Page 21 of Royal Trouble

“What’s the big deal?” he asked, opening the passenger door.

“The big deal,” she said, shooting him an incredulous look over the top of the car, “is that this thing probably costs more than my annual rent. What if I scratch it?”

Xander shrugged. He loved the Audi, but it was just a car. “Then I’ll get it fixed, love. Little thing called insurance. Surely you’ve heard of it?”

Three. Two. One.

“Get your royal ass in the car or I’m going to leave you here,” Everly snarked, sliding behind the wheel and slamming the door.

So predictable.

He climbed into the passenger seat and fastened his seat belt as the engine roared to life. Everly threw the car in gear and stomped on the gas pedal. It was only a few miles to the palace, and she seemed determined to make the trip in record time, tearing down the winding road as if she drove it daily.

They rode in silence, but it was surprisingly comfortable.

Xander might’ve stared out the window or admired the sinking sun, but he’d never been one to deny an impulse, so he watched Everly instead. There was a slight flush in her cheeks, and her full lips were parted slightly, as if just waiting to be kissed.

Fuck. He shouldn’t be thinking about kissing Everly or the way her lips would feel wrapped around his cock, but there it was, the ever-present attraction burning low in his gut every time he looked at her. He was certain she felt it, too, but he was also certain she’d never admit it, so he shifted in his seat, masking his growing erection. She was finally starting to warm up to him, and the last thing he needed was for her to glimpse his raging hard-on.

Fortunately, she kept her gaze fixed on the road ahead as if her life depended on it. Which it very well might considering the speed at which the little demon took the turn into Novellus, the Valerian capital. Her eyes swept the city, pointedly ignoring him, as she navigated the narrow streets.

“Take Glasgow,” he instructed, indicating the rarely used cross street.

“But this is the way to the palace,” she argued, glancing at him briefly.

“We’re going in the back gate.”

Everly reduced her speed and tapped the turn signal as she hooked a left on Glasgow. She followed the narrow road to its end, where a stone guardhouse stood, covered in ivy.

The car rolled to a stop, and she lowered her window as one of the guards approached. When he reached the window, Xander called out a greeting.

“Good evening, Your Royal Highness,” Tony said, leaning down to peer through the window. Xander grinned. Luck was on his side tonight. Tony had been around long enough to know how things worked, unlike some of the new guards who still insisted on verifying the identities of all his guests and logging them in the palace security system. The better for his parents’ secretaries to monitor and report on his comings and goings.

“Evening, Tony. My friend is just dropping me off and will be needing a ride home. Can you have a car sent up to the cottage?”

“Of course, Sir.”

And with that, they were on their way again.

“The cottage?” Everly stole a quick glance at him, brows furrowed. “You don’t live in the palace?”

“No, I prefer my privacy.” He hadn’t minded sharing close quarters during his military days, but when he’d moved back to the palace, he’d discovered his tolerance for the nonstop comings and goings of courtiers had diminished. At the time, his parents had been so relieved to have him home in one piece, they hadn’t argued.

Everly’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. “I suppose living out here all alone would make it easier to maintain your…social calendar.”

He bit back a snarky reply and pointed to the turnoff for Primrose Cottage, which was nestled in the woods at the edge of the palace grounds. If she believed his sole reason for needing privacy was to quietly parade women in and out, he had no one to blame but himself. Still, the comment stung. He’d thought they were making progress, but it seemed he was back at square one.

Royal spare. Rogue prince. Total fuckup.

So much for polishing his tarnished reputation.

They crawled up the narrow lane, and she gasped as the old stone cottage came into view. The gardens were in full bloom, brightening the exterior of the ivy-covered house with bold splashes of red, gold, and purple that seemed to rage against the fading sunlight.

“I take it all back,” she whispered, eyes wide as she took in his home. “I can see why you chose to live here instead of the palace. It’s beautiful.”

Xander grinned. Maybe he wasn’t out of the game just yet.

Everly parked at the end of the drive, shut off the engine, and handed him the keys. Their fingers brushed, and a thrill raced up his spine.