Diego’s chest tightened even as he nodded at the maid. That was exactly what Rose had done. She’d been a breath of fresh air. A ray of sunshine. A steady presence of stability and also . . . fun.
He’d never met anyone like her.
“I’ll just pop in and say hello.” Diego smiled and then went the rest of the way into the nursery.
He was listening to Emilia read him a story, showing off her skills, when his cell rang. The ringtone notified him that it was security, so he put his hand over Emilia’s to get her to pause in her reading and then answered the call. When he hung up, his easy mood had disappeared and concern sat like a stone behind his breastbone. Rose had gone into town, had done some shopping, but had then taken a taxi to one of the beaches. Which normally wouldn’t be a big deal, but she was an employee of the palace and had gone without proper security. Not only that, but tourists were regularly targeted for all sorts of petty crime at a public beach, which was not part of one of the seaside resorts with restricted access. Rose, with her fair skin and innocent smile, would be an easy target.
“I’m sorry, you two. I have to go take care of something.” He kissed them both on the top of the head, but he was dialing Marco before he even got to the door.
“Marco? You drove Miss Rose to the city today?” He barely waited for the answer. “I need you to pick me up in two minutes.”
The drive to the beach seemed to take forever, even though Marco made it in just under fifteen minutes. Diego didn’t wait for him to stop; he hopped out of the car and strode to the steps that led down a twenty-foot cliff to the sandy beach below.
There were tons of people here. Umbrellas dotted the sandy expanse and he hadn’t even thought to ask what she was wearing.
But then he saw her. She was standing at the water’s edge, holding onto her hat and talking to a man. Jealousy ripped through him without warning, and he clenched his jaw. This wasn’t about his jealousy, though. It was about her safety. The man stepped closer, crowding her space.
Diego had just stepped forward when Rose smiled at the man, turned, and started to walk in his direction.
The man reached out and grabbed her arm, yanking her backward.
Diego ran forward, slowing to a walk when he was several yards away. While he felt the urge to slam his fist into this guy’s face, he wouldn’t cause that kind of a scene. Because of Rose. Because she didn’t need the trouble it would cause, and neither did the family.
He pasted a smile on his face, the one he saved for his most dreaded appearances, and put his sunglasses on.
“Rose, darling!” After years at Cambridge and abroad, he could do a pretty good posh accent. It might make him less recognizable, between that and the sunglasses.
She looked up and relief rushed across her features when she saw him. “Oh, hello . . . darling,” she answered, and he watched as the man let go of her arm.
“Everything all right? I’m so sorry I’m late. I was detained with the children. The nanny took the day off.”
The man took a step backward, and Diego moved in and took Rose’s hand in his.
“This nice man captured my hat,” she said, affecting a laugh. “The wind blew it right off! Down the beach it went.”
Diego slid his arm around her waist. “Well, thank God. We wouldn’t want your delicate English skin to burn, would we?” He smiled down at her secretly, and added, “Though I do think there’s an aloe plant at the villa. I could help soothe any tender bits.”
Her already pink skin turned pinker.
“Good day, Miss,” the man said, backing away quickly.
“Thank you for finding my hat!” she called after him, but once he’d turned around, she wilted against Diego. “Just in time,” she murmured.
“Come.” He dropped the English accent and the affected light mood, but still held her hand. “Let’s get you home.”
He led the way back along the beach to the steps, and then up to the waiting car. Marco didn’t even make eye contact with them as they got in the back seat. As soon as they were inside with the doors closed, Diego let go of her hand and turned toward her, the anger he’d held back rising up.
“What were you thinking? A single pretty woman on a beach alone, wandering around? You might as well have printed a target on your back!”
She spun toward him, her eyes wide and her mouth open in surprise. Then her brows pulled together. “It was my day off! I can do what I choose, Diego. I don’t have to ask your permission, you know!”
Marco, to his credit, never even blinked or peeked at the rearview mirror. He just drove steadily, away from the ocean and up toward the city.
“Yes, you can do as you please. We are a free country, after all. But you aren’t familiar with the area, and you’re not fluent, and you are an important member of the staff. You should have . . . cleared an itinerary and taken security!”
Rose lifted an eyebrow. “I’m staff. Not part of the royal family, Your Highness. I hardly rate personal security.” She turned her head and stared out the window.
He hated when she said “Your Highness” in just that way.