“They’d get angry. They’d yell. Throw things,” she whispered.
“We should just take her home,” Wolfe said. “Fuck this shit. It’s not like we enjoy it.”
“We can’t just leave,” Aleki argued.
“Why not? I don’t even like any of these people. She’s more important than any of them.”
Caleb stepped back slightly and grasped hold of her chin turning her face up so she had to look at him. “If this is too much, we can go home.”
Alarm filled her. Then she’d really be disappointing them. All these people were here for them. For her.
“She’s shaking,” Wolfe spat out. “I don’t like it.”
“Wolfe,” Caleb said warningly, without moving his gaze from hers. “We can go home if you need to, jelly bean. But first listen to me, okay? Can you do that?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“None of us expects perfection. None of us wants perfection. Perfection is scary. It’s not real. Do you think that any of us are perfect? Do you not think that Wolfe is going to spend the night scowling at everyone and not talking? Or that Aleki won’t end up spilling food all down his front?”
“Or that Caleb won’t end up trying to dance and looking like a chicken pecking for food,” Aleki added.
Caleb gave Aleki an offended look. “I’m an excellent dancer.”
“You’re a shit dancer,” Wolfe told him.
She had to smile.
“Jelly bean, there is no way you could embarrass us. All we want tonight is for you to be yourself and have fun. But if you’re uncomfortable and want to leave, then we’ll head home now. Truth is, Wolfe is counting down the minutes until he can safely leave. He usually avoids these things like the plague.”
“If you don’t want to talk to anyone just stand by him,” Aleki told her with a wink. “Everyone gives him a wide berth.”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, allowing her nerves to settle. “I want to stay. But if it gets too much then we can go?”
“Anytime you want.” Caleb cupped the side of her face. “Anything you want.”
“I really want a jelly bean.” And Piggles. But that was kind of impossible.
Caleb grinned and reached into his pocket, pulling out a packet. Damn, how did he always know what she needed? He opened the pack and handed her one. She took it with a smile of thanks.
Leaning in, he kissed her forehead. “Remember, you do you, jelly bean.”
An hour later, she was shocked to discover how much fun she was having. She was currently laughing at Prince Aric’s truly awful pick-up lines. Caleb had already briefed her on the princes. Kassim was the oldest and the most serious. Prince Matek was the second oldest. Caleb said not to take offense if he didn’t talk to her, since he was standoffish with most people. Prince Tavi came next. He had an obsession with Arianna, Caleb’s friend who was a famous singer. The youngest was Aric. He was also the friendliest and had the worst pick-up lines.
“Are you a parking ticket, because you’ve got fine written all over you,” Aric said. He tried to keep a straight face, for all of three seconds, before he burst into laughter. She found herself giggling along with him.
“You’re a terrible flirt.”
“I’m going to take it that you mean I’m terribly good,” he replied.
“Aric, maybe you should go find your own woman to flirt with before Wolfe loses his cool,” Aleki suggested, although he was grinning.
“Wolfe? Lose his cool? That never happens.” Then Aric glanced at Wolfe and paled slightly. “Hmm, maybe you’re right. I think Tavi will need a break from all the ladies lining up to dance with him.”
He gave her a wink and kissed the top of her hand before he headed over to an older woman with graying hair and a stately demeanor. He bowed lavishly over her hand and Vivi giggled.
“He’s crazy.”
“He needs to ease up or Wolfe will have a coronary,” Aleki told her.
“Where’s Caleb? I thought he was getting you a drink?” Wolfe demanded. “Do you need to sit down? Are you feeling all right?”
Aleki and Caleb had danced with her several times, but now her feet were starting to hurt. She was also tired. But she knew better than to say that to Wolfe.
“I’m having a great time. Just a bit tired.”
A strange feeling ran over her. Almost like she was being watched. That wasn’t the first time she’d felt it tonight. But every time she looked around, she couldn’t see anyone staring.
“We can go home if you need to,” Wolfe told her.
She sighed in happiness. “I’ll stay a bit longer.”
“Something’s wrong,” Wolfe said suddenly, tensing behind her.
She looked over to find Owen working his way towards them. Wolfe turned to Aleki. “Stay with her. I’ll go see what he wants.”
Wolfe walked over to meet Owen, who said something quietly to him. Wolfe frowned and glanced back at them then nodded. He strode quickly over. “There’s a suspicious package in the south garden. They want me to look at it before they move it. Could be nothing. Just be on alert, all right?”
Aleki nodded back seriously. “I’ll inform Caleb.”
Wolfe took hold of her chin. “Stay with Aleki and Caleb. Do not move from their sight. Understand?”
“I understand. Be careful.” She squeezed his hand gently.
“Don’t worry about him,” Aleki told her as Wolfe slipped away like a shadow. “He can take care of himself.”
She nodded, but she knew she’d worry about him until he was back in their sights. Caleb joined them, his face pensive.
“You heard?” Aleki asked him.
“About the box in the east garden? Yeah, Judd is there.”
Aleki shared a look with her. “I was talking about the box found in the south garden. Owen just came and got Wolfe.”
Caleb’s eyes widened, he brought out his phone, turning away from them to speak into it quietly. “Yep. Got it.”
He ended the call and looked to Aleki. “There’re two suspicious boxes. Judd has some of the guards searching the grounds for any more, but I think it’s time for the party to end. I need to update Kassim and we need to get people moving without panicking. Jelly bean, I want you to go home.”
She nodded worriedly.
“I’ll take her,” Aleki offered.
Caleb nodded then looked at his phone. “Fuck! Another box was found. Let’s start evacuation. Damn it, Aleki, I need you in the security room. I’ll take her home.”
“Is everything all right?”
She glanced over as one of the princes’ cousins approached. There were five of them. But Jeric, the one walking towards them, had rubbed her the wrong way when she’d met him earlier.
“We have a security issue,” Caleb told him briskly. He sent her an apologetic look. “Let’s go talk to Kassim, Vivi. Then I’ll escort you home.”
“I can take her,” Jeric offered.
No. Nope. She didn’t want to be alone with him.
“You seem to be busy,” Jeric added. “I have nothing to do.”