Page 21

I mean, as silly as a face that insanely handsome canget. Seriously, what the hell, he’s got a goofy grin and hestilllooks like he should be on a magazine cover? I narrow my eyes, hating him a little for that.

Without thinking, I lash my hand out again, giving him another smack on the arm. “Anddon’ttell anyone about any of the stupid mate stuff, all right?” I go still suddenly, alarmed, looking up into his face. “Wait, you didn’t like…tell anyone, did you?”

He shakes his head. “I didn’t, I promise. And no one outside my family knows either – dad was pretty…strict about that. But Shayne and Grace…” he glances over his shoulder.

“Yeah, they know, but they won’t tell anyone.” I cross my arms and shake my head, resigning myself to this new reality. “Seriously? You’ll stop teasing me and let me be in charge?”

He turns his face back to me. “Seriously. I promise. Your wish is my command, Nadia. I follow your orders first.” He ducks intoa little mock bow. As his shoulder dips I see a flash of white-blonde hair as a newly familiar, very vile girl walks by, laughing with a friend as they move to an empty table.

Anger flares in me as I glare at her. God, Rose sucks so much. What business does she have, coming to breakfastthatcheerful? Abominable.

“And if I tell you to never talk to her?” I ask, my voice low and dry. “Ever again?”

Cole straightens and frowns at me. I glance pointedly back over his shoulder and he turns, looking. When he turns back a pleased little smirk graces his lips. “Is that what you really want, Nadia?”

I raise my chin. “I don’t know, Cole. I haven’t decided. But if I’m in charge…”

The smirk spreads into a grin, a bit too cheeky for my liking. “I mean, it would be a shame to end a five-year friendship simply as a test of my loyalty,” he says, shrugging. “But if that’s what you want, Nadia, I’ll do it.”

I immediately roll my eyes. “Friendship my ass.”

Cole bursts out laughing, shaking his head at me, but he gives me no more hints about whether my suspicions are right. Something in that laughter sparks something in me, though, and I lean forward towards him, holding his eyes. He pauses, waiting and curious, cocking his head.

And then I snap my teeth at him, hard, just as I saw Rose do last night.

The sound rings sharp between us. I watch as a shiver runs visibly through Cole, his eyes flashing, his face falling a bit with shock.

I smirk and turn back to my tray, confused and a bit pleased with his reaction. I mean, I don’t know why I did it, and I don’t know what it means. I justhatedit when I saw her do that – so bossy, so…territorial.

But he’s under my command now.

“Shall we go back to the table?” I ask, pretending to be breezy and cool even as my heart pounds.

“Yes, ma’am,” Cole murmurs, his voice humming throaty and low behind me.

“Good!” I turn back to the bussing table and lift my tray before I start back to where my friends are. Cole’s footsteps echo behind me and I work very hard to suppress my smile.

After all, this is our business. No one else needs to know.

“Hey!” Shay says, her eyes shining with real happiness when she sees me approach. “I’m so glad you’re back!”

“I got hungry again,” I say, settling easily into my seat and twisting my lips at my now-soggy cereal.

Cole sits down in his seat next to me and takes a fresh single-serving box of cereal from his tray, reaching over to place it wordlessly next to my bowl. I smile slightly and don’t thank him as I open the box, shaking the fresh flakes over the soggy ones, thinking it will mix out just fine.

“Nadia,” Grace says, her voice low and judgmental. I raise my eyes to hers. “Don’t you think you owe our new friends an apology for your behavior?” She gestures towards Greg and Tommy, who look at her with surprise and then turn their eyes to me.

I study them for a moment and then casually turn to the Prince at my left.

“Cole?” I say, perfectly cool, my spoon poised to eat. “Do you think I need to apologize to the boys?”

“Not at all, Nadia,” he murmurs, fighting a smile as he concentrates on buttering some toast. “I think your behavior is, as always, above reproach.”

I sigh happily and turn back to my food.

“Oh, you brat,” Grace says. But then she just laughs at me and turns back to Greg and Tommy, carrying on the conversation. To myverydistinct pleasure, no one brings up mates again.

The rest of the day is pleasantly busy, just how I like it. We nursing students are all shown the large tent at the back of the camp where we’ll be working, which is filled with huge boxes of medical supplies. We get instantly to work, setting up beds and stations, working together to organize everything to our liking.