Page 49 of My Trojan Horse Majesty

Leonid straightens, his eyes studying me more carefully. “Good question.”

“Are you going to answer it?”

“We’ll have a lot of time while we’re shopping,” he says. “I can start to answer it, anyway.”

“Start?” Now I’m annoyed. “I can tell you why I was there in ten seconds. I’d borrowed my stepdad’s trailer, and I had to return it.”

“But you also wanted to ask them to borrow money so you could bail out your boyfriend,” he says. “The reason you didn’t return the trailer or ask them for money is that you were distracted by the stallion. But you were distracted so easily, because you didn’t want to ask them for money, and you were looking for a chance to get out of it.” He shrugs. “Most questions have a more complex answer than the one we give. I’m just telling you that before I answer, I need to lay the groundwork so my answer makes sense.”

“Spoken like a politician preparing to perjure himself.”

He smiles. “I’m planningnotto perjure myself. That’s what is going to take some time.”

“Tell me this.” I can’t help thinking of his solution to everything—kill people. He’s powerful, he has no compunctions eliminating people when they get in his way. I can’t forget the diplomatic immunity he’s often mentioned either. “Did you harm anyone in my family?”

“No. In fact, when I left, I believe they were all in good health.”

“Do youplanto harm anyone in my family?”

He tilts his head, like he’s saluting me. “Another good question, and also no. I don’t have any plans to harm your family in any way.”

“Then I suppose you can answer the rest in a long way if you like.” I shake my finger at him. “But it’s suspicious, and right now, I’m already doubting my judgment. Don’t give me a reason to dump you on the side of the road.”

“Oh, I don’t want you to dump me at all.” The way he says it, the way he’s looking at me, almost makes me think he’s talking aboutdumpingdumping me. But that’s—I’m beginning to think the czar’s just a little flirty. I wonder whether that’s why so many women love him. I’m not about to become another bank manager.

So I ignore his innuendo. “We should go, then. You definitely need an upgrade to your wardrobe. It’s basically a miracle no one recognized you at the car dealership. If they had, you never could have livedthisdown.” I can’t help my smirk.

“Fewer Americans than you might think actually watch the world news,” he says. “I’ve gone many places without being recognized.”

“That’s sadly true,” I say.

“Even so, I really need new shoes. If I don’t get some soon, I may need new feet.”

I chuckle at that, and I grab the cobra key. “If your feet hurt that badly, it’s a safety issue. I’m driving.”

He, wisely, doesn’t argue, but his smile tells me he thought about it.

“You know, we do need to get this connection between us severed.” I unlock the car. “I can’t just follow you around so you don’t pass out.”

Leonid climbs in the passenger side while I take the driver’s seat. “And I need to be able to use my magic without touching you, but I do like the excuse.” He drops his hand over mine.

I snatch it away. “None of that.”

He smiles. “Why not? You don’t like it?”

“I need room to breathe,” I say. “You’re already taking over my life. I just got rid of Tim.” I realize as I say it that I mean it. If this had happened a week ago, I’d have been inconsolable. Now that he’s gone, it’s freeing.

I’m not depressed.

I’m not even sad. I hadn’t realized how much he hampered my ability to grow, to breathe, to be myself.

“Fine.” He shrugs. “I’ll respect your space.” He whispers, “For now.”

I back out of the parking spot and head for the exit, but only then does it occur to me. . .I have no idea where we should go. “What kinds of clothes do you usually wear?”

He shrugs. “Nice ones.”

I should have guessed. “Suits?”

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