“Maybe. But with my job and school and everything, it gets a little complicated.”
As were the other things that were left unsaid. It seemed we both were doing our best not to talk about important things in our lives. I mean, it’s not like she knew what I was ignoring. And once again, I needed to push that from my mind because I didn’t have time to think about it.
“Anyway, I miss your face. I love you and be safe.”
“All of that right back at you,” I said, sighing. “I wish you were here.”
“You know what? Staying in a castle, on a royal island, with hot princes all around? I kind of wish I was there too.”
“The princes may be hot, but they’re a little grumbly.” Wilder wasn’t too pleased with me. And well, Breck was just your garden variety pain in the ass.
Onyx snorted. “Oh? What about the king? Is he all grumbly?”
“I take it you’ve seen photos of King Roman?”
“You can’t see me, but I’m fanning myself right now. Those Waterford brothers are sexy as hell.”
“And a couple of them don’t make me want to scream.” I bit my lip, annoyed I had said anything.
There was a muffled voice in the distance. “Damn it, I need to go, but next time we talk, we’re going to dissect exactly what you meant right there. I need to know which prince is making you scream, because, hell yes.”
“I meant in frustration,” I growled.
“Sure you did, Sparrow. I totally believe you.”
“I love you, jerk,” I said, laughing.
“And I love you too. Have fun screaming.”
She hung up, and I shook my head, a smile planting on my lips. Hearing her voice was exactly what I needed. I might not have told her everything that I needed to get off my chest, but I was at least a little calmer. I let out a breath and made my way back to Breck’s office.
Jaye was still there, going over files, but the prince was gone.
“Sorry it took me a while.”
Olly and Niko both gave me a weird look, staring at my face, and I could have kicked myself for not checking my reflection in the mirror to see if my Chapstick was smudged or not.
Niko cleared his voice and said, “No problem. Breck texted and said he’d get on his part of the job soon. He had another meeting, but Jaye’s staying.”
“Yes, I am,” Jaye said, waving before going back to work.
“Anyway, Breck already has a few things done for us, which I have to say, is far more than I expected,” Olly grumbled remotely.
My head shot up at the same time as Jaye’s.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Oh, you guys haven’t seen him work?” Jaye asked, confusion on her face before she blinked it away.
“What should I be seeing? What the hell does Breck do?”
Jaye’s face went carefully blank. “He does what he always does. I should get back to my desk. I have a lot of things to do. But we will help. Thank you so much for that info though, Olly. It was great to meet you. Even digitally.”
Olly met her gaze, blushing. “Well, you know, being digital is still meeting people. Not everything has to be in person.”
Was Olly… flirting? We all froze before Jaye said goodbye and practically ran out of the room.
I blinked at Olly. “You know, I’m pretty sure you just offered to have cybersex with Breck’s assistant.”
“I did not,” Olly spluttered, and I snorted.
Niko shook his head. “I’m pretty sure that’s sort of what you said. I mean, we knew you had no game, but that’s a little ridiculous.”
“I have game. And I wasn’t trying to hit on Jaye. She was nice. And really smart. And shut up.”
I met Niko’s gaze, and we both burst out laughing.
“You know, I’m going to be living on that same island with you. I will get you back for this,” Olly warned.
“What are you going to do?” I asked. “Splutter at me some more?”
“Okay, boss, you’re mean. You’re letting your power go to your head.”
“Well, I’m not your boss, and I guess I just have to make fun of you for the both of us,” Niko said. Olly rolled his eyes before we got back to work.
“Okay, other than that little incident here, which we’re working on, we have four assignments coming up,” I reminded them.
Olly nodded. “We’ve got it. The two of you are going to be in Alden for a while setting up, and I’m going to be here training my replacement, but the rest of our team is going to be out on assignment.”
“And Kannon is going to be checking in every hour like he has been since he went on his trip with London.”
Niko sighed. “This is supposed to be his vacation,” he mumbled. “Well, at least as much a vacation as you can get when you’re still protecting the princess of Alden.”
“When is the last time our boss actually took a vacation?” I drawled.
“How about the beginning of never?” Olly asked.
“Exactly.”
“Of course, you’re just as bad,” Niko said as he looked at me.
“Excuse me? You are even worse.”
Niko shrugged. “It’s the job. Who needs a social life or outside connections when you have our team?”
I remembered Breck’s mouth on mine and exactly what I’d wanted him to do to me just outside this room, and I dutifully ignored that comment.
Because I didn’t need anything more than I already had. I had enough on my plate as it was. And I sure as hell didn’t need Prince Breck and that very talented mouth of his. Even though, as I got to know him better, I realized he might not exactly be the fuck-up that I imagined him to be at first.
Just who exactly was he? And why couldn’t I put him out of my mind?
Chapter 10
Sparrow
It’s never who you expect.
* * *
As it turned out, Breck wasn’t at all bad.
You mean you’re starting to like him?
No, I didn’t say that. But in the week since we’d kissed, he’d been kind. Nice even. Available. Hopeful. I was actually starting to wonder about the amount of time he was spending on tracking the relays and possible routes my attacker had taken. Originally, it was supposed to be only a couple of days to appease Wilder. I didn’t expect anything to come out of it, really. I mean, it was only a mugging, right?
I dropped my groceries at the back of my car. I hated the fact that because of one stupid incident, everything about my movements had changed. Where once I’d felt so capable, able to take care of myself in any situation, now I needed to be more careful and aware.
Because you were not careful and not aware that time. Remember when you got jumped?
I sighed, locking the trunk of my car and smiling at the little girl selling flowers in front of the market. She and her mother had been there every Saturday so far since I’d been in Alden, and I always said I was going to buy some when I fully settled into my flat. Maybe flowers would cheer me up. I left the parking area for the grocery store and smiled as I approached her. The crowds were thicker, but that was safer, wasn’t it? The sun was high and everything about the surroundings screamed old-world Europe. Like time had wound backward and the streets were lined with cobblestones where the villagers made their fortunes on whatever they sold at their stalls.