Hollywood Heir (Westerly Billionaire #4)(16)

Tadeas raised his head. “You’re not alone, Del. Not anymore.” He raised a hand and wiped a tear from her cheek she hadn’t realized she’d shed. “And I’ll take you in my life on your terms, but I won’t stand quiet when we disagree. I care for you too much to do that.”

She sniffed delicately and smiled ruefully. She would have been disappointed if he did, but she wasn’t about to tell him so. “I suppose a certain attitude must be expected when dating a royal.”

Tadeas laughed heartily. “Oh, my dear. You may not be a queen by blood, but you could go toe to toe with any royal I’ve ever met.”

“A compliment, I’m sure,” Delinda said while arching one eyebrow at him.

He laughed again. “Of course. You’ve brought joy back to my life. I want nothing less for you.”

After decades alone, her heart was well fortressed, but Tadeas had laid siege to it. She already found herself looking forward to their time together each day. He was a friend who wanted more. Until him, she had thought that part of her life was over. The idea of it starting again was both terrifying and exciting. So instead of facing it, she focused on her other concerns. “I’m worried about Eric, Tadeas. Really worried. I don’t like this woman. He needs someone stable, someone strong. I’ve looked into her, and there isn’t anything about her lifestyle I approve of. She’s rebellious and flighty. She’s a charlatan. She targets people with money and fleeces them. That’s how she supports herself. Does she sound like someone Eric needs?”

“No, but perhaps she is more than she appears.”

“I was willing to give her a chance. I asked her to meet with me, but she refused the invitation.”

Tadeas looked as if he were holding back a smile. “Did she? Well, then, we should string her up.”

“Sarcasm is rarely helpful.”

“Is this better?” Tadeas claimed her lips once more, and she was twenty again, feeling desire for the first time. She clung to him, knowing from experience that such moments were to be savored.

From just beside them, Reggie said, “King Tadeas, normally I wouldn’t interrupt lovebirds, but my kids are home today, and it’s hard enough to explain the shit they see on YouTube.”

Delinda jumped back from Tadeas. “There most certainly is nothing to explain.”

Maintaining one arm around Delinda’s waist, Tadeas shook Reggie’s hand. “Good to see you again.”

“Is it?” Although Reggie towered over both of them, he made a pained face. “She scares me a little bit.”

“I should,” Delinda said, straightening her back despite Tadeas’s hand.

Tadeas clucked in reprimand. “We’re here because we’re worried about Eric. Have you seen him recently?”

Reggie gave them both a blank stare that would have frustrated any cross-examiner. Delinda wanted to reach out and shake him, but she settled for glaring at him instead. He refused to answer any questions regarding her grandson—as if she were the one Eric required protection from. Was he so dim-witted that he didn’t realize she already knew everything?

“He’s spending time with a woman of dubious character, and I’m concerned.” Delinda decided to lay her cards on the table and see if that would shake any information out of him.

“Is he? Good for him,” Reggie replied.

Losing patience, Delinda leaned forward and growled, “Could you at least pretend you care what happens to my grandson?”

“Del—” Tadeas started to say.

“I don’t know anything about a woman,” Reggie said, cutting the king off. “But I don’t have to pretend anything. I don’t work for you. I don’t even like you.” He shrugged like a child would. “Sorry.”

Delinda tensed and turned to Tadeas. “Do you see how he speaks to me?”

Tadeas looked from her to Reggie. “Careful, Reggie. I respect your loyalty to Eric, but she’s his family.”

Reggie rocked back onto his heels as if doing so helped him absorb that reminder. He directed his answer to Delinda. “You’re not the only one who cares about him. I’ve tried being nice to you, but maybe you need to hear this—he doesn’t want to see you. He doesn’t want you involved in his life right now. When he changes his mind, I’ll be the first one to open the door, but for now he wants to figure things out on his own—without you.”

Delinda snapped, “Who do you think you are?”

Reggie folded his arms across his chest. “I’m the one he’s not hiding from.”

She gasped.

Tadeas pulled her closer to his side. “This isn’t helping anyone.”

Undeterred, Delinda snarled at Reggie, “I only want the best for him.”

“Then give him time,” Reggie said quietly before turning and walking away.

“That man—” Delinda started.

“Is a good friend to Eric. Come on, Del, let’s go home.”

Shaking with emotion, Delinda said, “I can’t stand by and do nothing.”

Tadeas began to guide her back to the car. “Sometimes you have to. We’re here if Eric needs us.”

When they arrived back at the car, Michael ushered them inside. Before getting in, Delinda searched Tadeas’s face. “We? Don’t you have a country to run?”