Page 57 of Resisting Royal

CHAPTER 28

ROYAL

We stopped for lunch at a cute little diner tucked into a back road in what was quite literally, the middle of nowhere. The parking lot was full, the plates were filled, and I was pretty sure I ate the most delicious burger of my life.

After our lunch break, we were back on the road, the car filled with silence. Most of the trip was quiet, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I never felt the silence as awkward with her near me. I felt contentment, always contentment, and maybe that’s why I knew she was mine from the moment I saw her. Even then, the satisfaction of our connection was there.

We were almost to Roman’s compound when she finally spoke. “Is there anything I need to know about your business meeting? I don’t want to embarrass you.”

I grunted at the thought. “There is nothing you could do that would embarrass me, Mi Amore.”

“I’m sure there is plenty I could do to embarrass you.” Her body shifted, and I could feel her eyes looking at me from the side.

I shook my head and braved a quick glance in her direction. “Not today. Roman and I go back to when we were practically kids. Shaw, almost as long. There is nothing you can say or a thing you can mention that they haven’t seen.”

She quirked her head a little. “So, these people are close?”

“Like my family,” I admitted.

She nodded her understanding. “So, this meeting is about?”

“Nothing concerning us. They’ve run into a few undisclosed problems they would like to discuss and arrange some assistance with.” I turned off the main road onto the side road where the compound was located.

“Is it dangerous?” Her voice sounded unsure.

I licked my lips, satisfaction coursing through me. “Are you worried about me?”

She didn’t answer right away. “I wouldn’t say I’m worried, but it’s my job to make sure you’re not making bad decisions in my presence.”

I reached my hand over, resting my palm on her thigh. “I won’t lie to you, Amore. If they are calling me, they need help deeper than they can handle. It has to be important, something meaningful. They don’t ask for help often.”

She nodded. “And you trust them?”

“With my life. Roman, Shaw, Troy, Greta, Genie, you and Peter. That is my whole family. Everyone else, extras.”

Her lip quipped at that. “I love how you included Peter.”

I shrugged. “The annoying little rodent is growing on me.”

“I think you secretly love him,” she taunted.

I secretly love you I thought then blinked a few times at where my mind was going. “I wouldn’t use the word love, more like . . . like. I secretly like your bunny.”

“Is that code?” she asked suspiciously, and I couldn’t help but laugh at her. She sensed that I might have a bit of worry about this meeting, and I appreciated that she was trying to talk to me and distract my mind.

“Do you want it to be code? I can come up with a lot more creative words than just bunny to describe your body parts.”

“Oh?” She shifted in her seat, and I could only hope that this whole conversation was affecting her like it was affecting me. “Like?”

I cleared my suddenly dry throat. “For instance, if I had to pick my favorite body part on you, I think it would be called your electron.”

I slowed down and pulled up to a gate. “What would my electron be?”

I turned to face her. “Well, your electron is . . .” There was a knock on the window and I turned to face it. The man looked vaguely familiar, and when I rolled down the window, he leaned onto my car to talk.

“Do you remember where the main hall is, Russo?”

I had to think about it for a moment. “I do. Following the road, correct?”

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