Page 13 of Prince She Shouldn't Crave
He hadn’t provided her with his early morning routine. It wasn’t something he considered necessary. Gabriel didn’t understand why he rather liked her knowing what he did so much.
‘Pieter told me.’
Nowthatwas a surprise. Pieter was a closed book. Not even the King and Queen could get information from him. It was always polite obfuscation. However, Pieter was also an excellent judge of character…
‘When did you ask him?’
Lena tugged at the back of her bun as if adjusting the pins. ‘This morning, before we left. I thought you could have a running meeting. It’s early enough that people should be available. Plus, it fits because of the benefits exercise has on mental health. Afterwards you could offer everyone a free breakfast, if you wanted to.’
‘And you get a photo of me looking casual…’ She was clever. A simple suggestion that didn’t sound manipulative at all, except he realised when he was being manoeuvred. ‘What’s to say I don’t run in a suit?’
She snorted. ‘Because that would be ridiculous, and you aren’t in any way ridiculous. Plus, Pieter would never forgive you for doing that to one of your precious suits.’
Gabe couldn’t help himself. He laughed. Lena’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson. Such a beautiful colour on her. He wondered what her plush, full lips would look like painted the same tone, rather than a neutral gloss.
‘I’ll see if it can be arranged.’
‘I might have already raised it with your efficient private secretary.’
‘Stop managing me, Ms Rosetti,’ he said with a smile. Though he couldn’t be angry about it. He relied on his staff being proactive. Anticipating his wishes and acting on them.
‘I wouldn’t dream of doing so, Your Highness.’
She had a sneaky, self-satisfied grin on her face. As if she enjoyed her little win.
‘What’s on the agenda today, to make me look good?’
He couldn’t miss the rapid sound of her inhale. ‘I think you’re already looking quite…you know…’
She waved her hand about in his general direction. Did Lena think he looked good? That thought left him as satisfied as a cat given a bowl of cream. He shouldn’t tease but he couldn’t help himself.
‘I’m not sure I do know. Please enlighten me.’
‘Yes, well…you look very princely. Exactly like the description on the box.’ Lena nibbled on her lower lip, the slash of pink on her cheeks darkening even further. She was terrible at trying to hide what she thought, or her own embarrassment. He decided to be kind. Change the subject.
‘How was your first picture received?’
Lena blew out a long, slow breath, something like relief. ‘Very well.’
‘By whom?’
‘The public. In the main.’
‘Press?’
Since he’d been running late this morning, something entirely uncharacteristic for him, Gabriel hadn’t had the time to get Pieter to fill him in on the usual news reports before work. To be fair, Pieter had told him that Lena was up and about extremely early and Gabe had wanted to give her space without her employer around. People always switched to work mode in his presence. That was all. No other reason, such as this strange sense of challenge he seemed to experience around her and enjoyed so much, rather than everyone’s usual deference. Though he guessed challenging the palace status quo was what he’d hired her for.
Lena pulled up something on her phone, turned it to him.
He could catch some of the words, but he was still feeling…discombobulated. Out of sorts.
‘I haven’t got my glasses. Tell me what it says.’
Her eyebrows rose on her forehead. ‘I didn’t know you wore glasses.’
He didn’t. His were a handy prop, which he put on occasionally enough to give himself the excuse that he didn’t have them, should someone ask him to read something quickly. He just hadn’t worn them recently. Still, Gabe didn’t like to lie. For some reason, the sensation of discomfort over his untruth was especially acute with her. In the end, he shrugged.
Lena didn’t question his silence. She turned back to her phone screen.
