Page 92 of Loyally, Luke
“I’ve never been good at speaking in front of people.” He shrugged a shoulder. “And who’s to say they’ll even understand me with my accent, so it might be better coming from you.”
What was he talking about? “Luke, you speak fine.” She made to reach for his hand, but stopped. As Ellie, she found it so easy to respond naturally with him, but as Princess Elliana, with eyes possibly critiquing her every move, she hesitated. “And it will mean more coming from you because it’syourstory. When the board asks you questions, you can answer from your own experiences. I can’t do that. You were meant for this moment, Luke, just as much as you believe I am.”
He still didn’t look convinced, so the woman who cared for him nudged the poised princess to the side. She leaned closer to him, lowering her voice. “And I promise to reward you privately for your wonderful work.”
His lips edged up on one side as he narrowed his eyes. “I’ll hold you to that, Princess.”
***
“Mr.Edgewood?”
Luke looked from his conversation with a few straggling donors to find Cameron standing at the entrance of the room, his towering presence difficult to ignore.
Luke approached, giving the room a quick look before turning back to Cameron. “Are you as disappointed as I am that we didn’t have to teach Maxim what’s-his-face a lesson in humility?”
Cameron’s stoic expression broke into a slight grin for only a second before melding back to neutral. “The fact that the princess chose a peasant over a talk-show celebrity may have been a start.”
“Maybe, but I would have felt better with a little more hands-on teaching opportunity.”
“Aye.” The slight grin reemerged for a moment. “I would have been keen to see it too.”
Only a few donors remained speaking with Mrs.Kershaw as the luncheon came to a close. From what Luke could tell, the event proved a success with more support than Ellie or the board anticipated.
Good.
Maybe installing an elevator and updating the heating system weren’t too far in the future after all.
Luke shrugged off his sport jacket, searching for the princess of the hour. “It is my understanding that Mr.MacKerrow is waiting for you at the Frasiers’, sir.”
Luke looked back at Cameron, always a little unnerved at the man’s knowledge of things. As Ellie’s protection officer, Luke supposed he kept tabs on a lot of people. “He is. And likely getting his fill of good Scottish food too.”
“I’m here to drive you to the Frasiers’.” Cameron’s gaze held Luke’s as if he were trying to communicate something.
“I appreciate that, Cam, but I don’t mind the walk. I’m sure you need to tend to Princess Elliana.” Luke sent the room another look. “Wherever she is.”
“I do, sir,” Cam continued. “And I insist on driving you.”
Luke tilted his head and studied the man. Cameron’s expression gave nothing away, but the insistence hinted at something else... a possibility? “All right. I’ll take you up on that offer.”
Without another word, Cam led the way to a side entrance of the hall where his solitary SUV waited, carefully framed in by a rock wall surrounding this side of the hall and drive. Luke looked over at the man, attempting to sort out the unspoken message, but Cameron merely walked forward and, with a shift in his position, turned his body so it created a barrier between the SUV door and the castle.
With a nod and almost a smile, he opened the door. “Her Highness suggested the two of you were unable to finish your conversation from before, Mr. Edgewood.”
What?
And then Luke looked into the dark interior of the vehicle, his gaze landing on a blue suit that led directly up to a pair of familiar and lovely matching eyes. “Um... thanks, Cam,” Luke murmured, climbing into the seat. The door closed behind him and Cameron took his place in the driver’s seat before raising a partition, blocking his access to where Luke now sat next to Ellie.
“I didn’t trust us to find any privacy in the hall after such a successful and full event,” Ellie rushed to say, the shadows of the moving car failing to hide the heightened pink in her cheeks.
She looked pretty kissable right now.
“Probably a smart call.”
“And meeting you like this is probably idiotic, but at least better than being caught in a closet by Mrs.Kershaw.” Her brow rose the tiniest bit as she turned toward him.
A closet sounded good to him, but he wouldn’t complain. With her orange scent invading each breath and Ellie staring up at him with those eyes, he’d probably be content about anywhere. “I see you have Cameron in on your plans, so at least you’re guarded.”
“Undoubtedly.” Her lips slid into a full smile. “And though he might not show it, he likes you.”
