Page 15 of Royally Wed
My eyes are up here, Princess.“I just told you I don’t have any intentionof speaking to the press. Or anyone else, for that matter.”
“Good,” she said a little too flippantly for Asher’s taste. “Putting that promise in writing shouldn’t be a problem.”
Asher threw his hands in the air. “You win.”
If she wanted him to sign something, he’d do it. He had enough troubles of his own without adding her into the mix. Today would be his first day of rehearsal, which meanthe’d be spending it alongside Jeremy and Serena. It’d also be the first time he’d play his cello in public since he’d dropped out of sight.
He wasn’t ready.
So he should play nice with the princess and move on to more important matters, like salvaging his career. She obviously wanted to pretend the incident in the church had never happened. And that was fine with him.
Yet, for some insane reason,he heard himself say, “Can I just ask if you’re okay, though? I’ve been worried about you.”
“I’m perfectly fine.” She pinned him with a glare.
Then, as if the morning couldn’t get any worse, James chose that awkward moment to come striding into the room. “Good morning, Mr. Reed. I...”
He stopped speaking abruptly when he caught sight of Princess Amelia standing there in her silk kimono,which Asher figured must be the royal version of a bathrobe. He rather liked it. It accentuated her curves far better than terry cloth ever could.
Not that he had any business noticing her curves, or thinking about them when he should be coming up with a reasonable excuse for her to be standing next to his bed.
James’s gaze flitted back and forth between them. He blinked. Then he seemed to recoverfrom his shock and bowed. “Good morning, Your Royal Highness.”
“Good morning, James.” Her expression was suddenly as regal as if she were wearing a ball gown and tiara.
The page started backing out of the room. “I didn’t mean to interrupt...”
“You’re not interrupting anything.” The princess’s gaze flitted briefly to Asher’s bare chest again. She blinked. Hard. “Mr. Reed had some troublewith Willow and called out for help. I came to his rescue.”
Asher rolled his eyes and wished Willow would growl again, or at least open her eyes. Nope. The corgi had shifted so that her head was nestled on his pillow. She couldn’t have looked more harmless if she’d tried. “It wasn’t exactly a rescue.”
Amelia ignored him and aimed an innocent smile atJames. “He was screaming for help.”
Thepage shot Asher a sympathetic look. “It’s a rather common occurrence, Mr. Reed. Willow’s a handful. Nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I’m not ashamed.” He slid his gaze to the princess and lifted a brow. “Because I wasn’t screaming.”
“If you insist. But we both know I wouldn’t have set foot in your room if I hadn’t thought you were being mauled in here.”
Asher sighed.
Apparently, the excuse forher lingering presence in his room was going to involve a dose of humiliation on his part.
“Fine.” He crossed his arms. “I feared for my life. Thank you for saving me, Your Royal Highness.”
“It was my pleasure.”
I’ll bet.Asher motioned toward Willow. “I still can’t figure out how the little monster got in here.”
“Rule number one of Buckingham Palace. They have their run of the building. Prettymuch every area has a doggy door activated by motion sensor. No room is off limits,” Princess Amelia said.
James nodded. “That information was in the packet I emailed you prior to your arrival, Mr. Reed.”
“Yes, but that packet was a lot to absorb. I seem to have missed a few points.” Namely the part about the dogs. And the bowing. And the godforsaken nondisclosure agreement.
Nothing about thisplace was remotely normal.
“I’m sure you’ll catch on soon enough.” The princess winked at him and sashayed out of his room. Willow hoppedoff the bed and scurried after her.
