Page 22 of Last Minute

Even with my etiquette training, my eyebrows shoot to my hairline.

But Erik shrugs and looks back at the road. “What’s done is done. I told her we’re going, so we’re going.” The lines in his forehead ease as the corner of his mouth tips up in a tiny smile. “Besides, I can’t wait for her to flip her lid when I tell her who you are after the fact.”

It’s much harder to summon a smile for Erik after his confession. I can’t even imagine what he must have gone through, losing one parent of their own volition and then being helpless at keeping the other. A surge of gratitude for my mother and father shoots through me, sending an ache into my heart. It’s only been a few days, but just the thought of possibly losing them like Erik lost both of his parents makes me miss them.

When a weighted silence falls in the car, I don’t try to fill it with more questions.

CHAPTER 16

Erik

Two hours later, I pull into a hotel in Hartford, Connecticut. I don’t know why Ellie picked this one, but she’s been a whiz at planning so far, so I don’t question it.

She was quiet after her question about why I don’t want to go to Mom’s wedding. And I get it. I sort of dropped a bomb on her. It’s not easy to reconcile with the fact that my mom left my dad in his most vulnerable moment. And by extension, me in mine.

I shake my head, trying to clear it of the sour memories. Normally, I keep those tucked tightly away into a box that I don’t open unless I have to, but Ellie has a knack for pulling things out of me.

Maybe it’s because I want her to know me. I haven’t left much time in my life for dating since I joined law enforcement nearly eight years ago. I focused on my job and shut all those desires away because what good did it do my dad to get attached to my mom? In the end, the answer was none. But Ellie…

Ellie isn’t like anyone else I’ve ever met.

And it’s not because I’ve never met a princess before.

There’s something about her that pulls me to her, makes me want to open up because I know she won’t judge me. She won’t make light of any of the heavy things I share. She’s intelligent, kind, and funny.

I don’t remember the last time I laughed before Ellie.

And I don’t think I’m making things up when I say I think she feels whatever this pull between us is. There have been too many lingering looks and touches for me to think that they’re only accidental.

But how do you ask a princess on a date?

Especially when you technically work for her?

The idea of something happening between me and Ellie is ludicrous. A fantasy based on the tiniest sliver of hope. But you know what they say about hope?

It’s hard to kill.

So I tuck that kernel of hope deep into a box and shove it as far back into my mind as I can.

Ellie leaps out of the car as soon as it’s parked and strides confidently to the back, waiting for me to release the trunk so she can grab her suitcase. She’s so insistent about dragging that thing around by herself. After her explanation the other day, I haven’t offered to take her suitcase or any of her bags, wanting to let her feel capable of doing things on her own.

Remembering my place, I keep my head on a swivel as I follow Ellie inside. If I spend too much time daydreaming about what can’t happen between us, I won’t have the mental capacity to do my job, and right now, my job is more important than my dreams. I follow her to the reception desk, waiting a few steps back while Ellie converses with the receptionist.

The elevator softly dings, and two men in suits step out into the lobby. There’s nothing about them that screams danger, but I instinctively step closer to Ellie, putting myself between her and the newcomers.

“I hope you find the accommodations to your liking, Mr. and Mrs. Haynes,” the receptionist says.

I swivel my head to look down at Ellie. Her face is set in a polite smile, and she ignores the receptionist’s comment. “Thank you so much,” she says as she takes the key cards. Ellie slips her hand around my elbow and pulls me toward the elevator. Her eyes sparkle with mischief when she glances up at me.

“Are you going to explain yourself?” I ask.

“What did you want me to do? Announce to everyone that we’re not married?”

My raised eyebrows say, “Yes, that’s exactly what you should have done.”

“People will think what they want, regardless. You tell them we’re not married or dating, and they’ll go on thinking it because they’ve already made up their mind. They’ll justify that we must be in denial because clearly…” Ellie tugs at my elbow as she trails off, as if to say it’s obvious that we’re together. She reaches out and pushes the call button for the elevator. While we wait, she turns to me.

“If people knew who I was, I would have said something. But they don’t. So I didn’t. I’m sorry if that upset you.” She looks up at me with such sincerity, that the discomfort growing in my belly melts away.

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