“I can take it,” she volunteered.
“But you were headed in the opposite direction.”
She laughed. “The king showed up. I had to get out of there before he devoured her in front of me.”
We both sighed. Ayla had been hesitant when she was transferred to the queen’s staff. At that time, Molly Washington had only been the king’s girlfriend. It was completely outside the royal protocol guidelines to have any type of staff, but the king wouldn’t listen. He hand-picked Ayla for the position and she had stayed on after the wedding. She liked serving the queen.
I wondered how she was able to deal with having to train someone from scratch. Molly knew nothing about royal life. But Ayla was a few years older and I thought it gave her a sort of grace I still needed to grow into. She was a good friend, and a patient royal manager.
Part of me had been relieved when King Damon told me he couldn’t remove me from Dominic’s staff. I was too valuable. Too irreplaceable. But I knew underneath the king’s words he meant I knew too many secrets.
And on those rare occasions when Dominic did want advice, he’d take mine and no one else’s. His brother knew that.
Ayla smiled. “You know where I am if you need anything. I’m going to take a walk around the palace and head back to the apartment. I’m happy to relay the dinner acceptance.”
“Thank you. I shouldn’t have said anything about him.”
“Stop apologizing. You can save your royal manager face for everyone else. But I’m your friend.”
I nodded. She walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
I needed to return to Dominic’s
apartments. My hand landed on the handle. I twisted the knob and paused. I needed to make a vow to myself that starting today, things would be different.
I had to stop torturing myself. I had to stop pretending that I lived in a world where love with Dominic was an option. Because it wasn’t. I wasn’t royal. And he wasn’t a regular citizen.
He didn’t look at me the way I looked at him. If he hadn’t seen me after all these years, it wasn’t going to start because he was suddenly sober. Love didn’t work that way.
I knew the man who never took a drink unless it was a celebration. I knew him before the alcohol took over. I knew him before Sophia.
I stepped into the hallway.
If he could undergo a transformation, so could I. I’d be the woman who pledged her life to the royal family. The one who walked through the palace doors with one vision—to serve her country with honor and respect.
I’d push the feelings for Dominic Sauvage into the farthest corners of my heart and lock them there until they were so starved for light they faded into darkness. My love for him would become a distant memory.
It had to—or I’d be the one taking a trip to rehab.
5
Dominic
“Which one?” I held the two ties toward Kenley. “It’s bullshit I have to wear a tie to have dinner with my brother.”
She approached, eyeing the options. She poked at the deep blue. “This one.” She lifted my collar for me to loop it around my neck. “It’s your first meeting with your sister-in-law since she became queen. Wear the tie. The king will be insulted otherwise.”
I stepped forward to make the knot.
“You know in rehab I wore T-shirts. There were no suits or tuxes. And I sure as hell didn’t miss my military uniform. Life is simpler in a T-shirt and jeans.”
“You can’t wear a T-shirt to dinner, and definitely not jeans.”
I lifted the jacket from its hanger. “I know.” I huffed.
“Ok. Well if that’s all you need, I think I’ll leave for the night. Enjoy the dinner with your family. I know they are excited to have you home.”
“Wait? You’re leaving?”