Royal Target by Traci Hunter Abramson Page B

his presence in the United States over the past few years had made his social life even more interesting to the American people. Even though she didn’t put much stock in anything printed between the covers of gossip magazines, she doubted that Prince Garrett was anything like the good LDS boys her parents and siblings kept throwing in her path.
    Already she was having trouble reconciling the man across the room with the man she had spent hours talking to over the past few days. He looked the same as the first time she had seen him—formal and a bit aloof. On the phone he had been so . . . normal. She had already started to think of him as a friend rather than an assignment, something she knew was against both of their best interests. Still, those phone conversations had given her so much insight into what to expect as well as a comfort level with the assignment she never would have had without Garrett’s help.
    She thought of their meeting earlier. She realized that he wasn’t sure she could protect his family. And despite her confidence in her own abilities, Janessa wasn’t sure she could either. The Rominez assassination had proven what she knew all too well: Even the best security could be breached under the right circumstances. She just had to make sure those circumstances were highly unlikely over the next five weeks.
    The model-thin woman clinging to Prince Garrett leaned in to whisper something in his ear. With an inward sigh, Janessa excused herself from her current conversation and crossed the room. She had to start playing the part of Garrett’s girlfriend sometime.
    She moved slowly across the parlor, taking a moment to gauge what language was being spoken. Though several scenarios crossed her mind, she opted for a subtle solution. When she reached Garrett, she lightly ran a hand over his shoulder as she spoke in French to the woman clinging to him. “I can’t believe Garrett hasn’t introduced us yet. I’m Janessa Rogers. I’m a guest at the chateau for a while.”
    When the woman saw Janessa’s extended hand, manners demanded that she release Garrett and extend her own. She was several inches taller than Janessa, standing about five foot nine, and she took the time to look down her nose at Janessa. “Isabel Dumond.”
    “I am so pleased to meet you.” Janessa flipped through her mental file of the evening’s guests. “You must be Pierre’s daughter. I understand your father has headed the museum in Bellamo for many years now.”
    “Yes,” Isabel said. She smiled coyly at Garrett before continuing. “My family has enjoyed a close association with the royal family for some time.”
    Before Isabel could cling to Garrett once again, Janessa resolved the problem. Stepping neatly between Isabel and Garrett, she angled her head toward Isabel. “Have you met Mademoiselle Poratte?”
    Eyes narrowing, Isabel shook her head.
    “She just arrived from Paris last week and would love to gain your perspective on life here in Meridia.” Janessa laid a hand on Isabel’s arm and motioned across the room.
    Isabel lifted her chin a bit higher. “I’m sure someone else can help her with that.”
    “Perhaps, but there are so few of us here that are close to her age. I would love to help, but I haven’t been here long enough yet.” Janessa gave her a subtle nudge as she turned to Prince Garrett. “If you will excuse us.”
    “Of course, Janessa.” He nodded and turned to speak to the French ambassador as the two women crossed the room.
    Janessa introduced Mademoiselle Poratte to Isabel, deliberately ignoring Isabel’s annoyance. If she guessed right, Isabel had set her sights on Garrett and was determined to get her way. Janessa breathed an inward sigh of relief when Isabel’s father joined them a moment later and introduced himself. He reminded her a bit of her own father with his open, intelligent expression, sturdy build, and dark hair peppered with gray.
    “I understand you are staying here at the