Majesty (American Royals, #2)(105)

“Then I can’t wait to show you around.” Marshall’s eyes glinted with mischief as he opened the passenger door. “In the meantime, can you switch spots with me? Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a terrible driver.”

“I know,” Sam agreed. “When we cruise to Malibu, you can be the one to drive.”

Marshall laughed at that, bracing a hand on the console as he pulled her into one more rushed, rough kiss.

“What was that for?” she asked, a bit dazed, when they broke apart.

Marshall looked at her as if it were obvious. “Because you’re you, Sam, and I’m completely crazy about you.”

Because you’re you. She was struck by the utter simplicity of it.

“I’m crazy about you, too, Marshmallow.”

He made a sharp sound of protest. “Marshmallow?”

“I thought it was time you had a nickname of your own.” Sam smiled at him. “Don’t let it go to your head.”





Nina clattered down the steps that led to the palace’s back lawn. A few dozen yards away, at the end of a flagstone path, stood the royal family’s garage. Technically Nina wasn’t allowed inside, but no way could she face the front driveway right now, filled with outraged guests and bewildered drivers and anxious crowds pressing against the front gates.

She knew how to get into the locked closet where the valets kept the keys. And Sam wouldn’t mind if Nina borrowed her car.

“Nina, wait up!”

She stumbled at the sound of Ethan’s voice, though she shouldn’t have been surprised. Of course he’d found her; he, too, knew all the exits from the palace, knew exactly how she could get out when she felt cornered and trapped.

When she didn’t turn around, he began running down the stone steps after her. “Are you okay?” he called out, with unmistakable concern.

She planted a heel and whirled around, her hair flying into her eyes. “Just leave me alone!”

Ethan blinked. She hated him for looking so gorgeous in his tuxedo. Sunlight caught the deep purple-black of his hair, which curled a little at the base of his neck. “What happened?”

“Daphne happened! Your secret girlfriend or ex-girlfriend or whatever she is! By the way, she’s the one who told that reporter about us.”

“I know,” Ethan said quietly. Nina felt a momentary rush of satisfaction that he believed her—unlike Jeff, who’d refused to hear a word against Daphne—but it quickly evaporated.

“Please, let me explain.” Ethan hurried down the remaining steps toward her. “Don’t run away because Daphne scared you.”

“Scared?” Nina repeated, stung. “I’m angry as hell, and I feel betrayed. Don’t make the mistake of confusing that for fear.”

Ethan faltered, chastened. Sunlight fell over the planes of his face, caught the amber flecks in his eyes. She swallowed, wishing she didn’t have to ask this next question.

“Did you ask me out only because Daphne told you to?”

He was silent for a moment, then gave a quick, pained nod. At Nina’s expression, he rushed to explain.

“Look—Daphne did ask me to flirt with you. She worried that if you spent too much time around Jeff, you guys would get back together. So she wanted me to run interference. But, Nina, I never—”

“Why would she ask you?” Nina cut in. “What made her think that you would do what she said? She claims you’ve been in love with her for years!”

Ethan closed his eyes. “I was in love with her for years.”

He’d whispered the words, yet Nina heard each syllable as if he’d shouted them. She flinched away, horrified. “How could you ever have feelings for Daphne? She’s awful!”

“She’s done a lot of awful things,” Ethan agreed, and Nina couldn’t help noticing the way he’d shifted her wording.

She was seized by a nauseating sensation of déjà vu. This was exactly what had happened at Beatrice’s engagement party, when she’d tried to talk to Jeff about Daphne. Except this time it was almost worse, because Ethan knew what Daphne had done, and still he was defending her.

“Nina, please don’t blame me for things that happened in my past. It isn’t fair,” Ethan protested. “I’m not proud of my original reasons for hanging out with you. But everything is different now! I’m different!”

“If you spent time with me just because Daphne said to, then you aren’t that different at all.” Outraged pride flamed in Nina’s cheeks. “How can you possibly have loved her?”

“I thought we were the same—”

“Because you both move people around like pieces on your own personal chessboard?”

Ethan winced, stuffing his hands awkwardly into his pockets. “Because we were both on the outside, and wanted in,” he said miserably. “I saw Daphne’s energy, how single-mindedly she went after the things she wanted. It’s the same determination that I’ve always had. Or used to have,” he added, more softly. “Nina, you know how much I’ve always wanted to belong.”

“So when Daphne asked you to ‘run interference’?”—Nina angrily lifted her hands to make air quotes around the phrase—“why did you agree? You didn’t stop to think that I’m a real person, with feelings?”