It suddenly feels like everyone is in a serious relationship, as if wedding season has officially opened.
Yours will be next,a voice warns, like some kind of bad omen.
Irritated doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt after Athol informed me he had invited both women.
It was a horrible idea to put Jazmina in the same environment as them, because now there’s a clear line, just a few steps away from me, separating what I want and what I can have.
I barely greeted them. I don’t want them here, nor do I want to think that soon I’ll need to choose one of them to share my title and my last name.
There’s nothing physically wrong with either of them. They’re flawless, which is exactly the problem. Perfect to a degree I find irritating. Not a single hair out of place, unlike thesexy, wild way my ward carries herself. After walking away from me earlier, she seems to be having the time of her life.
Ever since Athol showed up, Jazmina hasn’t spoken to me again. I’d even bet she’s avoiding me, dancing with Josephine and Luna, or chatting with every male on this damn yacht.
About half an hour ago, I tried to take her temperature, getting close, but she didn’t give me any room. She said something about whether I planned to kidnap her again, like the first time we met. She also said this constant surveillance from me and Kaled was torture, that I was killing her dreams . . .so I realized we’re back to our previous “enemies” setting.
What the hell changed?
“I’m fine,” he finally replies.
“You look better than fine, actually.”
Ricco went through a brutal phase, one so dark we honestly thought he might never recover. Seeing him living again is a fucking relief.
“Yeah.”
“She’s gorgeous,” I say, nodding toward the fairy-like girl.
“No, she’s more than gorgeous. She’s perfect.”
That’s far beyond anything I’ve ever heard him say about any woman. There’s no simple desire in his voice; it’s something close to worship.
“You two seem happy together,” I press, testing the waters.
Before he can answer, a loud laugh cuts through the air. I look over his shoulder and feel my jaw tighten. Ricco turns to see who I’m staring at.
Jazmina is surrounded by half a dozen guys, all hypnotized as she tells them a story.
She looks completely at ease, which drives me insane.
“I didn’t know you two were friends,” he says, probably puzzled by her presence here.
“We’re not. She’s uncontrollable, and Kaled asked me to keep an eye on her since of all his friends, I’m the one who lives closest to her,” I say, giving him the short version of what my role really is.
“You’re ababysitter?”
“Something like that. She calls me a torturer, actually. Dream-killer, too. The kid has a very creative mind. She’s grounded today—that’s why I brought her,” I lie, even though I know damn well that’s not the reason the princess is here.
He shakes his head, amused.
I know why.
My bad mood is legendary; nobody would ever picture me looking after a girl. And not just any girl—a princess and our friend’s little sister.
“Congrats, your party is amazing,” I hear someone say behind me.
When I turn, it’s his girlfriend. I notice Ricco’s possessiveness as he slips an arm around the blonde’s waist.
“Thanks, but I haven’t seen you try the whisky,” I say.