veins.
I gulp, turning back to stare at the flames. “No?”
“Not a bit.”
“Just another notch on your bedpost, I guess.” The logs crackle as the flames climb higher.
The Prince is silent for a beat. “I guess so,” he says quietly. He stands up and heads for the door, closing it softly behind him—no minions needed this time.
My heart squeezes.
Maybe the Prince isn’t who I thought he was. Maybe he’s not the arrogant asshole with an army of servants. Maybe he doesn’t sleep with every woman who crosses his path.
Maybe he cares.
Letting my eyes close, I turn back to the fire and tuck my legs into my chest. I wrap the blanket tight around me and rest my chin on my knees, trying to still the thumping of my heart. I don’t understand what’s going on. Why is he being so generous? So kind?
He doesn’t regret what we did yesterday.
What does that even mean? My heart beats uncomfortably as I think about the possibility of him and me…
No. It’s not possible. He might not regret it, but he’s not the one who needs this job in order to progress in his career. I’m the one who needs to be here. I’m the one who’s relying on this job to make a name for myself. I’m the one who built my architecture business from the ground up and who can’t afford to mess this up.
He might not regret it, but I do.
The door opens again, and my heart jumps. Is he back?
Vikki pokes her head inside, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “Hey you.”
“Hi, Vikki,” I say with a smile.
“How was the cottage?”
“Beautiful,” I say.
She nods, crossing her legs as she sits down beside me. I offer her one side of the blanket, and she shimmies closer to wrap it around her shoulders.
“I heard you’re going to be leaving us soon.” My new friend sounds sad, and I wonder how lonely it really gets up here, isolated in the wilderness.
“I’ll be going to Stirling to spend time with my grandmother and work on my designs.”
Vikki makes a soft noise, glancing at me. “The Prince likes you.”
I stiffen. Does she know about last night? Does everyone know? Who else did the Prince tell? “Why do you say that?”
“He organized a car for you. I heard him on the phone to the Queen, asking for space for you to work. Really fought for you to get it.”
My chest constricts. “Oh. That’s not…normal? He doesn’t do that for everyone?”
Vikki laughs. “Prince Wolfe is the most loyal, protective person in the world…if he cares about you. Otherwise, he’ll tear you to shreds or completely ignore you. I’ve been in the ‘ignore’ camp my whole life. Never once has he made time for me to go see my family and actually put effort into making it happen. He doesn’t even know my name.”
“Maybe he believes in my design for this palace,” I say, my voice sounding hollow and empty.
Vikki snorts. “Yeah. That’s probably it. He definitely doesn’t ask us to make sure you have everything you need three times a day ever since you arrived here.”
My eyes widen as I glance at my friend.
She shrugs, grinning. “You have a fan.”
I shake my head, standing up. I heap my half of the blanket onto Vikki’s lap, stretching my arms out. “I don’t think so. I’m going to do a bit of work before I turn in tonight.”
Vikki stares at me curiously, tilting her head. “You like him, too.”
“I do not.”
“Do too.”
“Do not.”
Vikki laughs, eyes widening. “You do. Rowan Reed!”
“I have work to do.”
“You have a brand-new office in the Stirling Castle to do it.”
“Well, I guess I’ll have to settle for the archives until I get there.”
Vikki stands up, folding the blanket and setting it on the arm of the sofa. She shakes her head, grinning at me. “You two might have just found the perfect match for each other. Both of you grumpy about it. Both of you in denial. It’s perfect.”
“Goodbye, Vikki,” I say, heading for the door to the archives. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Her giggle follows me through the doorway as she calls out a goodbye to me. I flop down on the desk chair in the archives and listen to her walk out of the library before dropping my head in my hands.
Groaning, I try to shake the thought away.
The Prince does not like me. Not like that. Sure, we slept together, and he’s a bit more of a gentleman than I expected.
That’s it.
Anything