A Royal Mess and Her Knight To Remember by Jill Shalvis

leveled her annoyed gaze on him. “Did she call her so-called royal family yet?”
    â€œNo,” he admitted.
    â€œAnd do you know why?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter.”
    â€œOh, I think it does. She hasn’t called home because she doesn’t have one.”
    â€œI couldn’t leave her at the bus stop, Sally. And you know what? You couldn’t have, either.”
    â€œThis isn’t about me, but, yes, I could have.” Her eyes softened. “You can’t take care of everyone.”
    Tim let out a sound of frustration and ripped into the chocolate. “Look, I know she cooks a little strangely.”
    â€œShe lied about knowing how to feed a large group.”
    â€œShe never claimed to know how to do that.”
    Sally’s mouth dropped open. “You’re telling me you hired without asking? Damn, Tim.”
    â€œShe’s trying hard, and that counts. And anyway, she’s only going to be here a few days, just enough to earn her way to New Mexico.”
    â€œSo you’re really not going to tell her everything she touches in that kitchen turns to lead in our guts?” She sighed theatrically. “It’s going to be a long few days. Damn it, someone front me a five and hand over the chocolate.”
    Tim waited until her first bite, then nudged her away from the others. “I need you to go to the grocery store today.” He spoke cautiously, because sure as the sun came up every morning, coaxing Sally into doing this was going to cost him.
    â€œNo way.”
    â€œIf you do, I’ll…”
    â€œYou’ll what?” She cocked a hip and crossed her arms, shooting him the universal irritated-sister-to-idiot-brother look. “Let me date Josh?”
    â€œIs that what you call what you were doing withhim?” She just lifted that brow of hers, making him sigh. “Do you really like him?”
    â€œI like how he fills out his jeans, and that’s all that matters right now.”
    Tim cringed. “I don’t want to hear this.”
    â€œThen don’t ask.”
    â€œPlease? Go fill up the refrigerator?”
    â€œBecause your new cook can’t be trusted with your truck?”
    â€œBecause she’s just learning the ropes, I don’t want to dump that chore on her right now.”
    â€œBut you have no problem dumping it on me.” She rolled her eyes, swore beneath her breath. “Fine. But I’m going out with Josh on Friday night.”
    â€œWhat if he doesn’t ask?”
    â€œOh, he’ll ask.” She took another bite of her chocolate bar.
    So did Tim. “You being smart?” he asked.
    â€œI know how to have safe sex, if that’s what you’re asking. You made sure of that when you gave me the birds and bees talk, remember? I make him wear a party hat.”
    Tim groaned.
    â€œWould you rather I use the word condom? Or better yet, multipack?”
    Tim shut his eyes and covered his ears, making Sally laugh as she dug into her chocolate.
    For a long moment there was no sound in the barn except the rustling of paper as everyone continued to fill their empty bellies.
    â€œI’ll make a store run,” Seth promised. “Tomorrow I’ll sell something more substantial.”
    â€œLike Jelly Bellys?” Josh asked hopefully.
    Seth laughed. “Maybe.”
    Then the barn door opened.
    With the sun pouring in, Tim couldn’t immediately see much, except a very memorable silhouette of a body in jeans and a T-shirt. A real woman’s body—lush breasts, curved hips, long legs. How had he ever mistaken her for a jailbait juvenile delinquent?
    She stepped closer, eyes locked on their hands, and what they were eating. When it registered, she went still. “Well.”
    There was a wealth of things in that well, with hurt leading the pack. Damn it. “Oh, this?” He looked at the chocolate in his hands. “It’s…a morning