Page 24 of Royal Icing
Cooper leapt off the bed and trotted over to him.
“Hello,” Leo said, handing over a bouquet of pink roses he had stolen from the greenhouse on his way over.
“Oh, they’re beautiful. Thank you. How did you get roses in December? Wait, shit. Should I be curtsying?”
She started to bend, but he put a hand on her arm to stop her. “Please don’t curtsy.”
She couldn’t be that mad if she was prepared to curtsy at him.
“Imagine what your mother would say,” she said breezily as she opened half a dozen cabinets in the kitchenette before filling a pitcher with water.
Damn. He should have brought her a vase.
“I really am sorry. About earlier.”
She shot a look at him as she trimmed the blooms and nestled them in the vase. “That really did suck. But I’ve never been in your shoes, so I can’t fully understand what you go through on a daily basis. You get one mulligan.”
“Mulligan? Is that some kind of punishment?”
She snorted. “No. It’s like a do-over. But do not hide things from me again.” She brandished a pair of scissors in his direction. “Especially gigantic secrets about your identity.”
He raised his hands like she was holding him at gunpoint. “Never. I swear. I’ll take the do-over.”
He put his hands down, then stuck one out toward her. “Hi, I’m Leo. Technically, Leopold Chester Beaumont-Castillo, Prince of Lynoria.”
Emma made a face. “Oof.”
“I know. Anyway, I’m technically second in line for the throne, but I prefer getting my hands dirty over christening boats or whatever ceremonial bullshit my brother is always up to.”
She smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Leopold. I’m Emma.”
“Just Emma?”
“Were you expecting another outrageously long name? Emma Clark of New York, Artisan of Fine Confectioneries, Breaker of Bread, Mother of Scones?”
“Do you have children?” he blurted out.
For some reason, he hadn’t even considered it. His gaze dipped to her finger, but there wasn’t a wedding ring. Why did it matter? This was just an apology outing for a contracted service provider. There wasn’t anything going on here.
She raised an arm and almost knocked the vase over before smoothing her hair. “No children. Just dogs.”
“There’s another one?”
“Arizona. My mom’s service dog.”
A beat of silence fell. “It must be hard to have so much responsibility on your shoulders,” he said quietly.
A storm passed behind her eyes, but she shook it off. “Well, at least I’m not partially in charge of a whole country. Anyway, ready to go? Am I disguised enough?”
She spun in front of him, giving him permission to take her in.
Leo hesitated. More than one relationship had fallen apart because of the press hounding his partners. But they had been locals. And besides, he and Emma weren’t dating. He was just being a good diplomat and showing her around.
And thanking her for saving his life.
“I think you look perfect.”
She shuffled her feet and looked down.
