Chapter Sixteen
Laurie
I was going to protest. To tell him that I could still manage to drive. Yes, I was shaking, but once I started going, I was sure I could manage.
“Don’t bother arguing,” Rip added, his hand extended to help me from the car. “You aren’t fit to drive.”
“Just ‘cause my hands are shaking a bit doesn’t mean I won’t be able to hold on to the wheel,” I said a bit defiantly.
Rip sighed. “Right, and how about your leg? That you don’t even know is shaking right now.”
“Huh? What leg?” I glanced down. My foot was moving with a mind of its own. “Oh.”
“Come on, Laurie,” he said, waggling his hand a bit. “Come up. Settle down. Once you’re out of shock, then you can go. I’m not going to force you to stay past that.”
I started to argue against it, but a wave of weariness washed over me, and I slumped back into the driver’s seat, stunned by how swiftly the energy was drained from me.
“Okay,” I said, recognizing defeat when I saw it. “Fine. I’ll come back up. But that’s it. Nothing else.”
“I haven’t forced you into anything you didn’t want to do yet,” Rip said. “And I don’t intend to ever change that. You’re safe with me, Laurie. If you look inside yourself, I think you’ll realize you know that to be the truth.”
“How do you know what I feel?” I asked, perhaps a bit harsher than necessary, judging from the surprise that rippled across his face.
“Call it a gut instinct,” he said calmly, not rising to my bait. “Am I wrong?”
I declined to answer, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was right. But I didn’t have to. I saw it in his eyes.
“Damn you,” I said without any heat to it. “How is it you know me better than myself after so little time?”
The time might not be long, but he sure knows you intimately. Maybe he’s just really good at reading body language.
“Intuition,” he said cryptically. “That, and I know I’m no danger to you, and you, being a smart woman, can pick up on that.”
“Men like that are usually the most dangerous,” I pointed out. “Because they can trick us.”
“If they do that, then they aren’t men like me.”
“So confident,” I observed as I stepped out of the car and closed the door.
“It’s no different than saying I’m tall or fit,” he said. “I will never hurt you or make you do anything you don’t want to do. This I swear to you.”
A shiver worked its way down my spine at the sincerity of his oath. Why did he feel the need to be so serious about it with me? We barely knew one another.
Yet, I couldn’t deny I believed him. It wasn’t just the lack of danger I picked up from him, but I actually felt safer around him. Which was trippy, considering I really didn’t know him.
“Can I ask you something?” I said as we went for the elevators.
“Anything.”
There he went again, being ultra-serious. Which, I guessed, was okay since my question was serious. But there was something deeper behind his response.
“Are you … clean?”
“Huh?” He looked at himself. “I haven’t had time to shower, no. I’m sorry. Do I smell bad?”
“What? No, not that.” I groaned. “We had sex. Without a condom. I wasn’t thinking, it was so stupid, and I just—are you clean?”
“Ah. Yes, I am. You have nothing to worry about.”
“How can you be sure?” I asked, eyes narrowing at the flippancy of his response.
“Blood work,” he said after a moment’s hesitation.
“What about since then?”
“There hasn’t been anyone,” he said, looking away.
Interesting. Was that a sore spot of his?
The elevator arrived at the top floor and spat us out. Once Rip had guided me inside, he set about making a pot of tea, saying it would help with the nerves. I already felt a hundred times better, but that didn’t mean I was ready to leave just yet.
What if Eric has another way to follow me—to find me while I’m driving alone in the countryside?
I didn’t want to be caught alone like that.
“Here,” Rip said, handing me a steaming mug before filling one for himself. He blew gently on the liquid, then took a sip.
“Thank you,” I said, doing the same. “Mmm, that’s good.”
“I’m glad. It’s—”
The door opened behind us. Rip was already up and moving. His reflexes were good. I couldn’t believe how fast he made it between the door and me.
Over my shoulder, I saw a tall man with gray hair—not white like Rip’s but definitely grayed with age—standing in the opening.
His features were grizzled but still quite handsome despite his age.
The firm, muscular body he obviously worked hard to maintain made him quite attractive for someone that old.
Not anything like Rip, but handsome enough even I could admit it.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he said with extreme respect. “My prince, I didn’t know you were coming. We would have cleaned up.”
Rip sighed heavily. “It’s fine, Eb. Don’t worry about it.”
“Of course, sire. Anything I can do for you while you’re here?”
“Not at the moment.” Rip flicked his head at the door, and Eb seemed to get the hint. He nodded and departed swiftly.
Rip continued to stare at the door, and I noted how his shoulders sagged a bit. As they should.
“Prince?” I demanded. “What?”
When he finally turned, I saw the regret on his face. “Laurie, listen. This isn’t how I intended for you to find out.”
“A prince?” I cried. “Who the fuck are you, Rip? Since you clearly don’t work for my father. I trusted you! And you just lied to me. Let me believe you were a grounds crew worker at my father’s?”
“I didn’t want to,” he said as if that made any difference. “It’s … a complicated story.”
“Right. Well, keep it to yourself,” I said. “I don’t need it or any of your damn tea either.”
I stalked over to the door, leaving Rip standing in his spot, defeated.
“I can’t believe I trusted you. I drove you home. Though, I guess, being a prince and all, you’re used to people doing things like that for you. It must have felt natural.”
“Laurie,” he pleaded, stepping toward me.
“No, you know what? No. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want anything to do with it, thank you. Nope. Not interested.” I walked out of the door before I could second-guess myself.
Too much had happened that day. Too much change and drama, and just when I thought maybe there was a calm in the storm, a helping hand, I go and find out he’s royalty.
I spun around and went back inside. “Prince of what?” I asked, staring at him.
“That’s a long story,” he said.
“Why? Just tell me where it is. It’s really quite simple.”
Rip smiled, though it was devoid of real joy. “No, actually, it’s not.”
“Fine, whatever. Have your secrets,” I said, fed up entirely with his avoidance.
I took the elevator and stormed to my car. I was going back to my parents’ place. Better my shame and embarrassment with them than being tricked and deceived by yet another person in my life.
I’d had enough of that for one day, thank you very much!