Page 49 of Jack

“Get a room you two. Not everyone can have their girlfriend on the tour with them and it’s making us all feel like sad, heartsick losers.”

Jack pulled away and grinned at Liam. “Fine, keep me updated. I need to meet with Fitz about tomorrow.”

Lopez and Decker had already wandered off when the talk moved to babies.

“Sure thing, boss man.”

Jack walked beside Astrid as they left the room. “What time is your meeting with the Queen?”

She checked her watch. “An hour but I want to change first.”

“Okay. Let me walk you to our room before I meet Fitz.”

She looked at him shyly, and he realised how wrong he’d been about her. She had a wild streak, but it wasn’t a death wish as he’d thought. She wasn’t the reckless woman he’d perceived her to be. Oh, she had her moments, but he’d underestimated her in so many ways, and he felt guilty for it now.

“Why are you frowning again?”

He looked up, his eyes raised in surprise. “Was I?”

Her finger stroked the crease between his brow as they stopped at the door of the room they shared. “Yes.”

“I was just thinking how wrong I was about you. I thought you were out of control, had a death wish, but I was so wrong. I’m sorry about that, Astrid, I really am. Maybe if I’d opened my eyes and stopped being such a blind fool, we’d have found this sooner.”

Astrid shook her head. “Don’t be sorry, I wore that persona like an armour, still do in a lot of ways.”

“Not for me.”

“No, Jack, not for you ever again. You make me feel safe without it.”

“You will always be safe with me, firefly. I would give my life for yours.”

“I hope we never have to find out, but I feel the same way.” Her lips met his in a quick kiss. “Now go before I drag you back to bed and show you how much those words mean to me.”

“Rain check?”

“Absolutely, handsome.”

Jack left her at her door and went to meet with Fitz. When he arrived, the man was waiting with his leather-bound notebook in his hand. They spent the next fifty minutes going over plans until Fitz took a call.

He glanced up at Jack as he did, and Jack tensed for more bad news. “What?”

“The Queen would like you to join her and Astrid for afternoon tea.”

Jack closed his phone where he’d been making notes. “Do you know what this is about?”

Fitz shook his head. “I do not, no. I do know Her Majesty is rather taken with Astrid.”

“Aren’t we all?”

“Mmm, it seems that way.”

Jack checked his watch and the two men walked out of the room Fitz was using and down the hallway towards the room he unofficially shared with Astrid. He stopped and knocked, and she opened in seconds, a surprised look on her face at seeing him. Bebe standing behind her like a watchdog soothed his soul a little at the knowledge she was protected by those around her when he wasn’t there.

“Jack, what are you doing here? I was just leaving for my meeting.”

“It seems I have an invite now, too.”

Astrid took his arm, the pinch between her eyebrows showing she was as curious as he was. She dressed in a pale pink fitted dress with a bow at the waist and some sort of cape over her shoulders. She looked stunning with her hair down and around her shoulders, just the one side pinned back. He was wearing his usual for the tour, which was a suit and shirt with a tie. He had to look the part at all times, but he hated it and couldn’t wait to get back into combats and t-shirts, and he knew his men felt the same.