Her Royal Bed by Laura Wright Page B

like to meet them.”
    A shot of surprise registered in Bobby’s gut, and he returned her smile. He hadn’t expected her to say that.Maybe how wonderful the place was or what great work he was doing—the usual thing women said when they stopped by the ranch. But as he’d suspected from the first night they’d met, Jane Hefner Al-Nayhal was far from the usual.
    â€œHow about after breakfast?” he asked, taking her hand again. “And after they finish their lesson?”
    She squeezed his hand. “Okay.”
    With a wave to Abel, Bobby led Jane away from the corral, back down the path and through the yard. When they entered the house, Deacon, Abel’s ancient dog, was asleep on the rug in the large kitchen. The spotted brown mutt barely raised his lids when they walked in.
    Bobby motioned for her to have a seat at the nicked wood table over by the bay window. “Make yourself comfortable and I’ll get to work in here.”
    â€œWeren’t you the one who wanted the woman doing all the cooking in the kitchen?” Jane teased, sitting down at the table and smiling.
    â€œThat’s not what I said and you know it.”
    Elbows on the table, chin resting on the back of her hand, she looked too comfortable in his house, at his kitchen table. “Okay, you said something like you appreciate it when a woman can cook.”
    â€œDamn right.” He turned back to the counter and cracked a few eggs into a bowl, then grabbed a fork. “Just as you get to appreciate a man who can cook.”
    â€œOnly if he doesn’t burn the toast.”
    He tossed her a wicked glare, and she laughed.
    â€œYou sure you don’t need any help?”
    â€œI can make bacon and eggs with my eyes closed, darlin’.”
    She gave a soft whistle. “Now, that’s something I’d like to see,” she said, easing herself out of her chair and onto the floor, where she hunkered down next to the dog.
    With a grand yawn, Deacon opened his eyes and rolled to his back, ready for a few scratches from the pretty lady who was visiting his bit of rug. The scene was a nice one—easy conversation as Bobby stirred eggs, Jane kissing Deacon’s dusty face as she rubbed his pink belly. For just a moment, Bobby almost forgot the reason she was here.
    Almost.
    Ten minutes later, they were sitting across from each other at the table, eggs and bacon before them. Though she ate heartily, Jane kept glancing out the window at the yard and corral beyond. “Must be comforting to know your future.”
    The statement had Bobby pausing, a slice of toast poised at his lips. “What do you mean?”
    She gestured around the kitchen. “You have this place, and a clear purpose. You know who you are and what you want and where you’re going to be in ten years.”
    Bobby bit into the charred toast. He’d never thought of himself as set in his life, sure of his future. Maybe because he was so damn obsessed with the past. He caught her eye and raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know what you want, Jane?”
    â€œI thought I did.”
    â€œYou’re a member of a royal family now, you can probably do whatever you want.”
    â€œIf we’re talking about money, sure, but that’s never where true happiness and fulfillment lie, is it?”
    True happiness? Christ, he didn’t know. He hadn’t known true happiness since he was a kid, hanging out with his family, back when they were whole and happy. Bobby probably wouldn’t know true happiness now if it rose up and bit him on the chin. And if it did, he’d push it away. He didn’t deserve to feel good—not yet.
    Jane continued, “The thing is, money and situation can’t bring about purpose. That has to come from inside your gut.” She placed her fork on her plate and sighed. “I thought opening my own restaurant was the be-all and end-all for me, but now I’m not