Page 27 of Cross Me

His gaze swiveled to me and he shrugged, his eyes lingering a bit too long on me. “All the good ones are.”

I wasn’t certain whose marital status we were referring to anymore. There was something about him—something I couldn’t place—that left me slightly dazed. Maybe it was his celebrity status or his shameless flirtation. Maybe I just needed to get out of the palace more.

“So, this is a secret?” he asked, tipping his head to my midsection, which was still hidden beneath my coat.

“I’d really appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell anyone,” I said. Somehow I already knew he wouldn’t.

“I won’t,” he promised. “But when it does come out, when can I expect the blessed event?”

“Want a leg up in the betting pools?” I guessed.

“You can’t blame a guy for trying. Easy payday.” He waved it off, shaking his head with a laugh at my disapproving glare. “I’m only kidding. Never bet on anything in my life.”

“Not even a race?” Belle asked, a note of disbelief in her voice.

“Why bet on a sure thing? What’s the fun in that?”

“I assume you’re referring to yourself,” I said.

“Of course I am.”

I couldn’t help myself. “Oh, I was just wondering, because I’ve only seen you crash.”

“Come back to the track when you’re feeling better, I’ll show you what I mean.” Anders stretched out his hand and I took it, expecting him to shake it like we were placing a bet. Instead he held it for a moment, then squeezed. I pulled away, feeling oddly guilty. “I hope you’re looking forward to the games.”

Henry, who’d been talking with a group of officials, called over to us, “They’re ready. The press is assembled.”

“Guess we better do this,” Anders said. “See you out there.”

Belle spun toward me as soon as his back was turned and mouthed one word: wow.

“I’m glad we’re both married,” she whispered to me when we were out of earshot. “I think that boy could be trouble.”

I couldn’t have agreed more.

CHAPTER TEN

ALEXANDER

“Alexander,” Norris’s tone stopped me in my tracks. “You’re being paranoid.”

I stared at him, then considered his position. I’d damn near worn a hole through the carpet in my sitting room. Clara was scheduled to be home an hour ago, but she hadn’t arrived yet. That wasn’t what worried me, though. She’d left early this morning, as it was a long drive with the team to Silverstone. It said something about the current demands on my attention that I’d only realized an hour after she left where she was going and what that might mean. A call to Brex confirmed my suspicions. I’d reassigned him to watch over her, but somewhere along the lines the communications had failed. The left hand didn’t know what the right was doing.

“You’re telling me it’s a coincidence she went to see him?” I glanced at the clock, twisting my wedding band around my finger. How could he believe that?

“There is such a thing,” Norris said dryly. “You can stop checking the time. Brex told you they were held up.”

“The press conference ran late, I can accept that. What I can’t accept is that no one told me she was going to meet Anderson Stone.” My fist shot out, seeking relief for the energy building inside me. Norris caught it before it hit the wall.

“Do you want to explain to your wife why there’s a hole in the wall?” He released my fist and crossed his arms behind his back like he was now on official alert. That was probably best for me and my walls.

I pulled back, rubbing my fist in my palm. He had a point. Clara wouldn’t be happy to come home and discover I’d been punching things. What would I tell her when she asked why? I didn’t know what to say to her now.

“I can assure you that no one, outside of Brexton, knows there’s any relationship between you and Anderson Stone. I’ve seen to it.” There was no room to doubt him. Norris’s word was his vow, and he took his responsibility to me as seriously as anyone could.

I trusted Norris with my life and, more importantly, my family, but the last few years had taught me not to make assumptions. It had taken considerable effort to trace my father’s payments to Anderson’s mother. Was that why he believed no one would bother?

“So the first invitation to the Sovereign Games just happens to go to my father’s bastard son?” I asked.