Page 32 of Reluctantly Royal

Chapter 9

“Pardon, monsieur.”Étienne stopped a respectful distance away. “May I have a moment?”

I gave Hannah an apologetic smile and let her slide off my lap onto the bench at my side. “I’m so sorry,mon chou. I’ll be right back.”

Right after I kill Étienne for interrupting us.

Hannah gave me a weak smile in reply, and I softly kissed her lips before I tore off toward Étienne.

“Someone betterbe dying,” I bit out in French so Hannah couldn’t eavesdrop.

“Pardon, monsieur.”Étienne gave me an aggrieved expression and continued in French. “Nicolas radioed and isn’t pleased with our destination or the amount of time you are staying here. He has concerns as to your security because we cannot get a team on the perimeter.”

“Merde,doesn’t that prove how secure it is here, if he can’t getin?”

“I tried to explain as much, but Nicolas doesn’t agree. As the heir to His Highness, your security is our utmost concern. Nicolas wants someone to have eyes on you at all times in public.”

“Casse-toi! If he was so worried about my security, where has he been for the last twenty minutes?”

Étienne gave me an enigmatic smile. “I’m afraid there were issues with my radio. Static. And my mobilephone kept dropping his calls.”

“Good man.”

“Merci, monsieur. I stalled as long as I was able. But once Nicolas got ahold of that prat, Toby, I couldn’t delay him any longer. If we’re not out of the museum compound within the next five minutes, he will enactother measures.”

I could only imagine what those would be. Nicolas was the most hardheaded, rule-following man I’d ever met. And afteryears in boarding school and two different armed forces, that was saying something. He gave my assistant, Aristide, a run for his money.

“I appreciate the time you did give me. I’ll get Hannah.”

“Bon ben. I will be at the car,monsieur.”

“Merci.”I turned back to the bench and Hannah and tried to think of a suitable excuse, but once again Hannah got there before me.

“Problems? Is it somethingwith work? Or your family? Is everything okay?”

Both? I laughed derisively. “Work, unfortunately. The home office has called me in.”

It wasn’t a lie, exactly. But I still felt like aconnard.

“Really? What’s the time difference? Shouldn’t they be sleeping?”

“Monaco is nine hours ahead, so it’s morning for them.”

“Oh, okay. Do we need to leave right away?”

“Unfortunately yes. I’m sorry,mon chou.”

“What about you? I finished, but you…” She nodded toward my trousers as her cheeks filled with the most adorable blush.

I grabbed her arm and pulled until she stood before me. “Rain check?”

“Rain check.” She agreed just before I kissed her.

After a moment I pulled back, then tugged her to my side as we set off toward our waiting vehicle. “I had fun tonight.”

“Me, too. Although Ithink I had more fun than you.”

“Not possible.” Our hips bumped compatibly against each other as we walked to the inevitable end to our evening. “Tomorrow. Six o’clock. I’ll text you the details.”