Total pages in book: 230
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Six months before, she’d shown up on Rai’s arm and they were engaged.
He’d barely recognized the girl when they’d been introduced. She’d been terribly embarrassed and had made him promise to never tell. God, if he’d ruined Rai’s marriage, he would never forgive himself. “I’m glad you’re happy with Lia. She loves you very much. She was young and a little wild, a bit like we used to be.”
“Used to be? Perhaps I’ve matured, but I’ve seen none of that from you.”
No, his actions of late weren’t those of a mature man, but he was trying. “I’m so sorry for that night, Rai. I know I can’t make it up to you, but I miss you, my friend. And I thank you for helping out today. Are you enjoying the new job?”
Rai simply turned away and moved back to his post.
“We can’t use him again. I’ll make sure he’s never on your service.” Weston had his phone out. “I have no confidence that man will take a bullet for you.”
Once he would have. Once Rai had been his closest friend. It was probably fitting that a woman came between them. What he hadn’t expected was how much he would miss his friend, how much he wanted to talk to Rai about Day. Still, Weston had a point. “You can move him around, but don’t fire him and you can’t move him to a lower position. No cut in salary. He has a wife and mother to take care of.”
Weston nodded, but it was easy to see he was still suspicious. “You should get ready. It’s almost time.”
A great cheer went up and Chapal made his way back to the staging area. He was shaking his head. “I can’t believe how many people are out there. I hope you don’t fall off that horse. Good god, man, don’t step back.”
Because the horse seemed to have an active bowel. This could all go horribly south.
And then it did. He heard the crack of gunfire and the screams of people and Kash took off, running with one thought. He had to get to her. He had to get to Day.
A hard arm went around him and he was being pulled back. Kash fought like hell, right up to the moment another arm went around his neck and the world went black.
Kash paced the floor in front of her, still garbed in his traditional clothes. He would have made a stunning Horse King if the ceremony hadn’t gone so poorly.
“I’ll have him killed. I’ll use the horse that shits constantly. I’ll find three more exactly like him. Terribly gassy horses. I’ll tie that motherfucker to each of them and quarter him and then I’ll allow the horses to shit on his corpse. His suit won’t look so perfect then, will it?”
Day couldn’t help but smile because Kashmir looked adorable when he was angry. Also very masculine and threatening, but adorable. She particularly liked the reason for his anger.
“They thought someone was trying to set off a bomb,” she pointed out. “They didn’t know it was merely fireworks. You know your guard was only doing his job.”
“Rai would never have choked me until I passed out.” Kash was off, his words spitting out in a rapid-fire volley of rage.
Day simply poured him a glass of Scotch. The poor man had had a long day. Kash had heard the chaos and tried to reach her. When Simon Weston had rightly attempted to get the king out of the line of fire, Kash apparently fought like hell to get to her. He was angry he hadn’t been the one to protect her.
The instincts to love and protect and cherish were still there. He wasn’t even fighting them. He cared about her, and that was a good thing, since the afternoon had brought on a revelation of her own.
She’d realized when she’d heard that sharp, shocking sound that she’d never gotten over him. Not really. She’d heard that explosion and her first thought had been to get to Kash. The idea that he could be hurt or even dead had chilled her to the bone. She’d known in that moment that she would hate herself forever if she didn’t try with him. She’d started running toward where she’d known Kash was waiting.
The intensely large Mr. Boomer had simply scooped her up and run. She’d known she didn’t have a chance against him and she hadn’t thought to offer him a pizza to let her go. She’d found herself shoved in what was basically a tank masquerading as an SUV, and she’d been at the palace before she could breathe. Kash had come in a second SUV along with Chapal, who’d been forced to explain why her bridegroom was unconscious.
It was now hours later and they’d made an appearance on the balcony of the palace so everyone could see they were alive and unharmed. Her first balcony. She’d stood at Kash’s side and waved, her free arm around him. She’d been the one to convince him to calm down and show his people that all was well. She’d also been the one to convince him not to kill the Brit who’d merely been doing his duty.