Page 75 of Broken Crown

“Creed,” I reply, mimicking his tone.

He stares at me for several long moments, constantly scanning the area for anyone who might see us together.

But there’s nothing wrong with us talking.

At least I didn’t think there was.

Now, I’m not sure.

By the look on his face, either is he.

“I had a bad day yesterday,” he finally admits with a sigh.“That’s all.They’re blaming me for the leak.”

“But you had nothing to do with that.”

“No, but I could have prevented it.”

“How?”

“Because it’s my job to protect your brother.I should have seen the photographers snapping their photo.Should have realized Nora was wearing the ring.Should have at least let his private secretary know he proposed.”

“You knew?”

“I… Uh… Yes.”He widens his stance, holding his head high.“He told me.As a friend,” he adds.“Not as his chief protection officer.”

“And I’m assuming a certain member of the royal guard told you in no uncertain terms that you can’t be both,” I say, putting the pieces together.

No wonder he was so distraught last night, so desperate for my reassurances that I love him.I can only imagine the lashing out his father gave him for putting his friendship with Anderson over his job as a royal guard.

“He did.Which is when I told him I was retiring.”

“I assume that didn’t go over well.”

“If by not going over well you mean it ended with me punching him, then yes.”

My gaze widens, jaw dropping.“You punched him?”

I sensed Creed’s father wouldn’t be all that supportive of his plans to retire.I never expected for it to end in a physical altercation.

“He, well…it doesn’t matter.”He leans toward me.“But right now, I’m under a lot of scrutiny.More so than usual.”

“So you need to be extra careful not to step even a toe out of line.”

“It may not make any sense because I gave my notice but…”

“You need to retire with honor.On good terms.”

He nods subtly.“Last night can’t happen again.Won’thappen again.And I think it best if we put some space between us, including our morning workouts.I don’t want to give anyone more fuel for the fire, so to speak.”

“Okay then.”I force a smile, hating the idea of keeping my distance from him yet again.

I knew it would be difficult to come back to our regular lives after we spent all that time together in the Hamptons.After we had a taste of what it would be like to be a real couple.

The only thing that makes this remotely easy to handle is that it’s only for a few weeks.That soon, Creed will no longer be in the royal guard.

But as he bows toward me and addresses me as he’s been trained, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something more to his changed demeanor.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

---