Recklessly Royal(50)

“I get it. It’s not Chadwick, exactly.” He smiled. “The guy is hilarious. It’s just having someone at all. You know what I mean?”

“I know what you mean, but I can’t relate. There have always been people working around me, helping me keep up with everything, or bodyguards making sure I was safe.”

“We had help on the farm. People that worked the crops and tended to some of the cattle. But they were employees. Don’t get me wrong, we liked them. Hell, Dad always gave them bonuses at the holidays and if they had nowhere to go, Mama invited them for dinner. But the way Chadwick and Selene work with you? So closely? It’s very intimate.”

“Intimate. That’s a good word for it.” I leaned back in my chair. “They sometimes know us better than we know ourselves.”

“How’s it working out with Tabitha? Seems like you two are getting along a little better.”

“It’s a learning experience. We have to figure each other out and work around that. It’s been—challenging, but I think we’re getting the hang of it.” I thought about it. “I’m not sure it would work as a permanent solution, but for now, it’s fine.”

“That’s something, considering how quickly everything happened.” He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms behind his head. “Speaking of which, I was thinking about our date.”

“Okay, shoot.” My heart dropped. He was going to cancel. With everything that had happened, you couldn’t ask for a better excuse. I stilled my face in an attempt to hide my disappointment.

“I think we should still go.” He put his hands back down on his legs. “At first I thought maybe we should postpone it, but since Selene is doing so well, it might be nice to have a little fun. Relax after a stressful week. If that’s okay with you.”

“Oh.” Relief and a little jolt of electricity flooded through my body. He really did want to have a date with me. “That would be nice.”

“Nice?” He made a face. “We don’t have to go if you’ve changed your mind.”

“No! I thought—” I shook my head. “I’m looking forward to going.”

“What did you think?” He leaned closer, his face curious.

“Nothing.” I shook my head.

“That means it was something.” He smiled. “Out with it.”

“No, not now.” I shot a glance over to where Selene was still sleeping.

“Okay, but you’re not escaping.” He winked at me and my heart fluttered.

Chadwick walked in with a soft knock on the door. He was carrying two bags of food that smelled delicious. “There is an empty break room down the hall. The nurses said we could use it for dinner.”

“That was nice of them.” I took the bag he held out.

“Yep. Now go eat. I’ll sit with Selene.” Chadwick shooed me out of my seat.

“Are you sure? I know you have a long drive home.” I took the bag hesitantly.

“I’m positive.” He pointed at David. “You. Her. Go eat.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” David held up his hands.

“I like him.” Chadwick winked at me. “He doesn’t argue as much as Samantha.”

David slapped Chadwick on the shoulder. “I’ll try harder.”

“That wasn’t a challenge,” Chadwick tsked. He started unloading his bag of food onto the little table next to the bed.

The smell of the food made my stomach rumble and I decided I didn’t need any more urging either. David opened the door and we followed Chadwick’s directions to the break room.

I took the food out of the bag while David purchased two drinks out of the machine in the corner. I wasn’t sure how Chadwick had managed to get us Chinese food, but I wasn’t going to complain. Since there were no plates, I undid the boxes so they lay flat. We’d just have to share.

I sat down and broke apart my chopsticks and picked up a piece of lemon chicken.

“No forks?” David looked around, worried.

“I didn’t see any.” I smiled. “Don’t like chopsticks?”

“I’ll just avoid the rice.” He sat down and propped the sticks clumsily between his fingers. I tried not to laugh when he picked up a piece of chicken, but when it shot across the table I couldn’t help it.

“Here.” I reached across the table and repositioned his fingers. “Try this.”

“I’m still going to fling food at you.” He shook his head. “I’m terrible with these things.”

With careful fingers, he picked up a piece of chicken and managed to get it in his mouth. “I’d be better off just stabbing the chicken.”