But Ed’s burgers are a different story altogether.

“You didn’t have any,” she says as if it’s just occurred to her.

“I was on duty,” I remind her.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“Starved, actually. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

She scowls. “Well, we could have ordered you something to go.”

I watch her for a long moment. “Has it never occurred to you before that the men who look after you don’t eat when you do?”

“Well, of course, they don’t. It’s just protocol because they’re working. But I suppose it’s never crossed my mind that they might be hungry. And that just makes me sound ghastly.”

“No, it makes you sound like a privileged woman who’s never had to think about those things. It doesn’t make you a bad person.”

“I’ve never had the kind of relationship with someone on my staff the way I do with you. And I’m not just talking about the sex, of course.” She smiles and then leans her head back on the couch, thinking it over. “I’ve always been friendly because I’m not a hag. Of course, I think of the staff as human beings.

“But they’re also employees. So, our relationships have always been professional ones.”

“Exactly,” I agree.

“It’s simply expected that when I’m in public being guarded, the security doesn’t eat or do anything but make sure the royal family is safe. Because that’s appropriate professionally.”

“I don’t disagree. I’m not complaining.”

“I know, but I guess I’m just now realizing how indulged I am. I take so much of it for granted because it’s all I’ve ever known. But you’re hungry, and Callum and I ate at your favorite restaurant. I wish you’d mentioned that you’d like to take a meal to go. I wouldn’t have found that inappropriate in the least. And I’m quite sure Callum would have felt the same way. We should order you some food right now.”

Do I want a burger? Yes. In fact, aside from Ellie herself, there doesn’t seem to be much at the moment that I want more.

“If we do that, we should order for the whole team on staff today,” I reply, watching her worry her bottom lip as she thinks it over.

“Oh, that’s a brilliant idea! We’ve done things like that in the past, and I think it’s a lovely way to show appreciation. Let’s do it. You go take everyone’s order, and we’ll go fetch it.”

“This is a fun side to you,” I mention as I stand and pull her to her feet. “You’re a sweet woman, Eleanor.”

“If I was that sweet, I would have thought to offer this when we were still there.”

“I would have refused it,” I reply and kiss her nose. “Because I was on duty.”

“Well, then, let’s get you a burger. But nothing for me because I can barely breathe.”

“Why don’t you come with me?”

She smiles brightly and slips her bare feet back into her sandals. “I’d love to.”

I head over to HQ with her, and when we walk through the door, Baxter and Bartlett are standing at the table. They nod at me, but when they see that Ellie’s with me, they both lower their heads and say, “Your Highness.”

“We have a surprise for you,” Ellie says with a smile. “We’d like to buy you a late lunch. Would cheeseburgers from Ed’s Diner be okay with you?”

Both men raise their brows in surprise. “That would be fantastic,” Bartlett says.

“I’m starving,” Baxter adds and nods. “Thank you.”

“Just write down what you’d like, and Liam and I will go fetch it for you. It’s a small token of my appreciation for all you’ve done for me during my stay here. You always go above and beyond, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

Bartlett and Baxter both blush, making me laugh.

“Okay, okay, their heads are big enough. Write down what you want. We’ll be back soon.”

“Just tell me what you want,” Baxter says, reaching for a pen, “and I’ll call it in so it’s ready when you get there.”

“Good idea. Double cheeseburger, large fries, and a chocolate shake.”

“Me, too,” Baxter says.

“Three of those,” Bartlett adds. “And thank you, miss.”

“It’s entirely my pleasure.”

* * *

“I think you’re the favorite around here now,” I say several hours later, after the food was fetched and devoured, and Ellie and I are back in her apartment alone.

“I do so enjoy being the favorite,” she says with a smile. She’s texting on her phone. “Callum’s going to be out for a while. I don’t know what he’s up to, but he says he won’t be back for a couple of hours yet.”

She bats her eyelashes at me and covers my lap with her bare leg. I’m a sucker for Ellie in short-shorts.

Okay, I’m a sucker for Ellie period.

“Whatever shall we do with our time alone?” she asks.

“I guess we could play poker.”

She smirks. “Or, we could play poke her.”

I stare at her in surprise and then bust up laughing. “I can honestly say, I never expected something like that to come out of your sexy little mouth.”

Tags: Kristen Proby Big Sky Royal Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net