Page 12 of It Takes a Thief
“How did you end up in New York?”
“I left in order to find myself. If that makes sense?” He nods. “In Arcadia, everyone knows me as Princess Merritt. So, I chose a faraway land where no one knows me or has ever heard of Arcadia. A place with a ton of people where I could just blend in and figure out who I am, what I want. Where I could just be me.”
“Did it work?”
“I suppose I’m still searching, and that’s why I’m not ready to return home for good.”
“You could say fuck it all. Never go back. Of course, you didn’t hear that from me.” His mouth edges up.
“No. I’d miss my parents too much. I know they mean well, and I promised I’d return if I didn’t find someone special. If I did, though, then I could live wherever I want until they step down from their royal duties and ruling Arcadia passes to me.”
“So, you’re dragging your feet.”
“I still have two weeks,” I remind him.
“May as well start packing, Princess,” he says dryly, leaning back in his seat and stretching his long legs out.
“You don’t believe in love at first sight?” Of course, a jaded man like him doesn’t. Why did I even ask?
“You wanna know what I believe?” He turns his head in my direction. “Love makes people do stupid shit and then it breaks you into a million little pieces.”
“That’s a tragic view.”
He shrugs a shoulder and crosses his massive arms. “I’ve seen it happen.”
“But it doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes it’s…magic.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” I can’t miss the cynical look on his hard face. “But, if I were you, I’d call movers tomorrow.”
His words make me sad, but, at the same time, make me want to prove him wrong. I’ve always believed in love and hoped to find it one day.
Well, now I have fourteen days. And I’ll go down searching.
While Linc slumps further into the seat and closes his eyes, mouth turned down in a sexy scowl, I pull out my phone and open the dating app. I find myself scrolling for a man who’s tall, dark and ruggedly handsome. Maybe even a bodyguard who looks slightly grumpy.
I end up connecting with a guy named Elliot. He works at a bank and likes to travel. It’s hard to tell how tall he is in his picture, but I’m guessingnotalmost six-five. Not even close. I send him a message and cross my fingers. New York is six hours behind, and he responds almost right away. After messaging back and forth a few times, he tells me tomorrow is his day off, so we set up a coffee date.
With high hopes, I close the app and snuggle down in my seat. Maybe Elliot Arnold will turn out to be the love of my life. Or maybe I’m just deluding myself and, like Linc said, dragging my feet.
I let out a soft sigh and look over at the slumbering lion accompanying me on the flight. God, he’s imposing. And so ridiculously sexy. Even resting, power rises from him like heat off pavement. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to have a man like that interested in me.
You’ll never know. You’re just a job to him.
Sadly, the reality sets in—just because I’m a princess doesn’t mean I get a happy ending.
Chapter Six: Linc
After landing safely at LaGuardia, I secure a rental SUV for us and load Merritt’s luggage into the back. The princess doesn’t travel lightly, and my arms have gotten a nice workout on this trip. Fine by me since this job has my workout schedule all over the place. Normally, I’m a creature of habit, up at the crack of dawn and exercising, but I’ve been too busy to do that since the shift from stealing valuables to protecting one.
Merritt tells me her address, and I plug it into the GPS. It’s morning rush hour and traffic is going to be a bitch, but that’s New York City. At least it gives me something to focus on because the moment we arrived, I began feeling out of sorts. I haven’t been back to this city since I grew up here. No reason to return. Because the memories? Yeah, they aren’t the best.
Two weeks, Decker. You can manage fourteen days in this place with a gorgeous princess.
I sure fucking hope so, anyway.
“What’s wrong?” Merritt asks. She must notice something is off with me because I’ve barely said two words. Since I’m not a big talker, I’m a little surprised at how she’s able to read me so well. I refuse to dump my screwed-up past on her, though. Time to put the focus back on her.
“Just thinking about how you’ve said you don’t think you need a bodyguard. How you believe the attempted kidnapping was random.”
