The Royal Mess Read Free

you might want to break it down and hit it with some gun oil. It’s pretty dirty under there. Also, I don’t like surprises.”
    â€œI never would have guessed,” the stranger mumbled into the turf.
    â€œOh, for God’s sake,” the man on the porch said in a deep voice, sounding exasperated and charmed at once. She turned her head, not moving the gun.
    â€œYou!”
    â€œMe,” the King of Alaska replied agreeably. He was dressed in jeans and a blue oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. He had his chin cupped in his hand (he needed a shave) and took her in at a glance: the brunette hair, the blue eyes, the dirty shirt and jeans, the gun.
    â€œYep,” he said, sounding almost . . . cheerful? “You’re one of mine, all right. Nice to meet you, Nicole.”

Chapter 6
    â€œG o away,” Nicole said warmly.
    â€œAw, don’t be like that, kiddo. And would you mind putting away the pea shooter? You’re hurting Jeff’s feelings.”
    â€œNot to mention my kidneys,” the man mumbled into the ground.
    She carefully got off the man but kept the gun at her side.
    â€œThat’s better,” the king said as Jeff climbed slowly to his feet. “So, I’m Al, your dad. And we know who you are. That’s Jeff, head of my detail.”
    She smirked. “And you’re not dead yet?” She was being nasty because she was so completely distracted by the bodyguard’s size. When he stood, he went up and up and up. Well over six feet and probably 220, none of it fat. He was built like a linebacker. He hadn’t looked so big from the road. Or so gorgeous.
    No. She did not think that. Sure, he had lush, curly black hair—true black, not dark brown—and pale blue eyes. Sniper’s eyes. He had a built-in tan (was he part Akiak? or maybe Ekok?) and the muscular definition of a champion lifter. His head and hands were blocky, like they had been carved by a skilled craftsman who was in a hurry. He filled out his black tailored suit—a man his size couldn’t buy off the rack—superbly.
    Gorgeous? Please. She was just distracted because she hadn’t been laid in 29 months and 18 days.
    â€œSire,” he was saying, “I apologize. I will tender my resignation at—”
    â€œThe hell. I didn’t hear a thing either. Serves us right for showing up on her turf without calling. Oh, wait. Edmund’s been leaving her messages all week.” The king beamed at her. “Should have had the palace guards drag you to my place instead.”
    â€œDead palace guards,” she informed him. “Mutilated subjects. Body parts all over the Sitka Palace.”
    â€œI see you inherited none of your mother’s charm. Just my mouth. Oh, and my fabulous good looks,” he added modestly.
    â€œLike you knew a thing about my mother.” It made her angry, it enraged her, to hear this pampered cheating bastard talk about her dear dead mom. “She was a fling, a one-night stand that lasted for a week or two.”
    â€œShe was lovely and sweet and funny, and you will watch your tone when you speak to me, Nicole.”
    She almost took a step backward. He hadn’t been smiling. He hadn’t been fucking around. He had sounded like—well, like a king.
    â€œSorry,” she muttered.
    The king cheered up instantly. “That’s all right. It’s been a weird week for everybody. So if you’ll just hop in the car, we can go back to the palace and—”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œNo, King Alexander.”
    â€œBad idea,” Jeff said quietly at her left shoulder.
    Without turning her head, she snarled, “Nobody hit your buzzer, Jeff.”
    â€œ Please don’t call me Jeff,” he whispered in her ear. Annoyingly, all the hairs on her left arm stiffened to attention, and she jerked her head away from his mouth.
    The king coughed. “Uh,