Robert must have heard him because he cocked a brow.
Having regained some of his equilibrium, Tristan grabbed one of the barstools and turned it. He straddled the stool and crossed his arms along the top of the seat back. He met the stares of both men. “Why the royal escort?”
James pushed away from the wall and marched forward. If it were Ele in front of him, he would have teased her about being in tiara mode. Crown Prince James was all business right now, but Tristan refused to be intimidated by it. It was hot when Ele got all princessy; it was irksome to watch her twin.
“I …” Jamie paused and glanced at Robert. They shared some secret information. “We need to know your intentions.”
The rush of confidence Tristan experienced before every match swept through him. He was twelve feet tall, fast as lightning, a football god. He didn’t appreciate the show of force—resented it in fact. Ele was completely capable of making her own choices and figuring out what she wanted. While he could understand their concerns, it felt like he’d just gotten clipped from behind by the last defender.
Fucking red card.
The taunting smile he’d perfected from years of goading other players spread across his face. But he didn’t say a word. Quiet possession was the natural enemy of provocation.
The silence spread out.
Jamie and Robert shared another look. Tristan watched with growing hilarity. Cracking the crown prince and the unflappable bodyguard brought him perverse pleasure. But somewhere in the back of his mind, he remembered how important these two men were to Ele, and he discovered he was willing to suffer a hit to his pride to keep them on his side.
“I absolutely appreciate the high-powered ambush—or the thought behind it. But Ele doesn’t need you to vet me for her. I thought maybe, over the three months, you would have learned how strong she is. She doesn’t need you to do this.”
Jamie unbuttoned his suit coat and sat regally on Tristan’s large sectional sofa. Casually, he crossed his ankle onto his knee and leaned back. Tristan imagined him with a pint in one hand and a video game remote in the other. Supposedly, the prince was a champ at FIFA 17. Tristan would happily stomp his ass if given the chance.
“While you were running around on the pitch, Ele was taking on the queen.”
Tristan’s head tilted to the side, an involuntary tell of his interest. Questions popped into his head with rapid-fire quickness, but he didn’t say a word.
“She might have relinquished her tiara.”
Tristan considered it. “She wouldn’t do that. She takes her responsibilities seriously. Ele doesn’t divulge state secrets, but I know there are reasons she wouldn’t do that.”
“Good thing,” Robert interjected from his space against the door. “Three hundred sixty ways to kill and all that.”
Tristan’s lips quirked.
“If Ele were just a girl, what would you be doing right now?”
“Not sure I should share that with her brother,” he quipped. He just couldn’t help himself.
Robert growled.
“I’m kidding.” He laughed, holding his hands up in surrender.
He chanced a glance over in Robert’s direction and then back to Jamie’s. They were completely serious. He sensed their reluctant worry and sympathized. Even though Sheena would literally kick his ass if he ever interfered in her life like this, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t want to. And he had five younger sisters. He got it.
He stood up from the stool and moved toward Jamie. Time. It was time.
“The thing is, she’s not just a girl. She is an unbelievable woman who happens to be a princess. I know, on paper, I’m not the ideal candidate. I would probably embarrass the hell out of her at a formal dinner, and I can’t waltz for shit.”
“Can dance with a ball pretty well,” Jamie commented.
Tristan smiled. “There is that. We don’t make sense in any way. She hates being in the public eye, and I get high off of that shit. I live to be on a pitch, and I’m not sure she knows what an offsides call is. I’m from this loud, common family, and you all are library-quiet royalty. But I make her smile. And I make her feel safe. It’s as simple as that.”
“Do you love her?”
Fuck yes. “I was willing to indulge you, but that needs to stay between Ele and me.”
“He hasn’t worked up the bollocks to tell her yet,” Robert commented.
“Why do you interject when I really don’t want you to?” Tristan asked him, annoyed.