Page 124 of Awaiting

“Tyrone? Not one of his team?”

“Alex, she’s going to be a Queen Consort, potentially. She gets the heads of departments. Your brother can have members of Tyrone’s team. I think Tyrone has a new intern coming this summer. Larry can use them if he wants.”

Alex laughed and let out a sigh of relief.

“We’ve already done the standard background check on Bexley and her family, but wewillneed to go deeper. You should make her aware of this so that there are no surprises. It might cause friction between the two of you. She’s likely not used to having her privacy invaded how we are. Talk to her. Be patient and understanding with her and her concerns. Promise her it is only so we can prepare on our end and not in any way a judgment on how she’s lived her life.”

“So, this isn’t going to be fun, then?” Alex joked.

“Not at all, dear.”

CHAPTER 36

“You’re back,” Alice said, running into Bexley in the palace hallway. “And you look happy.”

“Iamhappy,” Bexley replied, knowing she was radiating happiness mixed with longing.

“I just got out of a meeting. Want to chat?” Alice asked. “I was going to run in to check on the twins, but they’re still sleeping, so it can wait.”

“Yes, I’ve been dying to talk to someone about this, and Stan is usually sleeping most times I’m awake.”

“I’ll try not to take offense to the fact that you thought of Stan before me.”

“He’s not Queen of a country,” Bexley told her as they walked into Alice’s office.

“So, you went away with Alex for the weekend? Should I assume something happened to cause this happiness?”

Bexley flopped into her favorite comfortable chair in the office and said, “Yes, you should.”

“Really?” Alice sat opposite her and gave her a wide smile. “You’re happy. So, it’s good?”

“It’s very good.”

“Oh, yeah?” Alice asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“Not that. I mean, yes,that’sgood. Fuck, Alice, that’s great. She’s…”

Alice laughed and said, “That good, huh?”

“I’ve never… I shouldn’t tell you the details, should I?”

“Why not? We’re all friends here,” Alice joked.

“When she kisses me, there’s nothing else, Al. Just… nothing but her lips on mine and mine on hers. And I’ve never been the type to gush, but when she touches me, it’s like I’m seeing the Northern Lights.”

“Wait. What?”

“Behind my eyes; I see all the bright colors I’ve never been able to see before.”

“Is she here? Why are you withme? Seems like you two should still be in bed.”

Bexley laughed and said, “She didn’t come back with me. Her father needed to talk to her about some stuff. My guess is that it has to do with me. With us.”

“He knows?”

“Her whole family does. We were in Wales, enjoying our weekend, whe–”

“Sounds like it,” Alice teased.

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