Page 96 of American Royalty

“She’s been using me as a come up, picking a feud to get more publicity.”

He smoothed his thumb over her furrowed brow. “I understand about people trying to use you for their own purposes, but what does some singer I’ve never heard of have to do with you doing the concert?”

“It’s not about her. Not really. It’s about me, my brand, and a deal I’m working on. I can tell you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone.”

“Hmmm, that might be difficult. Since I talk about you and us all of the time, it’s guaranteed to come up—”

“Okay.” She took a deep breath. “Several years ago, I started a skin-care company called Mela-Skin to provide natural skin-care products to women of color.”

“I didn’t know that. That’s wonderful.”

“I thought you looked me up.”

“I never got past the pictures and videos.”

She smiled wryly. “The company has been doing well and we were recently approached by one of the world’s largest cosmetics companies interested in acquiring us.”

“That’s amazing,” he said.

“It is. This is a major deal, Jay.”

“I can tell. But it’s about more than the money, isn’t it?”

“I told you a little about how I grew up, right?”

“You were raised by your grandmother and when she died, other family members.”

“I know I was lucky to have family who could take me in. Butthose years after my grandmother died... The lack of stability is hard for a kid. No matter what we might say, we crave structure. There would be times when I’d go to school from one relative’s house and come home to a different person. There was no rhyme or reason to where I’d be and who’d make decisions for me. And I didn’t like it. I swore that one day I’d be in control of my own fate. It’s the guiding principle of everything I’ve done with my life and career. And while being a rapper is great and has given me lots of opportunities and exposed me to people and places I wouldn’t have known otherwise, I was wrong in thinking it would allow me to call my own shots. I answer to more people now than I did as a kid.”

“I understand. It’s partially why I’d resisted being a public part of the royal family for so long. With the family, there is no self. Only the Crown. The queen expects us to live, move, and breathe in service to the monarchy.”

“Part of what Genesis gets if it purchases Mela-Skin is my brand. And this thing with Banks is diminishing that. We thought some positive press would help.”

“Like performing at a tribute concert for one of the most popular royals of all time?”

“Exactly.”

“And dating a young, handsome royal? Would that help?”

She jerked back. “I don’t know. Are you offering?”

Suddenly subdued, he stared at her, a thoughtful cast to his features. Her own stomach churned as she waited for his answer. When had their jokes shifted into something more serious?

Finally, he shook his head. “No.”

She released a trapped breath. In relief? Or disappointment?

“I wish I could. I truly do.”

“It’s okay.” She smoothed her hand down the front of his shirt.“This is my business. I appreciate you wanting to help, but I can handle it on my own.”

He leaned forward and rested his chin on the top of her head. “Being a part of this celebration is the closest you’d ever want to come to being tied to my family.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She wriggled in his lap. “I enjoy being tied up and coming with you.”

“I’m serious, Dani. This family is fucked up. I’d never want to subject you to them. And if there was even a whisper of the two of us being involved, the Palace would insert themselves in a major way.”

Insert themselves— Why was she thinking like a horny teenager?