Page 109 of Royal Fling
“But everyone’s moved back home. Isn’t that what you wanted, Mom? Charlie is here, and he’s engaged. Leo just bought a house down the road. What more do you want?”
She didn’t get a chance to answer. A screech cut across the room, and I turned to look at a petit ginger storm walk into the room, running up to me.
The man was gorgeous with bright green eyes and freckles wherever there was skin. I closed my eyes bracing for impact, but it never came. He stopped short of me and curtsied.
“Oh my God. There’s a real-life prince in my house. Someone pinch me. Someone pinch me,” he said.
Luke did, on the neck.
“Ouch,” he groaned, but he wasn’t defeated. He turned back to me and smiled. “Your Highness. I've heard so much about you. It’s so nice to meet you.”
“Pleased to meet you, Kyle,” I said.
“Oh my God! Oh my God! He knows my name. He knows my name!” Kyle fanned his face.
“Kyle, honey, you're embarrassing yourself,” Luke told him.
“Hey!” Andy groaned. “Only I'm allowed to say that.” Andy went to stand behind his boyfriend and planted a kiss on the back of his head.
That was sweet. That was adorable, actually. I couldn't believe a guy like Andy, so grumpy and abrupt, had landed a guy like Kyle. What an odd pair.
“Are you staying in town? Please tell me you're staying in town. Can we parade you around or are you here incognito? We’ve got experience with incognito. Leo and Dawson are here all the time, and everyone just keeps hush hush about it. Unless, of course, you want to be here publicly, in which case we can shout it from the rooftops. Although, I don’t know if there are any rooftops nearby—” Kyle rumbled.
“Kyle? Shut up,” Luke said.
“Iamstaying. I don't know where yet, but I’d like to,” I said.
“What kind of silly question is that? You’ll stay here, of course,” Marina said, and everyone nodded, excitedly. “You’re family now.”
I had to admit, I felt like it. The way everyone was treating me. The way everyone acted around me. It was surreal, but at the same time it was fun, and it was nice. I liked people not fussing about me. Or people getting the etiquette all wrong. It was sweet.
“Uhm, no. He’s not staying here,” Luke said.
All heads snapped at him, as did mine.
Did he not want me here?
“And neither am I,” Luke said.
“What are you talking about? There’s plenty of space. Where will you go?” Marina asked.
Luke stared into my eyes and raised his eyebrows.
“We’ll stay at Melody’s. We need our privacy. We’ve got… things to talk about,” he said, and now I got it.
He wanted to be with me.
And, fuck, so did I.
So after a few more moments, he told his family we were going, I told them I’d be back for food later, and he practically dragged me back out of the house. He directed Nikolas through town until we got to the beachfront.
The sea was blue, there were palm trees lining the main street, and there were people from all walks of life going about their business.
I liked it here. It was cozy. It was sweet. I could live here if Luke wanted to.
He took me to a large building, Melody’s Bed and Breakfast, and walked up to reception.
“Hey Luke. Hi August,” a woman said.
