Page 17 of Liam

With ear comms in place and a mic at his wrist, he let them know they were coming. “Venus is on the move.”

“Copy,” Mitch replied.

As Liam reached the door, he paused before he opened it. “You look stunning tonight, treacle.”

A smile of pure feminine pleasure moved across her face at his compliment. “You look very handsome too, Liam.”

Liam shot her a wink and then opened the door to find Mitch. Waggs was already at the elevator with the doors open waiting. They moved as a seamless unit, each taking up a position to protect the Princess but giving her enough space to breathe. Liam would prefer to be closer, perhaps too close but as they neared the ground floor where the restaurant was situated, he became antsy, wanting to turn around and take her back to the room, wrap her up until all threats had ceased. Except that would never be the case for a woman like Taamira. With her social status and the fact she was making waves amongst some in her society, there would likely always be something.

As the doors to the elevator opened, they moved towards the lobby, Liam scanned the area as he kept his hand on Taamira to guide her. Finding nothing of interest, they moved as one towards the restaurant entrance.

They were met by the hostess who offered a flirty smile to the three men only to be met by stern faces of professionalism. Dipping her head, she quickly led them to a table in the corner of the room. As requested, there were two tables on either side kept open to give the Princess space and privacy. It also allowed her guards to have easier access to her if an incident arose.

Taamira sat, and Liam pushed her chair in closer and stepped back. She looked up at him with a tilt of her perfect neck. “Will you join me?”

He was loath to turn her down. Something in her voice and the hesitation in which she asked showed her softer side and the vulnerability she hid from the rest of the world, but he was working, and his job was to keep her safe. She saw the pause and shook her head, embarrassment creeping up her skin in a pink tinge.

She waved him off. “It’s fine, don’t worry.”

Liam looked to Mitch for help, and his friend nodded letting him know they had this, and Liam blew out a breath, the pain in his chest easing as he sat and grinned at her. “And pass up the chance to share dinner with a beautiful woman? Not gonna happen, sweetheart.”

Her smile told him it was the correct decision.

“Can I get you anything to drink, Your Highness?” the hostess asked, now oozing professionalism as Taamira placed her napkin on her lap.

“Do you have any alcohol-free sweet cider?”

“We have an apple and pear cider that is lovely.”

Taamira nodded. “Perfect, thank you.”

The woman looked at Liam. “And for you, sir?”

“Just water, please.”

“Your waiter will be Miguel, here are your menus.” The woman laid them on the table in front of them and left.

Liam looked around, satisfied that Mitch and Waggs were covering their backs.

He glanced at Taamira. “Cider, treacle?”

She glanced up from her menu, her eyelids blinking slowly before she gave him a small tilt of her lips. “I tried it in London when I went to the wedding of Prince Luke and Princess Caroline. It’s extremely sweet and fruity and tastes like sunshine.”

He wanted to reach across the table and kiss as she wrinkled her nose in an adorable way.

Luckily, the waiter came back with their drinks. “Are you ready to order?”

Liam lifted his menu and glanced at it quickly, it was a seafood restaurant, but he had never taken to seafood really unless it was wrapped in batter and served with chips smothered in salt and malt vinegar. “Princess?” he asked.

“I would like the turbot with peppercorn sauce, please.”

Miguel nodded and tilted his head to Liam. “And for you, sir?”

“Ribeye steak, rare, with chips and beef dripping, please.”

The waiter left, and Liam found the silence a little disturbing. It was a little like a date, but one where he had his friends watching him, and one where he shouldn’t be lusting after the woman opposite.

“I’ve made things awkward, haven’t I?” Taamira stated.