Page 84 of My Five Daddies

He just laughs and waves. “Go ahead, get back to work, Hazel.” He grins atme.

I don’t like the way he so casually dismisses me. “Yes, my lord,” I say, as sarcastic as possible. I expect him to get annoyed, but he just grins somemore.

“Knock next time,” he calls out as I head out of theroom.

I catch a glimpse of him watching me as the door slowly shuts. Once in the hall, I hurry around the corner before leaning up against the wall to catch mybreath.

That man was gorgeous, so freaking gorgeous, and the way he looked at me drove me crazy. He looked at me like he was starving or something like that, but like he’s also in total control of the situation. He looks like a man that’s used to getting what he wants. Even when I tried to rattle him a little bit, which of course is a very stupid thing to do here, he didn’t take the bait. It only seemed to make him smilemore.

I don’t know what I’m doing, playing games with the nobility here. I don’t even speak the language. I shouldn’t be pressing my luck. I need to keep my head down and do my work until I have enough money to gethome.

Even as I move on and get back to work, the image of that incredibly handsome man lingers in my mind. I can’t stop thinking about him all daylong.

3

Nolan

The castle has changedsince the last time I lived here. It’s been maybe ten years since I last took a room here. I went straight to my old spot, but I quickly realized that the nobility has moved on to a different part of the castle in themeantime.

My seclusion was only underscored and highlighted when a maid stumbled in on me changing. She clearly didn’t realize that someone was staying in that room. Not that I minded, really, since she was fucking gorgeous. I loved the way she stared at me. Those deep green eyes, that long, thick brown hair, it made me very, veryinterested.

But when I found out that she’s American, I know that I have to get to know her a little bit better. Maybe coming back to the castle won’t be so bad after all. Looks like I’ll have at least one fun game to play amidst all thisbullshit.

But I don’t have time for that, not yet at least. Once I’m dressed, I head through the old familiar corridors. I can hear people whispering behind my back as I go, but that doesn’t bother me. The return of the rightful prince after all this time must be a nice little sensation for the staff, but I’m only here for onereason.

I’m here to get mycrown.

I head down the steps and stop outside of an ornate door. The plaque on the wall readsAndrew Schmid, Second Stewardwhich just makes me grin enormously. I knock once before opening and steppinginside.

Andrew looks up from his desk and a smile breaks out across his face. Andrew is my age, and I’ve known him since I was a little kid. We’ve been friends for a very, very long time, and he’s the son of the castle steward. Now that he’s the second steward, he has some serious responsibilities around this place, and I haven’t been able to see him that often in the last few years. But we’ve always kept in touch, and I still consider him one of my closestfriends.

“You’re really back,” he says to me,standing.

“Well, you know how it is,” I answer, shutting the door behind me. “When I hear that I may be losing my crown, I have to headhome.”

Andrew winces a little bit. “That shouldn’t have leaked,” he says tome.

“So it’s true?” I frown at him, shaking myhead.

“Not yet,” he says. “Your father is going to name Julian the Marshall of the Air Force, but he’s stopping short of actually naming him CrownPrince.”

I clench my jaw. Marshall of the Air Force is mostly a ceremonial title, but for the last hundred years, it has gone along with the title of Crown Prince. It technically doesn’t have to, but that’s just been the way things havegone.

“That bastard,” I say. “Were you going to tellme?”

“Yes,” he says. “When I knew it was real. I only heard it confirmedtoday.”

I shake my head and pace in front of his desk. “He’s really going to do it,” Isay.

“I don’t know,” Andrew answers, a little nervous. “But don’t get worked up, Nolan. You’re here now. You can do something aboutit.”

“What can I do?” I ask angrily, turning onhim.

He hesitates a moment. “Nolan, I’m not the enemyhere.”

I take a deep breath and sigh. “I know. I’msorry.”

He stands and comes around the desk. “I can help you, Nolan. But you have to be willing to play thegame.”

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