The Hero and the Hidden Royal - Renae Kaye Page 0,33
He poked his tongue out at her to show her he didn’t miss her little dig at his nervousness. “And it’s weird. Because he sees things and is suspicious. But he’s also so unafraid and sticks his nose into things. He’s a delivery driver. And he thinks there’s this big gang operating and extorting money from his customers. He’s been poking around after dark, asking questions and everything. He thinks there are bad guys everywhere. When I asked him why it’s his problem, he tells me that it’s not right and he wants to help.” Derek crossed his arms and looked at the ceiling. “I swear he should be one of the Royals, Sylvie. He does things just because it’s the right thing to do. And he’s happy to do it. He’s happy to be helping people. But he confronts someone doing something wrong like he could never get hurt. He has a superhero attitude but no superpowers.”
Sylvie tapped one finger against her lip and frowned in concentration. “Let me get this right. You’re afraid of everything, and Sam is unafraid of everything. Sam has a positive outlook on life, and you have a negative one. You see the good in everyone, but Sam is suspicious about motives. Sam thinks everything is going to work out fine, and you think everything is going to fall apart. You hide from the world, and Sam tackles the world head-on.” She shrugged. “Sounds like a match made in heaven. Or hell. Why do you even like him if he’s so different to you?”
Derek felt his face relax into a smirk as he thought about all the things he liked about Sam. “He’s gorgeous, for a start. He’s big. Beautiful. Buff. Brilliant. And just happy. I don’t know how to tell you about him without saying he’s happy. We went to the beach and he’s all excited about how pretty everything looks. And he was happy to stop off and look at a church because I wanted to see it. And he was happy to hike up through this forest bit even when we didn’t know where we were going. And he was excited about food. And we must’ve stopped six times, just so Sam could try out something new. And every time I disappeared, he was so freaking happy to see me again once I reappeared. It was so exhausting to be in his happiness that I forgot to be scared some of the time.” Derek pretended to pout, crossing his arms and slouching back in the chair.
Sylvie beamed her joy at him. “You forgot to be scared. I like this Sam. I like him a lot.”
It didn’t surprise Derek. Despite the fact Sylvie was the assistant director of a large company, she still acted like everyone was her responsibility, like they were still six. Sylvie was the original mother hen.
“I like him too,” Derek muttered, blushing hotly.
Sylvie’s chuckle was definitely throaty. “Okay, now tell me quickly what you’re working on so I can tell the truth when I go back upstairs.”
“Just translating,” Derek said, pointing at the book. “I’m trying to figure out a phrase.” He brightened. “Hey—if the Duke of Arles is missing, some North Abarran royals might come here, right? The Earl of Bourgmont maybe? Can you ask him if I can scout around his castle looking for a hidden room? Maybe knock a few walls down?”
Sylvie squinted. “I can’t see that he would allow that.” Hesitating, she said, “But I can bring up the subject of a DNA test with Queen Maialen if you want to see if you really are related to the Roses side of the family?”
It was only the blink of Sylvie’s eyes and the small sigh that clued Derek into the fact he’d disappeared again. “Not now. Not while Sander’s missing.”
Sylvie reached over and put her hand on his shoulder. Probably because she didn’t know where his hand was. “You’re right. But I will ask them one day, Derek. I think it’s time we cleared it up for you. For some reason it’s important to you and I want to set you at rest.” She stood. “Now. I’d better get back to work and find out where these damn dukes have disappeared to.”
~~~~~~~~
Chapter Twelve
FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, Sam came over Tuesday and Friday nights for dinner, and spent the weekend with Derek. The other nights, even though Derek was desperate to see him, he said he had to train.
“I don’t get this beautiful body