Royal Distraction by Lucy McConnell (read aloud books txt) 📕

she left for the day, wanted to let her know he was thinking of her.

Even though she’d told him goodbye, he knew it wouldn’t the last time he’d see her. He knew he was going to Zimrada and he couldn’t wait to see her face when his boat docked.

When he was sure the situation was clear of danger, he entered the hotel and made his way to the concierge desk.

“May I help you, sir?”

“I hope so. This is a gift for the advisor to the princess of Zimrada.”

The concierge looked at him funny. “There is no advisor to the princess.”

Tatum kicked himself for not getting her official title. “Maybe they don’t call her that. She has long black hair and brown eyes. Really pretty. Her name is Neese?”

He studied Tatum for a moment before taking the box. “I’ll see that they’re delivered.”

Tatum nodded and sauntered out of the lobby like he had all the time in the world. In reality, he was anxious to get out of here and take whatever lurked in the shadows of his life with him.

Chapter Thirteen

Thursday morning, Nyssa checked her reflection in the full-length mirror. She’d chosen a formal festival dress for her meeting with the Secretary of Defense. The garnet-red linen wrapped around her middle and across her chest. She fanned it out from the knot at her neck to drape across her shoulders and brush her fingertips. The skirt touched the tops of her leather sandals.

Bright spring sunshine spilled through the window this morning, giving her hope that she wouldn’t freeze in her island clothing. She would have braved the cold to wear this dress. The red was bold, giving her courage in the face of the unknown. The fabric was soft, reminding her to pause and listen instead of blabber. And the fringe tickled her skin like the whisper of new ideas and possibilities.

A knock sounded at the door and she hurried to open it. The concierge, an older man with salt-and-pepper hair, held out a gold-topped box. Kingston remained still as the statue he had once again become after tattling on her to the queen. He stood an inch away from the wall, his hands folded before him. No doubt he had already questioned the man about his intentions and the contents of the box.

“This just came,” said the concierge. He pressed his lips together. “I believe it is for you.”

There was something funny in the way he looked at her, like he wasn’t sure he was making the right call.

“Did the messenger leave a name?”

“He did not. But from the physical description he gave, I assumed it was you.”

“Thank you.” She took it from his hands. He did an about-face and trotted off. She schooled her smile. Not many people could stand to be under Kingston’s heavy gaze for long. “I will be ready to leave in ten minutes,” she told him.

He nodded and pulled out his phone to call the driver. They hadn’t talked about his phone call to her mother. She’d given him the silent treatment for a full evening and he seemed to enjoy it, so she decided talking to him as much as possible was a worse punishment. If he wanted to meddle in her life, she’d give him something to meddle in.

“Do you know what’s inside this box?” she asked.

He nodded once.

She toyed with the corner. “It could be from Prince Marius. We have a date tomorrow night.” She hoped not. That could be awkward.

Kingston blew out an exasperated breath. He acted like he didn’t want to get to know her. He could be following some unwritten rule that bodyguards weren’t supposed to talk to their gaurdee. She had no idea if such a rule existed as this was the first time she’d ever had a guard. If the rule was there, she was making life hard on the guy. Nyssa stifled her giggle. He’d ruined a perfectly good kiss, so she wasn’t feeling all that bad about teasing the giant of a man. “It could also be from Mother. She knows about my meeting today and may be sending me a necklace.”

No response.

“Maybe it’s from my gentleman …”

Kingston’s eyes darted to the corner.

“It is!” She let out a squeal and spun, sending her skirt flying about, and ducked into the room. “I promise. Ten minutes and I’ll be ready.”

He grunted as she shut the door.

Hurrying to the bed, she tried desperately to calm her racing pulse. She’d said goodbye to Tatum yesterday, and she’d meant it, but she was oh so happy that he didn’t hear what she was saying.

Setting the box in the middle of the bed, she traced her fingers over the gold inlay. “A box this beautiful must hold something wonderful.” Closing her eyes, she pulled the top off. A sweet, chocolatey smell filled her senses. Opening her eyes, she found a half sheet of paper on top.

“Turtles—for luck,” she read. Removing the tissue paper, she found a dozen chocolate and caramel sweets that did, indeed, look like little turtles. Squealing again, because she could hardly contain the joy bubbling up inside because of this gift, she threw her arms into the air.

Tatum hadn’t signed the card, but there was no mistaking who had sent this box. She hugged the lid to her chest, loving that he didn’t need to sign his name and she knew it was from him. Sinking into the pillows, she covered her face with her hands, allowing her mind to drift to those perfect moments when he’d taken control of their kiss.

In the memory, she could see things she’d only just glimpsed before. His beard tickled her skin and he tasted like chocolate and sugar. His hand covered her lower back, spanning from side to side, and his chest was firm under her palms.

There was a knock at the door and she jumped to her feet, checking the tiara to make sure it hadn’t slipped.

“Time to be a princess.” She reached for her purse