Page 19 of Deadwood
“Please, do enlighten me on why,” I said, trying to distract him. I truly didn’t care about his reason for staying in the castle, I only needed to get the healing vial from the drawer he was currently blocking.
He tried to hide his smirk, like it was funny to him that I was bothered by his presence. “I have some meetings to attend before I return home.”
“You mean like the one you forced yourself into earlier?”
The only thing that gave away his surprise that I knew he wasn’t meant to be there was the pause in his response. “Eavesdropping, are we, Princess?”
I scoffed. What was everyone’s problem with that?
My eyes narrowed slightly. “Whereisyour home, anyway?” It was foolish of me to ask, but I’d never met him before, and I was overly curious for no good reason.
This time, he failed to hide the lift of his mouth. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
My jaw nearly dropped at his slight insinuation—that I was being nosy for something other than innocent reasons.
Moving on.
“Why doesn’t my father like you?”
“Shouldn’t that be a question to ask your father?” His tone seemed bored, like he’d rather be doing anything else than standing here chatting with me.
He wasn’t the only one.
I only wanted a snack and to heal my burns. Then I’d be back in my room feeling an immense amount better and finally get the rest I craved.
“I’m asking you.”
Bowen shoved off the counter, grabbing an apple from the bowl on the island before tossing it in the air once, his eyes admiring the shine on the red fruit as he turned it over in his fingers. “So many questions for a stranger.” He hummed. “I’d think you were trying to distract me from something. Perhaps why you’re really in here?”
My lips rolled together as I adjusted the cardigan over my shoulder, making sure it wouldn’t slip down my arm. I shouldn’t have thought I could get away with diverting his attention.
“I’m only here for a snack,” I said innocently.
His thumb rubbed aimlessly over the fruit. “Little late for a snack, isn’t it?”
I eyed the apple. “Not for you, it seems.”
He spun the drupe in his fingers. “Go on, then. Grab what you’re here for.”
He was challenging me, all too curious as to why I was really in the kitchen while everyone else slept. Even my guard had turned in for the night, the only ones awake posted outside the castle walls.
Swallowing my nerves, I crossed the kitchen to him with as much confidence as I could muster, hiding my hands in the sleeves of my cardigan to ensure he didn’t see the bruises. I stood directly in front of him, with mere inches separating his chest from mine. His head cocked ever so slightly, studying me.
His breath was a ghost across my cheek as he stared down at me. This was a bad, bad idea. If anyone were to walk in and word got back to my father, he’d never let me be without a guard again. Worse, I feared what he might do to Bowen.
“You’re in my way,” I stated, breaking the tense silence hanging thick in the air between us.
He took one small step to the left, keeping his eyes trained ahead. I stepped forward and reached for the handle, pulling open the drawer. Quickly, in the hopes he wouldn’t see what I grabbed, I pocketed a healing vial and closed it again.
When he didn’t speak up, I turned around, heading for the exit.
“Now, why would a princess need a healing vial in the middle of the night?” Bowen asked, stopping me in my tracks.
I inhaled deeply, clutching the sleeve of my cardigan. “It’s a good thing I’m not a princess or I’d be wondering the same thing.”
Before he could question me further, I hurried out of the kitchen and toward my room.
On my way, I mentally kicked myself for asking where he lived.
