Page 54 of Royal Charmer
I open my mouth to answer when Lucas says belligerently, like Oscar’s curiosity is a personal affront, “Yes. We met through Anna.” Maybe Lucas is being protective, making sure I don’t have to explain my solo honeymoon. I suppose it was my American accent that made Oscar think that. I’d like to be Anna’s friend, anyway.
Oscar’s eyes sparkle with good humor. “Congratulations on your fake engagement.”
Adrian joins us, glancing at the ring before meeting my eyes in an assessing way. His eyes are hazel, unlike his brothers’, and he has heavy scruff like he forgot to shave. Or maybe he’s growing a beard. “Very nice to meet you, Alice.”
“Thank you,” I say. “Nice to meet you too.”
Adrian and Oscar head back to their seats. Lucas’s hand returns to my lower back, guiding me to my chair, which he pulls out for me, sliding it back in as I take my seat. “Thank you,” I murmur.
“My pleasure,” he says and takes the seat next to mine.
Oscar makes a big deal out of pulling out Adrian’s chair for him.
“Shut it,” Lucas snaps.
“Did I say something?” Oscar chuckles and takes his seat, saying to Adrian, “Looks like Lucas did learn something during those mandatory etiquette lessons.”
“Just took the right motivation,” Adrian says with a smile.
“Ignore them, please,” Lucas tells me.
“How long have you two been together?” Oscar asks.
“Are you together?” Adrian asks.
“Obviously they are,” Oscar says. “Look at how he looks at her. And have you ever seen him actually use any of that etiquette shoved down our throats?”
“She looks uncomfortable,” Adrian observes. “Maybe it’s just a game.”
“With our grandmother’s ring?” Oscar asks incredulously.
I fidget in my seat. We’re not together. Or are we? I’m confused. Are we friends with spectacular benefits, or something more?
Lucas’s hand closes over mine under the table, giving it a squeeze. “We’re together.”
I turn to him, nerves racing through me, unsure what it means.
He cups the back of my neck, drawing me close and whispering directly in my ear, “You’re mine, and I don’t want them to get any ideas.”
I shiver at the raw possession in his voice. When did this happen? Did I somehow fall into a committed relationship? I break out into a cold sweat. I’m not ready for this.
And how crazy is it that Lucas thinks his gorgeous brothers would also be interested in me? Me, the same woman who’s only had a handful of lukewarm offers from men in all of my twenty-three years would suddenly have three gorgeous princes fighting over me? The writer in me considers the possibilities for my next book. Everything is fodder for my next book. At least now I have more interesting things to write about than a love triangle with crushed men.
“Alice?”
I snap to attention, glancing at Oscar and Adrian, unsure which one spoke. “Yes?”
“Since you’re involved with my brother,” Oscar says with a devilish smile, “you should know that Lucas once ran naked from the waist down straight into our mother, thequeen’s garden party.”
I grin, my mind playing out the scene. A proper garden party among royalty. A naked Lucas. Wait. “How old were you?” I ask Lucas.
“I was seven,” he says drily.
“While the queen of Alvilda was visiting,” Oscar adds, his eyes dancing with amusement.
I giggle, filling in a seven-year-old naked Lucas dashing through, flashing everyone. The proper queens, teacups stalling halfway to their lips.
“I was running from the doctor’s needle,” Lucas says in his defense.
