Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Wynn
I woke earlier than the sun because I wanted to get a few more hours of Crellesia in before we left. I walked to a small café I’d seen by the hotel, ordered a latte and a pastry, and sat outside.
I loved watching the island come alive. The thing was, it was more alive than I’d thought. As I sat there, three emergency vehicles whizzed by. Looking at my watch, it was only six. Whatever could be going on?
Even though I wanted to go find out, we had a boat to catch. As Hannah, Mark, and I waited at the docks, we overheard a couple beside us.
“It’s just terrible; they say she was strangled to death.”
The journalist in me had to know, and I turned. “Who, what happened? I saw police this morning but had to get here, so I wasn’t able to find out.”
A little old lady almost smiled with glee at the mention of gossip. “The governor. People are saying she had a gentleman caller last night and that he killed her. Tragic.”
Holy shit. The governor who was mean to me? “It was so early, who found her?”
“The babysitter. Her kids were with her, and when she arrived this morning to drop them off, she found her.” A middle-aged man joined the conversation.
“Some crazy killer on Crellesia. Seems we’re leaving the island just in time,” Mark said, and I nodded.
That was terrible, though, and I could only imagine the headache this was likely causing Julian. I wanted to text him and ask if he was okay, but he was probably elbow deep in this.
“There it is.” Hannah pointed and sure enough, our boat was headed our way.
It was only thirty minutes to Thrindell, and while my stomach hurt at the thought of the governor’s death, I still bubbled with excitement to get to the island.
Thrindell definitely had more of a tropical island vibe than the other two islands I’d visited. I’d read the history of it on the boat. There was a castle here of sorts, but it was more mansion-looking. We were staying at the hotel Redamancy, and I’d chosen it because of its story.
It had been built for the late Queen Henrietta as a gift from the king. The definition of the word was the act of loving someone who loves you too: a love returned. He’d had it built and given to her as an engagement present.
Whenever they came to Thrindell, this was where they stayed. After she passed away the king never returned to the hotel; he died only a year later. Their love story was beautiful, and I wanted to stay at a place built from true love.
I had an adjoining room with Hannah and Mark, and no sooner had we dropped our bags than we were off exploring. We ate, sunned ourselves, shopped, and by two I needed a nap.
I was having a lovely dream that was interrupted by my cell phone vibrating across my nightstand. I reached for it, not opening my eyes as I answered.
“Hmmhello.” It was a mashed-up greeting.
“Did I wake you, Wynn?”
I sat up far too fast and had to breathe through a wave of dizziness. “Oh, um no, I mean yes, just a nap is all.”
Julian chuckled. “I can call later; go back to sleep.”
“No!” I shook the fuzzies away. “No, I’m awake now. How are you?”
“I’m well. I tried texting, but there was no answer. The fact that you were napping explains why.”
I looked down at my phone and saw that I did in fact have three texts from him. “Sorry.”
“No apology needed. Did you still want to get dinner with me this evening?”
“Are you on the island? I wasn’t sure you would be because of…well, I heard what happened to the governor.”
He was silent for a beat. “Yes, tragic, but I am on Thrindell.”
He didn’t sound very upset, but he was the prince. Being all proper and shit came with the territory.
“Well then, I’d be happy to have dinner with you.”
“Wonderful. I can come by your hotel at about six?”
I checked the time, and it was four. “Sounds perfect.”
“And, Wynn?”
“Yeah?”
“Maybe bring a change of clothes, just in case.”
I didn’t have to ask what he’d meant by that. I hadn’t stayed the night on Crellesia because we’d been leaving the following morning. I felt bad abandoning my friends but I also knew Hannah would smack me if I passed up a night with a hottie prince.
“Okay.” My voice cracked.
“See you soon.”
I hopped out of bed as soon as the call ended and jumped into the shower. I wasn’t sure what kind of place he was taking me for dinner, so I chose to wear a casual outfit of cream linen pants with a flowy white button-down. It was hot here and tropical, and it seemed right.
When Hannah and Mark came by at about five, they both smiled.
“I see the prince called,” Hannah said.
“He did, is it okay?”
Mark was the one to answer. “Actually, we were coming here to ask if it was okay if Hannah and I had a date night.”
I was instantly relieved. “That’s perfect.”
“Works out great.” Mark grinned. “Have a good night. Text us if you’re in a bind or need a rescue.”
“Will do. Have fun, lovebirds.”
Hannah gave me a peck on the cheek and I watched as the two of them walked hand in hand down the hallway.
At six on the dot, there was a knock on the door. I opened it and beamed. Julian was wearing a rather casual outfit himself and looked mouthwatering.
“So punctual…and hot. Can I say that? Is it proper?”
He stepped into the room and closed the door on his security. I opened my mouth to tell him to let them in, but his lips were on me, and I suddenly didn’t care for words anymore.
He cradled my head in his hands and licked inside my mouth. He fucking devoured every breath, and I was happy to give it to him.
When we parted, his lips shone and his eyes sparkled. “You look hot too.”
I laughed. “Glad you think so.”
“Perhaps we stay in, then?”
I slid my hands across his very defined chest. “Hmm…I am hungry, though.”
He smirked. “I have the perfect idea.” He took my hand, and we exited the hotel room.
I didn’t know what Julian had planned but as long as it meant time with him, I couldn’t have cared less. There were some paparazzi outside the hotel, but he told me to keep my head bowed. Fortunately, with Julian at my side, I didn’t trip.
“They follow me everywhere. I hope this isn’t a problem for you?”
I shook my head. “They don’t care about me; it’s mostly you.”
He narrowed his eyes as we drove off. “You matter, Wynn.”
“Oh, I know I do, but in terms of the people here, they are more curious about you.”
“Which in turn means you.”
I wasn’t sure I believed that. No reports of me had been seen, and I knew there were press at the state dinner thing. At no point as I’d waited on the docks, gone to the café, or checked in to the hotel had anyone stopped me. But I’d let Julian believe people cared about me.
“Where are we going?”
His upset washed away with my question. “Someplace we can eat and just be.”
It should have been obvious, but it wasn’t. Not until we were pulling into his very modern castle. It barely even looked like one, more like a mansion.
“It kind of looks like Buckingham Palace.” My gaze swept over the estate and landscape.
“It was actually inspired by it. Come.”
I followed him inside, of course gawking at every little thing. More paintings but there were also photographs of the family. It was noticeably more modern than the castle in Crellesia.
“We can eat in the dining room and then do whatever we’d like.” Julian smiled slowly, and from the way he was watching me, I swore he was going to tear the clothes off me. I guess it was a good thing I’d brought a change of clothes.
“May I take that, sir?”
I jumped when a gentleman sidled up next to me. “What?”
“Your bag?”
“Oh.” I chuckled. “Sorry, thanks.” I handed it over and followed Julian into the dining room.
“Is this where you planned our dinner to be originally?”
“No, but after seeing you at the door, I changed that immediately.”
I snickered as I sat in the seat he held out for me. “I feel bad springing this on your staff.”
“Don’t.” That was all he said—not, “Don’t worry,” just simply, “Don’t.”
“Uh, okay, then.”
They brought out the food, and my stomach rumbled embarrassingly.
“Best eat up, Wynn. You’re gonna need your strength.”
Sweet Jesus, this man is going to kill me.