Page 39 of Daniil
“We haven’t made any decisions yet,” she protests.
“But it’s time.”
She sighs.
“Will you hear me out?Please?”
The relaxed smile is immediately replaced by…fear.Dammit.I hate that she’s afraid of me.But there’s no help for that.
“Go ahead,” she whispers, with what looks like a death grip on her coffee mug.
“You aren’t working full-time yet and I really have to get back—but I’m not ready to leave him.”Or you.I just can’t say that part out loud.“Come with me.I swear to you on everything holy—on my oath as a Royal Protector—that you can leave with the baby any time you want.A couple of weeks, so I can get caught up on work and we can have more time to figure out what to do.”
Her eyes are shrouded, filled with distrust, but she doesn’t immediately give me a no.Which is encouraging.
“Please.”My voice is soft, pleading.“I’m already in love with him.He’s this amazing little part of me.Let me just introduce him to my family.We won’t make an announcement.”
Still no response.
Just cautious green eyes fixed on my face.
“No official connection between me and the baby, just you coming to visit your old buddy from the military.That’s it.You’ll stay in your own suite, so there won’t be palace gossip, and you know the family would never put either of you in danger.”
“Not on purpose.”
I sigh.“There’s always the risk of danger, but it’s not like nothing bad ever happens in the U.S.Hell, that concert right here in Vegas where all those people were shot?We haven’t had a mass shooting in Limaj in forty years.You’re at much higher risk of a random act of violence in Vegas than at the palace.”
She turns away, hands still gripping the mug like it’s a lifeline.
“Courtney.”I move behind her, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder.“Give me a chance.I promise, nothing will happen to you or the baby.Just a few weeks so I can get caught up on work but still spend time with my son.”
“I don’t know how to trust you.”
That pisses me off.“He’s my son.And I’ve been pretty damn understanding about you hiding his existence from me.I think that should count for something.”
“You swear on your oath?”
“I do.I haven’t always been the best guy, but my intentions always are.And I’d certainly never do anything to hurt you.That’s not who I am.Let me prove it to you.”
“You know how many women followed a foreign man to his country and then weren’t allowed to leave?”
I sigh, another prickle of anger mixing with the hurt and frustration.“Is that really what you think of me?”
“I don’t know you!”she snaps.“Outside the bedroom, I have no idea who you are.”She turns, eyes narrowed and blazing with intensity.“A prince.A Royal Protector.A politician.Two of the three are smarmy, at best.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Isn’t it?I can name half a dozen members of royal families who’ve done some shitty things.”
“And I can name dozens of non-royals who have,” I shoot back.
We glare at each other, standing close enough to feel the heat emanating from her.And I’ve never wanted to kiss someone so much in my life.Butthatwouldn’t help convince her to trust me.
“What were you thinking just now?”she demands.
Busted.
If I lie, I think she’ll know, giving her yet another reason not to trust me.
