Page 32 of Royal Darling
Gabriel slowly turns to stare at me. “How do you know self-defense? I thought Mother made sure you knew ballet, flute, and languages. She sent you for karate lessons too?”
“No, one of the guards taught me.”
He crosses his arms, looking every bit the intimidating warrior again. “Why would he do that?”
I cross my arms too and lift my chin. “Because I asked him to.”
He turns to Anna, seeming at a loss.
“Let’s take a walk before the sun sets,” she suggests. “It’s gorgeous here.”
They leave the house and their guards go with them. I head for the kitchen for some water before heading upstairs. I want to play guitar. It might be the last chance I get before Gabriel forces me back home with an order from my king. I pluck and strum, humming along, feeling the beginnings of lift, like I almost have the feel for the song Jackson taught me. I close my eyes, letting my fingers play over the notes. The unknown wandering without a definite path is foreign to me. It doesn’t sound very good. I go back to where I’m sure—my scale, the chords, back to my one song “House of the Rising Sun.” Practice makes perfect. I pause at the sudden burst of conversation downstairs. Jackson and Lucas.
I quickly put the guitar back in its case, check that my hair is still in its neat chignon, and return downstairs.
“We’re ba-a-ack,” Lucas announces, peeling off his leather jacket. His hair and beard are neatly trimmed. “And I see you’ve got company, which means I can pack.” He goes upstairs.
Jackson’s hair and beard are also neatly trimmed, though his dirty-blond hair is still longish on top. He looks even more gorgeous than before.
“You and Lucas went for a haircut?” I ask, closing the distance between us. With Lucas upstairs and Anna, Gabriel, and the guards still outside, we’re alone in the foyer. I want to run my fingers along his neatly trimmed beard, but don’t dare.
“Yeah. Long overdue.” His lips curve into a small smile that warms me from head to toe. He smells intoxicating, like fresh pine, leather, and sexy man. He pulls a rolled brown bag from the inside pocket of his leather jacket. “I got you sheet music.” He gives me a lopsided smile, his blue eyes warm on mine.
I. Am. Melting.
Our fingers brush as I take the bag from him, a warm tingle rushing through me. “Thank you.” I pull two songs from the brown bag. “Ave Maria,” one of my favorite Christmas songs. The other is “Amazing Grace.” Both in Italian. “I love it! Thanks so much!”
“It’s nothing.”
I grab him and hug him, a spontaneous impulse I’ve only felt with him. “It’s everything.” I go up on tiptoe and kiss his cheek just above where his beard begins. His cheek curves against my lips.
When I pull away, his neck is pink. Is he blushing? The legendary bad boy Jackson Walker is blushing over a kiss on the cheek?
“You’re blushing,” I tell him. “It’s adorable.”
His blue eyes sparkle. “So are you.”
We smile at each other, and my heart thumps a little harder, my stomach fluttering, my nerves tingling into awareness. Oh, I remember this feeling. And for the first time I’m sure it’s mutual.
The front door bursts open and Anna squeals. “Ahh! Jackson Walker! Omigod! I’m a huge fan! Ignite forever!”
Jackson ducks his head.
Gabriel scowls as Anna rushes over to Jackson. “Sorry,” she says. “Omigod. It’s really you. I have all your albums.” She pats herself all over her body. “I need something for you to sign.” She pats the top of her dress near her right breast. “Here, sign right here.”
“Parlor!” Gabriel barks.
She snaps to attention, seeming to remember she’s queen. I gather that’s a cue word for royal protocol. “It’s very nice to meet you, Jackson,” she says graciously. “I’ll find something later for you to sign, if it’s okay with you?”
“Fine with me,” Jackson mumbles, shooting me a sideways look. I’m sure he must think my family is nuts.
“Why don’t we all have dinner together,” Anna suggests and heads to the kitchen. “Emma, you help me prepare the meal.”
I’m not sure I should leave Jackson to Gabriel. He might embarrass me by threatening Jackson for no good reason. It’s not like Jackson ever laid a hand on me, though I desperately wish he would.
Gabriel gives Jackson a hard look before asking me, “Now where’s Lucas? I thought they went out together.”
I point upstairs and Gabriel heads that way, probably to ream Lucas for his poor babysitting job.
