Page 42 of Resisting Royal

CHAPTER 21

BIANCA

I told myself that baking cookies was not to win over my husband, who I didn’t necessarily like, but might have a tiny, itty bit of a crush on. LUST. Not a crush, I felt a bit of desire toward my husband and even though I in no way wanted to impress him, I found that being cordial toward him couldn’t harm our relationship at all.

I had just pulled a tray out of the oven when I heard the front door open, followed by two very manly sets of footsteps and one very dainty pair. Shit. I wasn’t ready for this. I’d had literally no experience with kids, but I knew enough to realize a funeral was no place for a child.

I saw the head full of bouncing light brown hair flash through the doorway moments before the tiny girl stopped in front of me. She held out her small hand. “Hi. My name is Genevieve, but you can call me Genie.”

I bent over, taking her hand in mine. “Nice to meet you, I’m Bianca.”

She pushed back the hair from her face. “I like your eyes.” She turned to Troy and Royal. “When I’m a woman, do you think I could have green eyes too?”

Troy coughed. “I don’t want to think about you ever growing past seven.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Growing is a fact of life; you can’t change that.”

Royal nodded and knelt down. “This is true, but I think what your dad is saying is that he wants you young forever.” My eyes bulged at the knowledge that this little girl belonged to Troy. “Now, will you promise to be good for Aunt Bianca while we are gone?”

Genie nodded, her hair bouncing dramatically. “I promise.”

“Good girl.” He patted her head. “If you’re really, really good, I might even bring you a surprise tonight.”

Her eyes got as big as saucers. “I’ll be the best I’ve ever been in my whole entire life. I promise.”

“I believe it.” He stood up and wrapped an arm around my waist. He leaned into my ear and muttered, “And if you’re a really, really good girl, you get a surprise too.”

“I’ll make sure she’s on her best behavior, too,” Genie chimed in, and Royal chuckled against my hair.

Troy snorted. “I have a feeling she would get rewarded either way.”

Genie's eyebrows scrunched. “That doesn’t seem fair.”

“I’ll behave,” I confirmed at the same time Royal whispered, “I like to be unfair.”

Oh, how I knew this to be true. Instead of encouraging him, I used my palm and pushed at his chest, putting space between us. Royal got the hint and stepped back, his eyes shining with mischief. He reached behind me, grabbed a cookie, and took a giant bite. He moaned around the cookie, the sound doing something to my insides. Why? Why must by body lust after him so bad when my mind is urging me to resist?

“These are amazing, do you bake a lot?” He grabbed another, ignoring the smear of chocolate on the corner of his mouth as he took another bite.

“Not too often.” But I wish I did. I loved baking cookies and treats, but when you lived alone, what was the point? To consume them all in one sitting and feel the bloating as a side effect? Don’t even get me started on the added pounds that will stay with you for weeks after.

He walked to the fridge and took out the milk, carrying over a few glasses. “I would marry you again, just for these cookies.”

He poured milk in the glasses, then grabbed a plate to put cookies on and carried it to the table, making a second trip for the glasses of milk. Genie followed behind him and climbed in a chair, reaching for one of the cookies. She took a bite, moaning. “Aunt Bianca, Uncle Royal should marry you again for these cookies.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her cuteness. “Once was enough for me, Honey.”

“But, if you married him twice, wouldn’t that mean we get double cookies?” The look on her face was so pensive as she thought about the prospect.

Troy sat next to his daughter. “I’m willing to bet she will bake cookies every day just to have nothing to do with your uncle.”

She turned to him, the concern displayed clearly on her face. “That’s not a nice thing to say. He loves her, and when you say things like that, he will get his feelings hurt.”

He held his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, Princess, it was a joke. Obviously, Uncle Royal adores Bianca.”

She nodded her agreement even though a girl her age couldn’t possibly comprehend. When she was completely satisfied with her father’s apology, she turned back to the plate of cookies, grabbing another one and handing one to Troy.

They sat at the table for another ten minutes before it was time for Royal and Troy to leave. When the men stood to go, I also stood and followed them to the door. Royal, true to his word the night before, did not make a move to kiss me, and I was both relieved and annoyed by that. Sure, I wanted him to keep his distance and not push more of a relationship on me, but also . . . his lips always felt so good against my skin, especially when his want and need for me pulsed behind their simple touches.

---