17. Reeves

seventeen

One bonus to all this snow, it brought a clean water source right to my step. I carried our pasta—which I made with melted snow water—to the couch. It was good enough for me, but I'd never entertained royalty before, and the improvisation made me feel like total riffraff.

Ever since I had returned from chores, Erralee had acted a little out of character. I told myself she was nervous about her move, but she kept looking at me, parting her lips, as if there was something deeper. Maybe it was my imagination—or even my desire—but I'd seen that look before. Not from Erralee, but from another woman I'd dated. Sure, it'd been a while, but it's the sort of look you didn't forget.

I kept checking out the window, hoping to see the snow stop. I need her gone. I was out of my mind to invite her to stay here. It's not like I had an option not to invite her. It was an emergency. However, seeing her in my kitchen, and snuggling in on my sofa, brought thoughts into my head, that in normal circumstances would be fine.

Attraction is fine.

Normal.

Attraction to a woman who is engaged is not good.

In this situation, that attraction would be lethal.

Erralee is off-limits.

My scowl grew as the wind had picked up. Again. Snow flooded out of the clouds all at once, as if someone had pulled a giant plug. I glared out the window, praying for a sunray. Nature only mocked me with a huge blast of snow slamming the window, making it impossible to see out.

"Mmm." I grinded down on my bottom lip. I was going to suffer dearly for this. It's just a crush. I took my first bite of pasta, swallowed, and forced small talk. "It's going to snow until around midnight, then it should let up. If they keep the roads open, you should be able to leave tomorrow."

Her chin tilted away from me. I immediately realized how that sounded like I was rushing her. "But you don't have to leave," I added quickly. "I'm not forcing you out."

But you really do need to leave . . . soon.

"I do." She hovered her fork above her bowl. "I'm surprised Father hasn't had someone come by already. He's not usually one to take being crossed lightly. Hence this stupid two-year war."

My conscience was conflicted in so many ways. She was capable, and resourceful. I disagreed with what her father had done. She had a right to live her life, but I doubted she understood she was putting herself in danger by running away. People might end up hating her, once everything comes to light. As I thought about the violence people were capable of, my pulse quickened. I was afraid for her. "But you still don't know where you are going to go, do you?"

"Yeah." She swallowed her pasta, and tacked on, "You were right about America."

"Okaaay," I stretched the word out to make it a complete sentence. Her innocence about everything was a bit perturbing. "And how will you get there without blowing your cover?"

"I'm telling you this in confidence." She leaned closer, even though we were the only two people. "I'm going to leave at night, and go to Weston's mom's house. She used to be my nanny, and to be honest, I trust her more than my parents. I'm going to have her lend me Weston's birth records, and some clothes for a disguise. We're the same age and height. I can cut and dye my hair. Then I'll take his records to get a photo ID and use that to fly commercially. If I know Father, he would have checked with her already. So, I'm sure her place is clear—"

"Unless—" I cut in, "He"s expecting you to come eventually, and he's watching it."

She held up a point-making finger. "That would make sense, but he doesn't have the resources. He's already down a guard at the palace, and his military is gone."

I hike a brow northerly, pressing my concern. "But King Aswell is not out of resources."

Her pupils shifted from side to side. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying I don't know this guy, but most men aren't going to let what's theirs just get away or be taken from them. If he really has the army you say he has, he might use it to find you, and fight for you."

"I hadn't thought of that." She ran a hand through her hair, appearing to redirect her thoughts. "I know Weston's mom will help me. It's the only way forward, but I need to find a way to meet with her covertly. As you said, she might be getting surveilled." Her eyes trailed slowly to mine. "Do you—"

"You want me to reach out to her?" I jerked my thumb to my chest. "Do you know what the punishment is for treason?"

A serious line pinned between her eyes, while she kept an even tone. "It can't be worse than harboring me here."

"Thanks for reminding me of that." I half-laughed, half-scoffed. I had no idea how I got sucked into this drama. "I'm not harboring you. In case you have forgotten I rescued you."

"Look," She reached forward, dropping her palm to my leg, and an electric shock zapped right through me. I jolted into a more upright position with my gaze landing on her hand on my leg. I wasn't sure how this transitioned into a touching situation, but now my mind was going in a new direction. "I appreciate your friendship so much," her words drowned out the tingles I still had. "I'm sorry to put you through this, but I can't marry a man I don't love." Her heated gaze paced my face. "I'm not asking for anything that anyone else isn't allowed. I want the freedom to live my life. I shouldn't have fewer rights because I was born into this family. I should get to love who I want."

It was a cause I understood, but there was deep naivety in her thinking. Plus, her hand was still on my leg, which made any sort of rational thinking impossible. I'd had a lot of misfortune in my life, and many things happened that I'd never understand, but how I got stranded with the most beautiful woman in the world—who happens to be a princess—and is totally off-limits will now be on the top of my why-do-all-the-insanely-impossible-things-happen-to-me list.

I didn't want to make her sad or stressed out, as I didn't see the point of worrying about this stuff when the unknown was just that . . . unknown. I placed my hand on top of hers, fully intending that's where it would stay.

Stationary.

Friendly support.

Like a pat on the back.

She immediately flipped her hand over, enveloping her fingers in mine. Maybe she was one of those overly touchy-feely people who had no sense of personal space, but the vibe I was getting…made it feel more intentional than that.

Or maybe I was hoping?

But that could be bad, because she was off-limits.

King Aswell could kill me.

I didn't want to die!

"Put it this way," I said, finally mustering up a response, as I casually slipped my hand back, and stood returning my bowl to the sink. "I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you, but let's not waste our evening worrying about it." I bobbed my head toward the TV. "The power's back on. It's been a long day. We should relax and watch a movie."

That way, we don't have to talk to each other, and we can stare at a screen. Perfect diversion to get through the night.

Her gaze wafted toward the mounted flat screen. "What do you have?"

"I don't know if the streaming is going to work the best." I exhaled noisily. The noise wasn't on purpose. That apparently just happened when I'm flustered. I walked back to the living room, grabbed the remote, and clicked it on. Several channels weren't coming in, but we had a few choices. "So, it looks like we have the National News Channel, Christmas Movie Channel, or infomercials."

"Oh, I love Christmas movies." She immediately gushed, and I realized I had made a massive miscalculation. Christmas movies were date movies. Sure, it would take her mind off her problems, but it felt risky. "Ah, are you sure you're not tired? Maybe we should just go to sleep." I eyed my bedroom door, wondering how suspicious that would look if I just turbo tiptoed in there and barricaded the door until she left.

"No, I napped while you did chores." She had this sensational smile on her face, like it alone was proof that she wasn't tired.

"Okaay." I clicked on the Christmas Movie Channel and dropped the remote. My gaze went back to the sofa. The one sofa I had in this house. I never thought having only one piece of furniture would be the wrong decision. That was before I had an Erralee sitting on it, batting her lashes at me like she was getting her own ideas.

I backed up, until my heels bumped into the front of the sofa. I was committed to not locking eyes with her. I sat on the edge of the couch, upright as if I was so engrossed in the opening credits, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen for a second.

"There's a bit of a glare from the kitchen light behind us. I can't see this part of the screen." She stretched her neck up, scanning the room. "Do you have a switch for that light?"

"Yep." I popped the P as I stiffly stood, doing my best to sidestep and avoid her gaze. I flipped the switch and resumed my position. Now we were sitting way too close in the dark, and my skin prickled from her gaze hovering over it. My entire life, I was the guy who struggled to get the girl. I'd ask for a date, and so many times they'd have an excuse. You could have never told me that one day, I'd be on this accidental date with the most desired woman on the planet, and there'd be a giant BUT.

BUT . . . she's off limits.

BUT she keeps looking at me as if she wants to flirt.

BUT her father could very well punish me for making a move on his daughter.

BUT I wasn't sure I cared about her dad now.

BUT her fiancé could very well kill me for even thinking about her.

BUT at this moment the only thing I cared about was the way she was looking at me.

BUT she was a princess.

What kind of flex did I have? Nada that could measure up to that.

I sat on my corner of the couch.

She sat on hers.

It was cozy.

Er, who was I kidding, I was sweating like I was in a sauna, fighting for my life not to look at her, even though I could feel her eyes on me. I wasn't super intelligent. I had an IQ north of ninety. However, if there was anything I had ever been one-thousand percent sure of, it was that if we locked eyes, even for a second, I'd lose all willpower.

For all these buts, and more, I crossed my arms over my chest, sank down on the couch, and focused on the movie as if my life depended on it.

Because it did.