Page 66 of Reckless King

So I step forward and pull her into my arms, relaxing when hers go around me and she lets me hold her. “Are you okay? Did they upset you?”

She shakes her head. “They just asked a lot of questions and took photos of the shop. I asked them to stop, but they just kept asking about you—aboutus. I wasn’t sure how to handle it, so that’s why I?—”

“You did exactly the right thing. I want you to call me.”

“Thank you for sending those men. Once they cleared the reporters out, I told them they could go, but they insisted on staying until you got here. They’re scaring customers away though, so if you could ask them to leave, I’d appreciate it.”

I stroke her loose hair away from her face. “I’m not sending them away.”

“What do you mean?” Jarrod speaks up before Violet has a chance to.

I shoot him a look that has him ducking his head and picking up where Violet left off with slicing the bread.

I turn my attention back to her. “You need the protection. I should have had them here from the start.”

She steps back and shakes her head. “They’ll scare away all the customers.”

With a gentle tug, I pull her back into my chest. I lower my head and murmur into her ear so Jarrod can’t hear me. “I made a promise. That if you helped me with this, it would help your business. I won’t let you be harassed because of it, and I won’t scare your customers off.”

She looks up at me and keeps her voice low, like mine. “Then what are you suggesting?”

“These guys are experts. They can blend in, act like customers. Give one of them a laptop, a corner table in the back, and a supply of your incredible coffee, and no one will notice him.”

“You don’t think I overreacted about it all?”

I shake my head. “Absolutely not.”

Behind her, Jarrod gives me another skeptical once-over, but then he heads out front with the freshly sliced bread.

“You don’t think they’ll go away now and not bother coming back?” This time, she pulls away a step.

Another shake of my head. “They’ll be back. They only care about the story, and the black sheep of the King family’s unexpected engagement is a story they’ll milk for as long as they can.”

She wraps her arms around her waist and studies the floor between us. I should do the right thing and tell her she can back out of the agreement if that’s what she wants. She didn’t sign up to be my fiancée, and she has every right to reject the change. Wehaven’t signed the amended contract yet, so she’d be within her rights to refuse to continue. But I won’t bring it up. Because the truth is, I don’t want this to end. Having someone to care about is strangely addictive. I don’t want to stop pretending Violet is mine just yet.

She looks back up at me and straightens her shoulders. “Okay. I’m not thrilled about it, but I won’t turn down security if this is going to keep happening. I just…” She sighs and rubs her forehead, then gives me a tired smile. “I guess I just wasn’t prepared for… well, any of this. But I suppose it’s all part of it, right?”

I smile benignly. “I’m glad you’re being logical about it, because you’ll also be moving into my penthouse with me tonight.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

VIOLET

Istare at him, holding my breath, while my brain processes his words. “Um, what?”

He smiles down at me, eyes glittering. “When I called Pinnacle and had them send a team here, I also instructed them to swing past your apartment block. There are reporters loitering around outside there as well. I’m not going to let you get harassed at home, so you’re moving into my penthouse for the duration of this… agreement.”

A tremor runs through me at the thought of being with Tate in his penthouse, night after night. Spending time with him here and in public is one thing, but spending every evening in each other’s company? After the night at the club and the kisses we’ve shared since? It’s a terrible idea. “I appreciate the sentiment. But I really don’t think it’s necessary.”

“You don’t, huh? You like the idea of making your way through a crowd of reporters every day just to get in and out of your building? I’ve seen the security at your apartment block. It’s nonexistent. Do you really want to deal with that? Do your neighbors? Your landlord?”

“I could always st?—”

He cuts me off with a shake of his head. “If you’re about to suggest staying with Mark or your friend, don’t bother. We’re engaged remember. How would it look if people find out you’re staying anywhere other than with me?”

I grit my teeth and force down my frustration. He has a point. “Fine. But only until the press loses interest.”

Tate cups my jaw and tips my face up to his. “Hate to break it to you, butterfly, but they won’t lose interest in you until this arrangement is over. After all,” a hint of that familiar smirk creases his cheeks, “you’re the woman who stole the heart of New York’s most notorious playboy. They want to know everything about you.”

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