His Royal Pleasure. Leanne Banks

of concern for my health or our coffeemaker, you’ll make it before he does.”

      Katherine laughed. “Okay. I hear you.”

      Chad looked at Al again. “We ought to get him to be a pirate in that skit we always used to do.” Chad paused. “He’s looking at you.”

      Her chest tightened. “I’ll ask him about the skit,” she said. She didn’t want to look at Al. She was afraid that she would turn into a quivering mass of Jell-O.

      “He’s still looking at you.”

      “Thanks for telling me,” she muttered, resigning herself. Time to face the music, chickie. Anticipation is usually worse than reality, she told herself.

      When she looked up and met his deep, dark gaze, though, her heart seemed to stop. Standing tall, with that sword in his hand, he looked every inch the conquering male. But his eyes were tentative, asking, not demanding, and her defenses melted like butter in the sun.

      He held out his hand for her to join him.

      She didn’t hesitate. She’d have to think about that later. She just walked forward and let him take her hand. He held it firmly and whispered in her ear, “How did it go with Logan?”

      “Horrible,” she said, relieved he wasn’t going to refer to what had happened between them last night. “I—I didn’t know you could fence.”

      His jaw tightened, but he kept his voice light. “There are many things you don’t know about me.”

      Katherine trembled and pulled her hand away. She didn’t like the way she felt—light-headed, flushed, out of control. And he’d merely touched her hand. “How true,” she returned.

      He must have felt her response. Al smiled slowly, all male confidence now. “You can trust me.”

      Katherine shook her head. “I don’t know that.”

      “You need me,” he insisted.

      “Pirate Island needs you,” she corrected. “We’d like you to be a pirate in our Wednesday-night skit. The guests have missed it. Uncle Jasper always coordinated it before. We’ve got a bunch of new employees this year, so no one knows how to pull it off. You could coach the others in fencing, and Chad could direct.”

      Al flicked the sword through the air thoughtfully. She noticed it was one that had been hanging on the wall. “What do I get in return?” he finally asked.

      Her chest felt tight at the look in his eyes. “What do you want?”

      “Your trust.”

      She shook her head automatically. He might as well ask for one of her lungs.

      “No.” He lifted his shoulders in a masculine shrug. “What a shame. You’ll have to find someone else.”

      Exasperation swept through her. “But—”

      “You’re not being equitable. You want something from me when you’ll give me nothing.”

      “I’ll pay you,” Katherine offered.

      The children began to get restless. “Do the sword again, Mr. Al,” one called.

      “Yeah, do it again,” another one said.

      “It’s up to you,” Al said to Katherine.

      The kids got louder, and Katherine vacillated. This was crazy. She hardly knew the man.

      “I can’t,” she whispered.

      “Then I guess we’re at a stalemate.” He turned to the children. “That’s all for today, kids. Talk to Katherine if you want to learn more. She’s in charge.”

      Past a chorus of moans and protests, she glared at him.

      He grinned.

      Fearing a riot, she grabbed his arm as he began to leave. “There’s got to be something else you want.” She cringed at how suggestive that sounded. “Something like Saturday nights off, or the use of my car.”

      He thought it over for a moment and nodded. “Saturday nights off, yes. And the use of your car. Add one more thing.”

      “What?” she asked suspiciously.

      “Answer my questions.”

      Katherine was nonplussed. She’d been certain he’d ask for something more, perhaps something provocative.

      “Katherine?” Al prompted.

      Heat scorched her cheeks, and she drew a breath of thanks that he couldn’t read minds. Answering questions wasn’t difficult. After all, she’d led a pretty boring life except for her brief marriage, and she’d developed a pat uninformative response due to countless inquiries she’d received from reporters. It seemed harmless enough. Two children pulled on her leg and asked for cookies.

      Katherine shrugged. “Fine.”

      He gave her a devastating smile and garnered the attention of the entire room simply by clapping his hands together and picking up the sword. He had such a powerful, commanding presence that even she was awed. The cookies were forgotten, and Katherine wondered again what she’d just gotten herself into.

      That evening Katherine skipped her late-night swim and watched a movie on television. Since Chad was in hot pursuit of Suzanne, Katherine and Al shared the evening together.

      It should have been comfortable. After a long, hot bath and dinner, she should have been happy and relaxed. They both sat on the plaid sofa, she on one end, he on the other. But Al’s proximity unsettled her, and her gaze kept wandering to him.

      His hair was damp and ruffled from a shower. He’d changed into a pair of khaki canvas shorts and a yellow pullover. There was nothing seductive about his clothing. Still, she noticed how the yellow of his shirt contrasted with his tanned skin. The gap left by his open collar hinted at the dark chest hair beneath.

      Her gaze fell to muscled legs brushed with brown hair. His powerful thighs spread wide in a typically male position. Remembering how he’d felt pressed against her, she felt a rush of heat.

      Mentally cursing, Katherine sighed and forced her attention back to the TV.

      “Bored?” Al asked.

      “No. I guess I’m just tired,” she said, keeping her gaze trained on the screen.