Page 14 of The Harvest Homecoming

“In your bed?” He rolled his head to look at me. I fell all over again. Would that happen every time he gazed my way? I’d have to ask my brothers if this overwhelming emotion was truly love and how to deal with it on a daily basis.

“Yes, in my bed.”

His serene expression soured slightly. Drats. Had I stepped in it? “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Harold.”

“Why not? We’re going to be out and about together starting tomorrow.”

He blew out a breath that tickled a wayward curl on his brow. “Are you sure you want to make this new thing public? We’ve not even really arrived at a firm decision if we’ll work out this time.”

“We will.”

He glanced my way with a funny smile. “Always so confident. I wish I had your certainty about things. I’m not so sure we should be so brazen right off the bat.”

He eased off the bed to dispose of the condom then lay back down after tugging the now-stained covers over us. I’d be sure to be somewhere else when the maids arrived in the morning.

“Why are you so scared suddenly? One of the critiques you had about us was that we had to keep our relationship hidden.”

I pulled the covers up to my ear and inched closer to the firepot that was Rani. Ahh, yes, the man was a heater core always set on high.

“I’m not scared. I’m just being practical.” He moved to his side to face me, the covers tucked under his arm. “There’s a great deal to consider, Harold. Attending the festival with me as your date may stir up a hornet’s nest. It will bring a great deal of displeasure from the king. Remember how upset he was about Anders taking Mitchell to the baptism? There are lines dealing with discretion and professional distance that may be blurred if we date publicly.”

“But you’re not working for us, you’re working for Lady Alva.”

“Who’s a member of the royal family of Östermon. I could be asked to transfer to another position with another employer if we don’t handle things discreetly. Also, and this you must understand, just because we share a bed doesn’t mean I’m wholly ready to return to being something serious.”

“I know, I understand, and I will not rush you, but I will not allow you to be shuttled off to some other job, and neither would Alva. I’m sure of it.”

“You seem so sure of things. I suppose being a prince gives you the right to be so damn certain of any outcome.”

“No, it doesn’t.” He shot me a flat look. “Fine, it helps. There, I said it. But I’ve had to deal with some pretty severe backlash in my life for things that the crown and the church took offense over.” I reached out to play with a damp curl.

“Yes, you got a firm talking to from your father while the staff worked double-time to cover up your indiscretions. Me, on the other hand, could very well be asked to resign from my position, which is a much more dire outcome if the king gets angry.” I frowned. He was right of course.

“Fine, give me time to talk with them. The family, Papa mostly.” He seemed unsure. “He is trying to come to grips with two of his sons being queer. I think if I have Mama, my brothers, and Alva behind me, he’ll be more open to our relationship.”

“I don’t know…”

“Let me try. Trust me to at least try to make us a good thing.”

“We were always a good thing until we weren’t.” He sighed softly. I released the curl to stroke his cheek. “Fine. Talk to the family, and we’ll go from there.”

“Go onto dating if things are kosher?” I cupped his face to keep those stunning eyes on me, also to kiss those tasty lips.

“Perhaps. I think we can say we’re still sexually compatible.”

“Did I light your fire, baby?” I said in my best Austin Powers imitation.

“You’re such a joker,” he replied before I placed my mouth to his. Curled around him, I drifted off with ease—a blessing for sure—coming awake to find the sun warming my face but his side of the bed cold.

That sucked. First thing on the agenda for the day was a big family conference over breakfast. After I found my phone to speak to Alva and my brothers on the sly. Always best to have your allies at your back when facing Papa over coddled eggs and muesli.

Chapter Ten

Entering the small family dining hall, I saw that the gang was all here.

Frode, Ivar, and Alva bless her queasy heart. What a trooper. She’d been delirious with joy when I’d told her about me and Rani working to reconcile. My brothers, on the other hand, were pleased enough to hear I’d found someone who made me want to settle down somewhat but worried about the reaction from father. Still, they had my back, and that was what counted. Mama smiled at me as I entered wearing my most charming smile and a deep rust sweater she’d bought for me last year.

“Morning all,” I said and made my way to the buffet to nervously fill my plate with scrambled eggs, bacon, some rye toast, and a small pot of jam. I sat down. Coffee was poured into a mug by a servant. I thanked them and then met my father’s gaze over the fresh flowers in the center of the table.