Chapter 39

Chapter 39

I smiled softly. There really was no arguing with that assertion.

“Very well. I accept your proposal,” I said. “Thank you.”

Andrew smiled back at me.

“Good. I know that it must be hard to accept help right now-

“It’s not that. Well, it’s not only that. It can just be hard to believe sometimes. that people can offer so much help without eventually getting annoyed or wanting something in return.”

Andrew squeezed my hand.

“Don’t worry. That won’t happen with me. I promise.”

Parker chose that moment to knock on the entryway.

“Pardon me Your Highness, Ms. Blanchard, but a room has been made up and appropriate clothes have been found, both for the rest of the night and for in the morning. Carl should also be returning with Ms. Blanchard’s car any time

now.

“Thank you, Parker. Will you please show Ms. Blanchard to her room now?” “Of course, Your Highness. If you could follow me, Ms. Blanchard.”

Parker turned on his heel and walked out of the room. Andrew and I stood up and followed him to the entryway, where we both hesitated. Parker stopped a few feet down the hall and waited patiently for me.

I turned to face Andrew, only to find us mere inches apart. I could feel his breath rolling onto me as he spoke.

I hope that you find your accommodations to your liking,” he said.

swallowed against the knot in my throat.

that they will be perfectly fine.”

anything that you need, anything at all, don’t hesitate to co

Chapter 39

“I will… I mean, I won’t…hesitate, that is.”

He chuckled, and I could almost feel the vibrations from his chest as he laughed.

His eyes fixated on my l*ps. He seemed to be considering something, then he leaned forward slowly. His l*ps pressed into mine, hungry and desperate.

I returned his k*ss just as eagerly. His hand slid behind my back and pressed me into him. Mine wove into his hair.

All too soon, Andrew pulled away, and I reluctantly followed. He gave me one more k*ss on the forehead.

“Good night, Crystal,” he whispered.

“Good night, Andrew,”

When I woke up in a warm, soft, lavender-and-white silk bed the next morning, I almost forgot where I was. Then I assessed my surroundings, and the gold trim in everything reminded me of the events that had transpired the night before. Most importantly, I remembered the k*ss that had happened just before Parker took me to this purple sanctuary.

I grinned to myself. Andrew Dubois had k*ssed me…again. It wasn’t just in the heat of the moment, out in the middle of nowhere, where no one could see us; it was in his own house, long after the passion of the original event had seemed to fade.

It made me want to hunt him down and finish what we started, but I knew that I couldn’t. I knew that I had to get dressed and go to work, as usual. It was still a tempting thought, though.

20

dipped on the dress that Parker had left for me the night before. It was a red Long-sleeved number with a low n*eckline and reached right to my knees. He had left with it a pair of black stilettos, and I found a full makeup kit in the en

bathroom.

dressed. I went off in search of the kitchen, hoping to grab a quick

for work. A part of me wondered if I should try and find

bia with my enhanced werewolf senses, I could smell

10:38 Tue 2 Jan

Chapter 59

scrambled eggs and fresh baked bread, so I just decided to follow that.

The smell led me not to the kitchen but to a large, ornate dining room. My eyes immediately went to the long oak dining table, upon which sat an early morning feast the likes of which I had never seen: eggs, from scrambled to fried to deviled; pancakes and waffles, dripping in butter and syrup; crispy bacon, the smell of which made my mouth water; toast, with a variety of butter and jam; and all kinds of citrus and tropical fruit. That’s not to mention the coffee, tea, milk, and ten different types of fruit juice.

I was almost too lost in the splendor to notice the two people already seated at the table. Almost.

“What are you doing here?” Lisa demanded, throwing down her fork and knife. “You swore that you would stay away from my father!”

I almost flinched at the tone in Lisa’s voice. Then I remembered Andrew’s promise the night before, when he said that he would resolve all issues between his daughter and myself, and I felt some bravery shoot through me. I lifted my chin in defiance.

“Your father asked me to stay here,” I said. “I had nowhere to go after my landlord kicked me out thanks to someone leaking it to the media that I had spent time in jail for manslaughter, so Andrew asked me to stay here as a temporary housekeeper.”

“And why didn’t you say no?”

“Because it was the Alpha King’s request.”

“How dare you break your promise to the Moon Goddess and try to start a relationship with my father-”

“I didn’t start anything with Andrew,” I replied. “Andrew took the initiative in this relationship, not me. Believe it or not, Princess Lisa, your father is a grown man, and if he wants to interact with someone, then that’s up to him.”

Lisa’s mouth flapped for a moment like a fish out of water. Then she growled

frustration and storined out of the room.

ared to Bob, who had been oddly quiet this entire time.

tu do you have to say?” I asked him.

Chapter 39

He did not respond. He merely set down his utensils, stood up, and charged out of the room, making sure to bump my shoulder on the way out.

I let out a breath that I hadn’t realized I had been holding. I hoped that I had not just escalated the war already brewing between Lisa and me.

Lisa knew where her father would be at this time. It was still early, so she hoped that she could catch him before the meeting truly began. When she charged in, however, it was too late.

“As you can see, there has been a rise in what we believe to be human terror attacks on werewolves over the last quarter…”

The speaker trailed off when he saw Lisa standing in the doorway.

“Princess, my apologies, I didn’t see you there,” he said, his eyes darting from her to Andrew at the head of the conference table, unsure of how to proceed.

Andrew stood up, alarmed at his daughter’s sudden appearance-and at the fact that his guards had not stopped her.

One of the guards poked his head in the doorway.

“Sorry, Your Highness, she was too fast for us,” he explained sheepishly.

Andrew’s brow crinkled.

“We’ll discuss that later.” His attention turned to Lisa. “Did you need something, sweetheart?”

“How could you let that tr amp stay here?” Lisa demanded, not caring that there were important diplomats and businesspeople in the room.

Andrew’s expression darkened.

Lisa, this is not the time nor place to discuss this-”

Can’t you see what she’s doing? She’s just using you-”

“Enough!” Andrew firmly commanded. “That is enough, Lisa. We will talk

bout this later

Chapter 39

“No ‘buts. You know better than to interrupt one of my meetings like this, let alone behave like this in front of important people. And I would thank you to watch your language when referring to one of my personal guests.”

Lisa’s eyes began to water.

“Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Father,” Lisa said, bowing her head submissively.

“Good. Now please, let us return to our meeting.”

“Yes, Father.”

Lisa left reluctantly. As soon as she was out of sight of the guards, she ran to the sitting room, where her nose told her Bob was waiting for her.

He stood up and opened his arms for her. She ran right into them.

“I’m losing my father,” she said, burying her face in Bob’s chest. “What am I going to do?”