Page 26 of Protecting his Secrets

Malachi nodded, distracted by the uncertainty Nick showed. Where had it come from? He was usually ready to rip people apart at the drop of a hat, but that morning, he seemed almost…worried.

“Shout me if you need anything,” Nick added, giving more credence to the worried description.

“I will, thanks.”

Nick closed the door, and Malachi stared at it for a while longer before he tried to stand. His knees wobbled until they gained strength, and then he took a few tentative steps. Each step grew stronger until he felt a little more human. And after the shower, he was a new man. Well, he wasn’t, but the sluggish feeling had ebbed away, and his stomach growled, which made him think he was getting back to normal. After dressing in tailored trousers and a shirt—but no tie or jacket—he went into the living area and froze.

On the coffee table were several plates of food, from scrambled eggs and toast to a full English breakfast to cereal.

“Wow, that’s a spread.”

If he wasn’t mistaken, Nick’s cheeks darkened, but his skin was tanned, so he couldn’t be sure. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got a few things. Choose whatever you want.”

Malachi settled into a chair on the opposite side to the guard. “Thanks. Can’t go wrong with scrambled eggs.” He picked up the plate and a fork and dug in. It was seasoned to perfectionand reminded him so much of how his grandmother made them. “Delicious.”

Nick’s mouth curved at the corners into something resembling a smile, but it was more than Malachi remembered him sending his way before.

“I don’t want to mess up the king’s day, so I’m happy to rearrange our meeting if he has prior appointments, which I’m sure he does.”

Nick swallowed the coffee he’d just drank and shook his head. “Actually, he doesn’t. The only plans he had today were spending time with his family, and he’s been doing that this morning and will do so after your meeting. It’s all fine.”

Malachi couldn’t believe the change in Nick. Was that what a near-death experience did for him? Made him nicer to him? Maybe he should do it more often. After thinking that, he dropped his eyes and cursed himself. Why did it matter what Nick thought? He couldn’t do anything about the articles he wrote as Malachi Sanders, and Nick didn’t know about Kai Ruffers. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and he hated it.

Soon he’d be free.

“What happened to that guy from before? At the event?”

Nick smiled. “Too much evidence against him. He’s in jail and not getting out any time soon.”

Malachi liked the sound of that, but he changed the subject. “So, you contacted my mother?” he said as a distraction from his thoughts.

****

Chapter 9

Nick

Nick felt his cheeks heat at the question. He straightened a little in his seat and inhaled. “If it was my mother, she’d be frantic. I thought it might help.”

Malachi smiled at him, cheeks bulging with eggs and toast as he nodded. “It did,” he mumbled. He chewed quickly, his hand covering his mouth while he did. “She was thankful she’d been told and said you were very kind, so thank you for reassuring her.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’m sure she’ll lynch mob me when I see her next.” Malachi chuckled. “Grandma won’t, though. She knows I can look after myself.” He paused. “Not that my mother doesn’t, but she worries.” He waved his hand, his fork circling the air. “What are the plans for today?”

“Well, it’s Prince Consort Kean’s birthday today, so apart from your meeting with the king, I thought we could speak with Randall, the king’s assistant, and he can answer some of your questions. If you have any other requests for things to see and people to talk to, let me know, and I will see what I can do. Prince Freddie has agreed to a brief tour of parts of Frogmore Cottage, and we can do that tomorrow.”

Nick crossed his ankle over his knee, a little uncomfortable with how open the royal family was being, but rather too comfortable with Malachi’s company recently. Was heconcerned about the two hospital visits and whether it was a regular thing? A little. His gut was telling him something was wrong, but he couldn’t figure out what. If things had been happening to him or one of the bodyguards, then he would’ve guessed it was that idiotic, stalkery weirdo that had been after Dominic and Owen, but it wasn’t aimed at him. And there was nothing between him and Malachi to make whoever it was think they could get to him through the reporter.

No, whatever was going on—if anything was—was related to Malachi himself. Nick needed to figure out what it was and whether it was something of concern to the royal family. He would not put them in danger if he could help it.

“That’s amazing!”

It took Nick a moment to follow the conversation again, and he must’ve taken too long to reply because Malachi looked down at his plate and put his fork down.

“I promise I won’t do or write anything to cause problems. I really am just grateful to have this opportunity to see the castle and to meet everyone.”

If Malachi had said those words before, Nick would’ve brushed them off as empty platitudes, but something niggled at him. Both Brett and Freddie had told him to look beneath the surface with Malachi, and Nick hadn’t. But maybe he should.

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