Page 3 of Regally Binding

“Felicity, you’d better not still be listening to the King. My only grandchild is usually so obedient when her poor grandma needs her,” Nana Bets whined down the phone. Liss ground her teeth. Her nana’s guilt-tripping tactics were legendary.

“Don’t worry about the lunchtime rush,” Greg said, understanding her reluctance. “Mr. Employee of the Month can cover it.”

“I’m not doing toilets,” Steve grumbled. Liss stared at the two of them. She always cleaned the toilets. Her job used to make her feel valued, but not recently.

Isla gasped. “The King is talking about abdicating in the future because he’s unwell.”

“And I have something further,” the King continued. “I believed this would remain private my entire life, but I’m nearing death due to a complicated illness, and I must share something personal because it has implications for the country.”

That one statement stopped the teenagers from kissing. They stared at the screen as people drifted through the doors, instantly drawn to the news.

“Felicity,” her nana pressured.

“Fine,” Liss grumbled, hanging up and sauntering around the bar, locating her bag and keys.

Liss tiptoed to the door, stalling to catch the King’s announcement. Since Liss’s mum died four years earlier, she always responded to her demanding grandma when she called, but Isla’s enthusiasm about the announcement and her grandma’s command she not watch it had piqued her curiosity.

Liss grabbed the edge of the door as the King said, “Nearly forty-five years ago, while I was a prince and learning about my country, I met a woman studying dance at a nearby college, and we fell in love. Our secret relationship was brief, but it broke my heart when I had to choose between her and the throne.”

Everyone gawked at the television.

“After lengthy discussions,” he continued, “we agreed that royal life wasn’t for her and that my calling took precedence for me. However, this week, I learned that she gave birth to my childafter we split. Elizabeth Mead, the woman I once loved, later became Guinevere Granger.”

Isla and Steve gasped in Liss’s direction as she speed-dialled her grandma, still gawking in the direction of the King.

He slowly sipped water before continuing, although his voice remained gruff, and his eyes appeared glassy. “She was my sweet Bets.”

“Nana, we really have to talk!” Liss shouted down the phone as she bolted through the door.

Chapter Two

A black Bentley sat outside the pub on double yellow lines. It was a joke between Isla and Liss that her grandma had friends in high places, but the King’s revelation thrust that into a new light. The spring sunshine glinted off the paintwork, straining Liss’s eyes, but she made out the personal number plate that shouted luxury. It was totally out of place in her dog-eared neighbourhood.

One of the back passenger windows lowered, and her nana’s pinched face popped out of it. Her make-up was immaculate, as always. The years spent performing in ballet shows enabled her to draw attention to her doll-like eyes and cute button nose. She’d tried to impart her make-up skills to Liss several times, but the information never stuck. The flawless make-up and coiffured hair were the last straw. Her grandma must have spent hours perfecting her look when she should have shared crucial information.

“You have so much explaining to do. What the actual hell, Nana?” Liss cried out.

Her grandma glared at her from the open window.

“We don’t have time for one of your tantrums. Get in the car, Felicity,” she snapped. Liss learned her brusque manners from her grandma, although she saved them for critical pub situations to avoid offending others.

The passenger door flew open. Liss folded her arms with a humph to avoid stamping her foot. Her grandma always brought out the teenager in her. It was lucky they had so little to do with each other. Liss let her nana get away with her behaviourto keep her only family happy in case she was left with no one. The door wasn’t closing anytime soon, and arguing with her grandma, who won every battle, was pointless, but Liss took her time climbing into the car.

She pushed up the sleeves of her hoodie as she sat in the backseat. “This is fu–”

Three pairs of eyes whipped her way.

“Get in the middle,” her nana demanded with flaring nostrils. “Bear, get out and go around. I don’t want to be sandwiched between you two.”

The dark-haired stranger with big brown eyes and impressive broad shoulders grunted before getting out and walking around to her side. Liss barely resisted the temptation to touch his arms to check his body wasn’t just padding as he climbed in beside her.

Nana Bets smoothed her classically tailored skirt, took a deep breath, and waved to an empty pavement as if she were the queen while the car pulled away from the curb.

Liss’s blood boiled. “Who are these guys, and where the bloody hell did you get a Bentley?”

Bear’s body pressed against hers. He widened his thighs, forcing hers to close. There wasn’t enough space for his hulking body and certainly not enough to mansplay—the audacity of the guy.

Her grandma hissed, “Less attitude from you, young lady. I will explain all later, but for now, be quiet."

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