Page 166 of Guarded King

Lunch was lovely once my nerves dissipated. Everyone was welcoming, even his mom, who I was most worried about.

He seemed relaxed and happy as well, the sight of which always buoys me. The beautiful house and grounds had my fingers itching to pick up a paintbrush. It’s an urge I’m still getting used to after suppressing it for years.

It wasn’t until Roman ignited my passion for him that my passion for art was reignited. Now, apart from spending time with him and Dad and Carol, as well as Lola and Sophie, it’s the thing I look forward to the most.

These days, the once seemingly impossible dream of being an artist like Dad seems a lot closer than before.

That thought triggers another. This week has been a whirlwind, and I’ve been so distracted that I haven’t even considered asking before now. “How much did you actually buy Dad’s painting for?”

He glances at me, then quickly back to the road. “He didn’t tell you?”

“No. I’d just finished reading theForbesinterview when he told me. I was on my way out to see you, so I may have had other things on my mind.”

I smile at him, savoring the upward tilt of his lips.

“Before I tell you, I want to be absolutely clear—the price I paid had nothing to do with his connection to you. I would have paid exactly the same if I’d seen it hanging in a gallery without knowing who the artist was. I love that fucking painting.”

My pulse speeds up. “You’re freaking me out. How much did you pay?”

He clears his throat, looking adorably nervous, a rare expression for such a confident man.

“Six hundred and fifty thousand.”

All the air escapes my lungs. “What?”

Hands tightening on the steering wheel, he side-eyes me. “Your dad is incredibly talented. I leased the painting first to make sure it fit well in the foyer, and to make sure it was available for theForbesphotoshoot. Once I confirmed how incredible it looked hanging there, though, I had to have it for good.”

I blink at him, my heart beating a rapid tattoo in my chest. “You know that’s life-changing money, right?”

“I’m aware. He deserves to have his life changed. No more worrying about treatment costs. No more worrying about his daughter working to pay his bills. No more pressure. He can live his dream again.” He shoots me a look. “And you can figure out what yours is.”

I drop back against the soft leather of the car seat, focused on steadying my breathing.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“Just a little in shock. But I’m happy. For him and you.” I smile to myself. “And I still get to see my favorite painting all the time.”

“You never did tell me why it’s your favorite.”

Warmth blooms inside me like it does every time I look at the piece. “When Dad was painting it, I’d sit and watch him. One day, when he’d almost finished, he asked if I wanted to add my own personal touch to it.”

Roman’s eyes flash my way. “What did you add?”

I grimace, hands clasped in my lap. “You can’t laugh. Remember, I was still young.”

Brow arched, he focuses on the road again. “I’m not going to laugh.”

“If you look very carefully at one of the top windows of one of the tallest skyscrapers, you’ll see a tiny couple kissing.”

He laughs, damn him.

I narrow my gaze at him. “I was brought up on Disney movies. On princes and princesses and happily ever afters. What else would I paint? Skyscrapers are the closest thing we have to castles in New York.”

“I fucking love it,” he says. “A prince and princess finding love in a Manhattan castle. Is that why he chose that name?”

“Uh-huh.” I smile at the memory. “I said I was worried they might be lonely in their castle with no one else around. He told me that the prince and princess’s kingdom might look empty, but as soon as the new day dawned, it would be full of all the people they loved.”

One corner of his mouth turns up. “I can’t think of anything more appropriate to hang on the wall of King Plaza.”