Tristan’s lips quirked.
“If Ele were just a girl, what would you be doing right now?”
“Not sure I should share that with her brother,” he quipped. He just couldn’t help himself.
Robert growled.
“I’m kidding.” He laughed, holding his hands up in surrender.
He chanced a glance over in Robert’s direction and then back to Jamie’s. They were completely serious. He sensed their reluctant worry and sympathized. Even though Sheena would literally kick his ass if he ever interfered in her life like this, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t want to. And he had five younger sisters. He got it.
He stood up from the stool and moved toward Jamie. Time. It was time.
“The thing is, she’s not just a girl. She is an unbelievable woman who happens to be a princess. I know, on paper, I’m not the ideal candidate. I would probably embarrass the hell out of her at a formal dinner, and I can’t waltz for shit.”
“Can dance with a ball pretty well,” Jamie commented.
Tristan smiled. “There is that. We don’t make sense in any way. She hates being in the public eye, and I get high off of that shit. I live to be on a pitch, and I’m not sure she knows what an offsides call is. I’m from this loud, common family, and you all are library-quiet royalty. But I make her smile. And I make her feel safe. It’s as simple as that.”
“Do you love her?”
Fuck yes. “I was willing to indulge you, but that needs to stay between Ele and me.”
“He hasn’t worked up the bollocks to tell her yet,” Robert commented.
“Why do you interject when I really don’t want you to?” Tristan asked him, annoyed.
There was this tiny kernel of doubt in Tristan’s mind about Robert’s feelings for Ele. It was way more than a bodyguard, he was certain. And since Jamie was here as a witness, he figured it was the best time to tackle the Robert issue.
He looked over to Robert. “You love her,” he stated simply.
Jamie chuckled.
“Aye.”
“And not like a bodyguard.”
“No. Not like a bodyguard.”
Tristan’s stomach bottomed out. If she were given a choice, he wasn’t sure who Ele would choose. He knew Ele loved Robert too.
“Put him out of his misery,” Jamie intoned.
“Like my sister,” Robert said matter-of-factly.
Not like a sister. “Like my sister.” There was an important pronoun in there.
“Wait. You’re her brother?”
“Half. Long story. Which I will tell you. On the way to the gala. We were late when we left the palace. Now, we are really late. Go get pretty.”
Dazed, Tristan turned away and walked into his room. He shot a quick text to Caleb, canceling their plans, and tried Rowan once more. Then, he pulled his tux out of the closet and began to get dressed.
He questioned the wisdom of surprising Ele. She’d been in the country for a week and not reached out to him. It was one of those niggling thoughts he’d put out of his mind because it was crushing to think she might have returned home and decided seeing him was too much. They’d gone about their relationship backward—sex first, friendship second. But it didn’t diminish what was between them.
But he knew his life was the opposite of what she wanted. She wanted small and private. He lived large and publicly. As much as he hated to admit it, he was a bit addicted to social media. He found himself reaching for his mobile often and captioning scenes in his head. But he was nothing if not adaptable. And for Ele, he’d do just about anything.
He gave himself a quick once-over in the mirror. For thirty minutes’ notice, he looked smooth and ready.
T-Dav at his finest. He captioned in his head.
Damn, stop with the four-word limit on thoughts!
He returned to the living room and the surly prince and stoic bodyguard. Or is it two princes? Shrugging off the thought, he said, “Ready?”
Jamie looked away from Robert and nodded.
The three of them stalked to the front door.
“Need to post something before we go?” Robert asked with a hint of mirth in his tone.
“No. I can go without captioning everything.”
“I know. But admit it. You’re looking good, and you want to tell the world.”
Tristan laughed good-naturedly. “Sure. But I’d rather tell them I’m going to find a princess.”
Robert nodded. “Well, let’s go get your girl.”
“Used to be ‘our’ girl,” Tristan observed.
“Yeah. But she’s been yours since that first day at St. Peter’s.”
“She definitely has,” Tristan said with a dreamy tone he wasn’t used to. He cleared his throat. “Does that mean you won’t be on her detail anymore?”
“No. I’m leaving her in Michael’s capable hands.” He opened the door, and as Tristan walked out, he said, “And yours.”
Tristan smiled bright. It was nice to have Robert’s blessing.
“So, what will you do now?” Tristan asked as he slid into the Range Rover next to Jamie.
“Your sister,” Robert quipped.
At least, Tristan thought it was a quip.
38
8 December
Christmas Gala
Tristan listened intently as Robert divulged all sorts of royal secrets. Through the whole retelling, he worried how Ele had taken the news. When Robert finished, Tristan looked to Jamie.
“Does she know that you set her up?”
Jamie looked truly miserable. “She does.”
Robert snickered from the front passenger seat.
Jamie scoffed next to him, which sent Robert and him laughing.
“The thing about Ele is, she’s quick to forgive,” Tristan said.
Even though she hadn’t outright forgiven him for the photo, he knew she was going to. He’d taken the chance while he had it to lay his heart on the line. He’d relived their conversation over and over, trying to figure out where he’d gone wrong. But now, with all this information Robert had dumped in his lap, he understood Ele’s plate was full. It didn’t stop his nerves from being strung tight. World Championship Cup had nothing on the Christmas gala.
“Yes,” Jamie said softly.
He hated to show his ignorance, but he needed to be prepared. “Last time I was at the palace, things didn’t go so well.” He happened to glance up, and Robert pinned him with a look, clearly calling him out on his activities in the parlor. He looked away. “I also had the Federation telling me where to go and what to do. So, what do I need to know about tonight? Any protocols I need to observe?”
Jamie and Robert shared an amused look.
“I’m a footballer, not a simpleton.”
Jamie answered, “This is the only event I think we sponsor that doesn’t require much in the way of protocol. Of course, people will be watching. You always bow to the queen, the crown prince, and the crown princesses.”
“Right”—Tristan relaxed—“bowing. I got it.”
“You could have totally played him, you know,” Robert said to Jamie.
“I’m already on Ele’s bad side.”