Page 13 of Jack

“Fine. Dinner as friends.”

He leaned in close until his lips were a whisper away from hers. “And kissing? Is that off the table?”

She blocked him with her hand, but she was grinning. “For now. Let’s see how dinner goes.” Astrid stepped back. “I need to check on a few things for tomorrow. This lady in waiting job is harder than it looks.”

He knew the moment was gone and they were back to work mode and liked that she could focus her mind like that. “I’m sure it is, and you’re doing a great job. Queen Lydia speaks very highly of you. In fact, I’m sure she’d keep you permanently if you let her.”

“That’s sweet, but I don’t think I’m cut out for court life. I already want to stab Otterly Montague with a blunt spoon.”

“Bloodthirsty little thing, aren’t you?”

“You’d be as well after a week with her.”

Jack chuckled. “You’re probably right.”

“I should get going.”

“See you at the morning briefing.”

“Yes, absolutely.”

He kept watching as she walked away, wondering if he’d just made a colossal mistake. He hadn’t meant to ask her to dinner, but he wanted more from her, of her. Now was the worst possible timing but he’d take it slow and be her friend, and if she offered more, he’d take it. As long as it was only his body because the rest wasn’t up for grabs.

As he walked to his room to call Will, he kept up that mantra in his head. It was just friendship, and sex if he was lucky. No emotions involved. Picking up the phone, he felt confident again that he could keep his head on straight with Astrid.

“Hey, bro.”

“Hi, did you get the details on that pap we caught trying to get in here?”

“Hi, Will. How are you, Will? Is Aubrey okay? Why yes, Jack, we’re both fine, thanks for asking.”

Jack rubbed his eyes. “Don’t bust my chops. I’m tired and have my hands full here.”

“Fine, and in answer to your actual question, then yes, I have the details. He’s a photographer working for one of the rags.”

“So, no hidden agenda there? Just your run of the mill parasite.”

“Exactly.”

“Any news on Frederick?”

He’d started to refer to his father as Frederick to distance himself mentally. He knew one day soon he may have to take the man down, and while he knew it was right and he’d do it, he also knew it would cost him. They were essentially the Queen’s private mercenaries and killing people was part of the job. It didn’t matter how shitty a father he was or what he’d done though, Jack knew killing the man who’d given him life would gouge a hole inside him that he’d never come back from.

“I might have a lead in Canada, but it’s tentative. I have Kanan checking it out for me.”

“Kanan is in Canada?”

“He is now. He flew out this morning to check it out.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Secrets were something that had almost wrecked his relationship with his little brother. They’d promised not to keep any more after it had come out that Will was the mystery investor behind Eidolon and owned the company. Jack was now a fifty per cent shareholder, but it had been rough going for a while.

“If I tell you about every little lead, I’d be on the phone every few minutes. I wanted to check it out and wait until we had something substantial before I told you.”

“Fine but keep me in the loop on this one.”

“I will.”