Page 27 of Resisting Royal

His eyes turned serious, and if I read correctly, sad. “How is your father?”

“Like you care.” I shoved food into my mouth to avoid talking about him.

He placed his fork down on his plate and stared at me thoughtfully. “I do care, Bianca. He’s your father. I know this is unconventional, and at one time, I might have ordered him dead, but truthfully, I don’t hate the guy. In fact, I’m sure we could be friends if given the chance. His debt to me is cleared; you’re more than welcome to bring him around.”

I felt a bit of guilt because, honestly, as much as I wanted to deny it, Royal had treated my father well. He put him up in an apartment, got him a job, and paid off his debts, all of which he didn’t have to do. He was actually generous, a rare quality in a man these days, and I felt that generosity made me that much more attracted and repelled by him. I wanted so badly to hate him, to not find his deep brown eyes enthralling, and his voice shiver-inducing.

He cleared his throat as he stood, then picked up his plate and put it in the sink. “I left something for you on the dresser. I hope you like it. I should be home tonight by dinner, and if my day goes as planned, I will stay. We have that business trip this weekend, plan accordingly.”

He leaned down enough to place a chaste kiss on my lips. A kiss that had me yearning for more, but not willing to ask. Maybe that was his plan? Did he want me to beg for him? “Oh, and Bianca?”

“Hmm?” I hummed my question.

“Get a damn cage for your beast.”

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