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Mason nodded. He’d heard about kidnapping attempts and more than a few idiotic college boys who thought they could make a conquest of the princess. Either made his blood boil. Princess Kiera was bright, innocent, and fun. The entire country adored her and especially her family.
He’d keep her safe from boys who wanted to damage her innocence and kidnappers who wanted money or the prestige, but … as couples? What if the media took pictures and it upset Miriam? Not that he and Miriam were exclusive, but Mason had his plans.
“And, Captain … I hate to even bring this up, but I told my father I would.” The general looked down at the desk.
Mason felt as uncomfortable as the general looked. He had never seen the man not confident and in charge of the situation. What did he need to tell him now?
“Will you be … considerate of Kiera’s feelings and not …” He cleared his throat and studied Mason. “Lead her on?”
Mason could only stare at the man. “Kiera’s feelings regarding … what, exactly?”
“You.” The general picked up a pen and flipped it in his hands.
“Me?” Mason put a hand to his chest, more confused than ever.
General August drew in a deep breath. “She’s … my father and Madeline fear … I think it’s just a little crush from her teenage years, and certainly she’s over any of that nonsense by now. It’s not as if she’s lacking in male attention.” He rolled his eyes. “But your reputation of dating a lot of women, and the age difference—the college girl pursuing the older man type of fling. You understand?”
Mason leaned back against his chair, horrified by the implications. Was the general saying, but not saying, he thought Mason would lead Kiera on and … date and dump the little princess? The king and queen had noticed Princess Kiera had a crush on him?
No. She didn’t. Did she? They teased each other like siblings or cousins. Similar adventurer spirits. There were no … romantic feelings.
“Oh, sir, no.” He shook his head. “I would never. And I meannever. Princess Kiera is … I tease with her like a little sister. You think she … might have a crush on me? Surely not.”
How awkward. Mason knew teenagers sometimes had crushes but got over them. He racked his brain to remember the little princess looking longingly at him or saying anything that would lead the king and queen to think she was interested in Mason as more than a friend, guard, and surrogate older brother. He and Kiera had so many different interactions throughout the years, but he couldn’t come up with any red flags.
“Are you certain …” Mason shook his head. “Maybe I shouldn’t go on this assignment.”
He was struggling not to take offense. The August family knew him, trusted him. They surely couldn’t think he’d chase … Princess Kiera was a beautiful girl. In his mind, she was still fourteen, though it was obvious the math didn’t support that. He’d overheard his mum say something about a ‘late bloomer’ regarding the fun-loving princess. He’d heard there were plenty of college boys going insane over her, but that didn’t mean that Mason would … chase a college girl.
General August now appeared calm and collected, and it was Mason who was stumbling and awkward and embarrassed. “You are my top pick, Captain Henson—your skiing ability, your excellence in every area of protection, the multiple awards you received when you rescued numerous members of the royal family during the Rindlesbacher days. All told, you have my trust and respect.”
“I appreciate all of that, sir.” Mason nodded. This was the royal family. He had taken a knife in the back to rescue Princess Aliya. He’d tracked down the vicious William Rindlesbacher in the dark woods and stolen a bomb from the man after scaling across balconies thousands of feet off the ground to escape the rigged house—the very house they were going to stay in for this ski vacation. He lived his life to serve and protect this family.
Even if there were a crush on the princess’s side from her younger years—and who could blame any female for having a crush on him?—surely Princess Kiera was far past such silliness now.
Mason drew in a breath and straightened. “I promise you I would never pursue Princess Kiera, and I will make certain things are not awkward between us.”
“You’re certain? No interest in Kiera?”
“None,sir. Not like that. I think of her as a young friend, a surrogate cousin of sorts, an adventuring buddy.”
General August studied him as if he thought he was lying. The man bragged him up, said he and the royal family trusted and respected him, and then acted like Mason was some foul … cradle robber.
That was just wrong. Sickening. Princess Kiera wasn’t officially a teenager any longer, but she was still eight years younger than him, and he’d always keep her in the box of a young, fun girl.
“I also am dating someone,” he added, not certain if that would help the situation. It was a stretch. They weren’t ‘dating,’ but he and Miriam had gone on two dates and a third was happening tonight.
“Oh, good for you.” The general’s shoulders relaxed, but then his gaze sharpened. “Will your girlfriend be all right with you appearing to be a couple with Kiera? The media might find you and take pictures.”
“Um …” First of all, Miriam wasn’t his girlfriend. Second of all, appearing to be a couple with Kiera? The general had said that earlier, but there had been too much other information and it hadn’t fully sunk in. “Will anyone believe we’re a couple?”
“Because of your dating history as a player?” General August asked.
Because Princess Kiera isn’t a mature woman, was what he’d meant, but he obviously couldn’t say that to her brother and his general. So he merely shrugged.
“I think it’ll be believable. Kiera is desired by men the world over. Most beautiful woman in the world and all that rubbish.” General Ray rolled his eyes and clenched his fist. “If any woman could make a player like you fall, it would be Kiera. If you think your girlfriend won’t be upset.”
“She isn’t really my girlfriend. We’re just dating.”
