replied. They all looked around in stunned silence. This area didn’t look anything like the pictures that had been included in the proposal yesterday.
Chapter 13
Nazir was the first to break free from the shock. He began calling out orders to the guards. Some would stay by the vehicles, two were told to head out and catch up with the man in the distance, and four more would come with him to protect Raj and Helen.
Helen wasn’t sure why she was included in the protection detail, but for some reason, it warmed her. Raj wasn’t just protecting her with his body, but also with his guards. It was completely unnecessary, but a sweet gesture.
For a brief moment, Helen leaned against him, enjoying the comfort of his strength. But she knew that she couldn’t allow herself to become addicted to Raj again. The last time he’d left her, she’d been pregnant and devastated. There was no chance of getting pregnant again, not with Raj being so distant and oblivious, but it would still be difficult to see him leave.
Of course, he wouldn’t leave her forever this time. Not with Angela pulling him back to her.
They were approaching a gaping hole in one of the buildings when she stopped. Her halt caused Raj to stop, which meant his guards stopped as well.
Helen couldn’t hide her horror at her latest thought. “You’re not going to take Angela away from me, are you?” The thought of losing her daughter sent her thoughts spinning. She stared at Raj, unconsciously gripping the back of his shirt.
Even the guards were shocked by her question. Helen tried to hide her horror because she knew that this was the worstmoment to ask something so important. But she hadn’t been able to stop the words from bursting from her.
Chapter 14
Raj heard her question, but it was so far from what he’d been thinking about, the words didn’t make sense for a long moment. He had to replay her question in his head twice before he understood what she was asking of him.
“Take her away? Why would I do that?”
“Because…” Helen blinked back tears and the action was like a gut-punch to his solar plexus. Helen never cried. At least, not around him. And the sudden appearance of the tears made him turn to face her fully.
“You’re her mother, Helen,” he replied, gripping her upper arms tightly, locking eyes with her. “I wouldnevertake Angela away from you.”
“But…you live in a different country.” She looked pointedly around, taking in the presence of big, armed men surrounding them. “And there’s always the danger of Angela being kidnapped or hurt, isn’t there?”
Raj realized where her mind had gone. “Helen, we’re going to work this out, bit by bit, okay? I have no intention of separating you from Angela. Absolutely not. We’re going to figure out a way to make this work. Understood?”
She sniffed, but nodded her head. She tried surreptitiously to wipe her eyes, which made him want to pull her into his arms and cover her face in kisses, but he restrained himself. She’d pressed against him moments ago, but quickly pulled away. He didn’t understand why. When they’d been together in the past, she’d always leaned into him, pressing everypart of herself against him. He’d loved it! Damn, he’d forgotten, until that moment, how much he’d liked feeling her against him. It was as if she were silently telling him that she trusted him, that she was putting her faith in his strength. It had made him feel powerful.
So, what did it mean when she’d pulled away so quickly?
This new Helen was a mystery. But one he was determined to figure out.
Ignoring his first reaction to keep her at a distance until they understood each other better, Raj pulled her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. He nearly groaned at the perfection of her body against his, but suppressed it.
“We’re going to be okay. This isn’t as difficult as it seems at the moment.” He didn’t know if that was true, but it sounded good in his mind.
It occurred to Raj that he felt a bit lost regarding Helen. He’d never had to work to get a woman before. Women came to him and he either accepted or rejected based on his feelings in that moment. So this was all new and, if he were honest with himself, far more stimulating. Trying to convince Helen to fall for him again was…?
Fall for him? Did he want Helen to fall in love with him or just…in lust?
No, he wanted love. And that was shocking enough that he nearly stumbled over a wooden beam that had fallen from the ceiling.
“Are you okay?” Helen asked, gripping his arm to help steady him.
Raj laughed, shaking his head at his stupidity. And he couldn’t help but pull her in closer. “I’m good,” he said, realizing that he genuinely wanted her love. He didn’t want just the temporary lust that they’d shared before. He wanted…all of her. He didn’t know how to accomplish it, but he was willing to try. Hell, he’d revived an entire country’s economy that had been in free fall until his oldest brother asked him to help. He could get a woman to fall in love with him.
Couldn’t he?
