“I thought maybe we could get together later this week.”
“We could do that. The first half of the week will be a little hectic for me, but maybe Thursday evening?”
That seemed so far off, but at least it would give her time to visit with Melissa while she adjusted to being confined to a hospital bed. “Just to warn you, if you want to take me off the palace grounds, Chris will need two days’ warning to arrange for security.”
“Well, then, I guess I’ll call you Tuesday.” There was a commotion in the background, and what sounded like a voice over a PA system, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. “I’m sorry, Louisa, but I have to go. I’ll talk to you Tuesday.”
Before she could say goodbye, he disconnected, and she realized she hadn’t even asked why he had to cancel today. Oh well, she was sure that it must have been very important. They could talk about it Tuesday.
She hated the thought of having to wait until Thursday to see Garrett again, but the anticipation would make their next date that much more special.
Seven
Sunday morning became a blur of doctors and nurses and representatives from the private home care facility that Garrett was hiring to look after his brother while his leg healed. And since Ian was being released tomorrow morning, there wasn’t much time to get everything squared away.
Though Garrett wasn’t too keen on the idea of his brother staying in his house for another six weeks or so, at least this time Ian would be physically incapable of running off with his belongings. The only time he was allowed out of bed was to bathe and use the loo, or he risked the bones shifting and healing incorrectly, leaving him with the threat of more surgeries and possible permanent disabilities. And while Ian could be irresponsible and self-absorbed, he wasn’t stupid.
It was going on three when all the arrangements were completed and the appropriate paperwork signed. Garrett was walking down the hall to the elevator when someone called his name. He turned to see Louisa standing behind him, flanked by two very large and ominous looking bodyguards.
Oddly enough, his first instinct was to pull her close and kiss her, and he might have were it not for the risk of being tackled by her security detail.
“I thought that was you,” she said, breaking into a wide smile. “What are you doing here? Did you come to see Melissa?”
“Melissa?” he asked.
She walked toward him, and with a subtle wave of her hand the guards fell back several steps. “Princess Melissa, my sister-in-law.”
“No. Is she here?”
“In the family’s private wing,” she said, gesturing behind her. “She was brought in last night for early labor. That’s why I had to postpone our date.”
“I had no idea. I’m here visiting … an associate. He was in an accident yesterday.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Is he okay?”
“He’s banged up, but he’ll recover.”
“Is that why you had to break our date? To come here?”
He nodded. “Weird, huh?”
“Very weird. If we knew we were both coming here we could have carpooled,” she joked.
He grinned. “Except I was already here when I called you.”
“He must be a special friend for you to stay here all day with him.”
“We’ve known each other most of our lives.” He knew he should probably tell her the truth, but he just didn’t feel like explaining. With any luck Ian would heal, then be out of Garrett’s life forever, and the royal family would never be the wiser. “Is Melissa all right?”
“They managed to stop her labor, but she’s on strict bed rest for at least four weeks, and they’re keeping her in the hospital just to be safe.”
“Please send her and Chris my best.”
“She’s having some tests right now, but I’m sure she would love a visit from you later. She’s only been here a few hours and already she’s crawling out of her skin.”
Normally he wouldn’t visit a stranger, but under the circumstances, it couldn’t hurt. Besides, he’d liked Melissa from the moment he met her. She wasn’t a typical royal. Of course neither was Liv, or Louisa for that matter. Maybe there was nothing unusual about any of them. Maybe it was his preconceived notion that was way off.
“I’d like that,” he said. “As long as it’s not an imposition.”
“Of course not. Chris and Melissa really like you. In fact, Chris told me …” She paused and pressed her fingers to her lips.
“Chris told you what?”
Her cheeks flushed to match the pink of her pants. “Forget it.”
He smiled. “You’re blushing, Your Highness.”
“I’m not sure if I should have said anything.”
He folded his arms over his chest. She was usually so poised and self-confident. He liked that she had a vulnerable side. “Maybe you shouldn’t have, but now you’ve piqued my curiosity. It wouldn’t be fair to leave me hanging with no explanation, would it?”
“I suppose not.” She glanced over at the busy nurses’ station, then whispered, “Not here.”
Whatever she had to say, it was apparently private in nature. All the more reason for him to know what was said. “Where?”
“I was on my way back to our private waiting room,” she told him. “You could join me.”
“I’d like that,” he told her, realizing it was true, and not just for the information. Meeting like this in the hospital hallway could have been awkward, but instead he felt totally at ease with her. In fact, the moment he saw her standing there, some of the stress from the last few days seemed to melt away.
He held out his arm and she slipped hers through it. Thankfully the guards didn’t knock him to the ground and cuff him. “Lead the way, Your Highness.”
Louisa led Garrett into the royal family’s private waiting room. She was relieved to find it empty. If this was the only time they could be alone, she could think of worse places.
“This is nice,” Garrett said, gazing around. “More like a hotel suite than a hospital.”
“It didn’t used to be so modern, but the last few years, with my father’s condition, we’ve spent a lot of time here so it was renovated.”
“I expected Chris to be here.”
“He’s with Melissa. She’s having a test to determine the development of the babies’ lungs.” She turned to set down her purse and felt Garrett’s hands settle on her shoulders. A warm and delicious feeling poured through her like honey and the purse dropped with a clunk on the table.
“Does that mean we’re alone?” he asked, and something in his tone made her heart skip a beat. Until now, she was the one to instigate the physical contact. It was exciting, and yes, maybe a little scary, that he had taken the upper hand.
“I guess we are.”
His hands slipped off her shoulders and down her arms. His palms were smooth and felt hot to the touch. “Security won’t barge in at any second?”
“Only if I call them.”
“Are you going to call them?”
Now that they finally had some time alone? Not bloody likely. “I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Even