Page 11 of The Crown

She thought about it. “I don’t know anything about your old haunts.” Hundreds of images flashed before her eyes though, of drunken revelry and a woman on each arm. “I guess if we’re together we can have our own kind of fun, right?”

He waved her to the bathroom. “That’s my thinking. Go get ready.”

She flew through the room, throwing on a tight skirt, a fun shirt, and a pair of heels. Then she whipped a toothbrush across her teeth, added mascara and lip gloss and ran back out.

He whistled. “Now, that’s a woman who knows how to have some fun.”

A small doubt made her wonder if she should look in the long mirror, but instead she smiled and raced out the door after him. “How are we getting out?” Usually he wasn’t allowed to leave without a full security detail.

He reached for her hand. “I do this all the time.”

Warnings tightened her insides. “But don’t you think we should at least let someone know?”

Trane stepped out of the shadows and into their path. “She’s right, Nico.”

He stopped short and scowled. “Well, nowyouknow. Perfect.”

Trane crossed his arms. “No, I’m coming with you.”

Nico shook his head. “We don’t need a babysitter. I’ve got Jo. We’re good.”

Her heart shuddered. “Whoa, what do you mean, you’ve got Jo?” She stepped away. “I’mnot your babysitter, am I?”

He didn’t answer.

“Am I?” She worried again she was his Kevin, her old controlling and super responsible boyfriend.

He held his hands out, “What? No, Jo, no. It’s not like that. It’s like I said, if we are together, nothing can happen, right?”

Jo was not convinced. It’s true, that’s the way he had described it, but she didn’t want this relationship to be based on the idea that she would help him grow up, monitor and coddle him.

Trane interrupted her thoughts. “I’m just as worried about Jo getting into trouble as I am, you.”

Nico stopped and looked from one to the other, and as his eyes ran up the length of her body, she became that much more aware of him. She flushed with the rush of energy that flowed through her.

Nico’s eyes lit. “She’s gorgeous. If the others can’t handle that without keeping their distance, they’ll have to talk to me.” He shrugged and Jo’s heart fluttered with hope. “Besides, we don’t plan on being apart.” He put a hand on Trane’s shoulder. “Look Duke. We just want to go have some fun. Jo and I love to dance.” They locked eyes for a long moment. “We need this.”

Trane nodded briefly, but Nico didn’t wait for more. He took off running again. And Jo followed.

As soon as they walked in the doorway, the energy in the room coursed through her. The beat vibrated up through her shoes and the lights and the vibe of the place made her smile. “This is awesome!” She shouted.

Nico turned to her, already bouncing on his toes. “I know! Come on!” They moved around the edge of the first room and pushed through to the next. At last they arrived in a smaller space, a bouncer stood at the door, but he let them pass without even a glance.

The person right behind her was stopped though. “I’m with them.”

She turned, but didn’t recognized him at all.

“Sure you are. The Prince of Morocco, are you?” the guard shoved him away. “Royals only.”

Surprised, she met Nico’s eyes.

“Sometimes it’s easiest just to use the Royals only room.”

She nodded, somewhat relieved. A bit of the tension that Trane had caused in her gut began to ease away. What could go wrong in a room full of royals?

A new song started with a solid beat. She and Nico, as one, ran for the center of the floor. As soon as the crowd recognized him, a great cheer rose all around them. “Nico!” They made room for the two of them. Girl after girl tried to join them, but Nico angled his body away, turned from them, and one time even shook his head. Soon they gave up and only scowled at Jo when they thought she wasn’t paying attention.

They moved and jumped and played and ran and bounced and all the worries of the family, the staffers, Dahlia, and his mother faded from her mind in importance. They would make it work. She and Nico could do anything together. The music slowed, and Nico pulled her close. “Thank you Jo. We needed this.”

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