Page 29 of Protecting his Secrets

Malachi looked startled and fumbled with his notebook. “I, um…” He paused, inhaled and glanced at the king. “I have so many questions, but what I’d really like to hear about is your family. Whoever you’re willing to talk about, if anyone. And it’s completely fine if you don’t want to. It’s just…” He stared down at his notebook again. “Family is important to me, and I know it is to you, too. I have never seen such a…wonderful dynamic as yours. It’s fascinating.”

Nick gaped at him. Okay, he hadn’t expected him to ask about family, but from his words, there were no snide remarks, no comments bordering on nasty. He wanted to talk family, which could be a minefield in itself when it came to what had happeneda couple of years ago, but was fairly benign compared to other topics.

Andrew smiled, broad and loving. “I am always happy to talk about my family, Malachi. I can honestly say that it has taken me far too long to realise that my sons and my nieces and nephews are grown-ups. That they can deal with their own problems on their own without me needing to help them.” His expression was pained, and Nick could guess his mind had gone to his late wife, and his next words confirmed it. “Before Louisa died, she was the one to set us straight. To show us the way. Now she’s gone, I find I’m asking myself, ‘What would Louisa do?’” He smiled again. “Even Kean and Kendal ask me the same thing whenever I ask their opinion on something.”

“In our family, we go to Grandma. She’s the soul of the family,” Malachi said. “Always helping us to see our own paths by working us in circles until we figure it out on our own.”

“She sounds like a wise woman. Just like Louisa was.”

They chatted a bit more, Malachi seemingly keeping to benign topics, almost as if he didn’t want to push his luck. They covered a variety of information in those minutes, though. In Nick’s opinion—and he wasn’t a writer—Andrew gave Malachi something to talk about for each of the princes, but what he would do with that information, only time would tell.

“I don’t want to keep you any longer because I know it’s Kean’s birthday, and you want to spend the day with him, but thank you so much for talking to me.”

“I’ve enjoyed talking with you, Malachi. If we have time before you head out, we’ll get together again and talk some more. I’d love to hear more about your family, too.”

Colour stained Malachi’s cheeks. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I’d like that.”

They rose, and Nick withheld the wince he wanted to give, along with a lengthy groan at the ache blossoming in his ass cheeks and tailbone. Andrew clapped him on the shoulder.

“You’re a good sport, Nick. Now go rest your butt on some comfortable chairs.”

Nick snorted. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I just might do that.”

When they headed back down the corridor towards their suite, Nick said, “Why didn’t you ask any other questions?”

Malachi sighed. “Because I’m not the monster I appear in writing. I’m truly not. And…” His cheeks darkened again. “I really am fascinated by the royal family. They’re the epitome of everything, and they do it willingly, without fail, without complaint and without thanks. Many people would fail under those circumstances, but the Sutcliffes have bloomed. They are what the world should be.”

Nick stared at him as they entered the suite, but he said nothing.

“I’m going for a quick nap if that’s okay. I have time, right?”

Nick nodded. “As much as you need. Do you need me to get anything?”

Malachi shook his head. “No, I’m good, thanks. Wake me if I need to be somewhere.”

“Will do.”

He watched Malachi enter his room and close the door. The moment he did, Nick grabbed his laptop from his room and settled onto the comfier chairs in the living area. Booting up the computer, he set to re-reading the information he’d gathered on the reporter. An hour later, he still couldn’t figure him out. What was he missing? He grabbed his phone.

“Felix, what have I missed?”

“Took you long enough,” Felix replied, clicking away on his computer if the noise was any indication. “There. You shouldhave the file you hadn’t been able to find or were too lazy to look for.”

“Hey!”

Felix chuckled in his ear. “You only saw what you wanted to see, Nick. You know what happens when you only dig so far.”

“You’re eaten by the wild bears,” he muttered.

“Ain’t that the truth? Happy reading.”

He ended the call and pulled up the file Felix had emailed him. By the time he was done, Nick was stunned. He had no idea how anyone would guess that Malachi Sanders and Kai Ruffers were the same person. Why, if Malachi loved the royal family so much, was he writing such garbage about them? It made little sense to him. But then he remembered something Malachi had said about having less than a year left. Had the newspaper hooked him into a contract and made it impossible for him to disobey? Nick wouldn’t put it past them because he saw it all the time. How had he kept Kai Ruffers a secret, though? And why was that knowledge sending sparks of heat through Nick?

Fuck. He knew why, but he didn’t want to admit it. How could he admit that the reason he was so obsessed with the guy and whatever he wrote about the royal family was because he had a crush on him?

Nick dropped his head against the back of the sofa and groaned slightly. When Malachi spoke from behind him, he jumped, having not heard him at all during his pity party.

“How long have you known?”

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