Page 47

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M aggie was floating on air.

These last couple of days had been almost magical. Better than her wildest dreams. Jack and Ian had showered her with attention. Which was the one thing she needed.

For people to touch her in a caring way. To actually show interest in her wellbeing.

And to nurture her Little.

Yesterday, things had felt so right when Jameson joined them. As though it was always meant to be the four of them.

But was that just wishful thinking?

Whistling, she helped her uncle set up. The princess and princes were due at any moment. Ian and Jack had helped erect two tents, one was for royal family if they wanted privacy to get changed or needed to sit, while the other was for all the crew and equipment.

Her gaze narrowed as she watched one of the make-up artists flirt with Ian. There were four hair and make-up artists. Two of them were already here and two had stayed back to help the princess get ready at the palace.

Ian just stared down at the woman in disinterest. Then he glanced over at her and winked.

She felt herself blushing.

“You seem happy, my dear,” Uncle Willy said to her as he took a few shots.

“I guess I am.”

“Good. If anyone deserves happiness, it’s you.”

“Thanks, Uncle Willy.”

“This place agrees with you, doesn’t it?” She looked over to find him grinning at her. “Or is it that two men agree with you?”

“Uncle Willy!” she cried, blushing red. “Both, I think.”

He chuckled, then grew serious. “What would you think about spending more time here?”

She straightened. “Really?”

“Hmm. I haven’t felt this at home since . . . well, since Lia died. I thought getting away from here was the answer, but perhaps it wasn’t. We’d still have to travel a lot. But we could make Escana our base.”

“Would we be allowed to do that?”

“I’m a citizen, and you’re my niece and assistant. I broached it with Frost, who said he was certain he could make that happen.”

She threw her arms around Uncle Willy with a squeal. She could live here! With Jack and Ian? And away from her family?

“I’m guessing that’s a yes?”

“Yes! Oh no . . . wait. I can’t.” She eased back, chewing her lip.

“What’s wrong, dear?”

“Indie,” she whispered. “I can’t leave her. She needs me.”

“Ahh. Yes. That is a problem. We might have to think that through. Do you think she’d move here?”

“I don’t know. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. There’s nothing to apologize for. We will just head back to London.”

A sad sigh escaped her as a car headed toward them.

They’d decided it was better to drive than walk out here. Uncle Willy had decided to include some camels in his photos. They had already arrived with their handlers who weren’t looking that pleased to be here.

To her surprise, the vehicle didn’t hold the royal family or their guards. Instead, out got Jameson.

What was he doing here?

Ian walked over and slapped him on the back as Jack joined them.

“Dear? Are you all right?”

“Yes, sorry, Uncle Willy,” she said as more people arrived. “Let’s do this.”

Four hours later, Maggie managed a break. She was hot and sweaty, and her body ached.

“Maggie, can you get me some water, dear?” Uncle Willy called out.

“Yep!”

She turned and her hip protested. She managed to keep upright, but as she looked up, she saw two men frowning at her.

Ian moved first, walking toward her.

“I’ve got to get some water for Uncle Willy,” she said to him.

“Jack is getting the water. You’re going to come and sit down.”

“But I’ve got more to do. I have to stay with him in case he needs something.”

“He needs to rest too. Jameson is talking to him now.”

“Everything all right?” Ian asked as he led her to the crew tent and pointed at a chair.

“Oh, yes. Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“You’ve just seemed a bit off. Sit.”

“Ian, this is my job.”

“Sit. You need to rest. I saw how you were favoring your hip.”

Darn it. She sat with a huff, but her body screamed with relief. Ian gave her a bottle of icy water. “Drink all of that.”

She saluted him as Jack wandered over.

“Jameson has convinced William to take a break and sit for fifteen minutes. Hey, baby, you all right?” Jack crouched in front of her.

“She needs to rest and rehydrate. And eat.” Ian handed her a protein bar, which he’d already opened.

She glanced up at him.

“If it’s already open, you have to eat it. A waste otherwise.”

“Cheeky assbaboon,” she muttered.

“Is that better or worse than a dickfly?” Jack asked, tilting his head to the side.

“About the same,” she replied, watching as Jameson led her uncle over to the tent.

She was tense, wondering what they were talking about.

“Was it something to do with your uncle?” Ian asked quietly.

She shot her gaze back to his. “What?”

“Whatever Jameson said to upset you the other day in the hospital was something to do with your uncle, wasn’t it?”

There was understanding in his eyes. “Did he tell you? He had no right to do that!”

“Relax, baby.” Jack patted her knee. “Jameson hasn’t said a word to us. But we have noticed a few things about him.”

She breathed in deep and let it out slowly. “I don’t . . . I can’t . . .”

“It’s all right,” Jack reassured her. “You don’t have to speak about it right now.” He placed his hand on her thigh, while Ian massaged the back of her neck.

It was at that moment that Jameson and her uncle reached the tent. Uncle Willy seemed to be telling him a story about when they were in Vietnam. She held in a groan. It better not be about the time she got food poisoning. No one needed to hear that story.

Least of all, proper, put-together, always gorgeous Jameson.

“And I’ve never seen her run so fast, poor girl. Ahh, Maggie, there you are with your two young chaps.”

She blushed and risked a glance up at Jameson. He was staring down at where Jack had his hand on her thigh. Then, over to Ian, who was now lightly squeezing her shoulder.

“Uncle Willy, you’re not telling Jameson stories about me, are you?”

“Such a funny story. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Nothing to be embarrassed about?

She completely disagreed.

“Maggie, how is your hip?” Jameson walked over as Jack got up to grab Uncle Willy something to eat.

“It’s fine, thanks.”

“Maggie,” Ian said in a low voice.

Even Jack shot her a look of disapproval as Jameson’s mouth tightened.

“It’s nothing I can’t deal with,” she said quietly as Uncle Willy started talking to Hux, who had walked in to get some water. “I’m all good.”

“Here, you need to take some painkillers.” Jameson grabbed his medical bag, pulling out a bottle.

She thought about protesting, but that seemed silly when they would help. So she took them without a word.

“Ian started fussing at her to eat again, lecturing her about taking care of herself, while Jack brought her over some fruit to tempt her.

And all the while, she was aware of Jameson’s gaze on her. She wished she knew what he was thinking.

Jameson approached Ian and Jack after Pippa and the princes had left. Everyone else was sticking around to tidy up while William took some photos of the camels and scenery. Everyone was tired. Although no one looked as exhausted as Maggie.

Jameson had to resist ordering her to sit down and rest. He wanted to bundle her up, carry her home, and pamper her.

“Can I speak to the two of you?” he asked.

Ian eyed him for a long moment.”

“We’re watching Maggie,” Jack said.

“There are a several other guards here. And she’s in full sight of them. This is important. It’s about Maggie.”

Ian looked around, then nodded. “Two minutes.”

“Can we go over by the cars?”

They followed him around the tent.

“What’s going on?” Ian asked.

“I want to talk to you about us,” he said. “About the three of us being a team again. About sharing the same woman.”

“You’ve changed your mind? Why?” Jack asked suspiciously.

“Because I’m fucking lonely,” he blurted out before he lost his nerve. “It’s not . . . it’s not easy for me to speak of my weaknesses. My emotions.” That was something his parents had drummed into him. Emotions were something a St Bede couldn’t indulge in. “But the only time I’ve ever been happy was with the two of you. I miss you both.”

“We miss you too, brother,” Ian said gruffly. He wasn’t a man who liked to talk about his emotions either.

Jack tilted his head. “You know we’re with Maggie. We want to be with her.”

“I know. And I want that too. Or I thought I did.”

“Did?” Ian asked.

“Did you know her uncle wants to stay, but that Maggie is the one that wants to leave? She doesn’t want to stay here. With us.”

Ian shook his head. “What are you talking about?”

“William said he wants to stay but when he talked to Maggie, she said she couldn’t.” Had she been stringing Ian and Jack along? He felt sick at the idea.

“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?” Jack asked. “There’s a difference.”

“Why wouldn’t she be able to stay?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” Jack replied. “But until we talk to her, then we won’t know, will we? There’s no use making assumptions. She’s not Elizabeth.”

“Jack,” Ian warned.

“No, he’s right,” Jameson said. “For a long time, I’ve been using Elizabeth and what happened as an excuse to hide away. To lick my wounds. To suppress my needs. I realized that I’ve been letting her ruin my life. I won’t allow her to do that anymore. To upset what we could have. I want that back and I won’t let her stand in our way. If that’s what the two of you want as well.”