Page 13 of The Spy

He switched directions and made it to the garage. Grabbing the nearest set of keys, he clicked the button, and the baby blue convertible lights flashed.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Jo stood in the doorway, purse in hand.

“Fine.” He tossed the keys to her and ran to the jeep.

Soon he was boarded on the plane and off to Spain. This time there would be no detours. Nothing could keep him away. He sat back in great satisfaction. Then he texted Anna. “I’m coming. See you in two?”

Three dots meant she was responding. Is this what most people did? Sat around and waited for the three dots to turn to words?

“Your room is waiting.”

He smiled. The best words of his life, right there. He sat back with a huge feeling of contentment and hope, closed his eyes, and slept through the flight.

The royal Spanish car picked him up at their personal air strip. The driver bowed at the door, “Your highness.” Very shortly they were pulling into the front gates of the palace. It was an ornate, old fashioned classical place, a beauty of many centuries, and he had always liked it. As the car came to a stop, Lucan’s frown grew. “What is he doing here?”

Ferdinand stood at the base of the stairs beside Anna.

The driver turned to him. “If I may, he has not left, sir.” His tone told that perhaps even the driver wished the new hoverer would give them some space.

Lucan nodded. “Well, let’s see if we can encourage him on his way, shall we?”

The driver winked and then hopped out to open his door.

Anna rushed to him. “Lucan.” She embraced him and whispered. “I cannot believe you are here. I want to squeeze you and pinch my arms at the same time.”

“Date on the roof tonight?” He whispered back and rested his lips at the base of her ear. Gratified to see her skin pucker and raise in a trail of goosebumps, he grinned.

“Absolutely.” Then she pulled away. And they moved to enter the palace together. “You remember Ferdinand.”

Lucan nodded. “I do. You seem to never leave.”

A small gasp from Anna made him smile larger.

“There has been great need here of late. And I was the first to respond. When others could not be here, I stepped in, and happily, might I add.”

Lucan inwardly winced at the jab, but Anna’s gentle pressure at his side as they walked heartened him.

The staff brought his things into the palace, and he followed Anna. She looked up into his face, and he had to stop himself from swinging her around in his arms.

“Do you need time to freshen up or anything?”

He leaned closer. And mock growled in her ear. “I need time with you. All this formality is killing me.” He stopped walking and when Ferdinand and a few of the other staff members stopped with him, he waved them on. “As you were. Could we have a moment?”

Ferdinand frowned. “Our meetings?”

Anna smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

As soon as they were out of earshot, Lucan grumbled, “Is he your nanny now too?”

Concern flickered across Anna’s face and Lucan regretted his callous reaction.

“He has been a godsend, and I am grateful for his presence these past few weeks.”

“I’m sorry. You are right. Of all the people, I am the least qualified to moan about him.”

She smiled gently. “It’s getting better though. You are right. I will always miss her, but it’s getting better. And I’m getting used to my new role also.” She turned her eyes up to meet his, and he cringed at the pain he saw in them. “But I have dearly longed for you at my side.”

He pulled her close, not quite the swinging joyful whoop he had planned, but he tried to cradle her, protect her, steal some of her pain away. “Do you have some time? Or is your afternoon packed?”

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