Alex brought a hand to his eyes and sighed. "I'm not sure of anything anymore. Did you let the guards know she's leaving? I don't want her detained again."
"Yes. They won't give her any trouble."
"Thanks, Finn."
He nodded, his expression still severe. "I'll have to pull a complete dossier on her before tomorrow."
"I'm sure that nothing concerning will come up."
"Of course, Your Highness. I'll make sure the security detail is ready by two-thirty tomorrow afternoon. Will that give you sufficient time to make the appointment?"
"Yes. Thank you."
Finn nodded again and Alex headed inside. There were a million ways that meeting Libby again was stupid. The likelihood of walking into the The Queen's Café without being noticed was beyond minuscule, which meant he'd have to find a way to tell Libby who he really was. She'd probably be furious he hadn't told her sooner and storm out of the café in a huff, which would just result in more bad publicity. Not that anything could come close to matching the storm Isla had rained down on him.
He should tell Finn to get Libby's number and break off their date now, before things went any further.
But something about Libby made Alex eager to take the risk.
CHAPTER FIVE
Libby quickened her pace, practically jogging the last few yards to Connie's flat. She didn't wait for the elevator and instead took the stairs to the third floor two at a time as Kenzie's cries grew more and more insistent. Next time they went on a long outing, Libby would pack more bottles. Of course, she hadn't planned on a private tour of the off-limits gardens with a way-too-attractive man.
"Holy cow," she whispered to the baby. Kenzie let out a howl in response. "I know! Can you believe what just happened? Your momma is going to think we're making up stories." Connie would freak out. She'd never been a big fan of Cedric and had been pushing Libby to find a rebound guy ever since she arrived in Durham.
Libby fumbled for the key as Kenzie struggled against the carrier and quickly let them into Connie's flat. The baby had given up all pretense and was positively wailing, her little face red and screwed up in displeasure.
"I'm hurrying," Libby said. She dropped her keys on the kitchen counter and flipped on the faucet, letting the water warm as she grabbed a bottle from the cupboard. "I'm sorry, sweetie. But you would've lost track of the time, too, if Alex kept giving you knee-melting smiles." Every time he looked at her, Libby had fought the urge to run a hand along that neatly-trimmed beard, then pull his lips down to hers.
Ridiculous. It was that delicious accent that turned her into such an idiot. Maybe she should start wearing earplugs every time she went out in public. Did you become immune to the Durham accent after a while? She'd have to ask Connie.
As though summoned by Libby's thoughts-okay, probably by Kenzie's cries-a click echoed near the back of the flat. Libby stifled a sigh. Connie had struggled relinquishing her mom duties since Libby arrived, and frequently checked in on Kenzie and Libby when she should be working in her home office.
"We're fine," Libby called. "Kenzie's just hungry. I didn't bring enough bottles."
Connie arrived in the kitchen, her smile bright but eyes tired. She was a children's book illustrator for a big publishing house, which meant she mostly set her own hours and worked from home. But it also meant she insisted on doing all the nighttime feedings while Libby slept. "Poor baby."
"Go back to work." Libby filled the bottle with water and set it in the warmer, patting Kenzie's back soothingly as she did so. She'd always loved helping out with the new babies at Ocean Meadow and thought that being Kenzie's nanny would be an easy adjustment. And it had been … mostly. There was just a lot more multitasking involved than she'd anticipated.
"I just finished up for the day." Connie ran a hand through her dark bob, then held out her arms for Kenzie.
"Connie," Libby said warningly.
"Hey, I put in seven hours. I'll illustrate for a few more after she gets to sleep. I needed a break anyway. Here, let me take her."
Libby sighed but unbuckled the side strap and lifted Kenzie into her mom's waiting arms. Her back instantly let out a sigh of relief and Libby arched it, trying to work out the kinks.
"Hello, sweetheart," Connie said in a high-pitched sing-song voice. She kissed the baby's head and nuzzled her close. "Shhh, dinner's almost ready. Libby's taking care of it."
"You're paying me to take care of these things during work hours, you know," Libby said in a tone of mock severity. There was no father in the picture, and Libby was supposed to help bridge the gap that created. She unbuckled the side straps and pulled off the carrier. Cool air rushed over her sweaty dress and Libby let out a happy groan. "Man, it's hot out there."
"The heat surprised me when I first moved to Durham, too." Connie sighed, kissing Kenzie again. "I know I should be working, but I didn't realize how hard it would be to leave her, even for a few hours."
"We're doing just fine. I've got everything under control." The words felt like a lie and Libby inclined her head to the side. "Well, thanks to a knight in shining armor."
"Something happen today?" Connie bounced Kenzie up and down as she tried to convince her to take her pacifier, but the baby wasn't having it.
"Your little princess almost had to take a drive downtown with me."
The warmer beeped. Libby grabbed the bottle and dumped in two scoops of formula.
"Are you trying to tell me you almost got arrested?" Connie asked over Kenzie's howls.
Libby nodded as she quickly shook the bottle and tested the temperature on her arm. She handed the bottle to Connie and the kitchen was soon filled with the baby's hungry gulps.
"You're exaggerating, right?" Connie's voice sounded too loud in the suddenly quiet kitchen, but there was a hint of amusement underneath, just as Libby had known there would be.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. He certainly acted like he was going to arrest me. Detain us at the very least."
"At the palace, you mean? There's got to be a story there."
Libby inclined her head to the side and grinned. "A pretty good one. I think you're going to approve."
Connie headed into the living room and Libby followed. "I'm listening," Connie said over her shoulder.
Libby followed Connie into the room and sat down on one of the comfortable gray couches. Libby told her about the lucky penny and the stern and angry guard who most definitely didn't approve as Kenzie gulped down dinner. By the end, Connie was laughing.
"I always knew those lucky pennies would get you in trouble," Connie said. "You can't just leave things at the palace and not get in hot water."
Libby rolled her eyes and began stacking the board books strewn about the glass coffee table. "Well, I know that now. But at the time it didn't seem like a bad idea. There were dropped brochures and coins and who knows what else all over that palace. It didn't seem like a big deal."
Connie laughed again, the baby clutched close. "Oh, Libby. You always were impulsive."
"I was totally panicking for a minute there," Libby admitted. She ran her bare feet along the plush white rug, feeling warm at the memories. "But then Alex saved me."
"Alex?"
Just the name sent butterflies through Libby's stomach. Pathetic. Sure, he was amazingly attractive and had really gone above and beyond when saving her today. But he was still just a guy, and she was done with them. "Yeah. He works at the palace and made the guard back off and leave me alone. We talked for a while. He even showed me the Queen's Gardens."
Connie's eyes widened and she leaned forward, popping the bottle out of Kenzie's mouth. The baby let out a wail of displeasure that Connie quickly silenced with the formula.
"The Queen's Gardens? As in, Queen Nicolette's private gardens? The ones that most definitely are not on the tour?"
Libby nodded, the wonder of the moment seizing her again. "They were absolutely beautiful, Connie. There's an entire section of edible plants, and the whole thing is laid out in these beautiful geometric designs. The photos seriously don't do it justice. I wish you could've seen it. I'm so mad I forgot an extra bottle for Kenzie, because I would've loved to stay longer." She relaxed into the couch, watching as Connie gently swayed her daughter. Kenzie's hunger appeared to have been satisfied finally. She was sucking much slower now, at least, and her eyes were drooping closed.
"Alex," Connie repeated. "A palace employee who just happened to have access to the royal family's private gardens."
"Well, I don't know if they're private exactly. I mean, I know they're called the Queen's Gardens, but how often does she actually walk through them?" They hadn't run into anyone else while there and the gravel pathways had been pristine, with no rocks kicked out of place.