Page 22 of Damaged Princess (New Orleans Malones)

“I really don’t.”

She gave him a skeptical look.

You’re losing her.

“Truth is, I would love a distraction.”

“Is something wrong?”

“I’m just feeling a bit lonely. Liam won’t be back for hours, and I was going to be stuck here doing nothing. You’d be doing me a favor.”

“Well, all right, if you’re sure.”

“It’s a nice day, what do you think about making up a picnic and go have lunch outside?”

Outside?

A picnic? She turned to look out the window. The boys would love to go outside to play, and it would help them burn off some of their excess energy. Truth was, she did find it exhausting looking after them. She loved them, but they were a lot of work. However, she hadn’t wanted to admit that to Thea.

Lottie was getting tired of everyone treating her like she was fragile. As though she wasn’t as capable as everyone else.

As though she was helpless.

Don’t trust Lottie with anything. She can’t handle it.

She took a deep breath in and let it out slowly as she dug her fingernails into the palms of her hand. The small bite of pain cleared the thoughts away, giving her a rush of energy.

“Lottie?” Nico asked. “Are you all right?”

“What? Yes, of course.”

Act normal, Lottie.

It was just so hard around Nico. Because he flustered her. Distracted her. Anyone would be distracted by his delicious muscle and those tattoos. Today he wore a dark-blue T-shirt and yet another pair of jeans that fit him perfectly.

“We don’t have to go outside if you don’t want to. Is there something else you had planned?”

Planned? She never had anything planned. What was wrong with her? She was suddenly questioning if this was really what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Live in this huge house, where she was practically a ghost, haunting the hallways.

“Lottie?” Nico was now looking really concerned. “Why don’t you come sit down? I’m going to get you some water. Maybe a snack. You look pale.”

“What? Oh, no, I’m fine. I just . . . I didn’t have anything planned.” But going outside was a big step. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d left the house. She never left the grounds. Ever. But surely, a picnic just in the garden would be okay. Where she could get inside the house quickly if she needed to.

She knew that Regent had the whole grounds under surveillance. There were guards outside. Nobody could get through the walls to her. And Nico would be with her. It was probably foolish to trust him, she didn’t know him that well.

But what she did know, she liked. He was always so happy. So confident. She wished she could be more like that.

“I’ll ask Gerald to pack up a picnic lunch,” she told him.

His smile was filled with warmth. “Come on then, let’s go have a cookie.”

“You’re dreaming if you think the boys left you any cookies.”

4

You can do this.

Just step out into the courtyard.

---