Page 33 of Twisted Royals

“Not at all.” I got my phone out and woke it up, then opened my gallery for her. “The first ones are the hotel where we stayed, and that one is the Lebanese food cart where we ate lunch most days.”

“Sounds delicious.” She smiled and continued swiping through the photos. “And there’s the Vasamuseet. I haven’t been there in many years.”

Her gaze caught on something behind me, and she paled, then blushed bright crimson. “Merda,” she whispered hoarsely.

Before I could turn to see what made her react so oddly, I heard a very familiar voice.

“Hey, punkin.”

I spun around and blinked, unable to believe my eyes.

“Daddy!” My foot caught on my chair, and I stumbled, then got my feet under me and raced into his arms. Tears pricked my eyes as I inhaled the familiar fragrance of Old Spice and leather mixed with a faint whiff of horse. It had only been a month since I’d seen him in person, but so much had happened that it felt like forever.

Peeking around Daddy’s imposing body, I spotted Savva, who gave me a shit-eating grin and touched his fingers to his lips.

Mercy, that man.

He hadn’t changed his suit but had taken a few minutes to run a razor over his stubbled jaw and put on a tie. He looked good enough to eat, and I was going to kiss his entire face for what he’d done.

Laughing, Daddy swung me around, then set me on my feet and hugged my neck. “Dang, little girl, you’re looking good.”

“Don’t you give me that.” I tugged his silk tie and arched my brow. “You’re wearing a suit. Did someone die?”

“Well, seems I was invited to meet a princess.” He tipped his Stetson at Val and winked.

“Mr. Lawton,” Savva said. “May I present to you Princess Valeriya of Agafonza? Mother, this is Jerome Lawton, Damaris’s father.”

Still blushing furiously, Val extended her hand and gasped when Daddy brought it to his lips and kissed it. “It’s a pleasure…” She coughed to clear the squeak from her voice. “Um… hi.”

I didn’t miss the interest flickering in Daddy’s eyes and hid a smile when Savva cleared his throat. Judging by her uncharacteristic stammer and pink cheeks, Val was intrigued as well. It tickled me to think of them getting together. Mama always said she wanted Daddy to find a nice lady after she was gone, and Val was about as nice as they came.

“I beg your pardon, Mr. Lawton. Would you care to sit?” Savva asked. “There is something I wish to discuss with you.”

“All right.” Still holding Val’s hand, Daddy led her to the table and sat next to her. Giving me a sideways glance, he smirked and turned his attention to Savva. “I’m all ears.”

“Sir, I humbly request your permission to court Damaris. I would like her to become my wife.”

“Did you ask her yet?”

“I have.”

He studied Savva like he was a bug on a microscope slide. “My daughter knows her own mind. If she turned you down, my permission isn’t going to change her answer.”

Savva’s jaw tightened, but he nodded and straightened his shoulders. “She has agreed to my proposal.”

“Damaris, did you ask the boy’s mama for permission to court him?”

“Um—”

“She doesn’t need it,” Val said giving me a warm smile. “I couldn’t ask for a better daughter-in-law.”

“Good.” Daddy slapped his hand on his knee and leaned back in his chair. “Guess we’re fixing to have us a wedding.”

SAVVA

I hadn’t seen my mother so animated in years. Certainly not since she’d lost my father. She was still blushing, for that matter. If Jerome Lawton was anything like his daughter, I wouldn’t be displeased to see him with my mother.

With his tall, muscular form and thick graying hair cut short, he and my mother made a striking couple too.

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