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“And take her somewhere nice for dinner and kiss her.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Though they might have to order takeout. He wasn’t ready to have Ray send a platoon. With Naomi still out there somewhere and the man’s threats from this morning, he couldn’t simply waltz into a restaurant.
“Well, go then.” Kiera pushed at him again, so Nolan picked her up and kissed her cheek. She squeezed him around the neck. “I love you, Pops.”
“I love you.” He set her down and then hurried to hug Macey, Jennifer, and even Tristan.
“Go then,” Jennifer teased.
He grinned and then sprinted from the dining room. His Lamborghini Veneno would get him there fast.
He reached the garage before he ran into two guards.
“King Nolan?” Sergeant Braxton asked, the man’s large frame towering over him.
“I’ve got an errand to run in Traverse,” he rushed out. “Please follow me.”
He was in his Lamborghini before they could respond. He pushed the start button, sped out of the garage, out of the main gates, and down the hill. Thankfully, the gaurds at the lower barricade saw him coming and raised the gate. He lifted a hand as he sailed through. He kept his speed reasonable through the village, but as soon as he hit the valley road, he was shifting through gears and pressing the accelerator to the floor. The Veneno had never flown so beautifully.
Madeline. She might still need to take things slow, but he would share Kiera’s words, Tristan’s idea, his children’s approval, and more importantly, everything in his heart.
Chapter Fourteen
Madeline thought she’d feel comfortable and her mind would clear when she got home, but she felt more confused than ever and completely unlike herself. She’d had to keep Chad’s questions at bay the entire drive and redirect over and over again to keep the attention off herself. When he finally cleared her house, armed the security system, and told her he and Hope would be by later to check on her, she had almost sagged in relief. Yet she knew when they came back later, she would be in for a grilling. The look in his eyes when he left said he knew she was a mess and planned to help her through it.
Their roles were officially reversed. Heaven help her.
Madeline put away her clothes, wiped the dust off everything, and opened all the windows to air everything out. Chad wouldn’t like that, but she was already feeling cooped up. She loved her little home with the backyard close to the river, but she missed the openness and large windows of the castle—and especially Nolan and Kiera and all the family. She used to think she enjoyed peace and quiet, but she’d been lying to herself. She wanted a castle full of people to love.
Dinner time approached, and she thought morosely about all the meals with Nolan and his family at the castle. Would they all be laughing and teasing? Would they go swimming after dinner or go on a hike? Would Kiera be sad without ‘Chad’s mum’ there?
Then she remembered Kiera loved her but didn’t want her for her mum. She couldn’t stomach dinner. When would Chad and Hope come by? He’d said they had plans for dinner, so probably not for at least a couple hours.
Madeline went out on her back patio, listened to the river, and picked dead blooms off her potted plants. Bless her neighbor, who’d watered them for her for a month. She’d have to do something really nice for Janessa.
Wandering back inside, she looked for a book on her Kindle, but nothing caught her attention.
She couldn’t sit here any longer. She laced up her runners and headed for the front door. Chad wouldn’t like her going on the river trail alone, but she’d be fine. She’d jogged the trail most mornings and walked it most evenings when the weather permitted. It was a gorgeous August evening, and being inside was making her insane.
Grabbing a small canister of pepper spray, she slipped it into her pocket. Chad would feel better if she did that. After her attack this morning, she’d feel better too.
Would the pepper spray have helped ward off that brute?
Turning off her alarm, she opened her door, blinking at the bright sunshine. The roar of a motor penetrated her peaceful neighborhood. She shrank back against the doorframe, alarmed, but then a smile touched her lips.
The gorgeous black Lamborghini driven by the one and only king of Augustine purred up to her curb. She couldn’t see Nolan through the glare of the windshield, but she knew it was him.
He’d come for her.
She wanted to run down her porch steps and throw herself into his arms, but her legs were weak with a mixture of relief and longing. This incredible man was the king of their country, but to her he was Nolan, the love of her life.
The door swung open and Nolan eased out dressed in a perfectly-cut tan suit—long legs first, then his lean torso, then his handsome and perfect face. He studied her for a brief moment, longing so evident in his blue gaze that her heart raced out of control.
Then he swept around the luxury car and stormed up the walk. The determination in his eyes grew, and she had to lean heavily against the doorframe.
Nolan pumped up the stairs, strode into her space, picked her up off her feet, and cradled her against his chest.
“Nolan?” she squeaked out, stunned by his bold move. He was the only person who cradled her in his arms like this. She felt protected, cared, for, and loved in his arms.
