She took a breath, her lip trembled, but she stayed composed. For all her outward bluster, her big personality, if Ian had learned anything about Sofia since they’d been together, it was that she had a tender and sensitive heart. And he could see how deep he’d cut her as the sparkle left her green-gold eyes.
“You were never a game, Ian. Not ever.” Walking to the door, she yanked it open before saying her final piece. “I thought I knew you.” She paused. “More than that, I thought you knew me. I guess I was wrong.”
She didn’t say goodbye. He listened to her footsteps fade as she descended the staircase; watched her as she walked out of the building and to the waiting car. She didn’t look up towards his window, not even a passing glance.
Once she was gone, Ian sank into his couch cushions and picked up her scent—light,
spicy, and tinged with their lovemaking. It mocked him. He figured this was just the beginning.
As time passed, he wouldn’t get over her, instead he’d suffer for every unkind word he uttered to her. He’d just been such a bastard he deserved to be miserable for the rest of his life.
Chapter One
New York City
Eight Years Later
Special Agent Ian Stuart’s eyes were locked on the surveillance van monitors. The
subject was exiting her vehicle and making her way towards the entrance of the high end department store on Fifth Avenue for a bit of shopping. She turned the heads of several men walking by, but no one knew that the gorgeous brunette was a visiting dignitary from a tiny European country.
A small child darted in front of her, stumbling, and of course, she stopped to help the little boy.
“Get inside the bloody department store, gorgeous,” Ian grumbled. Too much time
outside, in an environment with limited control, was never good. Granted, everything seemed alright, no one knew who she was, but lately any VIP visit to the city brought out the whackos. A limo with diplomatic plates was more than enough to attract attention. Add to that today’s visitor was a royal with a target on her back, and the situation became that much more critical.
He worried too much, he knew that. Any glitch, any unexpected movement on the part of the dignitaries he was charged with guarding, and Ian lost his shit.
But he had to give her credit; Crown Princess Sofia of Aubonne wasn’t going to bow to threats. The rebel factions that had terrorized the royal family of her small European country for almost a decade had promised more bloodshed—more death—if their demands for the overthrow of the royal family weren’t met. And that was no lie. The violence had escalated over the past year, resulting in the death of Sofia’s elder brother, which left the petite, brunette beauty as the heir to the throne.
“What is she doing? Damn.” Now she was having a conversation with the kid’s mother.
“She’s such a pain in the ass.” Which made her just like every other royal who breezed into town. Ian had been working on Princess Sofia’s protection plan for a month, checking possible vulnerabilities and coordinating with security agencies. The political turmoil in her home country added a layer of complication, but Ian stayed on top of it. He treated her visit with the same care he gave every other dignitary. But she was more. She’d always been more.
One of the other agents, Paul Burns, who was monitoring the situation, laughed. “You know her, right?”
“I knew her when I was at school in England for my masters.” He didn’t elaborate. Paul didn’t ask.
“That’s right. You have way too many letters after your name, man. Why are you here doing this kind of work exactly?”
Ian shrugged. “I’m here because I like the work, it’s important and I’m good at it.”
And he was. Ian headed a squad of counter terrorism specialists. His training as an Army Ranger, his education, and his interest in working with other agencies to protect those vulnerable to attack made this the perfect job for him—Ian popped an antacid in his mouth—
even if it wasn’t the least stressful.
Foreign heads of state were the most problematic guests. Their own security force
wanted to keep control, however they didn’t understand the pitfalls of moving around in a big city like New York. The princess’s people were no different, and the arrogance her chief of security added to the mix gave Ian a serious desire to kick the guy’s ass.
She was outside too long. Too. Damn. Long. He watched the street, the traffic, and the people moving on the sidewalk by the store and across the street. Nothing was considered unimportant. Ian worked the details, just like always.