Page 85 of My Five Daddies

“It’s why I’m here,” I say, a littlegrudgingly.

He puts his hand on my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here, then. You’ve been away too long. You let your father forget aboutyou.”

“Speaking of that. When can I seehim?”

Andrew hesitates and drops his hand. “Soon,” hesays.

“Soon?” I raise an eyebrow. “I need an appointment to see my own fathernow?”

“No,” he says. “He’s just in meetings right now. As soon as he’s out, you can have hisear.”

I grunt, shaking my head. Things seem to be going from bad to worse. I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do. I let myself get iced out over all these years, and now I fear that it’s too late to turn things around. I’m going to have to do something drastic and big to get the king’sattention.

“At least tell me where everyone’s staying these days. I’m down in my old room, and it’s a ghosttown.”

Andrew laughs a little. “They vacated that wing four years ago. They’re up on three, back rightcorner.”

I nod. “Thanks. Should I move upthere?”

Andrew shakes his head. “Stay where you are for now. I think it’ll look better if you come back and claim your old room. Like you’re picking up where you leftoff.”

I sigh but nod. “Okay,” I say to him. Andrew knows how to navigate court politics better than I do, since he’s been immersed in it for longer than Ihave.

“It’s good to see you,” he says, smiling again. “I’m really glad you’rehere.”

“I just hope it’s enough.” Isay.

“It will be.” He pats my back again. “Go get settled. I’ll find you when you can see yourfather.”

“Thanks,” I say to him. I head out of his office and walk slowly back toward myroom.

I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I need to get a plan together, start making calls and visits to the lords and ladies that are staying in the castle right now, start getting my face outthere.

But instead… I keep thinking about that American girl, the maid named Hazel. I shouldn’t have pussy on my mind, but god damn, she was fucking interesting. I don’t think I’ve felt this intrigued by a woman in a longtime.

And so instead of settling in, I go in search of her. It doesn’t take me long before I find her vacuuming a hallway on the other side of thecastle.

She looks around like a frightened rabbit searching for an escape as soon as she spots me. I grin at her and approach, my hands up in the air. She turns off the vacuum and looks atme.

“I come in peace,” I say. “Fullyclothed.”

“Ah, uh, okay,” shesays.

I raise an eyebrow. “You seem nervous. Are youokay?”

“Fine,” she says. “Your highness,” she addsquickly.

I laugh at her. “So you figured itout.”

“I didn’t know before,” shesays.

“You don’t have to call me that,” I say. “I’m a prince, not a king, and even that’s a little much for a king. We’re not that bad aroundhere.”

“No, right, of course,” shesays.

I laugh a little and walk closer to her. She clearly looks nervous and keeps glancing down at thefloor.

“How long have you been working here?” I askher.

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