Chapter 5 #2
Guilt pricked at her. One, she hated lying to Rome. Two, she’d been so busy thinking about Rome, she’d forgotten about her work.
But it was time for Robin Hood to make an appearance in San Francisco.
* * *
Back at the house, Rome purposely went outside to check with the guards.
He needed some space from Sofie. Before he dragged her onto the closest flat surface, tore her clothes off, and fucked her.
“Dammit,” he muttered.
He forced himself to study the garden and trees. They were a little too close to the Palace of Fine Arts for his liking. Too much open space, which made security harder.
His gaze narrowed and he looked back at the camera locations on the house. There was a small blind spot. He made a mental note to ask Ace to plug it.
He looked up. Sofie was upstairs somewhere and he wondered what she was doing.
The taste of her was still on his tongue. And he wanted more.
Rome’s hands flexed.
Thankfully, the vibration of his cell phone interrupted his thoughts.
He saw who the caller was and smiled. “Hi, Mom.”
“There’s my boy. Would it kill you to call your mother more often?”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Tell me you’ve met a good girl, and you’re planning to get married and have babies.”
Rome rolled his eyes. “Busy at work. Why don’t you bug Liana to get married and have babies?”
“You’re my firstborn.” A gusty sigh. “You’ll make a great daddy one day.”
He felt pain under his ribs. He wasn’t so sure. He hadn’t taken good care of Lola.
“Has Vander got you working a job?” his mother asked.
“Yeah.” He saw Sofie’s shadow walk past a curtained window. “I’m the bodyguard for Princess Sofia of Caldova.”
His mother gasped. “I’ve seen her in the magazines. Liana will lose her mind. That girl is royal crazy.”
It was true. Liana had a thing for anything royal.
“We were thinking of coming for a visit soon,” his mother continued. “Lia has some time off work coming up.”
“I’d love to see you, Mom.” His mother had retired, with Rome’s help. He’d bought her a cute little house, and she kept busy volunteering at a local shelter.
The throaty roar of an engine caught his ear. A black motorcycle zoomed down the street and parked in front of the house. The rider pulled his helmet off, before swinging his muscular body off the bike.
“Mom, I’ve got to go. Vander just arrived.”
“Okay, baby boy.”
Rome mentally shook his head. It didn’t matter that he was a grown man, who towered over her, he would always be her baby boy.
“Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too, Rome.”
He set the phone in his pocket as Vander sauntered up the path.
The man had black hair, and a face that showed his Italian-American heritage.
He kept his body as fit as he had when he’d been Rome’s commander on their Ghost Ops team.
Rome had never worked for a better man than Vander Norcross.
The guy kept his fingers on the pulse of everything that happened in San Francisco, and if there was a fight, Rome wanted Vander by his side.
“How are things?” his boss asked.
Rome just nodded. He decided to not tell Vander about the part about having his tongue in Sofie’s mouth. “Fine. The princess is upstairs. I’m just about to message Ace about a blind spot in the cameras.”
Vander’s dark-blue gaze flicked up to study the cameras. “It’s not big, but yeah, plug it.”
“The princess has several engagements to promote the exhibition this week. I’ve got prelim security plans done.”
“You know what’s best. We ran the note from the stalker.”
“That was fast.”
“No prints, other than yours and hers. Paper’s generic.”
“Shit.” Frustration hit Rome. “So, nothing.”
Vander raised a brow. “I didn’t say that. Let’s go inside.”
Vander had found something. Rome let them into the house.
“Nice place.” Vander circled the kitchen and living area. No doubt cataloguing every window, door, and exit point. “Hell of a view.” He stood with his hands on his hips, looking out at the rotunda.
“So, the note?” Rome prompted.
Vander turned. “Lab found a chemical on the paper. Something unique. It’s used for preserving leather.”
Rome frowned. “That’s…weird.”
“Right. Doesn’t help us yet, but I’m hoping it might. If we get any leads on the princess’ stalker, this could help narrow it down.”
Rome nodded. “Better than nothing. You hear that some jewelry earmarked for the exhibition was stolen?”
“Yeah. Pretty ballsy job.”
“I got the sense Sofie wasn’t surprised by the theft.”
Vander cocked his head. “Sofie?”
Crap . “That’s what she likes to be called.”
“You think she’s involved with the jewelry robbery?” Vander’s brow creased.
“No, but I think she knows more than she’s telling.”
“Senses tingling, Rome?”
“Yeah.”
Vander jerked his chin. “We both know it pays to listen to those senses.”
It sure did. Too many times in the field, it had saved their lives.
Light footsteps sounded, moving fast. “Rome, tell me you want a smoothie. I’m going to—”
Sofie skidded to a halt and looked at Vander.
Relaxed, smiling Sofie turned into cool, polite Princess Sofia. “Hello. I didn’t know we had a guest.”
“Sofie, this is Vander Norcross.”
“Oh.” She relaxed a little. “Mr. Norcross, thank you. Rome’s been fabulous.”
Vander’s gaze flicked between Rome and Sofia. “Call me Vander. It’s a pleasure to provide your security. Rome’s the best.”
“And I prefer Sofie behind closed doors.”
“I hope you have a good, safe stay while you’re here in San Francisco.”
There was a knock at the front door.
Rome frowned. The guards hadn’t alerted him. “We weren’t expecting anyone.” He looked at Sofie. “Stay here.”
He opened the front door and raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing here?”
Vander’s older brother, Easton Norcross, stood behind a beautiful blonde in a long, fitted skirt in a bright red, and a fancy, white shirt.
“I couldn’t stay away any longer,” Harlow exclaimed. “Can I meet the princess?”
Easton tipped his head to the side. “Sorry, I held her off as long as I could.”
“Come in.” Rome opened the door wider.
Harlow was Easton’s executive assistant. The pair had recently gotten together, after Harlow’s father had landed himself in debt to some very bad people. Easton had stepped in to protect Harlow, and he’d taken the very short ride to being totally head over heels for Harlow.
The man would do anything for his woman.
Rome led them to the kitchen. “Sofia, you have some guests.”
“Hey, Vander,” Easton said.
“Easton, Harlow,” Vander greeted them.
Sofia eyed the pair, then looked back at Vander. “So, I’m guessing that you two have to be related.”
“Brothers,” Vander said.
Easton held out a hand. “I’m Easton Norcross.” He shook Sofie’s hand.
“I’ve heard of you, Mr. Norcross. And I know that your company’s donated to my charity, so thank you.”
“Please, it’s Easton. And this is my nosy woman, Harlow.”
“Hi, it is so great to meet you.” Harlow pumped Sofia’s hand. “I’ve seen your picture so many times. You’re the best-dressed royal, in my opinion.”
“She has lots of opinions,” Easton said dryly. “And a lot of clothes.”
Sofia laughed. “Thank you.” Then she looked down at her leggings and sweater. “Not today, though.”
“I love your rings,” Harlow said.
Sofie held out her hand, showing off her two silver rings. One had a pearl nestled in the center of it. “My best friend Caro is a jewelry designer. These are her work.”
Harlow gasped. “Not Caroline Haller?”
“Yes.”
“I love her designs.”
Sofie smiled. “I can get you a sneak peek at her collection. They’re going to be on display at the Glittering Court Jewelry Exhibition.”
“Oh, I can’t afford her gorgeous stuff,” Harlow said.
From behind Harlow, Easton—an extremely successful billionaire—rolled his eyes. The man had a hard time getting Harlow to accept anything.
“I can get you a discount,” Sofie said.
“I have a copy of the Young Royals calendar you were a part of,” Harlow said.
Sofie pressed a hand to her cheek. “Really?”
“Calendar?” Rome asked.
Sofie’s cheeks pinkened. “It was a few years ago, and for charity.”
“I’ll have to get you to sign it. That Givenchy dress you wore…” Harlow slapped a hand to her chest. “Magnificent.”
“Harlow, we should get going,” Easton said.
Harlow sighed. “Duty calls. My man is a tyrant at work.”
Easton yanked Harlow close and kissed her.
Rome saw Sofie watching the pair, a wistful look on her face. His gut tightened.
“If you have time, let’s do drinks,” Harlow said. “And you need to meet Easton and Vander’s sister, Gia, and her friend, Haven, who’s also with the final Norcross brother, Rhys.”
“I’d love that,” Sofie said, smiling.
“I’ll bring my calendar.”
After Easton and Harlow left, Sofie glanced at Vander and Rome. “I’m feeling a little tired. I think I’ll head up and read for a bit before my final interview calls for the day.”
Rome frowned at her. She didn’t look tired. “You okay?”
“Fine. Totally fine.” She waved. “Bye, Vander.”
“I’ll head off, too,” Vander said. “If I hear anything else on the note, I’ll let you know.”
Once Vander had gone, Rome did some work and messaged Ace about the blind spot in the cameras. Then he went to check on Sofia. She should have finished her calls by now.
With each step, he felt a little more tense. It was just the two of them now.
How the hell would he keep his hands off her?
He knocked on her bedroom door, but there was no answer. He quietly pushed the door open and his heart squeezed.
She was asleep on the bed.
She was on top of the covers, still in her leggings, but her shoes were kicked off on the floor. Her breathing was deep and even.
Jet lag must have caught up with her. He found a blanket draped over a chair and placed it over her.
She was so beautiful.
Fighting the urge to touch her, Rome left her to sleep.