Page 51 of Daniil
“No, I had coffee.I can wait until lunch.Honestly, I can take Micah out of your hair so you can get back to work.”
“Meh.”He lifts one shoulder.“If I never look at this bill again it’ll be too soon.”
“I heard that!”someone calls from the hallway.
“You were meant to!”Daniil yells back.
Was that Erik?Does he really talk to the king that way?I understand that they’re first cousins and have a special bond but he’s still…a king.The dynamics here are a little confusing.
“Sandor and I are considering taking the boys to the beach tomorrow,” Lennox says.“Just overnight.Why don’t you and Daniil join us?There’s a private island we go to, you get there by boat, and we hired someone to take us.The boys haven’t been to the beach yet so we figured we might as well, before the weather changes.Winter comes early here.”
I hesitate, cutting a glance at Daniil.
“Would you like to?”he asks quietly.“It might be nice to get away from the palace, go somewhere relaxing.”
I want to ask about sleeping arrangements, food, a million other things but it’s exhausting always being on alert.For once, I want to just go with the flow.
“I…that sounds nice.Sure.When are we leaving?”
We discuss details for a few minutes, and I realize Micah will need sunscreen and the diapers made specifically for swimming.
“I have all that,” Lennox says, waving a hand when I mention it.“Believe me, we are well-prepared for baby boys.”
“Four boys under two?”I ask, biting back a laugh.
She narrows her eyes.“Don’t look at me—this is all Prince Neanderthal’s fault.He’s so desperate for a big family.I told him if it was twins again, because we were warned it might be, he was in charge of finding another nanny and all the logistics.No one on my side of the family has twins.”She gives him the side eye, and he just leans over to kiss her.
“Donottouch me,” she says, swatting at him playfully.“I hope the night you got me pregnant was good for you because you areneverhaving sex with me again.”
He just laughs.“Yes, dear.”Then he turns to Daniil.“That’s not what she said last night.”
Daniil snorts and I feel a pang of envy at the light-hearted banter and how easy it seems for Lennox to be in love with a man who’s much like Daniil.They have different personalities, of course, but from the outside looking in, they’re very similar.Tall, blond, and gorgeous.Both princes.Both Royal Protectors.Both involved in politics.Both heavily invested in their families, their culture, and their country.Yet one is a family man who absolutely adores his wife while the other is a bisexual playboy who hasn’t shown any interest in settling down since his divorce.
I have to remember that even as we’re starting to build a friendship and trust.This is about Micah, not about us.
I spend the afternoon packing.I’m glad I brought a bathing suit but it’s old and kind of ugly, something I threw in at the last minute because I hoped I could swim some laps in the heated indoor pool.Instead, now I’m going to the beach in it, and I wrinkle my nose in frustration.Is there time to go shopping?I wouldn’t even know where to go, so I call Lennox.
“Oh, for sure!There are some great stores in Hiskale.I can’t get away this afternoon, but I can have someone take you.I bet Natalia would love to get out and do a little shopping.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“I really don’t need a bodyguard.”
“No, but you’ll need a guide, a driver, and maybe even a translator.Did you make any Euros before you came?”
Foreign currency never even occurred to me, and I groan.
“No worries.I’ll lend you some.”
“Lennox, I don’t want to take advantage like that.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.Go have fun.”
“One more question.”
“Shoot.”
