Page 43 of Royally Knocked Up
CHAPTER 17
ENZO
“Did you sleep at all?” Enzo asked Hailey.
He was worried about her. She looked unwell — pale, with dark circles under her eyes. He had known something was wrong last night. Since their time together had begun, they had always been able to forget their troubles in the pleasure of one another’s company. But last night hadn’t been like that at all.
She had pushed him away. He had assumed there would be the usual joyful intimacy between them. In fact, he had been counting on it, and the thought of it had helped him to get through the press conference. But that hadn’t happened. Though she had allowed him into her bed, she had seemed a million miles away, and eventually Enzo had simply fallen asleep, assuming that she would too.
Now he wished he hadn’t done that. He felt as if he had abandoned her to her sleeplessness.
“I’m all right,” she said, but she was staring out the window at nothing at all.
“I can tell you’re not,” he told her. “I just wish you would tell me what’s the matter.”
She bit her lip. “Maybe in a couple of days,” she said. “Right now you need to focus on the coronation.”
That didn’t help. She had just confirmed that therewassomething wrong, and that she wasn’t going to talk to him about it.
But he couldn’t force the answer out of her. He put a hand on her shoulder. “What if I get you some coffee?”
“That would actually be amazing.” Then she frowned. “Or… could you make it tea?”
“I’ve never known you to drink tea.”
“I’m… in a mood for it today,” she said.
Enzo shrugged and went to make her a cup. He wondered if she was sick. That would explain everything. Maybe he could get in touch with his father and ask for her to be seen by the royal physician. That would be a little unorthodox, but it would be a lot easier than trying to get her an appointment with a local doctor while she wasn’t in her home country. And he didn’t hate the idea of introducing Hailey to his family. Maybe she could attend the coronation as his guest. There wouldn’t be any need for his family to know that anything of a romantic nature had happened between them — he could introduce her as a coworker he had befriended. That would be enough.
Maybe their friendship really would be able to endure, even after she went back home. He badly hoped that it would.
There was a knock at the door.
Enzo frowned and looked at his watch. It wasn’t yet ten o’clock. Who would be trying to reach Hailey this early? It had to be her they were here for — no one knew that Enzo had stayed with her last night. Anyone who was looking for him would go to his home.
He opened the door —
“Good morning, Your Highness.”
It was his father’s driver, Romano, and he was looking at Enzo with an expression of such sympathy that for a moment Enzo was almost numb with fear. Something horrible must have happened. Someone was dead. He gripped the edge of the door hard, needing the support to keep him on his feet.
“I’ve been ordered to deliver you to the palace,” Romano said. “You’re to come with me at once.”
“What is this about?” Enzo asked faintly.
“Your father will explain everything when you see him.”
Meaning that his father was alive. Enzo relaxed marginally.
Then his mind caught up with him. “Wait a moment,” he said. “How did you know that I was here?”
“Your father will explain everything,” Romano said again. “I’m sorry, Your Highness. I was told not to discuss it with you.”
“Let me just tell my friend I’m leaving.” Enzo knew there was no getting out of it. If he didn’t go with Romano willingly, his father would send the Secret Service to collect him, and that would be much more dramatic and unpleasant.
Romano cleared his throat. “Actually,” he said, “I’m to bring Ms. Jones with me as well.”
“What?” Enzo’s head spun. “How do you know who she is?”
