Page 29 of Royal Salvation

“My family is excited to meet you and you’re going to love them.”

Lucía smiled as she saw the genuine love and affection he felt for his family pass across his face. Leaving her own family 24 hours earlier had been hard but after everything that had happened, she knew it was the right thing. Only her father and sister knew where she was headed as Justice was concerned about a leak inside the Palace. Having postponed the ball and moved it to Valentine’s Day, she’d persuaded her mother to incorporate her charity into it and she’d agreed, saying she’d call Carlotta and arrange it.

Her love for her mother and her admiration of her kindness to others only made her wonder more about Justice’s family. The people who’d agreed without question to host a Princess in trouble. “Tell me about them.”

Justice leaned back in his seat. “Well, my mum’s name is Elodie, and she works for a local law firm as a personal assistant. She lives in the house we grew up in and loves to cook and garden but hates the heat, so normally tends her garden in the early morning before the sun gets a hold. Caleb is my younger brother and he and his husband John are both successful architects, with a beachfront home on the Gold Coast. They have two children. Melody, who’s named after my mum, is three, and Jake is four.”

“You sound close.”

Justice sat back, his face and posture reflective as if he was far away. “We are but I don’t see them as much as I’d like.”

“So how come you took this job? You clearly love your family, and the UK is very far away.”

She could practically see the walls come down as she asked the question and knew he wasn’t going to tell her anything, but he was wrong, his clamming up told her more than he probably wanted.

“You can freshen up in the bathroom before you land if you want. Val can help you.”

Sighing, Lucía nodded and stood awkwardly as he grabbed her upper arm to steady her. The electricity zinged through her body at his touch and she gasped, her eyes shooting to his and seeing the feelings mirrored in his. They stayed locked in a bubble of awareness, just the two of them for a moment. She couldn’t decide if she wanted him to give in and kiss her and show her how good she knew it would be between them or step away and spare herself the regret when they had to separate.

Val saved them from making a choice. “Need some help cleaning up?” Her smile was radiant as she looked between them, clearly ignoring the undercurrent of sexual tension.

“Yes, please. It’s tricky getting my arms up with my ribs and my shoulder so limited.”

“No problem. That’s what I’m here for.”

Lucía was mostly glad she was there. Except for now when what she really wanted to do was drag Justice into the bedroom at the back of the plane and see if the mile high club was all it was cracked up to be.

Along with Valentina, Bishop and Hurricane had also joined them. Hurricane was a beast of a man who looked like he lifted small cars for sport. He had black skin the colour of polished ebony and was tall, probably six foot five at least. His biceps, which were bigger than her thigh, made him seem imposing. Yet his eyes were gentle and he smiled a lot, making him feel safe, when if he worked for this team, he was most likely as deadly as the rest of them.

Bishop was different. He was smaller framed, still tall but his strength was leaner, like Justice. He had dark hair with a scar on his cheekbone and brown eyes but he was quiet, watchful as if he’d been trained to blend in and go unnoticed. His British accent had a northern roundness to it, and she expected a lot of people underestimated him and lived to regret it.

Valentina was now the only other woman on the team, and she’d told her she’d be having her dogs shipped to her and they’d be allowed to quarantine where they were staying for ten days as they were service dogs.

It was easy to hear in her voice how much she missed them and Lucía couldn’t wait to meet them, having always wanted a pet and never having a dog that was just a family pet. The ones that belong to the Palace Guard weren’t friendly or pets. While she knew that was still true with these animals, she’d also heard how one of the other team member’s six-year-old daughter was helping to train them and figured they couldn’t be too ferocious in that case.

Having changed into a white sleeveless shirt, making it easier to get in and out of, and conscious of the heat this time of year as Australia went into their summer, she added a cotton skirt in yellow, and flat tan-coloured sandals.

Her hair was in a long ponytail off her neck, and she touched up her make-up as best she could, knowing she was lucky to have such good skin, just the bruises and the dark circles under her eyes needed covering.

Heading back to her seat she saw Justice talking to Hurricane and Bishop. All three men looked up when she entered, and she knew whatever they were talking about had been about her. An awareness flickered in Justice’s eyes as he looked at her before he looked away, breaking the connection.

“He’s a heartbreaker.”

Lucía turned, seeing Val had come up behind her and caught the exchange. Her cheeks flamed as she sat and busied herself with her seat belt, Valentina eventually having to help her before taking a seat opposite where Justice had been sitting on take-off.

“I have no intention of finding out.” Her words felt brittle even to her own ears and she regretted taking her frustrations out on the woman who’d shown her nothing but kindness. “I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. I do tend to poke my nose in when I shouldn’t. I think it comes from having a brother who was emotionally stunted by his experience with the woman he loved.”

Intrigued now, Lucía leaned forward. “Emotionally stunted?”

Val’s lips quirked. “Yeah, he was left at the altar by the love of his life and it made him a little jaded about love.”

“Oh no, how awful for him. I can’t imagine doing that to someone.”

“He’s fine now. Happily married to the same woman actually, so it all worked out.”

Lucía couldn’t imagine being so forgiving. “He must love her very much.”