Page 71 of Keep Her from Them

“Ye leave.”

She dropped her gaze. “Yeah, that. I should call my dad.”

“Use my phone. I’ll go out into the hall.”

“No, don’t go.”

She accepted the device from me and dialled, her eyebrows pinching in. “No answer. He can’t still be asleep. He’s an early riser, and it’s after ten. I’ll try the house again.”

She called a second number, and a male voice answered this time. Alex greeted him then frowned. “What do you mean Sarah’s there? Was he expecting her?” She listened again, and her gaze shot to mine, incredulity in her brown eyes. “Seriously? I mean, I’m glad he’s feeling better, but that’s a big surprise.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. “Okay, no problem. If he surfaces, can you please tell him I’ll speak to him later? I’ll stay out of his way. On that matter, I’ll hide out in the summerhouse rather than take my usual room down the hall. Also, if anyone calls for me, can you say I don’t want to talk?”

The faint voice of her father’s butler or whoever Alex was talking to made it to me. “Very good, ma’am. I’ll ensure the summerhouse is ready and ask that no one interrupt your solitude.”

She thanked him, hung up, and gaped at the phone. “Get this. My sick father invited his girlfriend to stay without telling anyone. She arrived this morning, and apparently, he’s asked not to be disturbed. He left a message for me saying he’s fine. Yeah, sounds that way.”

“He has a girlfriend?”

“He’s always had girlfriends. This one is a woman he knew from his university days, Sarah d’Farnacee. She was always kind to me when I was little. I like her.” She exhaled a short laugh. “He’s throwing me over for her.”

A rush of hope elbowed its way into my psyche and made a home. “How long does she usually stay?”

“She lives in Portugal with her husband. Yes, she’s married. So I can’t imagine it would be a short visit. That’s why I said I’ll stay out of their way and hole up in the summerhouse.”

“If he’s locked himself away with his lady friend, do ye really want to go there?”

“Not at all.”

“Then you’re free today.”

“I…am.”

“Spend it with me.” My heart thundered. I’d never wanted anything as much as this. Not for myself. I’d wanted good things for others, often. I worked hard for my pilot’s licence and to excel as a bodyguard. But for my heart? I’d never indulged it. It was too risky. But in this moment, the need wasn’t mine to own. I was completely in its grip.

Alex’s shoulders rose and fell. On my bed, she appeared small. “Won’t I be in the way?”

I acted out balling up paper and throwing it away. “That’s any plans I had, happily binned off. Tell me, if the week ahead is yours to do as ye want, what does that look like?”

“I suppose I need to tackle what happened in London and with my team. I also want to track down my best friend.” Her gaze lifted to mine, something cautious in her eyes. “Top of that list? I like your company.”

“I like yours, too.” I was first on her list.First.

She watched me for a long moment. “You don’t have to look after me anymore.”

“Then it’s your turn to take care of me. It’s dangerous around here.”

That world-ending smile flickered, returning. “How so?”

It was on the tip of my tongue to say loneliness. She’d been here one night, and the thought of her going away opened up a gaping chasm in my life. One I’d tiptoed around and never acknowledged. I was lonely, even in a house of family, even with the closest of friends. When I closed the door at night, I was alone. For a little while longer, I didn’t want to be.

“The dangerous beasts who are going to tease me mercilessly for bringing a princess home.”

A beat passed, then Alex’s slow smile spread. She was so beautiful my heart ached and ached some more.

“Meeting your friends? I can hardly wait.”

Ten minutes on, we were dressed and heading down the corridor to Braithar’s interior and into the great hall. Ella crossed the room, a folder of papers in her hand, and her hair frazzled. Like her famous son-in-law, she was a musician and typically distracted by her music.

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