twenty-one-year-old.
Course not, because she’s a queen in the making and off-limits.
But those eyes flitted before him, and the way she tugged on her earlobe when she was irritated. Matt plopped down on his bed and buried his face in the pillow. His hand crept up under it to ensure the gun was tucked safely in its place, then he closed his eyes, dreaming of the one damn woman on this island he couldn’t have. Every doubt about this job becoming complicated hit him hard, and he realized kissing her yesterday was his worst mistake.
Chapter 5
Daphne had barely drunk half a cup of coffee the next morning when the doors to her rooms were thrown open. She caught a glimpse of Matt through them, but he vanished as her mom swept inside.
“Morning, Daphne, sweetie,” she said brightly and kissed her cheek.
“Mother, you’re awfully cheery this morning,” Daphne pointed out. “Coffee?”
“No, darling, and you shouldn’t be drinking so much caffeine. Not good for you,” she mused and took a seat opposite her daughter at the table.
Daphne picked up her coffee and sipped it, smirking as her mother clicked her tongue. “What do you need, Mother?”
“Your father and I want to know how the new bodyguard is working out. Do you like him or do we need to find a replacement?”
“Replacement?”
After yesterday, she wondered if Matt was a good fit as her bodyguard. He clearly regretted kissing her. He scarcely spoke a word to her, and those heated gazes she wanted so badly remained absent from his eyes.
“Daphne, dear. You’re doing it again,” Alexandria said and smacked her daughter’s hand gently.
Letting her hand fall, Daphne forced an apologetic smile on her face and tried to look ashamed at the action her mom abhorred. Alexandria asked again about Matt, and Daphne answered without even thinking.
“No, he’s working out quite well. He takes his duties very seriously,” she informed her. “I have no worries about Matt.”
“Good. Ambrose and your father will be happy to hear it. I was skeptical at first because of his background being strictly military, but if you’re happy, I will be, too.”
“Was that all you came by to ask?”
“Your dinner with Dion,” Alexandria said slowly. “I trust that went well.”
Daphne wasn’t sure how much her mom knew of Agnes’s recent threats concerning the throne, and she had enough to worry about already. “As well as can be expected. He’s worried about the education reforms.”
“Good, then, as long as there was nothing else on his mind.”
“No, nothing,” she lied and buried her face in her coffee mug.
Alexandria plucked an olive from the bowl and chewed it slowly. “I wanted to let you know as well that your father and I will be taking a trip inland in two days.”
“Where are you going? Can I come?” She hated how desperate she sounded, but Daphne jumped at any chance, no matter how slim, of getting off this island.
“Afraid not, darling. It’s only for a day trip, really. We’re trying to negotiate new border agreements with Greece,” she said. “It will be a terribly dull day, and you are busy enough taking care of things here.”
Busy enough researching Matthias , she thought absently. “Will you be staying overnight?” she asked, hoping she didn’t seem overzealous.
“Yes, two nights. Very brief.”
Two nights might be all she needed—a chance to have the palace to herself and find out more about her new bodyguard. Marie hadn’t managed to snag his file yet, but said she would have a chance soon. One of the guards owed her a favor, and when Daphne pressed her about it, Marie’s face blushed and said that was a story for another day.
Her mom stayed and chatted for another hour before she was summoned away to meet Calix on the grounds. She kissed her daughter’s cheeks and left the room gracefully. Daphne glanced at the spread of food before her—muffins and scones—but nothing sounded good. There were too many
Course not, because she’s a queen in the making and off-limits.
But those eyes flitted before him, and the way she tugged on her earlobe when she was irritated. Matt plopped down on his bed and buried his face in the pillow. His hand crept up under it to ensure the gun was tucked safely in its place, then he closed his eyes, dreaming of the one damn woman on this island he couldn’t have. Every doubt about this job becoming complicated hit him hard, and he realized kissing her yesterday was his worst mistake.
Chapter 5
Daphne had barely drunk half a cup of coffee the next morning when the doors to her rooms were thrown open. She caught a glimpse of Matt through them, but he vanished as her mom swept inside.
“Morning, Daphne, sweetie,” she said brightly and kissed her cheek.
“Mother, you’re awfully cheery this morning,” Daphne pointed out. “Coffee?”
“No, darling, and you shouldn’t be drinking so much caffeine. Not good for you,” she mused and took a seat opposite her daughter at the table.
Daphne picked up her coffee and sipped it, smirking as her mother clicked her tongue. “What do you need, Mother?”
“Your father and I want to know how the new bodyguard is working out. Do you like him or do we need to find a replacement?”
“Replacement?”
After yesterday, she wondered if Matt was a good fit as her bodyguard. He clearly regretted kissing her. He scarcely spoke a word to her, and those heated gazes she wanted so badly remained absent from his eyes.
“Daphne, dear. You’re doing it again,” Alexandria said and smacked her daughter’s hand gently.
Letting her hand fall, Daphne forced an apologetic smile on her face and tried to look ashamed at the action her mom abhorred. Alexandria asked again about Matt, and Daphne answered without even thinking.
“No, he’s working out quite well. He takes his duties very seriously,” she informed her. “I have no worries about Matt.”
“Good. Ambrose and your father will be happy to hear it. I was skeptical at first because of his background being strictly military, but if you’re happy, I will be, too.”
“Was that all you came by to ask?”
“Your dinner with Dion,” Alexandria said slowly. “I trust that went well.”
Daphne wasn’t sure how much her mom knew of Agnes’s recent threats concerning the throne, and she had enough to worry about already. “As well as can be expected. He’s worried about the education reforms.”
“Good, then, as long as there was nothing else on his mind.”
“No, nothing,” she lied and buried her face in her coffee mug.
Alexandria plucked an olive from the bowl and chewed it slowly. “I wanted to let you know as well that your father and I will be taking a trip inland in two days.”
“Where are you going? Can I come?” She hated how desperate she sounded, but Daphne jumped at any chance, no matter how slim, of getting off this island.
“Afraid not, darling. It’s only for a day trip, really. We’re trying to negotiate new border agreements with Greece,” she said. “It will be a terribly dull day, and you are busy enough taking care of things here.”
Busy enough researching Matthias , she thought absently. “Will you be staying overnight?” she asked, hoping she didn’t seem overzealous.
“Yes, two nights. Very brief.”
Two nights might be all she needed—a chance to have the palace to herself and find out more about her new bodyguard. Marie hadn’t managed to snag his file yet, but said she would have a chance soon. One of the guards owed her a favor, and when Daphne pressed her about it, Marie’s face blushed and said that was a story for another day.
Her mom stayed and chatted for another hour before she was summoned away to meet Calix on the grounds. She kissed her daughter’s cheeks and left the room gracefully. Daphne glanced at the spread of food before her—muffins and scones—but nothing sounded good. There were too many
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