His Forbidden Princess(18)
“It’s very relaxing,” he responded. The smile on her face was real, and after what
happened twenty-four hours before, he considered her easy manner a step in the right direction.
When she turned those eyes on him, however, when her expression softened, he knew they were both heading down a road that could only lead to more complications. After she kissed him last night, Ian promised himself he’d stay cool, stay professional. There was no other choice. If he lost his objectivity, she’d be more at risk and that wasn’t acceptable.
“Would you like some coffee or tea? There are bagels in the kitchen.”
“Thanks. I’ll help myself. I want to take this in for a bit.” She walked off the patio and toward the water, her strides long and purposeful, and her ponytail swinging happily behind her.
His uncle joined him at the table and both of them were watching Sofie. Uncle John’s gaze was purposeful, protective. Ian just couldn’t get enough of her.
“So, I talked to a buddy of mine at NATO. The shit going down over there is not good.
You didn’t tell me the whole story.”
He hadn’t. “She may not be able to go home. It looks like the nationalists have convinced enough members of parliament to request the royal family to go into exile. No one on that front is advocating violence, in fact they’re condemning it, but all it takes are a few fanatics to scare people.”
“The country is torn,” his uncle added. “The general population loves the queen. I don’t understand how they’re getting so much traction for the separation from the royal family.” His uncle sighed. He’d seen his share of governments in turmoil. Often it was Uncle John, or men like him, called on to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves. “Are you going to tell her?
If it’s going to come from anyone, it should come from you.”
Ian shook his head. “It’s going to have to come from her family. Not me. We’re getting her a secure phone so she can stay in touch.”
“Right. Her family. I guess.” Uncle John stood and took a long, deep breath of salt air.
“You remember my buddy, Lou Bruno?”
“Sure. He has the big fishing boat? Right?”
“Yup. It’s down in Florida right now. I was going to fly down and help him drive it back.
Planned on leaving in a few days.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Well, that’s why I’m bringing it up. Is it a problem? If you need me to stay, I will.”
“No,” Ian did believe they were safe on the island. He didn’t need his uncle to stay. No doubt he’d provide an effective buffer between him and Sofie, but it wasn’t a reason to ask him to stay. “I’m just surprised. Last night you were talking about sandbagging the place like some kind of military bunker, now you’re leaving?”
“If you want me to stay, I will. Let me know. Making sandbags is always a good time.”
His uncle walked into the house and left Ian staring at his retreating form. “Jesus Christ,”
he said. It was no wonder his uncle never married. He couldn’t stay in one place for more than a few days. The man had the attention span of a chipmunk. But this time it wasn’t Uncle John’s attention span, or lack of one, that was the problem. This was him thinking Ian needed to be alone with the princess. He wanted to tell his uncle that alone or not, nothing was going to change. This wasn’t some romantic getaway. The trip was about keeping her out of harm's way.
Sofie was coming toward him, still looking like a college girl, not the next ruler of her nation. “I think I’ll get some breakfast, and then, maybe we can do a little exploring?”
“You feel up to going out?”
She nodded and a grin teased the corner of her mouth. “I’d love to check out some of the vineyards we passed while we were on our way here.”
“How about we stay local today, and check out the North Fork in a few days.” He should tell her about his uncle’s change of plans. Considering how things went between the two of them late last night, they needed some ground rules. “Could you sit down for a second?”
“Of course. Is there something on your mind?” Her eyes had narrowed as she sat, curious about what he needed to say. Maybe even a little suspicious. “I’m listening.”
“We have to talk about last night.” He didn’t want to talk about it, but there wasn’t any avoiding it. Already he could tell this conversation was not going to go well. The sudden shift in her posture, the set of her jaw, told Ian he was in a heap of trouble before he said a word.