Page 29 of Royally Benevolent

She did a little bow in the doorway to the foyer.

“Oh, stop, please,” Odette extended her hand. “I’m Odette. Are you Wyatt’s mother?”

“Odie, this is my mother, June Worthington. Mom, this is Odette.”

Mom stood, silent and starstruck.

“So nice to meet you,” Odette brimmed as Mom shook her hand.

“And you,” Mom choked out, nervously turning to Theo. “Theo, please go put your PJs back on and let’s go to bed. Papa has business to attend to.”

“Ugh!” Theo stomped out.

Odette giggled. “So much excitement.”

“I am so, so sorry,” I said. “We couldn’t get him to go down once security showed up. He was so excited to see people. He’s very social. And he’s not even dressed. I swear he was?—”

“It’s alright. Kari, my middle nibling, went through a very naked phase recently. Rick cannot wait to torture her with this detail in her teenage years.”

I laughed. “That’s funny. Thanks for understanding.”

“It’s nothing,” Odette said. “Now, can we talk shop?”

“Sure,” I agreed. “You want a drink? Is that allowed?”

She gave me a girlish smile. “Wyatt, I am off the leash. Yes. Do you have any wine?”

“Yes,” I agreed. “What is your preference?”

“I am craving a good, oaky red. Something vibrant.”

“I’ve got you,” I agreed. “Give me a sec. Take a seat. Make yourself comfortable.”

I showed her to the living room before running to the butler’s pantry for our upstairs wine selection. I searched until I found something well-rounded, opened it, and brought it to the living room.

“Apologies,” Odette blushed. “But… do Americans drink straight from the bottle?”

I looked down. Facepalming, I said, “Oh, shit! I forgot glasses.”

Embarrassed, I scuttled to grab two red wine glasses. “Sorry. I forgot. I don’t… I don’t have people over so often.”

I was suddenly so scatterbrained. When did I lose my mind? Was it really so unnerving to have a pretty woman sitting on my couch? I should have been on better behaviour. She was afriend. Friends don’t find one another attractive. I shouldn’t sexualise her.

Odette said graciously, “I don’t either. Asking people over is… complicated. Of course,goingsomewhere is also annoying.”

“You don’t like inviting people over, like, ‘Hey, want to come by the palace later?’”

“Not particularly.”

“Was that awkward in school?”

Odette cringed. I wondered what she objected to.

“Sorry, if that was personal?—”

“No,” Odette said. “Not to dump my life story on you, but I’m like… I was a little isolated growing up. Making friends was a challenge until university—college, as you’d say. And even then… complicated.”

“I am sorry,” I said. “I had no idea, Odie.”

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