The Bodyguard (Norcross #4) - Anna Hackett Page 0,10
through her. “The woman lost her son. The father beat him to death. He was nine.”
Rome’s fingers clenched into a fist.
“The man’s in jail, and the woman and her six-year-old daughter are safe now.”
“With the help of your charity?”
She lifted her chin. “Yes.”
He stayed silent, that x-ray gaze boring into her. “I’ll sort out security for their visit.”
“Thank you.”
He tried his salad and grunted.
“What?” she asked.
“Guess I didn’t think princesses could cook. This is good.”
Sofie felt a flush of pride. “Thank you.” She reached out to grab the salt shaker, just as Rome did the same thing. They ended up face to face, their mouths inches apart.
She sucked in a breath, sensation rippling through her.
Rome’s gaze dropped to her lips.
“Rome—”
“Can’t happen.”
She swallowed. “Are you sure?”
He groaned. “Don’t make this harder than it already is.”
“You mean the situation…?”
“I mean the situation, but it applies to other things as well.” His tone was dry.
Her gaze dropped to his lap and her eyes widened. There was a very distinct bulge in the front of his trousers. She licked her lips, heat coiling through her.
He groaned. “Sofia, if you don’t stop staring at my cock, we’re going to have a problem.”
She gasped. She wanted a problem. She really, really wanted it.
His cell phone rang. Muttering a curse, he yanked it out. “Nash?” Pause. “Okay, I’ll let her know.” He ended the call. “Your guests are five minutes away, so you’d better get dressed.”
She nodded and pulled in a shaky breath. Duty called.
Rome checked his watch. Princess Sofia’s guests were coming up the front path.
He glanced up the stairs. She’d gone up to change.
He was concerned about the stalker business. His instincts were itching. He planned to send the note, now in a Ziploc bag, to the Norcross Office to get analyzed. Vander used an outside lab that was brilliant.
Rome liked to consider all angles, and cross all his Ts and dot all his Is.
He heard the click of heels.
He turned and his gut clenched.
Sofia came down the stairs. Slim, black pants fitted her like a glove, and ended at her slender ankles. Her white shirt had a ruffle at the neck, and a narrow, black belt cinched around her waist.
She gave him one of those polite princess smiles, and was holding a box in her hands.
She didn’t look like the same woman who’d easily moved around the kitchen in a robe. Or who had a naval piercing.
His phone pinged. It was a message from the outside guard. “Your guests are here.”
The doorbell rang, and Sofia moved past him and pulled the door open.
A thin woman stood on the doorstep, her brown hair neatly tied back, and a nervous smile on her face. A small, blonde girl was clinging to her leg, wearing a pink dress.
“Hello,” Sofia said. “You must be Ellen and Amanda.”
“Oh, um, hi,” the woman swallowed. “We’ve never met a princess before.”
Sofia smiled and held out her hand. “I’m Princess Sofia of Caldova. I’m so pleased to meet you. Come in.”
Both the woman and girl shot nervous glances at Rome. He was used to people looking at him. He was big, he was black, and he didn’t have an easygoing, overly friendly countenance.
But he realized that this was something more than that.
“Oh, don’t mind Rome,” Sofia said. “He’s a big teddy bear, and he protects people. He’s my bodyguard.”
Ellen and her daughter looked at him, eyes wide.
He pulled back in the doorway so he didn’t make them nervous. He had no idea exactly what they’d been through, what they’d survived, but he guessed they’d been taught to be wary of big guys.
They settled in the living room. Sofia ducked out to the kitchen and came back with a tray of pink cupcakes.
“I had these especially ordered for us. Princesses love cupcakes.”
“I love them too,” the little girl said.
“Excellent. I’ve heard that you’ve both been very brave. I really wanted to meet you.”
The girl’s smile trembled and her mother managed a smile. Sofia grabbed Ellen’s hand and she shared a look with the woman.
“I thought princesses wore tiaras,” little Amanda whispered quietly.
“Well—” Sofia leaned forward. “You’re right, but I usually only wear them for special occasions. I have a very large collection.”
The girl gasped. “Really?”
“Really.” Sofia grabbed the box she’d brought down with her, set it in the center of the coffee table, and flicked open the lid.
Amanda’s mouth dropped open.
Rome watched as Sofia lifted a gleaming tiara out of the box.
“This is one of my favorites. My grandfather gave it to my