She frowns, looking confused. “Liam, Ellie isn’t here.”
“What do you mean?”
“She left first thing this morning, looking for you.”
“Looking for me in Montana?”
“Of course.”
I let my head fall back and quickly do the math. “We got on the planes at roughly the same time. She’s going to get there and find out I’m not there.”
“Why didn’t you just call each other? Why doesn’t anyone talk to each other in this family?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“That’s what she said.” She throws her hands up into the air. “And now, you’re here, and she’s there, and you’re no closer to fixing this.”
“Thanks for the rundown.” I pull my phone out of my pocket. No missed calls. So, I pull Ellie’s name up and press send.
It rings twice before she answers.
“Liam?”
“Where are you?”
She’s quiet for a moment, and I can’t stand it.
“Ellie, I’m a little impatient right now. Tell me where you are. Please.”
“I’m at the lake house.”
“Stay there.”
“I hadn’t planned on leaving.” There’s my sassy girl. “And why is Callum here?”
“Ask Callum. I’m serious, Eleanor, stay exactly where you are. I’m leaving London right now.”
“You’re in London?”
“That’s right. And you’re not. Do. Not. Move.” I hang up and put the phone back in my pocket, then lean over and kiss Nina’s cheek. “Thank you.”
“Good luck. Tell her I said hi.”
I wave and jog back to the car. I’m going to get my girl.
I’ve never been good at sitting still. Combine two, nine-hour flights back-to-back, and I’m like a caged animal.
I’m coming out of my skin by the time we pull through the gate of the lake house. I’m out of the car before it comes to a complete stop and immediately run down to the boathouse.
I’m positive that’s where she’ll wait for me.
And as I come around the corner, and the lake comes into view, I’m not disappointed. There she is, standing on the dock with her back to the water, facing me.
She’s in those little yoga shorts and a red tank, her hair down and wild in the light breeze coming off the lake.
My steps slow. I don’t run down to her and whisk her into my arms like they do in the movies.
I’m too raw for that.
Too heartsick.
Too fucking messed up.
Her face is solemn as I slowly walk toward her, my steps slow and measured, like a cat stalking its prey.
When I finally reach her, I cup her face in my hands, not touching her anywhere else.
“There are so many things I need to say to you, Eleanor, but nothing is as important as telling you that I love you more than anything or anyone I’ve loved in my life. You’re the reason I breathe, and I was an idiot to walk away the way I did.
“You will never be away from me ever again, do you understand?”
Her eyes well with tears, and she nods slowly.
“I understand.”
It’s a whisper and a balm to my soul. I lower my head and kiss her softly. Before we give my men too much of a show, I pick her up, unlock the boathouse, and carry her upstairs.
I want to take her right to the bedroom, strip us both bare, and claim her in the most carnal way possible.
But some things need to be said first. I don’t set her down, I sit and settle her in my lap, and she pulls away, making me frown.
“I forget myself when you hold me like this,” she says and then brushes tears away. “We’ll talk, and then you can hold me for as long as you like.”
My arms long for the feel of her, but this is the most important conversation of my life, so I nod and wait for her to speak.
“I’ve had a lot of time to think,” she begins. “And I understand why you were frustrated and left the way you did.”
“There was no excuse for that,” I disagree. “I should have talked it out with you.”
“Yes.” She looks me right in the eyes. “You should have. But I don’t know if I would have listened. Maybe it took a few days apart for me to truly understand the situation.”
She rubs her hands together and then pushes them through her hair.
“My family isn’t easy. I’m used to it because I was born into it. Being a princess has been ingrained in me literally since the day I was born. It was shortsighted of me to think that you’d come to London with me and adjust in a matter of days, just because we love each other.”
“Do you still love me?”
Her gaze whips to mine in surprise. “I’m here, aren’t I? Do you think I would have come all this way if, at the end of this conversation, I was going to wish you well in your future endeavors?”
“I’d hope not, but you never know what people will do these days.”
“Well, I wouldn’t. Yes, I love you very much. And I was angry at you, but I needed to be reminded that every relationship needs communication and compromise to survive.”
“Nina?”
“Along with Anne and my mum.” She licks her lips. “So, while you shouldn’t have left, I also wasn’t sensitive to how you must have been feeling after being thrust into the life of a royal family the way you were. And for that, I’m sorry.”
“You’re forgiven.”
She offers me a small smile and then keeps talking.
“Liam, I’d never thought of myself as having two different personas until you pointed it out. Again, because it’s just always been, and I was too selfish to realize it.”
“You’re not selfish.”
“I am.” The admission is soft and self-deprecating. “But now that I know better, I can do better. Princess Eleanor, the dresses and makeup, the jewelry, it’s all a mask. It’s how I protect myself from those people. You’ve met them.”
“Yes, I have.” And now I feel like a bigger asshole because I should have seen it. It’s my job to be observant, and I was too wrapped up in my head to see it. “And it makes total sense, El. I should have realized.”
She shrugs one beautiful shoulder. “We both should have. And I should have thought to warn you. But we can should ourselves all day. I’m sorry for not thinking of your feelings.”
“You’re forgiven. Now, can I please apologize, as well?”
“You already did.”
“Sort of.” I reach for her, and she comes willingly into my lap. “I love you so much I ache with it, and leaving you was pure hell. I regretted it the minute I left your apartment. I won’t leave you again, not like that. If we’re angry or hurt, we need to talk it through. No exceptions.”
“Agreed.” She cups my cheek, and I close my eyes at her sweet touch. “But, Liam, I enjoy being a princess. It may sound silly and privileged, but I’m quite fond of my family. I’m proud of my lineage, and I hope you won’t ask me to give them up.”
“No.” I drag my fingertips down her cheek. “I wouldn’t ask you to do that. I haven’t been close to my parents since I went into the Army, so I sometimes forget that family is important to others. I like yours. They’ve been great to me, and I wouldn’t ask you to walk away from them for me. That’s never a choice you should have to make.”