Page 39 of Royally Benevolent

I knew this trick, but he didn’t ask me. He justtook chargeand remembered our escape from weeks before. After ages of hoping for a sign that he cared about me, Wyatt took over. I was torn between freaking out over a crowd that grew by the minute and swooning over a man who rushed into action when I needed him.

A man from my detail approached.

“Bring the car around to the alley,” I whispered. “There is a way out.”

He nodded affirmatively.

I grabbed Wyatt’s hand, then dropped it.

“It’s okay,” Wyatt said. “I’ll see you soon. Just go. Get out and be free.”

“Where will you go?” I asked.

“Same place. Out the back. I’ll take a nice walk to the office. We’ll catch up soon.”

I wanted so badly to kiss him goodbye but refrained. It got more complicated every time.

22

AFTERMATH

WYATT

Aguard said, “Ma’am, we must go.”

Odette said nothing—shooting me a sweet goodbye look and marching off. I waited in the shop a few more minutes, gathering my thoughts. Why did I trip all over myself? I was hardly a hopeless teenage boy, but the last two times I’d seen her, I’d lost my train of thought more than I hadn’t.

Stephen met me back at the office.

“Are you quite alright, sir?”

I shook my head as if to do a hard reset. “Uh… I am.”

“Do you need a moment? Did the meeting go off the rails?”

I cleared my throat, “No. I need you to confirm travel details with the palace regarding the Vision 360 conference.”

Stephen raised one eyebrow. “What?”

“Princess Odette was the board member who accepted the invitation to attend with me. So, we will work with her team. I believe her person is named Karin.”

“I recall that, yes. I will reach out.” Stephen’s face suggested he was holding back.

“Yes,Stephen?”

“You’re spending a great deal of time with her. There’s… nothing going on?”

My mouth dropped.

“Well, is it out of the question? She’s an attractive young woman. You appreciate her company?”

“You sound like my mom, Stephen.”

He shrugged. “Maybe there is something there.”

“I’ve not been with anyone since Isla,” I said. “And Isla was slightly older—not what? 12 or 13 years younger? She’s too young and too sweet.”

“But you find herattractive?”

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