Page 25 of Royal Sin

We strolled in an uncomfortable silence for several minutes, his hand warm against the small of my back.

“I can’t believe how fortunate I was that you stole my drink,” he mused lightly, tugging me close as we stopped to look over the lake.

“About that—” I took a deep breath. “That was on purpose.”

Leonard chuckled. “I figured that out, Anna.”

My heart faltered.

“But I’m so glad you did, because otherwise, I would have been too involved in work to notice.” Leonard’s fingers lazily traced up and down my spine. I leaned into him, leaching comfort from his presence.

“I haven’t been honest about who I am,” I breathed. “I haven’t told you who my family is.”

That touch continued to trail over my skin. “And I didn’t look. I could have, you know. The license plate would have told me, but I didn’t.”

“You’d do that?” I squeaked, turning sharply to face.

“Mhmm, I like to know what I’m up against, but not in this case.” He cupped my chin and brushed a finger over my lips. “Do you know why?”

I shook my head, words failing me.

“I wanted to knowyou,Anna.”

Oh, crap! This was harder than I could have imagined.

“You don’t know me,” I whispered. “And that’s what scares me.”

A low growl rumbled in his chest. “You’re wrong. I do know you, but whatever details are missing, they’ll only round my opinion, not change it.”

“Hold that thought,” I pleaded.Here it goes.“My name is—”

“Annaliese!” a voice called out.

I froze. My heart stopped in my chest. No.No!Why the hell was he here?

Paul jogged over, a malicious glint in his eyes. “I thought that was you.”

Leonard pulled me beside him, keeping his body between me and Paul. Always my valiant protector, but right now, it was Leonard who needed protecting. Paul was a ticking bomb, and he needed to leave—immediately!

“Ah, and I see what dirty secret you’ve been keeping,” Paul scoffed, looking Leonard up and down. While he was almost as tall as the CEO, there was a difference that transcended physical build.

“I don’t know who the fuck you are, but you need to leave,” Leonard said. The tone was even and steady, but there was a distinct violence simmering under the surface.

“Yeah, and her parents are going to be thrilled when they find out she’s been sneaking around with the man who’s undermining their family’s business deals.” Paul shot me a look. “What were you thinking?”

“That this is my life, and none of your business,” I snapped.

“Ah,” Paul laughed. “Not quite, seeing as our parents are discussing our impending nuptials.”

Bile slithered through my stomach. “That isnothappening.”

“Yeah, pretty sure it is. When you turn twenty-five, you and I are going down the aisle.” Paul shifted his gaze to Leonard. “You know she’s only nineteen, right?”

“Twenty! I turned twenty in April, you prick.” I fisted my hands at my side, but a sudden rush of cold fell over me.

Leonard took a decided step to the side. “You said you were in grad school.”

“I said I would be, if my novels didn’t take off.” But reality swirled around me like a tornado. This was it, this was how it all fell apart.

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