AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Over eight million dollars for a car. Insane. But she’d seen those videos of him climbing out of that car. He looked like a supermodel and the most powerful man in the world. Mesmerizing.
Nolan leaned in. “Are you saying spending untold hours by my side will be difficult for you?” His blue eyes sparkled at her, but there was an underlying question. Did she want to be by his side?
Madeline couldn’t reveal the truth. She’d be removed from this assignment if anyone caught a hint of her romantic interest in the king. She’d also be humiliated when he kindly told her he’d never move on from his idealistic wife’s memory. Queen Anne had been immortalized in everyone’s memory. Madeline had no desire to compete with a ghost.
“Very,” she said drily. “You thrive on teasing me, while I am stiff and serious at all times.”
He chuckled. “I’d believe that if you didn’t instigate the teasing, and if you weren’t Chad’s mum.”
“Our boys both know how to keep things light despite the heavy responsibilities they carry.”
They shared a look—pride and joy in their children. It was something she’d always wanted to share with someone. As her daughter-in-law’s parents had no part in Hope’s life, she hadn’t even had the opportunity to share that look with them. She did wear Lady Fit workout clothing any chance she got and bragged about Hope and Faith’s success. They both appeared to love that.
Nolan leaned back in his chair. His expression turned appraising. “So what next? Since we’re working together now. Team Nolan and Madeline.” He smiled at that, and she felt a flush of happiness. “How do we prove I loathe Naomi Rindlesbacher and wouldn’t help her if she had a pistol to my head?”
“Please don’t say that.” A bitter taste coated her mouth.
“What?” He straightened. “You don’t want to be a team?”
“I do want to be a team,” she admitted. “I can’t handle the image of Naomi with a pistol to your head. We both know she’d thrilled to pull the trigger.”
Nolan shrugged, looking unconcerned. She supposed as king there’d been many times he’d had a figurative gun pointed at his head. Or a bomb. She flushed, grateful he’d been too gracious to ever bring up the humiliation of her having trusted Roger Pitcher. When his bomb attempt failed he’d gone after Hope and Faith. Her brief stint of dating that murderous jerk reaffirmed in her head even more that she was meant to be alone, and that she was right to turn down ninety percent of the dinner invites she received.
“Naomi is hiding in a hole somewhere,” Nolan said. “But you’re right; she isn’t to be underestimated. Are Gustaff and Monaco aiding her?”
“I pray not, but I wouldn’t put much past those two. How they got elected, I’ll never know.” She looked out at the beautiful summer day. “Do you ever get the chance to enjoy the outside air?”
He chuckled. “Not often enough. I hike most mornings with two guards in tow and most evenings I take Kiera on a walk through the gardens, or we swim on the top floor.”
“Kiera is adorable. Is she truly thirteen? I hate that she’s growing up.”
“Me too. So far, she hasn’t been a dramatic teenager. Though her perilous stunts cause drama for the family and heart failure for me. The boy still call her Wild Child.”
She smiled at the term. “I’m certain her stunts terrify you. She continues to idolize Prince Derek and Princess Ellery?” The royal couple often competed inAmerican Ninja Warriorevents and usually won.
“I think she might become more accomplished than either of them.” His face grew stern. “Don’t you dare reveal I said that.”
“Mum’s the word. I don’t fancy landing on the powerful king’s bad side.” She zipped her lips, though his power was no joke. He wore it like a second skin. The power had obviously been earned and, as far she knew, had never been abused.
They both laughed.
Madeline appreciated the easy rapport between them. She could spend months with him if it was this comfortable and fun. Would tingles and romance become part of the equation? For her, they already were.
A rap sounded on the door, and then it flung open. Tristan hurried in. “Pops, we have that Zoom meeting with Prime Minister Carrera, and his secretary is insisting you need to be on as well.” He turned to Madeline. “Are you supposed to participate or be a fly on the wall?”
“Fly on the wall,” she told him.
“Sorry. Our meetings are boring enough. Observing will be worse.”
She shrugged, appreciating his concern. “I’ll survive. I’ve sat through years of parliament meetings.”
“True.” Tristan grinned. “Not sure why you’d be a glutton for that kind of punishment.”
“It’s my chance to make a difference, and sometimes protect our distinguished king from unfounded accusations.” She winked at Nolan before she could think better of it.
Tristan chuckled, but Nolan’s gaze was intense. She couldn’t tell if he liked her protecting him or not.
“I’d rather be the one protecting you. The strapping, brave king, you see.”
