Page 35 of Broken Prince

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Even if I didn't really expect him to talk to me for the rest of the day, I still felt disappointed at his silence.

In this case, I knew that his silence said a lot. He got scared—of what, I wasn’t sure.

Working alone in the garden today had been difficult. I was sore and weary on top of my disappointment at Luca’s reaction, so I retreated after dinner to enjoy some TV.

I took a hot shower to try to ease my muscles and settled on top of my bed with a gigantic bowl of popcorn.

I was about to start the show when I heard a gentle rap on my door.

My heart jumped in my chest at the thought of Luca coming to my room.

“Come in,” I called, sitting straighter on the bed.

I couldn't help the little pinch of disappointment I felt at seeing Dom enter the room. I just hoped it didn't show on my face.

“Ah, sorry I’m not the one you want to see.”

Okay, maybe it did. That wasn’t good; I liked Dom. He was such a sweet, gentle person.

“No, I’m just surprised to see anyone.” I pointed to my pastries-covered flannel pajamas. “I’m not really dressed for visitors.”

He seemed to be blushing a little but I couldn’t be sure under the dim light. “Yes, sorry, it’s still early. I just thought—” He cleared his throat and jerked his thumb toward the door. “I’ll just go. We can speak in the morning.”

“No!” I jerked straighter on my bed, almost sending my popcorn to the floor. I was always so alone here, and I was craving a little company. I sat cross-legged on the middle of the bed and pointed to the peach-colored chair close to my bed. “Sit down, please. I like your company.”

He walked in and smiled with relief. “Me too.”

“So what can I help you with?” I asked after he sat down. He looked so…foreign in this room.

Here, everything was light and delicate and he was a big man, all dark with a black suit—the difference between him and the decor was striking.

He leaned back in his chair and smiled. Dom’s smile was so carefree, so lovely. How was it that Luca and he were so different?

“It’s actually more what I can help you with.”

“Okay?”

“Luca asked me to help you with the garden.”

“Oh.” I couldn’t help the powerful deflation that filled me with his words. Somehow part of me hoped that Luca would come around and come to the gardens tomorrow. “You don’t have to. I can manage. You have enough work, I’m sure.”

He gave me a half-smile and a side-look that seemed to say ‘I see right through your bullshit.’ “I don’t mind. I’m bored out of my skull here most of the time. As you can see we never have visitors and the security is like Fort Knox, so you know…” He shrugged. “Doing a bit of yard work will be a welcome distraction.”

“Are you Mafia too?” I blurted out. I stopped wide-eyed; what the hell was wrong with me?

He let out a startled laugh. “Did you really just ask me that?”

“What?” I shook my head. “No…yes… Maybe?” I winced.

He chuckled with a shake of his head. “Yes, I am. Well—” He cocked his head to the side. “I guess you can say I’m on leave. I’m Luca’s security.”

I nodded silently. If Luca’s out of it, so was he. It made sense.

“What are you watching?” he asked, jerking his head toward the screen that was paused on a basketball game.

I was grateful for the change of subject. I was worried I'd made things even more awkward.

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