Page 105 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

“The idiot insisted on testing Her Highness,” Zain clarified with a disapproving shake of his head.

My frown grew heavier. “Candy,” I warned, curling a protective arm around Esmeralda’s waist. “You’re not—”

Esmeralda silenced me with a hand on my abdomen. “No, let him. As your friend, he has every right to ask me questions.”

“No, Esmeralda—” But she was already tipping her chin up at Candy.

Candy took a step towards her. “His favourite colour?”

Bloody Neves, he was fucking serious. And the others weren’t stopping him. They all just stood there, observing Esmeralda intently. Even Pierre.

“Candy,” I growled in frustration, drawing Esmeralda closer to my side.

“He doesn’t have one,” she answered calmly. “But he tends to wear darker colours. He looks especially delicious in black and dark green. Oh, and grey of course.”

Trevor chuckled, but I was too caught up in the fact she called me “delicious.” It was odd, but her kind of odd, and I liked it. I tugged at my ear.

“The name of the horse he rescued?”

“Bucky. And he doesn’t like anyone but Kai—and me.” Her shoulder shrugged up against my ribcage. “He’s been more than happy to have me on his saddle.”

My chest puffed out in pride at the way my mouthy Babble backhanded his questions like they were annoying little flies. For someone so small, she had one mighty attitude that she let loose in the most unexpected of moments. I loved it. My Babble didn’t need me to defend her. She was a fiery queen all on her own.

Zain nodded in slow approval of her answer, Pierre beamed at her like an overexcited puppy, and Trevor let out a low whistle.

“Bucky let you ride him?” Candy spluttered, unable to mask his surprise. My friends knew of Bucky’s behaviour—they had all been rejected by him multiple times. Especially Candy.

I pressed my mouth to the top of Esmeralda’s head in a heavy kiss to hide my grin as Candy cleared his throat. “I mean yes, yes, correct. Well done.”

“Any other questions?” she asked, a teasing note to her voice that made my smile grow. Fuck, I was going to kiss her so hard when I had a moment alone with her.

“I like her,” Trevor mumbled while Candy stewed.

“Yes, actually.” Candy stepped closer to her, intimidating her with his height. A deep sound rumbled from my mouth in warning, but he didn’t bat an eyelash at me. “He loves the cold weather, but does he prefer rain or snow?”

“That’s a trick question because he hates the cold. Especially rain. He would much rather bury himself in a dozen blankets than go within ten feet of a window or door while it’s raining. Although…” Her dancing eyes met mine. “Never mind, actually.”

“No, no,” Candy insisted and waved one hand around as the other went to his hip. “Please inform us, Your Highness, what this smirk and ‘although’ meant exactly.”

“Candy,” Zain warned, but he was struggling to tame a smile.

“It meant,” Esmeralda said, tipping her chin up at Candy. “He’s followed me into the rain—”

Candy didn’t give her the chance to finish her sentence; his outburst was instant. “Are you bloody serious?” He angled to me. “I begged you to come to my fashion show, but you refused because the forecast said it was going to rain. My show wasn’t even outside! But you followed her out into the rain? Explain yourself. Now.”

“Here he goes,” Trevor sighed with a roll of his eyes.

I shifted under Candy’s accusing stare. “I did come to your show.”

“Because it didn’t end up raining! And you hid at the back away from the glass roof the whole flipping time because you said you didn’t like the look of the grey clouds.” Candy pointed past me. “And I was there when you rescued Bucky, and that damned horse won’t let me anywhere near him, but he likes Her Highness? Why? What is there not to like about me? And I thought your favourite colour was navy-blue? But now it’s dark green? So, you didn’t like the suit I designed for you—”

“Candy,” Zain grumbled at the same time Pierre smacked his palm over Candy’s mouth.

“Why are you getting so emotional?” Pierre stressed, his eyes popping from their sockets.

But Candy harrumphed and turned his head away, not even bothering to push Pierre’s hand away. My brows dipped as I tried to look at his face. A pouty Candy was usually a worried Candy, and when Candy was worried enough to drop his arrogant mask, then something was wrong.

“Please accept our apology for Candy’s behaviour, Your Highness,” Trevor said with a small smile. “He’s known Kai nearly as long as Pierre has, and he’s the most protective of him too. Unfortunately, when he gets protective like this, he tends to spout selfish nonsense.”

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