by Jenny Frame
The thought of spending time with Lex was both exciting and nerve-racking, but impossible. “I’d love to, Lex, but I really can’t meet in a public place. Things were bad enough before with the press, but after today, impossible.”
Lex’s demeanour changed. She looked disappointed for a millisecond but put on her professional, impassive persona. “It doesn’t matter—it was just an idea.”
Now she really wanted to see Lex. Today in her arms, and now that split second of disappointment, showed her maybe Lex wasn’t as cool towards her as she’d thought.
“But I’d really love to. You know you probably should see me, just to put Conrad’s mind at rest.”
Lex’s smile was back. “You’re probably right. What if you come to my house for lunch, something like that. Would that be secure enough? No one knows me.”
“I’d love to come to your house,” Roza said excitedly. “Can I talk to Ravn about it, and call you back? I promised her I’d be on my best behaviour from now on.”
“Sure, no problem. Go find out and call me back.”
Chapter Eight
Lex switched off the vacuum cleaner and looked around her medium-sized living room with a sense of satisfaction. “I think I might be finished…oh, bollocks!” She spotted dust and dirty marks on the large mirror above the fireplace.
She grabbed a duster from the back pocket of her jeans and some cleaning spray that was hanging from her side pocket like a gun in its holster, and set to work.
“Why am I even paying a cleaner every week, and why did I ask a bloody princess to lunch?”
Lex knew exactly why—the way Roza had looked at her in the gym, and the way she felt in her arms in that alleyway. When instinct had told her to look up in the gym, she couldn’t remember a time she had met another woman’s gaze and felt her blood run so hot. This was more than lust, it was need, just like she had explained to Vic. A need for something she was frightened would become addicting.
She stopped polishing the mirror and remembered holding Roza. She wasn’t the rebellious princess then. She had clung to her like she needed someone, an anchor to cling to in the raging storm of her life. Lex had felt so desperate to protect her, but that job was not one she was qualified to apply for.
An incoming call from her mum interrupted her thoughts. “Computer, answer call.” Her mother Faith’s image popped up on the projected TV screen in the corner of the room.
“Hi, Mum.”
“Morning, darling. Your father’s here as well.”
Lex’s dad, Jason, came into the picture with his usual smiling, happy face. “There’s my girl, are you all ready for the big visit?”
Lex sighed, put down her cleaning things, and walked over to the couch. “I think so. I mean, I’ve tidied, even though my cleaner was meant to have done it.”
“Did you clean the bathroom?” Faith asked with a look of panic on her face.
“Of course I did, Mum.”
Faith turned to look at her husband and said, “Maybe she should have gotten a new toilet seat, Jason. Do you think the princess would expect that?”
Lex groaned in frustration. “Mum, I’m not fitting a new toilet seat just because Roza is visiting.”
“But she’s a princess, Lex,” Faith said.
She pinched the bridge of her nose and replied, “I’m painfully aware she is a princess, Mum. Last night her security people came by and swept the house with sniffer dogs, the lot. I don’t know why I would have a bomb to kill her when I saved her the day before, but anyway I know how important she is.”
“You saved her?” Faith asked.
Lex really didn’t want to go into this. Fortunately the news media had only reported a passer-by had come to Princess Rozala’s aid.
“Yes, but keep it to yourself. I don’t want my name out in the public forum. It’s bad enough as it is, trying to get into work past the cameras. I’d like to keep a low profile.”
Faith and Jason grinned ear to ear. “We won’t, darling, but we’re so proud of you,” Faith said.
But her dad added a word of caution. “Just be careful though, Lex. This Princess Rozala obviously has troubles at the moment. I don’t want you to be hurt in the crossfire.”
“I’ll be fine, Dad.”
“And the food? Is it all in hand?” Faith asked. “Maybe you should have gotten a caterer.”
Lex smiled and shook her head. Her mum was doing more worrying than she was. “Yes, all prepared and ready to go in the oven. No problems. Trust me, I won’t dishonour the King family name or anything.”
“She has it all under control, honey bunny,” Jason said before kissing his wife on the lips.
“Do you two have to be so sickly sweet all the time?” Lex said.
A third head popped up behind her mother and father. “You don’t have to live with them.”
Lex smiled at her sixteen-year-old sister. “Hey, baby sister, keeping out of trouble?” Lex asked.
“Barely. I can’t believe you’ve got Princess Rozala coming to lunch. She is gorgeous! Like a fashion icon of our time. Try not to poison her, okay? I’ve tasted your food, and I don’t want to have to visit you in prison.”
“Very funny.”
Jason looked at her seriously. “I’ve read in the media the kind of lifestyle Princess Rozala leads, and I just want you to be careful. Okay?”
Lex gulped hard and rubbed her thumb over the tattoo on her wrist. “I will, Dad. Don’t worry. It’s just one lunch—I doubt I’ll see her socially again.”
She checked the time. “Listen, I better run if I’m going to be ready on time.”
They said their goodbyes and Lex ran upstairs to get changed.
She was just spraying on some aftershave when she heard a car. Lex looked out of her bedroom window to find Major Ravn opening the car door for Roza.
Roza glanced up to the window and gave her a sweet smile and a wave, and her heart started to thud with excitement. No, no. No way am I feeling this.
She closed her eyes, started to breathe deeply and to take a moment to calm herself, before running downstairs.
Lex opened the door to find herself looking at Major Ravn and not Roza. “Good afternoon, Ms. King. I would like to have a look around the house while Princess Roza gets settled.”
“Of course. Feel free.”
She stood back and Ravn entered while talking to her team through a concealed device. “I’ve gained entry. Johann, take the back door, and the rest of you patrol the street as discussed.”
As Ravn started to look around, Roza walked up the front steps looking so different from how she usually did at the office. She was dressed casually in a pair of tight blue jeans, flat pumps, and a pretty little figure-hugging jumper. She was beautiful in such a simple way. This was the girl she’d seen in the alley—this was the real Roza, she was sure.
“You look lovely.”
Roza reached out as if she was going to touch Lex’s arm, but pulled back quickly. “Thanks. You look different out of a suit. I didn’t think you did casual clothes,” Roza joked.
Lex crossed her arms feeling a bit bashful. “I’m quite different at the weekend. Please, come in.”
“Sorry about all this fuss,” Roza said pointing to Ravn as she disappeared up the stairs. “I promised I’d be on my best behaviour after yesterday.”
As Roza stepped in, Lex awkwardly reached out for a handshake, but Roza took her hand and leaned in to kiss her cheek, which stunned Lex for a few seconds.
“Come through to the living room.” Lex opened the door and Roza walked into the room, decked out in warm colours and real wood floors and furniture.
“This is a sweet room,” Roza said.
Lex ran her hand over the short hairs at the nape of her neck bashfully. “Thanks. Please sit down.”
Ravn came in to inform them she would be guarding the door while she visited.
“Thank you,” Roza said. “I’ll call when I’m ready to go.” Ravn bowed and left.
&n
bsp; Lex ushered her towards the couch and Roza indicated a group of photo frames set in pride of place on a side cabinet.
“Is this your family, Lex?” Roza picked up a frame with a beautiful older couple in it.
“Yep, that’s my mum, Faith, and my dad, Jason.”
Roza was mesmerized by the moving image which captured the couple holding each other, laughing together and kissing. “They look so happy.”
Lex crossed her arms and laughed. “Yes, they are. Too happy, my sister and I think.”
“You have a sister? I would have loved a sister. Is this her?” Roza picked up another frame.
“That’s my baby sister, Poppy.”
Roza could see Lex was proud of her sister, and her family. This was a different side to Lex, one that was not on show at the office.
“Poppy is beautiful. Will you tell me about them?”
“If you like. We can talk while I serve lunch.” Lex directed her through to the kitchen and told her to sit at the kitchen table.
Everything was set beautifully—tablecloth, napkins in silver ring holders, and a thin vase of flowers in the middle of the table.
“This is perfect. Flowers too?” Roza asked.
Lex took out the salmon fillets she had cooked from the oven. “Yes, I picked them from the garden.”
Roza felt the butterflies that seemingly appeared every time she was in Lex’s company these days. “That’s sweet,” Roza said.
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure they weren’t weeds, but I took a chance.”
Roza giggled. Lex was really making an effort, and to be honest Roza didn’t feel she deserved it. “Something smells good.”
Lex brought over the plates and laid one in front of her. “Thanks. I hope you’ll like it.”
“You’re going to feed me something really healthy, aren’t you?”
Lex nodded. “Yep, I’m going to show you healthy can taste good. We’re having salmon with chilli and ginger, steamed green beans, and potatoes.”
“Beautiful,” Roza said. “I have to say I’m surprised. I never thought someone like you could cook.”
“Too butch?” Lex took her seat and poured some sparkling water in both their glasses.
Roza chuckled. “Maybe.”
“Well don’t get too excited. I learned to make five or six dishes well, and apart from that I’m lost. When I started being healthy, I had to learn. Before that I lived on takeaways,” Lex said.
Roza took her first bite and hummed in pleasure. “This is delicious.”
“Thanks,” Lex said. “I hope you don’t mind the sparkling water. I don’t drink.”
“Of course not. I don’t like to drink at lunchtime, despite my reputation. Can I ask you something I’ve been wondering?”
“Of course.”
“Why all the health food, protein drinks, decaf coffee? You’re very dedicated.”
Roza noticed Lex shift in her seat a little uncomfortably and reach for her glass of water quickly.
“I came to a kind of crossroads in my life. I was out of balance, and I needed to find out how to right it again.”
“Hence the organic superfoods.” Roza smiled.
Lex took a bite of her food and nodded. “I don’t let any poisons in my body any more.”
Poisons? That was a strange way to describe it, but she sensed it was a somewhat sensitive subject so she moved on. “So, tell me about your family.”
As soon as she mentioned Lex’s family, a broad smile erupted on her face. “Well, they live in a little village in Buckinghamshire. It’s rolling hills as far as the eye can see, farms, and not much else.”
Roza was surprised. She expected Lex to be from a metropolitan background. She couldn’t quite picture her fitting in with the country set. “I wasn’t expecting that. You don’t seem the country type.”
Lex sat back in her chair and sipped her water. “I always wanted to live in London from when I was a teenager, and I would say I never appreciated the virtues of country living until I spent time living the excess of London life. Now I live for the holidays when I can go home.”
Roza leaned her chin on her palm. There were certainly hidden depths to Lennox King and she wanted to know more. “Tell me about your parents and your sister.”
“There’s not a lot to tell really. We’re a pretty average bunch, not as exciting as your family, I’m sure.”
Roza rolled her eyes. “You’d be surprised. So, tell, tell.”
“My dad was a surgeon at the local hospital, but he’s retired now. My mum ran her own catering company, which she sold when dad retired so they could spend time with each other. They are…a very close couple. Sickeningly sweet, Poppy thinks. I did too, but now I’m older I appreciate how rare that kind of relationship is.”
“Aw, that’s sweet. Imagine being so much in love you want to spend more time with each other. Most couples can’t stand each other after being together that long. What about Poppy?”
“Poppy is wonderful, intelligent, and funny. She’s sixteen going on thirty, she thinks, and the best baby sister anyone could have, and I’m under orders not to do anything to upset or annoy you because she thinks you’re”—Lex put on a high-pitched, girly voice—“super cool and totally gorgeous. I think that means she likes you.”
Roza laughed and said shyly, “I have at least one fan.”
Lex reached out and covered her hand, and Roza felt the warmth spread up her arm. “More than one.”
It looked as if Lex regretted the action because she pulled her hand back quickly, and said, “Eat up and we can have dessert in the living room, and talk some more.”
*
Roza put her empty dessert bowl on the coffee table. “That was delicious.”
Lex had kindly bought chocolate cheesecake and ice cream, despite the fact she didn’t eat that sort of thing. Roza enjoyed every mouthful with exaggerated pleasure, trying to tease Lex, but she just laughed. Something had changed between them. The teasing and gentle flirting was jovial, natural, and sweet. It was no longer a game to make Lex lose control.
There was a lull in the conversation and Roza knew it was time to explain herself, but she felt really nervous. “I have to tell you about yesterday.”
“You don’t need to say anything.”
“No, I do. I want you to understand.” Roza pulled her legs onto the couch, crossed them, and allowed her hair to fall like a curtain around her face. “I was being childish, just because you said it was your private time. I suppose it was intrusive, but after a rocky start, we were getting on much better, and I wanted to know you better. You are so serious and restrained all the time and I thought I would see more of who you are while you were doing something you loved. Then I thought it would be a bit of fun, to show I could escape, and get past the photographers.”
“I don’t know how you did that,” Lex said. “But when I looked up I knew it was you.”
“How did you know I was even there, and how could you tell it was me?”
Lex was silent for the longest time, as if she was choosing her words carefully.
“I don’t know, something just told me I had to look up at that moment, and then—your eyes.”
Roza hadn’t realized they had gradually gotten closer to each other. She gazed at Lex’s powerful arm resting on the back of the couch, inches from her hair, and ached for her caress. “I didn’t think you’d noticed me.”
“Surely everyone notices you.”
“The princess yes, not Roza.”
“You think I know the difference?” Lex asked.
“Now, I know you do.” Roza felt Lex’s longed for fingertips stroke her hair. She turned slightly and saw Lex’s tattoo on her wrist, up close. The tattoo that Lex touched like a talisman, that seemed to give her strength. What did it mean?
She saw a look of panic in Lex’s eyes when she realized what she was doing. Lex jumped up quickly, and said, “I’ll get us some coffee. How do you take it?”
“A mocha, with
an extra shot and a dash of hazelnut and chocolate shavings,” Roza joked.
“I’ll bring coffee and milk.” Lex winked at her.
She returned with a tray of tea, coffee, and biscuits and said, “I thought the major and your team would like something too.”
She’s adorable and she doesn’t even know it. “That’s kind. I’m sure they’ll appreciate it, thanks.”
When Lex returned, the intensity of the moment appeared to have dissipated, which was probably best.
“So, this man who tried to hurt you. Am I allowed to ask about who he was, or will Major Ravn kill me for asking?”
“No, I can tell you,” Roza said. “I’d like to tell you, but it’s difficult to know where to start.”
Lex poured her coffee and handed it to her. Lex was astonished at how different Roza had looked since she had been here. The woman with attitude and a chip on her shoulder and the seductress were nowhere to be seen, and had left a young woman who surprisingly gave the impression of being very innocent.
“Just tell me whatever you feel comfortable with.”
Roza twisted the ring on her finger. “I know you’ve read about my ex-girlfriend.”
“Yes, I’m sorry about what I said when we argued.” Now that Lex knew Roza better, she could quite understand how someone older and ruthless like Thea Brandt could have taken Roza in.
“That’s okay. Well, she sent him.”
Lex could feel the same anger that had hit her in the alleyway when she saw that thug with his hands on Roza. “She sent him to hurt you? Why?”
Roza shrugged. “She’s on the run, feeling the pressure of the joint UN forces looking for her. You have to believe me, Lex. I would never have been with her if I had known what she was doing. She was up to some shady dealings, and she always had money to burn, but she would never talk about her business.”
“Of course I believe you. Not that my opinion matters.”
“It matters to me,” Roza said firmly.
Lex didn’t quite know how to respond to that, so she said, “You looked terrified when I found you. Was it being in contact with her again? Did that frighten you?” When Roza looked down and didn’t respond right away, Lex said, “I’m sorry. That’s a personal question.”