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His eyes followed Kiera as she slid into the huge pool, swam over to the small ‘lazy river,’ then rolled over to float on her back and let the water push her around the concrete circle.
Why would she float on her back like that? He felt eyes on him and turned to see Sarah beaming. The American girl knew how taken he was with her friend. Who could help but notice? He had to hide it and stay in control.
Sliding into the warm water, he started using the different jets while keeping his eyes tracking from Kiera to the rest of the area. Enticing princess. No danger. Mesmerizing woman. No danger. Captivating Kiera. No danger.
Back and forth. It was his assignment to watch her. To pretend to date her. Best assignment he’d ever had. And the most difficult.
The jets relaxed his muscles, but nothing could relax the tension growing inside him regarding his assignment. The Fearless Princess. The most appealing woman in the world. He really needed to set aside time to check media regarding Augustine’s royalty so he wasn’t blindsided like this ever again.
Kiera circled through the variety of massaging jets, often closing her eyes and parting her lips slightly as she let the water therapy do its work. Mason’s jaw slackened and his heart raced every time.
After far too long of him checking for danger, staring longingly at Kiera, and rotating through jets, Mason was ready to suggest they head out.
Kiera declared it was time for tricks. Mason couldn’t help but smile and join in. The pool wasn’t deep enough to get too crazy but Mason and Kiera competed for the best back flips, gainers, Baranis, aerials, and Arabians. Josiah watched them quietly, a slight smile on his lips. Sarah rated their tricks, always giving Kiera the higher score. Which was probably deserved. Mason could accomplish any trick, but he didn’t look nearly as graceful or fabulous doing it.
They had a lot of fun.Thiswas the Princess Kiera he’d planned on spending three and a half days guarding. Well, the fun and tricks, at least. She still looked like heaven above had designed the most enticing woman, placed her in a blue swimsuit, and then reminded him he’d said the stupidest words of his life—I promise you I would never pursue Princess Kiera—to his commanding officer and the princess’s second-oldest and most protective brother. The general prince hadn’t even asked for the vow. Mason had volunteered it. Why hadn’t he just agreed not to trifle with her heart?
Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Mason fought to keep his head in the game, checking everywhere for danger and being reassured by Mueller and Silva’s constant presence and the occasional guard passing outside the windows that everything was all right. If only it was all right inside his head and heart. He’d never been such a jumbled clutter of confusion.
His usual dating experience was taking fun, beautiful, sweet, and accomplished ladies on two or three fun dates, then happily moving on. He didn’t lose his head and go insane over any one woman, no matter how impressive or alluring they were. Even with his plans with Miriam, he’d been in complete control and his heart hadn’t gotten involved at all.
The problem was, Kiera was the complete package for him—fun, impressive, enticing, loyal, thoughtful, and gorgeous. And his heart was wrapped up, tied neatly with a bow, and ready to hand over the moment she asked for it.
The two hours were finally over, and they rinsed off in the locker rooms and then headed back to Hope and Faith’s house in two four-person electric golf carts. It was unnerving being out in the open on a security detail, but the village was sleepy, the air bitingly cold, and nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
When they got back to the house, Mason checked the cameras and sensors while Kiera and Sarah waited in the garage with him. The three other guards performed interior and exterior checks. He tried not to notice Kiera standing close at his side. Did she brush against him accidentally? Keeping his focus was the most difficult task he could remember in a very long time.
When the house was clear, everyone went to their separate suites to hopefully get some rest as they would ski a full day tomorrow. Mason brushed his teeth, put on cotton shorts and a T-shirt, and flipped open his laptop. He checked the security cameras, but everything was clear. He texted General August and Lieutenant General Chad a report of everything that had happened so far, leaving out the most pertinent information—that he was a mess regarding the princess and could someone please help him or could he rescind a promise?
Mason had texts from his family, some friends, many different women, Levi, and Miriam. He responded to all of them, including non-committal friendly texts to each of the women. He had no desire to date anyone but Kiera and felt lackluster about the beautiful doctor now.
What was he going to do? Call Miriam and tell her they wouldn’t be going out again? Abandon his perfect plan to show his brothers that he wasn’t the Serial Dater?
He stewed about it … for half a second.
Yes. That was exactly what he was going to do. There wasn’t a woman alive who could compete with Kiera. It wasn’t fair to any other lady, especially Miriam, to lead her on when he’d found the only woman that would do for him.
Mason pulled out his phone and pushed call back on her name. He quickly told her he’d met someone, not explaining that he’d known this ‘someone’ for years, and apologized that he couldn’t date Miriam any longer. She was gracious and didn’t ask questions. That was a blessing.
Now he could focus on Kiera.
Just not in the way he wanted to.
Curses! Would Josiah spar with him to get some energy out? There was a gym down the hall. He’d exercised at the military center early this morning, but it felt like a different lifetime. He might have to do a second workout today.
A rap on his door was exactly what he needed to get out of his own head. He leaped to his feet and rushed to fling it open. Standing on the other side was the one person he shouldn’t be ecstatic to see—the blue-eyed, dark-haired, exquisitely beautiful and far-too-mature princess. She wore a long-sleeved running shirt and fitted workout pants. Was she truly only twenty-one? If he’d met her on the street or at a restaurant, he’d guess she was somewhere between twenty-six to twenty-eight.
“My favorite bodyguard.” She grinned impishly, and the entire hallway lit up. Light from her smile and from heaven above poured into his room. He couldn’t help but think that heaven was endorsing him pursuing her. Why else would he be hit this hard with unfamiliar and incredible feelings for her? Yet heaven wouldn’t endorse him going back on his word. He passed a hand over his face.
“Hey,” he managed.
“Ray said to keep you informed when I get texts from the current stalker.” She held up her phone.
Thecurrentstalker. She said it as if it were old hat. How many had she dealt with?
“Can I come in?”
