Page 74 of Broken Crown

“I trust you enjoyed your time away last week?”

I keep my expression relatively disinterested, not wanting to give away the fact that I spent my break with his son buried between my legs.

“I did.It was precisely what I needed.”

“Is that right?”He arches a single brow.

“The ocean always refreshes me.”

Thankfully, Anderson and Nora enter the foyer before he can ask any more prying questions.

“Excuse me, Major-General,” I say politely, putting as much space between us as possible, unable to shake the feeling that he knows about Creed and me.

Is that why Creed came to my apartment last night, desperate for me to tell him I love him?

“Of course, ma’am.”

I glance his way, my nerves unraveling under his calm expression.But I can’t worry about that right now.Not when I see how anxious Nora appears, a faint sheen of sweat dotting her porcelain skin.She may look every part the American princess the palace PR team wants her to be, a near mirror image of Grace Kelly, but I can tell how uneasy she is, her blue eyes skittering around the foyer as she nervously fiddles with her strawberry-blonde waves.

“Nora…” I don’t even wait for her to greet me, as I’m supposed to.Instead, I wrap her in a tight hug.“Breathe,” I whisper into her ear.“It’ll all be over soon.”I pull back, not looking away until I see her shoulders rise and fall.

“Thank you,” she says softly with a slight tremble in her voice.

I give her one more reassuring smile, then drop my hold on her, facing Anderson.“And fuck you very much, big brother.I have to find out you’re engaged from the bloody pappos?”

“Sorry, Ezzy.”He kisses my cheek.“I’d planned on telling you in person.”He gives me a knowing look.I don’t have to ask to know he hoped to tell me when we were supposed to meet for brunch before I left New York.Instead, I opted to spend those few hours with Creed.“Things didn’t exactly go as planned.”

“I’d say.”I wink, returning my attention to Nora to ask how she’s been coping, when my eyes fall on Creed.

“Your Highness.”He bows in my direction, his posture stiff, demeanor aloof.

“Captain Lawson,” I reply cautiously.

He seems…different.I can’t quite explain it.Granted, I didn’t expect him to pull me into his arms and kiss me like he was able to when we were in the Hamptons.Like he did last night.Still, there’s something off.A war being waged within his dark eyes.

“Excuse me,” Creed’s father interrupts, stepping between us, creating a barrier.

Creed averts his gaze, looking anywhere but at me, as if he were a teenager who was just caught with his firstPlayboy.

“His and Her Majesty are ready for you in the private drawing room,” Major General Lawson tells my brother.“We shouldn’t keep them waiting.”

“Of course,” Anderson replies with an air of authority.

“I’ll see you out there anyway.”I tell him before turning toward Nora, wrapping her in another hug.“Congratulations, sweetie.And I promise, it’ll be worth it.”I give her one last squeeze and step back.

They follow Major-General Lawson toward the grand staircase, Anderson’s hand firmly placed on Nora’s lower back, a reminder he’s with her.As they’re about to disappear down the hallway toward my dad’s office, I notice Creed’s father glance back at him, something unspoken passing between them.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” Creed says, bowing slightly toward me.

But before he can retreat, I grab his forearm.“Are you okay?”

He darts his eyes to my hand before meeting my gaze.“I’m fine,” he says softly, stepping away from me.Smoothing a hand down his dark suit jacket, he glances over his shoulder to make sure no one witnessed me touching him.

It’s not like I kissed him.Or even hugged him.Yet based on his reaction, you’d think that’s precisely what I did.

“No you’re not.”I drop my voice to a barely audible level.“Why did you really sneak into my apartment last night?”

“Esme.”My name is a warning, but I’m not backing down.Not from this conversation.He may not have wanted to talk about it last night, but there’s something bothering him.

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