Page 22 of Princess Bride Swap

“It wasn’t an insult.”

“But it wasn’t a compliment.”

He didn’t argue with her, but the bemused expression didn’t leave his face. Perhaps he hadn’tmeantit as an insult, even if it wasn’t a compliment. That would still be a novelty in her life.

“It will be a few hours. The drive is quite beautiful though. Especially as we get up into the higher elevations where there’s more consistent snow.” He glanced over at her and must have read something in her expression.

“You could always nap if you’d like.”

“Yes. I think I’ll try that.” She immediately closed her eyes. She knew she wouldn’t sleep, but surely it was better than watching. And if she closed her eyes, she could picture him as he’d been last night. Shirtless. Tall and broad and...strong. Not bulky, but there was something about the way he held himself, something about the shape of him that left no doubt that he could...do all sorts of interesting things with those muscles.

Which left her mind skipping ahead to tonight. And then drifting back to last night. Why had he stopped? Without eventouchingher. Not one kiss while they’d both been nearly naked. It didn’t make any sense.

Should she ask him about it? Demand to know what he was thinking? Would that make him angry? Should she just keep her mouth shut and do whatever he told her to do?

This was really not the line of thinking that would help with her anxiety. Particularly since she had some concerns about this trip. Not the privacy because ofsteps, or even that he might pull back from her once again, but because in a smaller place, with less people, it would be harder to hide if she had a panic attack. There was no rhyme or reason for why one hit, though they had gotten less frequent the past few years as she’d learned, thanks to reading books and even medical studies on the topic, coping mechanisms and different ways to keep her mind busy when it wanted to spiral out into anxiety.

She still often had attacks when she faced off with her father, as she had just a few days ago when they’d been visiting Zia at Cristhian’s house. She was counting on that meaning another unexplained one didn’t pop up for another few weeks at least.

But if she kept thinking about it, worrying about it, no doubt she’d work herself up. So she needed to focus on something else besides thischalet. And while she’d like to consider and perhaps discuss what had happened last night, and what would happen tonight, she wasn’t sure that was the bestdrivingconversation.

Or you’re a coward.

That too.

So, she decided the next best thing was to deal with other eventualities. The important ones they’d already agreed upon. She wasn’t going tosleep, so she might as well prod.

“I was reading your family biography, but it doesn’t mention much about your father.”

“He was not from Divio, and the book is focused on the royal lines of Divio.”

She supposed that made sense, but the two short lines about his entire life had made her feel almost sorry for the man. “Do you remember him?”

Lyon didn’t even pause. “No.”

As she’d expected. She’d done the math and Lyon’s father had died when he’d only been two. His grandfather had died before he’d been born. But he did have a slew of uncles and great-uncles and older cousins. All who’d filtered through the role of crown prince in quick succession.

She knew this was the reason he held himself to high standards. So he would not ruin his time as prince. But what she did not know was if anyone had been afatherto him. Because certainly no one had been afatherto her.

“Since your grandfather was also passed by the time you were born, did any of your uncles or anyone fulfill some kind of father figure role?”

His eyebrows drew together and he spared her a look—which she didn’t appreciate considering the narrow road. “Is there a point to this odd line of questioning, Beau?”

“I’m thinking about children.” Because that was her end goal. Those heirs Lyon needed. Lives she wanted to guide. “You see, I did not have very good examples of parents. Mother or father, but I feel like the bad example is an example in a way. A blueprint of what not to do. But you have nothing.”

“What a kind way of putting it,” he said dryly.

She winced. “I apologize. I only meant...”

“That I have no example of what a father is meant to be, one way or another.” This time his tone was not dry, it was simply flat.

“Well...” She knew that wasn’t a kind way of putting any of it, but itwastrue. How else could she put it?

“I had my grandmother and my mother. They were both incredibly strong role models for a young man and impressed upon me the importance of my role. They knew, long before I did, that Divio would eventually come to me.”

“How could they know that? So many came before you.”

“My grandmother’s brothers were fools at best. Their children worse, and so on. Every single male heir from then on either died young, got into far too much trouble before they ascended the throne, or caused so much uproar they had to abdicate to the next. My grandmother always knew it would be me or complete revolution.”

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