Page 16 of Royal Love
He holds up his hands. “I know nothing, and I wish to know nothing about my head of security’s personal life.”
“Liar,” I call him out. “You were betting on them too.”
Tristan gives Shannon an apologetic shrug. “For what it’s worth, I thought he had more patience.”
Shannon shakes her head, looking heavenward as if asking for strength. “You two deserve each other. Now go, before someone finds a reason to keep you here.”
Ten minutes later, we’re in Tristan’s Range Rover, the one indulgence he allows himself that isn’t strictly royal approved.The palace gates close behind us, and I feel the weight of the crown lifting with each mile marker we pass.
Tristan drives with one hand on the wheel, the other resting on my thigh. I watch the way his fingers flex as he navigates a curve, the tendons in his forearm shifting beneath tanned skin. My mouth goes dry.
“You’re staring,” he says, eyes still on the road.
“Can’t help it.” I trace a finger along his wrist where it emerges from his rolled sleeve. “Have I ever told you that you have the sexiest wrists I’ve ever seen?”
He laughs, glancing over at me. “That’s a new one. Should I be concerned about these pregnancy hormones?”
“Absolutely.” I shift in my seat, moving his hand slightly higher on my thigh. “I’ve been thinking about your hands all day. The way your fingers looked around your pen during that meeting this morning…” I trail off, biting my lip.
His grip tightens slightly on my leg. “If I recall correctly, we were nearly late to that meeting because of similar observations about my hands.”
“Your fault for looking so good making coffee,” I murmur, leaning over to press a kiss to his shoulder. “How much longer until we reach the beach house?”
His eyes remain fixed on the road, but I don’t miss the way his jaw tightens. “Hour and a half, at least.”
“Too long,” I sigh dramatically, settling back in my seat.
“Patience, Lia.” His thumb traces small circles on my thigh. “We have the whole weekend.”
“Says the man who isn’t experiencing the hormone equivalent of being seventeen again.” I place my hand over his, guiding it higher. “Besides, you’re the one always telling me how important it is to take advantage of our private moments.”
Tristan shoots me a look that makes my pulse race. “If I pull over now, we’ll never make it to the beach before dark.”
“Would that be so terrible?” I ask innocently.
He laughs, shaking his head. “The things I do for my queen.”
As he signals and begins looking for a suitable turnoff, I smile to myself. The crown may be heavy sometimes, but moments like these—just us, just Tristan and Amelia—these are the moments that make everything worthwhile.
Whatever challenges await us back at the palace can wait. For now, there’s just the open road, the man I love, and three days of freedom stretching before us. And at this particular moment, those are the only royal duties I care about fulfilling.
CHAPTER 14
TRISTAN
The drive to the beach house is quiet, peaceful. Amelia dozes in the passenger seat, her hand resting protectively over the small swell of her belly. Five months pregnant, and somehow more beautiful every day. I glance at her while keeping my eyes mostly on the road, stealing these small moments to appreciate her without the weight of royal obligations pressing down on us.
Parker follows in the car behind, maintaining a respectful distance. He’s given us this illusion of privacy, though I know he’s vigilant, watching for any sign of the threat I still can’t shake from my mind.
“We’re almost there,” I say softly as Lia stirs, her eyes fluttering open. She smiles that smile—the one that still makes my heart skip even after all this time.
“I must have fallen asleep,” she mumbles, straightening in her seat. “Sorry for abandoning you on the drive.”
“You needed it.” I reach across to take her hand. “You’re growing our child. Sleep all you want.”
She laughs, the sound light and airy against the backdrop of the ocean coming into view. “If only the royal court could hear you now, encouraging your queen to be lazy.”
“The royal court can kiss my?—”
