Page 92 of Royal Icing
Suddenly, the stranger ran out of the alleyway in front of them and shoved a video camera in her face.
“Emma! Are you dating Prince Leo of Lynoria?”
“What?” she sputtered. A wave of lightheadedness swept over her. The paparazzi had actually tracked her down. Leo said it was a possibility, but how did they even know who she was? It wasn’t like she’d worn a name tag at the ball.
Oh, shit. Maybe the article inFood Magazine? Had it come out already?
Her mind ran a mile a minute. On the off chance that Leo’s project wasn’t already dead in the water, her stirring up rumors would destroy whatever chance he had left.
“No, I’m not,” she said firmly.
“Move aside.” There was a note of authority in Lisa’s voice.
Arizona tugged them forward, and Emma tried to sidle around the man, but he simply walked backward in front of them.
“Sources say the prince was spotted with you several times during your visit. Are you dating long distance?” he asked.
She averted her gaze and reminded herself to take deep breaths. What was he going to do, follow them all the way back to her apartment?
“Are the rumors about the royal family true? Was there an infidelity scandal?” he asked.
Infidelity scandal? That was news to her. Though it wouldn’t particularly surprise her if the queen had taken a lover. Hypocrites were always the loudest protesters.
“Are you the reason your own mother is permanently disabled?” The question hit her like a water balloon filled with acid.
She stopped in her tracks, and the man stared cockily at her. His camera snapped repeatedly.
Cooper barked at him, and he flinched.
“Howdareyou?” Lisa asked. She put her hands on the arms of the wheelchair and tried to stand, but Emma gently pushed her back down.
Emma put a finger in his face. “If you don’t get out of my face immediately, I will call the police.”
He walked away without another word, smirking.
Her hands shook. How did he know about the stroke? How did he knowanyof this? There was no way Leo or Lola had sold her out.
Could it have been Maya?
They hustled home as quickly as they could. Worst brainstorming walk ever.
Lisa rattled off an incalculable string of insults on their way back until the door was closed behind them.
“I’m going to buy more pepper spray,” she said as Emma steered her up the ramp and closed the door behind them.
“Not a bad idea,” Emma mused.
They had only been inside for a few minutes when there was an aggressive knock on the door. They both jumped, and Cooper barked like a bomb had gone off.
Lisa glared. “If that’s a reporter, I’ll happily tell them where they can shove their camera.”
“It’s probably a package,” Emma said, but there was a tingle of anxiety in her belly. “You know how Roger knocks like our door has personally offended him.”
“Maybe we should just ignore it,” Lisa said.
Emma retrieved her baseball bat and tiptoed to the door to peer through the peephole. Complete darkness greeted her.
Panic flared. The last time this happened it had been?—
