Page 4 of Legal Attraction

Nico raised his eyebrows. “She’s unattainable. And she’s pretty special so don’t even go there if you’re not planning to make good on your promises, spoken or unspoken.” His eyes turned serious and strong and for a flash, Rand saw the king in him. He respected that. “Just wondered. She’s stunning; every guy here sees that.”

“If you can’t see past that, you’re missing the real treasure there, but I don’t imagine you’ll be seeing much more of her. I’m surprised she showed her face here.” He pulled out his phone and texted something then pocketed it.

ChapterThree

Coral sat at a table full of princes and breathed out some of her stress. She was safe in the Palisades. Every person at that table had a highly trained security detail. And hers would arrive within the hour. Her parents would be unhappy she’d not come to see them. She’d not even visited their island. But losing that anonymity was worth it in this case; she’d worked too long for the relatively normal life she’d led to let it be ruined by a few guys following her around in their car. Now that she’d let on she was in Greece, her security would know soon who they were and what they were up to. Her father’s body guards didn’t mess around.

“Coral. I didn’t think we were going to see you around here for awhile.” Prince Barak, sitting next to her, downed his water and waved for more. “There’s a lot going on you might want to steer clear of.” He glanced down the table at the new guy sitting by Nico.

“Who is he?”

“I don’t know him, but there’s some bad blood around here and we’re some of the few who refuse to hide in our palaces.”

“Have there been threats?” She wondered if her parents too had been threatened.

“Yes, and open hostility in some cases.”

“I came here alone, didn’t tell anyone. But I’ve been followed twice now.”

“So you came to Palisades?” He raised his eyebrows then nodded. “Good choice actually. There are enough guns in the hands of experts here to fend off almost anything.”

She raised her glass. “Here’s to security detail.”

Barak laughed. “I guess we’re not trying to outwit them any more are we?”

She bumped him with her shoulder. “Those were good times.” Barak was a handsome man. He’d been a squirrely, funny sort of boy but he’d filled out and chiseled up and she’d had more than a few crushes on him. But he’d been on and off with Demi, another in their circle, so often that she sort of figured they were a done deal when they finally realized what everyone else already knew.

The staff started bringing out everyone’s food. Partway through her sandwich, she knew that the new guy was watching. When she glanced up, he was always turned the other direction, but she knew the feeling of a man’s eyes on her, and his definitely were. He was tall, broad. It was rare to find a man who fit in with a group of Greek island royals. But he held his own. The broad shoulders, the olive skin, the bright eyes. From where she sat, she couldn’t tell if they were green or blue. She’d seen it all before, been raised with these men as though they were cousins. Their top ten handsomest man potential had less effect on her than it might on another. But there was something about this new man. His tie was in a unique knot. She nodded. So he liked to be different in classy ways. He held himself carefully, meticulously. His face looked almost…stern. He and Nico were discussing something in an partially heated way and then his face broke into a smile. Their laughs carried down the table and Coral had to appreciate the power of all that handsome facing her direction. She looked behind her.

And then groaned.

In a ridiculously cliché manner, a group of her old girlfriends approached. The princesses. She hated to be called that and hated more if she ever had to be clumped together with them. But separately, a few of them were actually really cool and people she could rely on. Barak stood. And then the others joined him.

Some kind of ruckus from the other room interrupted them. And then gunshots outside the window. The princes were immediately surrounded. Everyone had their detail sending them to the ground expect for Coral and the new man. Then his hands were on her and they were laying on the ground, with his body slightly over hers and crouching.

He was solid, no softness in any part of the chiseled muscle that touched her.

“What are you doing?”

“Keeping us safe.”

“Are you a bodyguard?”

“No, but I’ve had military training.”

An explosion sounded. His hands covered her head. Coral couldn’t tell if it was inside or outside the Palisades. But then all their group were on their feet ducking and running toward the back of the building. She and the man followed. She’d heard there was a bomb shelter. And a system of safe houses. They piled into a smaller room, everyone showing badges at the door. She and the man were stopped. But Nico called from inside. That’s Princess Coral.”

They turned to the man at her side but she shook her head. “He’s with me.”

He raised his eyebrows. Did she detect a hint of humor in response to her claim?

“You flatter me.” He winked.

Her eyes smiled back at him. A man who could find humor in dangerous situations. She liked that.

The room blocked most sound. And Coral didn’t like their position. “Who knows what’s going on outside?” The whole place could be bombed. Fire. Invasion. Her heart raced until the next breath felt so tight it was painful.

Nico had the best security on the Mediterranean, run by his brother Lucan. She moved to stand next to him. The man followed. Nico would have the most information. “What does Lucan know?”

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