Page 48 of The Reluctant Heir

I sigh. “Why are you in my room anyway?”

“I’m bored. And the last time I was in your room, I got to catch Kaine flirting with you.”

“He wasn’t flirting.” My cheeks grow warm at the accusation.

“Kaine—the same guy I have frequently accused of having a stick up his butt—called you beautiful. I don’t think he’s ever called a girl that.” Julien picks up his phone and starts scrolling on an app.

“Well, I’m about to leave. Do you think you can maybe go to your room to hang out?” I ask.

His eyes glance over at me.

“Julien,” I growl.

He ignores me and goes back to looking at something on his phone. I’m about to walk over and shove him out of my bed when there is a knock on the door. Julien grins, putting down his phone. “Show time.”

“What show?” I once again roll my eyes at him and then make my way over to the door. Kaine stands on the other side with his hands shoved into the pockets of his dress pants.

Julien comes to stand beside me. “Hey, Kaine.”

“PrinceJulien,” Kaine says the title with a slight sneer to it. He turns to me, bowing slightly. “Princess Madeline, your date is here.”

“He’s early.” I turn to face Julien. “How do I look?”

“We’ve already established that you and I look alike, so if I say something sarcastic I’d be calling myself ugly. Therefore, I’m obligated to tell you that you look pretty.”

I stare at Julien for a few seconds, processing his words, and then I turn to Kaine. “How did he turn a compliment meant formeinto a compliment forhim?”

“It’s a gift,” Julien says.

Kaine ignores Julien and instead addresses me. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Julien steps slightly in front of me. “You know, I always did wonder how my brother got all the girls. It must’ve been because of his title and not his looks. I’m the good looking one in the family.”

I smack Julien’s arm. “Be nice.” I scoot between the two of them. “I’m going to go now. You two behave.”

“I’m always an angel,” Julien says.

“I’ll make sure he stays out of trouble,” Kaine says.

I wave to them and make my way to the main level of the house. Damek waits for me in the foyer with a bouquet of pink and purple hydrangeas. He’s wearing a fitted black suit coat and he has a fresh haircut. He turns to face me, his brown eyes glowing even in the dim light of the foyer.

“Madeline, wow.” His eyes widen slightly. “You look beautiful.”

My cheeks warm at his compliment. “Are you re—”

I’m cut off by Julien—I hadn’t even realized he followed me. “Hold on. As your brother, it’s my job to interrogate your date.”

Interrogate him? And where was he when Ineededhim to interrogate my dates? I’ve gone out on horrible dates forweeksnow and my ‘protective’ brother has been hiding. Now that I’m going out with somebody I like, he’s here to bug me.

Damek passes the flowers to me, ignoring Julien. “These are for you.”

“Thank you. Hydrangeas are my favorite. My mother has bushes of them in front of her home,” I tell him.

Julien sighs. “Fine. Ignore me. I’m just going to be your brother-in-law if my sister marries you. And then you’ll have to put up with me for the rest of your life.”

I elbow Julien in the gut and pass the flowers to him. “Can you put these in water for me?”

He takes them from me. “Fine. But you two better be home by midnight.”

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