Kingdom Come (6 page)

Sophie turned around, her lips moving quickly. She froze when she saw the three of them. Abby frowned. Sure, they were not local, but that was no reason to stare. She found herself getting offended on the couple’s behalf. Her thoughts stalled when the two cooks quickly crossed the room and bowed.

“Gibil Konani,” they said in unison.

Abby’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Do you know each other?” She glanced back and forth between the two couples.

Konani nodded to the two cooks and after saying a quick acknowledgement of Limek, they returned to work.

“Yes,” Konani said. “Should we continue the tour?”

Abby raised her eyebrows at the attempt a changing the topic. “How do you know them?”

Konani gave her a long look and seemed to realize she was not going to let it go. She gestured for Abby to follow her out into the hallway.

“They are from the prince’s personal culinary staff,” Konani told her once the three of them had left the kitchen behind.

Abby stared at her, all the possibilities going through her mind. Her position forced her to ask, “Is the president aware?”

“Yes,” Limek answered. “It was part of a preliminary agreement.”

“What do you mean? I thought the first meeting was a week ago?” She put her hands on her hips.

“The president demanded a gesture of goodwill. The prince sent the customary gift. Ghadrikan food and drink, with member of his staff to prepare the offering.”

Abby tried to think of a way to phrase her question without being rude. “And Ghadrikan food is…good?”

Limek huffed out a laugh.

Konani smiled and nodded. “Yes, but it is better known for its regenerative power.”

“Talk about manna from heaven,” Abby muttered. “Okay,” she said louder. “So, it has healing properties?”

“It prevents and repairs the breakdown of the body by disease and time.”

Abby frowned. “And you gave it to us?”

Giving humanity an abnormally long lifespan seemed like a recipe for mass genocide and World War III. Not a choice she would have made, but she was sure the prince had his reasons. She would have offered a gift basket.

She started down the hall toward the library. She pointed out the Map Room, Diplomatic Room, and China Room as they passed them. She gestured for them to proceed her into the room.

“This room has been a laundry room and a waiting room. It didn’t become The Library until 1935,” she read from the tour guide.

After a quick walk around the room the couple returned to her and she lead them across the hall. She noticed Konani seemed interested in the portraits of the First Ladies that hung in the corridor.

“Do you have a favorite?” the other woman asked, as they
stepped into The Vermeil Room.

Abby glanced down at the guide and nodded. “Yes, and she’s in this room.” She
pointed to the wall left of the door where Eleanor Roosevelt’s portrait hung.

Konani moved to stand beside her, the two of them looking at the painting while Limek wandered around the room.

Abby opened her mouth to comment on the painting, when the sound of quickly approaching footsteps reached them. Limek was at Konani’s side before the owner of the shoes reached the doorway. She smiled at the two of them.

The appearance of Agent Jackson’s frowning face was enough to wipe the smile off her face.

“Miss Ashley, please take our guests to The Rose Garden. The president has invited the prince and his company to luncheon.”

He turned and left without waiting for her to answer. She shook her head. Rude.

“Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed

as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.”

- Lawrence Sterne

He was siting straight across the table from her. In the bright sunlight, he was even more handsome. She mentally kicked herself for even thinking it.

“So,” she said awkwardly, “are we having your favorites?” She watched in fascination as his lips curved up into the sexiest smile she had ever seen. She was in so much trouble.

“A few.” His eyes nearly met hers, before he aborted the action. His eyes scanned the garden behind her. “I believe we are having chocolate cheesecake for dessert.”

She sat up in her chair. “That’s my favorite.”

He nearly met her eyes, again. “Is it?” Something about his tone made her suspect he already knew.

She could not suppress her smile.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” the president said, as he strode through the doors of the Cabinet Room.

She noticed the prince’s guards shifting in place. The Secret Service agents noticed as well, as they became even tenser. The agents watched the guards like they
were rabid animals, poised to attack at any moment. Abby found herself getting irritated on their behalf.

She turned
her gaze away from them to watch the president take the seat at the head of the table, the prince to his right. She looked back and forth between the two men. The president’s face held a smug half smile, triumph in every movement he made. She glanced at the prince to see his eyes narrowed at the table top.

He did not look at the president, but he radiated tension. The meeting had clearly not gone his way. She wondered why he would deal with the man if he disliked him so much. It
was odd. The president’s voice cut off her train of thought.

“Your Majesty, would you mind if Miss Ashley joins us for lunch?”

She blinked at him. She thought she was already invited. Glancing at Agent Jackson, she saw him watching the prince carefully.

“I don’t mind,” the prince answered, tonelessly.

She mentally flinched. “I can grab something in the kitchen. I don’t want to intrude.” She started to rise, when the prince raised his head to look at her.

“Please, stay,” he said, the intensity in his gaze matching his words.

She stared at him. “You’re sure?”

He nodded silently.

“Okay.” She looked at the president. “Should I take notes?”

He was watching the prince. “I don’t think that will be necessary, Miss Ashley.”

After she settled back in her seat, the table fell into a tense silence. She occupied herself by watching the behavior of those around her. The president was definitely pleased about something. The smirk had not left his face once since he had stepped outside. Agent Jackson stood behind him on the right.

She caught him sending unreadable looks toward the guards, Konani in particular. She frowned. Konani was the prince’s head
advisor. She looked at the tall redhead to see her face set in an emotionless mask. Limek, on the other hand, was showing his displeasure with an even more severe look than usual.

“Miss Ashley.”

She jerked her attention to the president, who was staring at her. She looked around to see everyone had turned to look at her.

“I’m sorry. What were you saying, sir?”

His eyes slid to the prince and back to her, so fast she thought she imagined it. “I asked if you would show the ambassador the gardens.”

Her eyes widened. “Um…” She could see the prince watching her from the corner of her eye. “I’m not sure that’s-“

“Miss Ashley,” he cut her off. “Show our guest the garden.” It was no longer a request.

Nervousness bubbled in her stomach, but she forced a smile. Alone with the prince. This was going to be a nightmare of stuttering and blushing. She rose from her
chair with what she hoped was gracefulness and nodded to the prince. He smiled faintly and rounded the end of the table, falling into step with her.

“I’m sorry I don’t know anything about the gardens.”

She wracked her mind for something to say that would not make her sound like an idiot. They passed roses of every shade, bright yellows and pretty pinks, and still the prince stayed silent. It was not until they were out of sight of the lunch gazebo, he turned his head to look down at her.

“Do you enjoy working here?”

She paused mid step. His voice was as engaging as she remembered. From so close, it seemed to vibrate in her chest. It took her a moment to realize he had asked her a question.

“I guess so.” She could hear the uncertainty in her tone and from the slight turn of his head in her direction, she knew he heard it too.

“I see.” He paused next to a cluster of white roses. “Do you like roses?”

She blinked at the change in topic. “They aren’t my favorite, but yes.”

He turned to face her, the full brunt of his appearance hitting her at once. She swallowed hard and tried to ignore the way his lips moved when he spoke.

“What do you favor?”

She licked her lips. “Uh.”

He took a step toward her. “What do you find beautiful?”

His voice had taken on a warm tone and she found herself unable to keep her eyes off him. When he met her eyes for several heartbeats, it took all her willpower not to say ‘you’.

“Lilies,” she blurted.

“Yes,” he said. “They are very beautiful.” He broke eye contact and continued walking.

She hurried to catch up, her heels sinking into the ground as they reached the recently watered grass.

“Uh, sir? Your Highness?”

He immediately stopped and turned to her. “Yes.”

She watched him take in her awkward steps and attempt to keep her balance. He took a step toward her and she noticed his hands clenched into tight fists. His expression was one she had never seen before; he appeared almost pained.

“Do you mind if I hold on to you until we get back on solid ground?” She tried to make it a joke, but the flood of relief in his eyes made the smile fall from her face.

He immediately moved to her side, gently taking her hand and placing it on his muscled forearm. As they began to walk together, her mind spun. He was not allowed to touch a woman without permission. No, that could not be right. She had seen him pat Konani on the shoulder. Still puzzling over the behavior, she tried to strike up a conversation.

“What is Ghadrik like?” She looked up at him to see a faint smile on his lips.

“Much like Earth. Ghadrik is comprised of one large continent, much like Earth 200 million years ago.”

“And the capital city?”

If he was surprised by her knowledge, he did not show it. “Anshargal is in the south. The Shadrakin Mountains are to the west and the Guskin Coast to the south. The Great Plains are to the north and east.”

She tried to picture it. A thriving city on the coast, surrounded by miles of green grass and towering mountains. She smiled. It was a screen saver.

“And you?”

She looked up to find him watching her. “Me? I’m from Missouri.” She gestured vaguely. “It’s nothing like this,” she said looking past the garden to the White House. “It’s much slower.”

He cocked his head to the side, clearly interested.

“Well, I g
rew up in a small town near an air force base. Lots of pickup trucks, zero traffic jams, and the waitress at the diner knows everyone by name.”

He smiled at her description. “And your family is still there?”

She nodded. “My dad and brothers. My mom died two years ago.” She looked down when her hand was enveloped by warmth.

His large hand covered hers. “I am sorry for your loss.” He was staring down at their hands, a thoughtful frown on his face.

“Thank you, but I’m fine. She was sick for a long time.”

He nodded at her words, but did not comment.

“What’s your mother like?”

He raised his head and smiled faintly. “She is queen,” he said, as if that was answer it itself.

She raised her eyebrows. “Okay?”

His smile widened, clearly thinking of his mother. “She is resolute, strong,
and intelligent. All that a queen should be.”

Abby found herself smiling with him. “Is she nice?”

Amusement filled his eyes. “To loved ones? Most assuredly. To enemies? Definitely not.”

In her mind, she pictured the queen in her armor and nodded. Her stomach suddenly let out a vicious growl.

“Do you think lunch is ready, yet?” she asked, placing her free hand over her stomach.

The prince looked toward the lunch gazebo. “Possibly.” He dropped his gaze to her. “Shall we go see?”

At her nod, he led her back the way they had come. It was slow going with her heels sinking into the wet ground on every step. Almost to dry ground, her shoe caught and stayed in the mud sending her hopping forward on one foot. She made a mad grab for anything to keep her vertical.

Her hands unerringly snatched the front of the prince’s suit jacket, simultaneously pulling him toward her and down to the ground. They fell in a tangle of limbs, him turning to hit the ground first and her head smacking into his chest hard enough to make her see stars. When they stopped moving, mortification, like she had never felt before, spread through her like wildfire.

His Royal Highness, the Prince of Ghadrik, lay flat on his back on the White House lawn with her sprawled across him. She was so getting fired. Breathing hard and feeling the heat of his body beneath her palms, she slowly raised her eyes to look at his face.

“I’m so sorry!” she said, trying to untangle her legs from his. “I’m not usually this clumsy.”

His chest vibrated beneath her palms and she paused her frantic movements to give him a confused look. He let out a low chuckle. At her open-mouthed stare, he laughed harder. His eyes crinkled in amusement and he threw his head back to let out a deep belly laugh. She sat up straighter, no longer concerned about her position on top of him, and blatantly stared.

She thought he was handsome before, but it was nothing compared to how he looked when he was happy. Her own smile widened and finally bloomed into a giggle to join his laughter. She was not sure how long they laughed together, but when the
amusement tapered off she became aware of his hands on her hips. She told herself it was not completely wonderful.

She gave him a polite smile and stood, careful not to brush against him any more than she had to. Her hips felt colder without the heat of his hands. She ignored it. After standing and adjusting her clothes,
she asked the prince if he needed help standing. He shook his head and climbed to his feet smoothly.

She had to be professional. She could not let her feelings compromise her job. She continued to tell herself that as the prince followed her back to the gazebo.

…

Nothing in the world felt as good as having her in his arms. The sunlight caught the reds and browns in her dark hair, giving her a halo as she leaned over him. Her weight settled across his hips and he wanted to groan at how right it felt. Her soft hands were on his chest, long fingers splayed across the expensive fabric of his suit.

After a moment, she raised her head to look at him. He took in her shocked face and messy hair and wanted to kiss her so bad it was almost painful.

“I’m so sorry! I’m not usually this clumsy.”

The more she moved the more amusing the situation became. He had finally gotten her into his arms and it was an accident. Laughter bubbled up from his chest at the ridiculousness of it all. She moved her hands across his chest and looked up at him with a perplexed expression. He laughed harder.

When she began to laugh with him, it was single most perfect moment in his life. Her eyes sparkled when she was happy, the grey lightening to a bright silver. All too soon, she stopped. Emotions crossed her face too quick to process, and then she was climbing off him. He did not realize his hands were on her hips until she moved away.

He watched her retreat behind a wall of propriety. It seemed he had all of her for a moment. The moment did not last nearly long enough. He sighed to himself and stood. She started walking toward the gazebo without looking at him, again.

The human leader smiled when they returned to the table. Abigail nodded to his questioning, telling the man she had showed him the gardens. The president turned his gaze to him.

“Did you enjoy your tour?”

To an outside observer, he had no doubt the question sounded polite. He was the only one who could see the calculating gleam in the other man’s eyes.

“Yes.” He hoped the human would leave him alone. He did not.

“What did you think?”

Edric retook his chair across from Abigail and turned his head to pin the president with a dark look. The man had no idea who he was toying with. Yes, he had agreed to trade technology in return for time to court Abigail, but that did not mean the man could make a nuisance of himself. The president clearly did not see it that way. Edric scowled.