Enticing Liam Page 2

  “I’ll let them know,” he says and speaks into a device on his wrist. “The sparrow is headed to HQ.”

  I close the door and smile at Nina. “See? I follow the rules.”

  Nina laughs and takes a bite of her bagel. “Want me to come with you?”

  “No need. I’m here for thirty days. I’m going to let them know.”

  I wave at her and walk through the house to the door closest to the guest house. As I step outside, I see Phillip walking up the path.

  “I’m capable of walking twenty yards without an armed guard. Especially here.”

  “Humor me,” he says and escorts me to the house. He opens the door for me, and when I step inside, I’m met with more testosterone in one room than should be legal.

  It’s a lot.

  “What is it, Ellie?” Sebastian asks after the men all stand and bow their heads to me.

  “I’m staying for thirty days,” I announce. “I understand this meeting is about how to handle me, and I’m updating you of my plans.”

  Liam frowns and glances down at the paper on the table in front of him.

  “Is that a problem?” I ask him.

  “Your Highness,” Phillip begins, “we were just discussing whether I should stay or go back to London. I would usually stay with you wherever you are in the world. That’s my job, of course.”

  “You’ve been with me for ten years, Phillip. Just tell me what’s wrong.”

  “My wife is about to have our second child any day, Highness. I’d rather not miss it, but—”

  “You didn’t tell me she’s expecting,” I interrupt and break protocol long enough to lay my hand on Phillip’s shoulder. We never touch our employees, but I consider Phillip a friend. “Of course, you should go. Today. Straight away. And please, keep me posted on how Cynthia and the baby are doing. Send photos. You know I love babies.”

  Phillip smiles kindly at me. “Thank you, but it’s not that easy.”

  “Why ever not?” I look around the room with a frown. “There are eight men in this room, not counting my brother, each who are more than capable of looking after me. I’m not a troublemaker.”

  Liam smirks, and I narrow my eyes on him. “Do you have something to say?”

  Liam starts to speak, but Sebastian interrupts. “Nick and Liam have full-time assignments,” he says. “The other men are assigned to the house in shifts. So, we’re looking at manpower and who to assign to you in Phillip’s absence.”

  I nod. “I understand, and this isn’t my area of expertise.” I watch Liam as I speak. “I just wanted to give you the information.”

  I turn to leave, but Liam stops me. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

  I nod and continue out the door, marching back to the big house. I’ve been attracted to Liam since I first laid eyes on him last year.

  He’s tall, dark, and mysterious. He looks dangerous. He’s sexy as can be, and I don’t have much experience when it comes to men. So, whenever I’m around him, I feel like a bumbling idiot.

  Ah, well, at least he’s not assigned to me. I’ll just stay out of his way, and everything will be fine.

  “What do you mean Liam’s assigned to me?” I demand, staring at my brother as if he’s daft. “Liam is your personal security.”

  “Charles is coming to Montana,” Sebastian replies calmly. Charles has been around since I was in nappies. But Liam’s in charge of the Montana property. “Phillip is leaving this evening after Charles arrives, and Liam will be assigned to you for the duration of your stay.”

  I glance at Nina, who hasn’t said a word. “Don’t look at me.”

  “Why is this a problem?” Sebastian asks.

  “It’s not. It’s just a surprise.”

  I have to be around Liam 24/7 for the next thirty days? My sex-deprived body might spontaneously combust.

  “What am I missing?” Sebastian asks Nina, who just shakes her head innocently.

  “You’re not missing anything.”

  Thank God for Nina. She knows I have a crush on Liam. But I can behave professionally.

  I’ve been doing it for over twenty-five years.

  And I know better than to try and stick my nose into our security team’s business. They’re here to keep me safe.

  “So starting tomorrow, then?”

  Sebastian nods.

  “Oh, also, there’s a girls’ night out planned for tomorrow night at Brooke’s Blooms,” Nina says. “We’re going to eat delicious cake and learn how to arrange pretty summer flowers. Please join us, Ellie.”

  Butterflies fill my belly. “Of course, I will. That sounds like so much fun.”

  “Excellent.”

  Being a royal has always been lonely for me. I have my siblings, but they’re all older, living their lives. And I’ve had nannies, of course.

  But I’ve been lacking any real, true friendships.

  Until I met Nina and all of her wonderful friends in Montana. They include me as if it’s the most natural thing in the world to do.

  And I’m grateful.

  “I think I’ll go down to the dock and read.”

  “No boating,” Sebastian says.

  “Trust me, I have no plans to get on a boat ever again.” I fetch my sunglasses and my book, stop at the fridge for a can of Coke, and walk down to the dock that juts out from the boathouse—which is large in its own right. There is an apartment in it, above the lift for the boats. At the corner of the dock is a small covered area with seating. It’s perfect for lounging with a book and watching the water.

  Phillip stands by the boathouse, watching the water and taking in our surroundings, always alert. I feel awful that I didn’t know about his wife’s pregnancy. And due any day besides. I would have made other arrangements when I came to Montana last week had I known.

  It’s good that Phillip is going back to London this evening. But now I’ll have Liam stuck to me like glue for the next four weeks.

  Not that looking at him is a hardship. He can be curt with me, but I probably deserve it.

  Especially after last year. I was going through a bit of a rebellious phase.

  One near-death experience was enough to pull me out of that stupidity.

  Liam’s never forgiven me, though. Perhaps I’ll be able to have a conversation with him over the next couple of days. I’ll apologize and clear the air.

  With a plan in place, I open my book and settle in for a lazy afternoon near the water.

  Chapter 2

  ~Ellie~

  “Are you saying you don’t want me here?” I frown at my sister-in-law as she shakes her head back and forth, her pretty blond hair swaying with the movement.

  “Not at all,” she insists. “You know I love having you here. But the boathouse is more private for you.”

  “You’re going to be here for a month,” Sebastian adds. “We were trying to be sensitive to your privacy. The apartment out there is empty but still on the property, so there’s no issue for security.”

  I’m sitting in the living room of Sebastian’s home, staring out the windows at the boathouse below. I’ve never had the opportunity to stay somewhere detached from the palace or the primary residence of wherever we were staying.

  The idea of having more privacy takes root, and I find myself nodding in agreement. “Can we go down and have a peek?”

  “Of course,” Nina says, jumping up from the couch. We walk down to the door leading outside and find Nick waiting for us.

  So far, I haven’t seen Liam at all today, but I also haven’t had to leave the house. Thanks to modern technology, we can be monitored easily from the guest house where the security team is stationed.

  Charles arrived last evening, and Phillip left straight away, so as of right now, I’m Liam’s charge.

  “Ellie and I are going down to the boathouse,” Nina informs Nick as we walk past him and down the path to the dock that leads to the boathouse door. Nick follows not far behind. “I’ve already redecorated this space,” she says.
>
  We enter the boathouse and climb a set of stairs that leads to an open room.

  “Oh, this is beautiful.”

  “As you can see, I love Joanna Gaines,” Nina says with a laugh.

  The space is painted white with light grey wood floors. The small kitchen is open to the living area, and the space is decorated with colorful rugs and pillows. A couch and a chair face a television, the living area adjacent to a small dining room, and the windows facing the water are huge.

  “That view is spectacular.”

  “Trust me, I’ve thought of moving out here myself,” Nina says. “It’s quiet, the apartment is cute, and the view can’t be beat. Also, check this out.”

  She walks to the wall of windows. To my surprise, she pulls open the glass and leads me out onto a wide deck.

  I could live here for the rest of my days. With the lake and the mountains, it’s the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen.

  “Wow.”

  “I know,” Nina says. “Come on, I’ll show you the bedroom.”

  We walk back inside, and she shows me the master suite with its attached bathroom. There’s a soaking tub that has my name written all over it.

  With another half-bath for guests, Nina has thought of everything.

  “I absolutely want to stay out here,” I say once the tour is finished. “It’s completely perfect for me.”

  “So, you don’t think I’m trying to get rid of you?” she asks.

  “No. You’re right, I’ll be happy out here. Not that the house isn’t wonderful, but some alone time is exactly what I need.”

  “I thought so.” Nina hugs me close and then holds my hand as we step back out onto the deck. “I know you came here because you were running from something. Or someone.”

  I glance her way, but she just shrugs a shoulder.

  “You’ll talk about it when you’re ready. But I know how it feels to need some space. You’ll get that out here.”

  “Thank you.” I rest my head on Nina’s shoulder. “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Where do you want these things?”

  We turn at Liam’s voice and see him standing in the living room, holding my bags.

  “Oh, in the bedroom,” I say.

  “For the record,” he says after he sets my things in the bedroom and returns, “I’m not in favor of this arrangement.”

  “Why not?” I ask, watching his handsome face. His jaw is set, his brown eyes hard as he props his hands on his hips and stares at me.

  He’s the least formal of all the security that’s ever been with us. It’s not that he’s careless. Or not good at his job.

  He’s just not as formal as I’m used to. He rarely bows when he sees us, and he hardly ever calls me Your Highness.

  It’s protocol and what I’m used to.

  But Liam doesn’t bother me in the least.

  “Because the boathouse isn’t as protected as the other areas of the property. It’s exposed to the lake, which means if someone wants to get to you, they can try from the water.”

  “The odds of that are—”

  “Small but not non-existent.” He licks his lips and paces the kitchen, clearly agitated.

  “There are cameras outside,” Nina says, trying to be reasonable. “And boat surveillance, as well. Ellie is perfectly safe here.”

  Liam is quiet for a moment, seeming to think it over. “We will make it work. Please, Your Highness, don’t leave the property unless I’m with you.”

  “I understand,” I reply. “I won’t pull a stunt like last year again, Liam. You have my word on that.”

  He nods once and then leaves Nina and me alone in the boathouse.

  “Do you still think he’s hot?” Nina asks quietly.

  He’s bloody amazing.

  “He’s an attractive man,” I reply, trying to sound cool. “If you like the tall, dark, and dangerous type.”

  Nina laughs and slings her arm around my shoulders. “We all do, friend. We all do.”

  “If I eat another bite of this cake,” Nina says later in the evening, “I’ll die from the sugar rush.”

  We’re at Brooke’s Blooms in downtown Cunningham Falls with most of what I’ve started to call the gang. Nina’s friends—and now mine, as well—are Jenna, Willa, Hannah, Grace, and Fallon. Some are related by marriage, but all are wonderful friends who have welcomed me into the fold. I feel as if I’ve been here all of my life.

  At first, I was terribly intimidated by them because I’m younger, and all of these women have successful careers and families.

  But they’ve never made me feel anything but included and happy to be amongst them.

  “How long are you staying, Ellie?” Willa asks as she tries to fit a rose into the middle of her bouquet. This flower class that Brooke offers is wonderful. She and her sister, Maisey, feed us all the cake we could ever want, and also have wine and a charcuterie table set up.

  We’ll all leave with our bellies full and our hands bursting with flowers.

  Not to mention, if I keep drinking wine at the pace I’ve been going, more than a little pissed.

  “About a month,” I answer and raise my glass when Maisey offers to pour me a refill. “I need to be back in London for a state dinner at the end of next month.”

  “Sebastian and I will be there for that, as well,” Nina says. “So, I’ll get to see even more of you.”

  I smile at Nina and clap my hands in excitement. “Brilliant! I haven’t seen enough of you lately.”

  “We’re always going here and there,” Nina says. “It seems we never stay in one spot for more than a week at a time.”

  “But you get to see such exciting places,” Hannah reminds Nina. “Brad and I are so entrenched in this community—which I’m not complaining about—but we never have time to go anywhere.”

  “What would Cunningham Falls do without their chief of police and the best OB/GYN in town?” Fallon asks and takes a bite of her cake. “Maisey, this gluten-free cake is so good. It tastes like regular cake.”

  “Oh, thank God,” Maisey says with a relieved sigh. “I’ve been tweaking that recipe, and you’re the first to try it. Do you really like it?”

  “It’s fabulous,” Fallon assures her.

  I glance to my left where Liam and Nick flank the door, both standing stoically. I’m used to having security with me.

  I’m not used to having Liam so close to me all the time.

  “Would you two like some cake?” Willa asks the men.

  “No, ma’am,” Liam replies.

  “You love cake,” Jenna says, frowning at Liam.

  I glance around, surprised. “Do you know each other?”

  “Jenna and I are a little younger than Liam, but we were friends with Lauren Cunningham—”

  “Sullivan now,” Fallon reminds her. “She’s married to Ty Sullivan.”

  “Right,” Willa says with a nod. “Lauren and Liam are cousins, and he came to Cunningham Falls for the summers.”

  That part, I knew. Liam told me that when I first met him and cornered him at Sebastian’s house, hoping to flirt with him a bit.

  Of course, I’m absolutely abysmal when it comes to flirting.

  “And he always loved sweets,” Jenna adds.

  “We’re on duty,” Liam reminds her.

  “I’ll send some home with you,” Maisey says. “I have plenty, and you can enjoy it when you’re not on duty.”

  “Thank you,” Nick says with a smile, then assumes his stoic stance once again.

  “My flowers look like a drunk elephant put them together.” I stare at my pitiful bouquet in disgust.

  “You are a little drunk,” Nina says. “Your cheeks are bright red.”

  “That always happens.” I cover my face with my hands and laugh. “Not that I have the opportunity to over-indulge often, but my flushed cheeks always give me away.”

  “You’re adorable.” Grace, who has been quiet up until now, leans over t
o tap my glass with hers. “I like you.”

  “I like you, too.” I blink rapidly, not wanting to become a blubbering idiot over some sweet words. “I must have something in my eye.”

  We spend the next hour putting the finishing touches on our flowers and polishing off our cake and wine. When Nick and Liam escort Nina and me out to our waiting car, I find myself stumbling over my feet.

  Liam immediately reaches out to grab my elbow to keep me upright.

  “Pardon me,” I say, trying to sound proper. “That sidewalk snuck right up on me.”

  “Or the wine did,” Nina says with a snort. “That was fun. We need to do it more often.”

  We climb into the back seat, and I sigh in happiness. I’m completely hammered. I don’t remember the last time I drank in such excess.

  Perhaps never. It would be frowned upon to behave in such a way back home.

  “Don’t feel guilty,” Nina says as if she can read my thoughts. “It’s time you act twenty-five.”

  “I am twenty-five,” I remind her.

  “Exactly.”

  The car pulls into Sebastian’s drive, and Nick escorts Nina inside the house.

  “Let’s go, Princess,” Liam says, motioning for me to walk down the path that winds beside the house to the lake below.

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “To your apartment,” he says, his lips twitching with humor. I want to kiss those lips. I’ve wanted to kiss them since the day I first met him.

  “Oh, right. I almost forgot.” I giggle as I walk on the path next to Liam. When I stumble, he reaches out for me again.

  I really like it when Liam touches me.

  It makes my skin tingle.

  I rub my lips together, hoping that will keep me from babbling. Alcohol gives me loose lips.

  It’s a curse.

  “It’s hot tonight.” I wipe my brow with the back of my hand. “Is it always so hot here in the summer?”

  “Yes.”

  I frown at him. “You’re not much for chatting, are you?”

  “No.”

  I narrow my eyes, still watching him. Well, both of him. “You’re allowed to speak to me, you know.”