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A Royal Pain 10
Chapter TenEven the admonishment to herself that she shouldn’t consider the royal palace home couldn’t make it feel less like she was returning after a long absence to a welcome homecoming. The royal family had gathered to greet them, though she didn’t fool herself into believing that they were there for her. She was simply an accessory trailing behind the prince, but she was okay with that. Having them greet her in any other, more familiar way would mean they had realized there was something more to their relationship.She was still aware of what a violation of her ethics it was to be sleeping with Bennet, even though she thought she had been fairly successful in separating her professional obligations from her personal feelings for him. They still had to be discreet.As she made her way to the servants’ quarters after parting from the prince, each step felt like a lightening of her load. It was good to be back, and she couldn’t deny that. For however long it lasted, she should just
A Royal Pain 11
Chapter ElevenHer apartment was just as she’d left it, but with a stale odor that inevitably developed when a place was empty for too long. She moved straight to the balcony to open the door before hustling around to open the windows. She was conscious of Bennet watching her the entire time, and she couldn’t explain why was she was having such a hard time meeting his eyes. He seemed to be offering her everything she wanted, so why was she so reluctant to hear it?She was scared. There it was, and no escaping the epiphany. She was frightened of what an escalation in their relationship might mean. He already meant so much to her that the prospect of losing him made her tremble. How much harder would it be to endure losing him if she loved him even more than she did already?She stilled as the word love flittered through her brain, forcing her to turn and face Bennet. He was near the recliner, so she crossed over to it and sat down, bringing them almost to eyelevel. She was still feelin
A Royal Pain 12
Chapter Twelve“Why did you do it?” Bennet issued the question in a stern voice as they cornered Tucker in the exercise room.“What happened to diplomacy and decorum?” asked Harper, frowning down at him.He ignored her censure as he focused his gaze on Tucker. “Well?”Tucker set down the free weight he was lifting and reached for a towel to wipe off his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, so I don’t know what answer you’re looking for here, Bennet.”“We just got back from the states,” said Harper. Her tone was much nicer than his had been. “Someone reported our relationship to the American Academy of Physical Therapists, and they summoned me for a disciplinary hearing.”He looked genuinely shocked, but he could just be a good actor. Bennet wasn’t ready to absolve him of guilt just yet. “What do you know about that?”Bennet frowned, and his confusion was starting to change to anger. “I don’t know anything about it except what Harper just said. I wondered where you two had di
A Royal Pain 13
Chapter ThirteenIt took a bit of work to track down Barret, since they couldn’t call Fiona to ask where he was. Finally, they found him in the sitting room of his suite, about to have afternoon tea. He’d answered the door himself, looking startled to see them, but stepped aside to allow them entry. “I was just about to have tea. Would you care to join me?”“We don’t have time for tea,” said Bennet.Harper took a step forward, putting a hand on Bennet’s shoulder and squeezing lightly. “Thank you, Your Highness. We’d be honored.“That’s Your Majesty,” said Tucker softly.“Just Barret will do,” said the king. “Let me ring for more tea for everyone, and then you can tell me what’s on your mind.”Harper felt strange in the king’s private quarters, sitting down to have tea with him. In an abstract way, she knew he was Bennet’s brother, which meant if they continued a relationship, he might eventually become family of some sort to her as well, but the thought was just intimidating.“We’re i
A Royal Pain 14
Chapter FourteenIt took less than a week for the DNA results to be returned, and they affirmed Fiona’s claim that she was an Casparian. As a result, they had all gathered around the formal dining table, having what could only be described as an uncomfortable formal family dinner. Harper shifted in the white lace dress she wore, wishing she had chosen something less scratchy. At least then she would’ve been physically comfortable while still being emotionally uncomfortable. The entire atmosphere was tense, and it was clear no one knew how to react.Except maybe Bennet, who continued to shoot daggers at Fiona across the table. Harper slid her hand from her lap to his thigh to squeeze lightly as she leaned closer to whisper, “Please give her a chance.”He grunted at her, but reined in the glaring after that.“Tell us about your mother,” said Sabrina, sounding imperious instead of inquisitive.“Yes, please do so,” said Barret, softening his sister’s question.Fiona reached for her wine,
A Royal Pain Prologue
PrologueHarper Gaines silenced her cellphone when it vibrated in her scrubs pocket before getting back to the lance corporal, whose leg she was currently bending. “Just like that. And out. Don’t forget to exhale.” She guided him through the exercise twice more before stepping back slightly to have him perform the rest himself. He was making great progress, and she was certain he’d be released from the VA Hospital for this particular injury in a matter of weeks.Her phone buzzed again, and she took it discreetly from her pants. Her eyes widened, and she smiled her pleasure as she brought it to her ear, turning slightly to shield her conversation while still allowing a view of the Marine’s form. “Tucker Carlton, I haven’t heard from you in months.”His voice sounded like he was standing right next to her, though he was probably still in Montrovia, where he was the royal family’s personal physician. “It’s been a madhouse since Bennet…Prince Bennet crashed his racecar. Did you hear about
A Royal Pain 1
Chapter OneMaybe that confidence had come too soon. She was forced to consider the idea as she gazed around her when stepping foot into the summer palace of the royal family, where they were currently in residence. It was luxurious beyond compare, and enough to really underscore to her how out-of-place she was with her Midwestern, middleclass upbringing when contrasted with her surroundings.Firming her shoulders, she reminded herself she was there for her expertise in physical therapy, and because she wasn’t afraid of a challenge. This might be outside her comfort zone, but she couldn’t let that hold her back.By the time she recognized a familiar face a few moments later, she was feeling more certain again. She walked forward to meet Tucker, who was beaming at her. His dark skin had gotten a couple of shades darker, and his curls, neatly cropped close to his head last time she’d seen him, had grown out into a two-inch high start of an Afro. He looked tired, but also fantastic.The
A Royal Pain 2
Chapter TwoBennet was disappointed all the way around. He barely knew any Americans, but he’d heard the women were independent, free with their sexuality, and easily impressed by his royal status. So far, the physical therapist failed to meet any of the three traits. She’d yielded far too easily when he insisted on ending the session for the day, her loose khaki trousers and pink blouse had done nothing to reveal the figure beneath, especially with those buttons all the way up to the neck, and she hadn’t seemed particularly impressed by him.It was hard to get a read on her, and he was afraid she wouldn’t be the distraction he had hoped for. The dragon lady from Belgium had been tough, but even she had eventually yielded and broken down in tears as she fled the castle. It had taken him two weeks to undermine her completely and break her resolve.The simpering miss from his own country had been a nice novelty for a short while, since she obeyed everything he said and clearly revered h
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