Page 148 of American Royalty

“I’ve made my decision. You don’t have a choice.”

“I always have a choice. And I’m not giving that up because you have a PR problem.”

“As if there’s nothing in it for you,” Bettina sneered.

Dani cut her eyes at the woman. “Really? You want to come for me?”

Bettina blanched and stepped back.

“Public relations?” The queen’s fingers gripped the arms of her chair. “I’m trying to save centuries of tradition! We embody our country’s values. We represent an ideal. We will survive this and you will do what I say.”

“Wait a minute!” Dani finally let go of Jameson’s hand, and he felt the absence. Keenly. “I don’t care what you expect from them, I’m not a member of your family or one of your subjects. I’m not doing it. I’ve been dealing with the press for over ten years. My team can help us with this.”

Catherine stepped forward. “I’m really sorry this is happening to you, but you have no idea what you’re going to face. The tabloid press is very different on this side of the Atlantic. Especially when it comes to us. Our being funded by the public leads to a feeling of ownership. They believe they’re entitled to all of our lives, and they’re not particularly welcoming to anyone who comes into them. They can be ruthless. We’ve been prepped on this since birth. Nothing you’ve dealt with can prepare you properly. We can’t allow you to deal with this on Jameson’s behalf. He’s a member of the royal family. We must be involved.”

“Nyla was right.” Dani turned to him. “I’m leaving and you should come with me.”

He wanted to. Was this what he’d signed up for? What he had to look forward to until Julian’s children were of age?

“What is it about the men in this family?” the queen asked, laughing to herself. “You’re provided with women who would beperfect for you and yet you just can’t stay away from these... spirited ones. I told you this would happen. And I warned you that if you couldn’t do what was right and stay away from her, I might have to take matters into my own hands.”

He froze.Fuck!

Dani stopped and turned around. “What is she talking about?”

“I’ll explain later. Let’s go.”

“He didn’t tell you?” the queen asked. “About the pictures?”

Dani pulled against him. “What pictures?”

Jameson glared at his grandmother. “Don’t do this.”

She arched a brow. “You didn’t, so I will.”

“Jay!” Dani poked her finger in his chest. “Don’t talk to her. Talk to me. What. Pictures?”

Not now. Not like this.

“I took care of it.”

“You weren’t being as careful as you thought,” the queen informed her. “A tabloid captured the two of you kissing during your little jaunts around the countryside.”

“Jesus Christ,” Julian said.

Dani focused on him, refusing to acknowledge the queen. “And that’s a problem why? What are you not telling me?”

Jameson stared down into her beautiful eyes, dreading the moment when the confusion would turn to disappointment, betrayal, and then rage. “The story wouldn’t be about two people who met and are ‘enjoying each other’s company.’ If I didn’t stay away from you, she threatened to send the pictures to the press in the States and plant the idea that the relationship wasn’t approved by the family.”

Dani physically recoiled, her expression pained, as the information sank in. Tabloid photographers had taken compromising pictures of them. The queen had known about them beforetonight. And he’d known about all of it, because the queen had threatened to smear Dani’s reputation in the States if he didn’t stay away from her.

And he hadn’t done that, either.

“You knew this all could jeopardize Mela-Skin and you didn’t tell me?”

He could feel her withdrawing from him, mentally and emotionally. In desperation, he pulled her into his arms. “I didn’t want to worry you. And I handled it.”

“I don’t need you to handle anything for me. That’s my job. I’ve been taking care of myself since I was fourteen years old.”