Page 13 of Royal Salvation

“You’re welcome.”

He moved away into the kitchen, flicking the TV on as he passed the remote, not wanting the silence in the room opening like a gorge between them. An old episode of Friends came on and filled the silence with canned laughter.

“What would you like for dinner?”

For the last week, they’d eaten separately. He’d felt it was safer to keep the barrier between them, but he knew that wasn’t what she needed tonight, and if he was honest, he didn’t want to be alone either.

“You don’t have to cook. I can grab some cheese and crackers or fruit.”

Reaper gave her a warning look. “Cheese and crackers are a snack, not dinner. How about I make my mum’s famous beef burgers?”

She moved closer and he could tell she was relaxing. “Why are they famous?”

“Because she told me they were, and I don’t argue with my mother.”

Lucía laughed and he grinned back at her infectious smile.

“Okay sounds good but let me help. I might want to steal the recipe if it’s that good.”

“Fine, grab the minced beef from the fridge and I’ll show you but don’t tell anyone. It’s a closely guarded secret and I’m only telling you because you’re my fake wife.”

“Fair point.”

They worked side by side, the conversation on innocent topics such as movies, TV shows, favourite food, likes, and dislikes. It was easy and Reaper found himself enjoying spending time with an attractive woman he wanted in his bed without it being his only thought.

He liked Lucía the person, not the Princess but the woman who walked dogs for old ladies and made sure to spend money in the local shop to keep an older couple from going under.

For the rest of the evening, they ate delicious burgers that had turned out even better than usual, and that was saying a lot as it was his signature dish. They watched Friends on TV until around nine when Lucía began to yawn, covering her face with the back of her hand.

“You should get to bed.”

“I know. It’s been a long day, but I’m not sure I’ll sleep once my head hits the pillow. It’s usually the time my brain wakes up and decides it’s the time to fix every problem under the sun.”

“You always been this way?”

Lucía shook her head. “No. As a child, I’d put my head down and be out within minutes. It drove Maria crazy because she was never like that.”

“When did it change?”

Lucía shrugged. “Not sure. I just grew up I guess.”

“Yeah, I get that.”

“What about you?”

“I learned to sleep on the side of a mountain in the military, but never for very long. Even now I only sleep for about four or five hours.”

“What a pair we are.”

“Yeah, crazy insomniacs.”

Lucía went quiet and he wondered what she was thinking and hoped her mind hadn’t gone to the video from earlier but knew she had.

“Was it real, Justice?”

He could lie to her but knew he wouldn’t. “Yes.”

She nodded, her arms were crossed over her midriff as if holding everything inside her. “I knew it was. I just hoped.”