Page 72 of A Girl and HER Prince
“So you want to see what I see?” he asked her. “A warrior who got knocked down and she’s getting back up. That’s the real courage. And your bracelet? That’s an opportunity—it’s exciting that you haven’t explored the world yet—everything will be new and refreshing. The whole world is waiting for you, and you can fill this bracelet with charms when you’re through with it.” He flicked the tiny dolphin with his thumb.
Steve let out a loud bellow and rested his head on the bed next to Livvy. She rubbed the donkey’s soft ears absentmindedly as she tried to take in every kind thing Venice was telling her. Was this really a chance to live again?
What other opportunities were waiting for her? Her eyes met his just as the donkey went searching in his pockets for a treat. Venice shoved him away. Steve playfully nipped at him. “Steve!” he complained. “That’s my face.” Steve didn’t care. He went at him again. Groaning, Venice finally climbed over Livvy to get away. He sat on the other side of her. “Steve’s all yours, Livvy.”
The donkey didn’t mind a bit. He wrapped his neck around her like he was trying to comfort her. The sweetie must’ve been concerned about her screams earlier, because he was rubbing his nose against her arm and giving her the closest thing to a hug that she’d ever gotten from an animal. She patted his back. “Thanks, Steve!”
“Hey, Steve.” Venice moved his arm past Livvy’s stomach to knead the donkey’s soft head. “No fast moves. That’smygirl.”
A rush of pleasure shot through her. For the first time, she actually believed he was sincere.
“Hey, Livvy?” His finger hitched around her bracelet again. He wasn’t through with her yet. “I’m sure your father would be proud of you. You were savage with that air tank.”
That did it. Her eyes watered again. She threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Venice.”
His fingers tightened over her back. “Take a chance on me,” he murmured into her ear. “Let me be a part of your adventures.”
She inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of him, feeling the familiar structure of his strong neck as it rested against hers. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’d love nothing more. I don’t just like kissing you, Venice. I likeyou!”
Did she just say that? Yup. A grin took over Venice’s face. Before he could do anything about her admission, Steve hollered at them both. Apparently, he took exception to them ignoring him like this. His head tipped back and he peeled his lips away from his two gopher teeth to reveal a sneer that was supposed to be terrifying, but was pure comedy.
“Don’t get mouthy with me, Steve,” Venice said. “You aren’t even supposed to be here. One wrong move and you’re going back to the barn.”
The donkey planted his nose into Livvy’s side, showing them exactly how little he thought of such threats before he began to sniff at her hair.
A bubble of laughter escaped Livvy at Steve’s spirited search for treats and turned into something merrier when the donkey snatched away her blanket again. Venice tried to protect her—his hand landed against her knee while Steve licked the side of his cheek. He made a face and hid behind Livvy. “That’s it! I draw the line at kissing. Livvy! This is your donkey. Call him off!”
The next sound out of her mouth was a straight-up belly laugh. The spirited back-and-forth was exactly what she needed to make her feel better about that earthquake.
Venice stared at her in amazement. “Do that again!”
“What?”
“That belly laugh,” he said. She covered her mouth in embarrassment. “No, it’s cute. I love it.” Venice’s arm slid around her. Giving Steve a narrowed look, he rescued her hair from his nibbling, only to start playing with it himself.
She let herself relax at the soothing touch. After seeing his sincerity for herself, she felt perfectly safe snuggling into his side. His eyes landed on the painting on the wall across from her. “Are those spiders?” he asked.
“Ants,” she said.
He sat up, his body taut.
“Yeah, weird, huh?” She tilted her head at it, trying to figure out what they meant. “Achilles has those ants on his heel.”
“No, he doesn’t.”
“Yes, he does!” Why was he fighting her on this? And why was he acting so spooked? Something more was going on. “I saw them there when he took off his shoes on the boat.”
“Those are beetles on his heel,” he said, “notants.”
“You want to bet?” She knew ants when she saw them. “We’ll ask him next time we see him. How about that?”
“No…” he sputtered. “Livvy, you don’t understand. You don’t know what those ants mean over there.” He pointed to the painting. “That’s the symbol of the Myrdons.” She held her breath as his eyes locked with hers. “This mansion belongs to the people who want me dead.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Friday, August 24th
None of this was a coincidence.
