The Royal Pain

The Royal Pain by MaryJanice Davidson

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Authors: MaryJanice Davidson
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Robin, Crow, and Raven.”
    â€œNo way,” Alex said, blinking.
    â€œBunch of bird-brained morons, each one of them,” Shel muttered.
    â€œMy parents,” Teal explained with exaggerated patience, “were ornithologists.”
    â€œHow interesting! That’s so interesting. I’m really interested in hearing more about your—er—interesting family.”
    Teal smiled at her and Alex could see the attraction; she could actually feel the man’s smile in her knees. Blondes weren’t really her type, but…poor Jenny!
    â€œAnybody ever tell you that you look like Shania Twain?”
    â€œUh-huh,” she replied.
    â€œDate later!” Shel shouted, startling everybody. “Bail first!”
    â€œI think I can take care of that,” Alex said, which was just as well, because Jenny wasn’t listening anymore.

Chapter 11
    â€œT hanks for walking me to—er—where are we going, anyway?”
    â€œI worked on the polar bear exhibit after you took off. I thought you’d like to see it.”
    â€œOh, your bear came in?”
    Shel shook his head. He was getting a headache from trying to look at her out of the corner of his eye. Even while walking down a muddy sidewalk in beat-up sneakers (were princesses allowed sneakers?), she was breathtaking. He couldn’t believe she was out with him, here, now. Hell, he couldn’t believe she’d come downtown to grease the skids so he didn’t have to spend the night in a cell!
    Then, cool as a cuke, she tells Jenny and the guards (nice enough fellows with hands like iron), “That will be all for tonight,” and like that, he was walking her out and they were climbing into her car. No press—it was late, and Jenny had probably gotten rid of them.
    The car pulled up to the back entrance of the NDISL, and they both got out. “That will be all for tonight, Kara,” she told her driver. “I’ll make other arrangements to return to the hotel.”
    â€œHighness,” Kara replied, touching her cap with a fore-finger, and pulled smoothly away from the curb.
    â€œIs that smart?” he asked, watching the red taillights grow smaller in the distance. “What if someone tries to kidnap you or whatever?”
    â€œSomeone like who?” She gestured to the deathly quiet streets of Minot.
    â€œWell, you know. Someone. There could be an elaborate plot to snatch you. I mean, it was in the papers. You coming here.”
    She shrugged. “You’ll have to protect me, I guess.”
    â€œI could be in on it. I could be the mastermind!”
    Another shrug. The woman, he mused, either truly didn’t give a rat’s butt for her own safety, or possessed the acting ability to make it appear that way.
    â€œAren’t you worried about your own safety? I mean, you’re a public figure worth big bucks.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œNo, you’re not worth big bucks?” he teased, because even in the near-dark, he could see she was stiffening up.
    â€œNo, I don’t care. Shall we go? You said your bear was here?”
    â€œNo, I never had a chance to answer. The big guy’s showing up tomorrow. I thought I’d show you his habitat.”
    â€œAlmost as fascinating a sight,” she said, “as the city jail.”
    â€œYeah, yeah.”
    Â 
    â€œâ€¦and in a year or so, we’re hoping to get him a mate.”
    â€œHow enthralling.”
    â€œYou don’t have to be a jerk about it,” he said, trying not to be hurt. Then mad at himself because he was trying…or even hurt! “If it’s not interesting to you, just say so. I can take it.”
    â€œNo, it’s interesting,” she said, poking a toe at one of the piles of snow.
    The habitat was large—bigger, Shel thought, than his own apartment—and cool, with piles of snow everywhere, and a large pool off to the left. Since it was currently bear-free,

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