“No need. I’m here for thirty days. I’m going to let them know.”
I wave at her and walk through the house to the door closest to the guest house. As I step outside, I see Phillip walking up the path.
“I’m capable of walking twenty yards without an armed guard. Especially here.”
“Humor me,” he says and escorts me to the house. He opens the door for me, and when I step inside, I’m met with more testosterone in one room than should be legal.
It’s a lot.
“What is it, Ellie?” Sebastian asks after the men all stand and bow their heads to me.
“I’m staying for thirty days,” I announce. “I understand this meeting is about how to handle me, and I’m updating you of my plans.”
Liam frowns and glances down at the paper on the table in front of him.
“Is that a problem?” I ask him.
“Your Highness,” Phillip begins, “we were just discussing whether I should stay or go back to London. I would usually stay with you wherever you are in the world. That’s my job, of course.”
“You’ve been with me for ten years, Phillip. Just tell me what’s wrong.”
“My wife is about to have our second child any day, Highness. I’d rather not miss it, but—”
“You didn’t tell me she’s expecting,” I interrupt and break protocol long enough to lay my hand on Phillip’s shoulder. We never touch our employees, but I consider Phillip a friend. “Of course, you should go. Today. Straight away. And please, keep me posted on how Cynthia and the baby are doing. Send photos. You know I love babies.”
Phillip smiles kindly at me. “Thank you, but it’s not that easy.”
“Why ever not?” I look around the room with a frown. “There are eight men in this room, not counting my brother, each who are more than capable of looking after me. I’m not a troublemaker.”
Liam smirks, and I narrow my eyes on him. “Do you have something to say?”
Liam starts to speak, but Sebastian interrupts. “Nick and Liam have full-time assignments,” he says. “The other men are assigned to the house in shifts. So, we’re looking at manpower and who to assign to you in Phillip’s absence.”
I nod. “I understand, and this isn’t my area of expertise.” I watch Liam as I speak. “I just wanted to give you the information.”
I turn to leave, but Liam stops me. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
I nod and continue out the door, marching back to the big house. I’ve been attracted to Liam since I first laid eyes on him last year.
He’s tall, dark, and mysterious. He looks dangerous. He’s sexy as can be, and I don’t have much experience when it comes to men. So, whenever I’m around him, I feel like a bumbling idiot.
Ah, well, at least he’s not assigned to me. I’ll just stay out of his way, and everything will be fine.
* * *
“What do you mean Liam’s assigned to me?” I demand, staring at my brother as if he’s daft. “Liam is your personal security.”
“Charles is coming to Montana,” Sebastian replies calmly. Charles has been around since I was in nappies. But Liam’s in charge of the Montana property. “Phillip is leaving this evening after Charles arrives, and Liam will be assigned to you for the duration of your stay.”
I glance at Nina, who hasn’t said a word. “Don’t look at me.”
“Why is this a problem?” Sebastian asks.
“It’s not. It’s just a surprise.”
I have to be around Liam 24/7 for the next thirty days? My sex-deprived body might spontaneously combust.
“What am I missing?” Sebastian asks Nina, who just shakes her head innocently.
“You’re not missing anything.”
Thank God for Nina. She knows I have a crush on Liam. But I can behave professionally.
I’ve been doing it for over twenty-five years.
And I know better than to try and stick my nose into our security team’s business. They’re here to keep me safe.
“So starting tomorrow, then?”
Sebastian nods.
“Oh, also, there’s a girls’ night out planned for tomorrow night at Brooke’s Blooms,” Nina says. “We’re going to eat delicious cake and learn how to arrange pretty summer flowers. Please join us, Ellie.”
Butterflies fill my belly. “Of course, I will. That sounds like so much fun.”
“Excellent.”
Being a royal has always been lonely for me. I have my siblings, but they’re all older, living their lives. And I’ve had nannies, of course.
But I’ve been lacking any real, true friendships.
Until I met Nina and all of her wonderful friends in Montana. They include me as if it’s the most natural thing in the world to do.
And I’m grateful.
“I think I’ll go down to the dock and read.”
“No boating,” Sebastian says.
“Trust me, I have no plans to get on a boat ever again.” I fetch my sunglasses and my book, stop at the fridge for a can of Coke, and walk down to the dock that juts out from the boathouse—which is large in its own right. There is an apartment in it, above the lift for the boats. At the corner of the dock is a small covered area with seating. It’s perfect for lounging with a book and watching the water.