Chapter 5
Daniil
When Marcus told me he’d seen Courtney, I practically ran down the stairs to find her. Marcus followed, managing to talk me off the ledge, so I’m fairly composed by the time I actually spot her.
Fiery red hair pulled into a neat ponytail.
Curvy hips and breasts hidden by dark cargo pants, a short-sleeved black T-shirt, and boots.
She’s not wearing any makeup, but she’s still as beautiful as I remember.
Maybe more.
It’s a little unsettling how my body reacts to seeing her. That’s been the case from the first time I saw her. I wanted her then and I want her now.
Unfortunately, the feeling isn’t mutual.
When she hears my voice, she doesn’t turn right away, but I see her stiffen, as if it offends her. As if I somehow offend her.
“Hello, Your Highness.” Her expression is inscrutable.
I arch my brows. “Seriously? I’ve touched every part of your body and we’re back to formalities?”
Her cheeks redden a little, but she lifts her chin a notch and schools her expression into one of distinct disinterest. “It was the equivalent of a one-night stand,” she says after a moment. “It’s not like we had a relationship or became…friends.”
Ouch.
Why does this feel so personal? And more than that, why does it bother me so much? If it were anyone else, I’d laugh and move on.
But I can’t.
I don’t know why, but this woman gets under my skin and now that I finally have her in front of me, I’m not letting her go again without having a conversation.
“I thought we were friends by extension,” I say after a moment. “You being close friends with my sister-in-law. And the fact that you helped us on a mission to save the Queen and Prince Levi.”
“That made us situational colleagues, not friends.”
I look into her eyes, trying to figure out why she’s so hostile.
To see into her soul or something, looking for answers to questions I don’t know how to ask.
But the uncertainty is simmering just beneath the surface, and I just have to man up and ask the one question that’s been haunting me the last week or so.
“Did I… hurt you in some way?” I ask at least, allowing a touch of vulnerability to shine through. “We did things that some women might be upset by. I thought I had your consent but if I didn’t—”
“Wait, is that what this is about?” She almost seems relieved, shaking her head without hesitation. “God, no. You didn’t force me to do anything, Daniil. I was all in. This isn’t about coercion or some kind of date rape.”
“Then what is it about?” I ask, frustration creeping into my voice.
“It was a fling. A military girl getting it on with honest-to-goodness royalty. It was fun, exciting, memorable even. But it wasn’t real life.
Not for me. I had to come back to my job, my responsibilities.
And while you absolutely didn’t force me to do anything, I’m not usually that wild.
So maybe I’m a touch embarrassed. That’s all.
And let’s be honest—it’s not as if we were going to start a relationship. ”
I frown because I was willing to do exactly that. I reached out to tell her I was interested. I was—still am—crazy about her. So none of this makes sense.
“Then why did you change your number, leave the military without telling anyone, and then ghost Lennox?”
She looks a little flustered by the direct questions but shrugs. “I didn’t realize I had to explain myself to anyone. Last I checked I was a grown woman.”
“Of course. But you simply disappeared.”
“I didn’t disappear. I retired from the military, got a job with a bodyguard and security company, and figured it was easier for me to keep my life private.
Just in case I get into a situation with a client that I need to keep separate.
Then I met someone and decided I didn’t want reminders of the time I got kinky with a prince… and his friends.”
So, she is a little put off by some of what we did.
“I’m sorry that’s embarrassing for you,” I say politely. “I wouldn’t have done it if—”
“Yes, you would have.” She interrupts me again, waving a hand. “But please don’t beat yourself up over that. I was a more than willing participant. I’m not mad at you—I just wouldn’t want my…boyfriend to think poorly of me.”
“If he truly cares about you, he shouldn’t hold your past against you. Especially when it comes to something that happened between two consenting adults.”
She doesn’t respond, merely stands there, completely still except for a faint tic in her cheek, telling me she’s nervous.
Telling me that I make her nervous.
That’s another part of this I don’t understand. The attraction between us was instant. We were all over each other at the wedding reception and for the rest of that weekend. Like we couldn’t get enough. I know I couldn’t.
The first time she left I didn’t chase her because I didn’t understand what I was feeling. It wasn’t the first or last time I had a weekend of great sex that didn’t go anywhere. It wasn’t until I saw her again that I realized that she was different. That my feelings for her were different.
“Look, tell Lennox I’ll call her,” she says when the silence becomes awkward, “but I’m working tonight. I can’t stand here rehashing the past. Please, Daniil. I’m not upset about our history; I’ve simply moved on. I’m happy. Can you respect that and not blow up my life?”
Happy?
She says the word like she’s just swallowed something bitter.
And it makes no sense.
She doesn’t look or behave like a woman in love. In fact, she seems almost stoic as she discusses her new relationship.
Ten years in exile, most of those working in intelligence, along with my job now, fine-tuned my intuition—and there is no doubt in my mind she’s hiding something.
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” I ask quietly.
She nods just as Jamie comes over to join us. “Hey, guys.” He looks to Courtney like he’s waiting for a signal of some kind. “Courtney, I need you in the back. I saw something on the cameras I’d like you to take a look at.”
“Of course.” She nods. Then she glances back at me. “It was good to see you, Daniil. Let Lennox know I’ll call her.”
Then she turns and walks in the opposite direction.
I stare after her for a moment before turning back to Jamie. “I’m guessing you’re not going to tell me what’s really going on, are you?”
He looks confused. “What do you mean?”
“She asked you to interrupt if you saw us talking. Right?”
He doesn’t agree or disagree, just stands there waiting for me to continue.
“I just want to know what happened,” I mutter, hoping I can appeal to his sense of camaraderie, two guys commiserating over a woman.
“If you asked and she didn’t tell you, it’s probably a sign to move on.
I can imagine sleeping with royalty might be…
intimidating. Maybe not in the moment, but the aftermath.
” There’s no censure in his tone. “Seriously, man. Let it go. You can have almost anyone—why are you fixated on the one who obviously isn’t interested? ”
If I knew the answer to that, I wouldn’t be here.
But my gut has never steered me wrong, and I’m a thousand percent sure there’s more to this story than her simply wanting to move on.
I don’t want to put Jamie in the middle, though. This has nothing to do with him and he was gracious enough to give me a guest pass tonight. The timing was fortuitous in that I was able to finally find Courtney. The problem is that I still have questions.
“I don’t know,” I say. “I guess she’s made it abundantly clear she’s not interested. Anyway, I appreciate you letting me come hang out tonight.” I extend my hand, and he shakes it.
“Any time.”
I motion to Marcus, who joins me at the bar.
“We’re going to follow her home,” I say under my breath.
He arches his brows. “You sure that’s what you want to do?”
“Last time I checked, I was the boss.”
“Last time I checked, we were also friends, and as your friend, I’m telling you I think this is a mistake.”
He’s right but he’s wrong.
I’m not going to do anything to interfere in her life or her new relationship.
I just can’t shake the feeling that something is off, and until I can convince myself that she really is happy, and truly has moved on, I can’t let this go.