Page 21 of Veiled Justice
The absurdness of the comment aftertalking about my dad’s death made me snort. ‘Whodoesn’tlike Dr P?’
‘I’ve never tried it,’ he admitted.
‘What?’ I asked, scandalised. ‘Are you for real?’
‘Always.’
‘Huh.’
There was another moment of silence before he offered, ‘My father didn’t believe in fizzy drinks.’
‘They’re not a ghost!’ I teased. ‘They definitely exist.’
‘Not in my diet they don’t.’
There was another small beat of silence then I couldn’t resist asking, ‘You wanna try some?’
He looked amused. ‘This feels like you’re trying to peer pressure me. Since I’m a big boy, I’ll say no.’
When he said he was a big boy my eyes inadvertently slid to his crotch. I tore them back up his fine body, but the damage was done. He’d caught my glance and I saw the pleased smirk tugging at his lips. Fucksticks.
For the second time in the short car journey, my cheeks flamed.
Chapter 12
It was cruel not to have warned my family about the identity of the second lunch guest. When I rang the doorbell, Mum answered with a wide beam that promptly faltered as she caught sight of two things: one, an ogre, and two, her daughter in the uniform of the Connection.
She assessed the situation instantly and clearly one of the issues was more egregious than the other. She glared and I felt Krieg tense a little next to me. ‘You know how I feel about you coming here in uniform,’ she scowled.
The tension slid out of Krieg; she wasn’t cross because of him. ‘My fault entirely,’ he said smoothly. ‘I drove her here and I don’t have any spare clothes for her in my car yet.’
Yet? What the hell did that mean?
‘Of course you don’t.’ She reached out and patted his arm. He blinked then stared at the place where she had touched him so casually. This wasn’t the first time I’d seen that happen – did people not usuallytouchhim? He was a king, not a fine piece of china.
Realising I was being impolite, I decided to get the formalities over and done with. ‘Mum,’ I said reluctantly, ‘thisis—’
‘Robert,’ Krieg interrupted me. ‘But call me Robbie, please.’ He gave my mum the deepest bow I’d ever seen him give to anyone.
Robbie? My jaw dropped.
‘Wonderful to meet you, Robbie. Do come in for some lunch – though I have to tell you, the conversation is leaving a little to be desired.’ Mum looked at my bird. ‘How lovely to see you again, Loki.’
‘Pleasure mine,’ he trilled, fluttering over and nuzzling her neck. Krieg wasn’t the only one sucking up.
Mum led the way and we trailed in after her. Krieg missed nothing as we walked down the hallway, his eyes lingering on photos of my father in uniform, and a far younger me snuggling up to our family dog, Gus.
‘Why are you brown-nosing my mum?’ I hissed to Krieg.
He looked at me blandly then whispered softly, ‘She’s feeding me and controlling the size of my portions. Being polite is only sensible.’
Hmm. I couldn’t argue with that.
We followed Mum into the dining room. ‘Everyone,’ she announced loudly, ‘this is Robbie. Jules, Grant, scoot over won’t you?’ She disappeared into the kitchen to fetch us some food.
Eyes wide, the men freed up some space at the now-crowded table. Somehow Krieg seemed to take up room wherever he was, sucking up oxygen and space like he was a sexy black hole. ‘Miss Grey,’ he said to Ava and politely inclined his head.
‘Lovely to see you again, Your Excellence,’ she responded with a charming smile.
