Royal Affair Read Online Free PDF

Max with his omniscient gaze.
    Max tossed him a questioning glance as he bit into a muffin. It seemed odd, in light of the morning activities, to realize he was hungry. Life had a way of going on, he reasoned.
    Chuck lifted a muffin. “You gotta get married,” he said, and took a bite.
    Max nearly choked. “What the hell brought that on?”
    His friend chewed and swallowed, then took a sip of coffee. “Last year, before he died, your father made me promise to see that you found a bride by the end of the mourning period. You must produce an heir.”
    Max muttered a curse, then another. Neither helped calm the swirl of emotion in his breast.
    Chuck observed him with an odd little smile playing about the corners of his mouth. “An heiress will do,” he continued. “Either English or European would be acceptable to your people. Or American.”
    Max glared when a full smile broke over his friend’s face. There was knowledge in those blue eyes that said Chuck knew more than he was saying.
    â€œSpit it out,” he invited, knowing there was more.
    â€œYour tryst at the resort probably saved your life, or at least prevented a nasty injury. I like to tell myself that the guards, whom I trained, would have interceded before great bodily harm was done.”
    â€œYeah. Me, too.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œSo?” Max echoed, not sure what the question was.
    â€œIs it the American?”
    Like the petals of a flower suddenly clamping shut, Max withdrew, not wanting to share that night with anyone, not even his best friend. He shook his head slightly, not in denial of the possibility, but of sharing it.
    â€œShe might be pregnant,” Chuck said and calmly put the rest of the muffin in his mouth.
    Max sprang to his feet as if an electric current had suddenly run through his chair. He paced to the window. The vase of roses blew gentle kisses of sweet scent at him. He paused and touched one.
    â€œWhat makes you think that?” he finally asked.
    â€œI’m your security chief, Your Highness. I’m paid to know what goes on around you.”
    Chuck always reverted to formalities when he gained insights into Max’s life that might transgress friendship. Max appreciated the gesture. That left it up to him to decide the level of the discussion.
    â€œShe was a virgin,” Max said softly.
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œIt was a night like none other,” he continued. “When I ran out of condoms, I took a chance with her. How did you know that?”
    â€œThere was, uh, evidence on the sheets. I took the liberty of confiscating them…in case there were future questions about the child’s conception, if there should happen to be a child.”
    â€œIn case I got whacked,” Max said sardonically, catching on to his advisor’s line of reasoning.
    However, his demise wasn’t uppermost in his mind at the moment. He recalled pulling the petals from a dozen roses and sprinkling them over the bed and her. His friend would have seen those, too, and known what a sentimental fool Max had made of himself. He groaned internally.
    Chuck studied him for a long minute, then smiled in understanding. “Are you in love with the American beauty?” he asked, one friend to another.
    â€œLove? I’m not sure what that means at the present. I loved my uncle and trusted him with a child’s belief in those close to him. That nearly got me killed.”
    â€œDoes she know who you are, or did you go by Max Hughes?”
    â€œIsn’t there anything you don’t know?” Max spoke in irritation. His alias, like that night, was his alone to enjoy, his little secret from the demanding public of his world. Secret? Ha!
    â€œIt’s my job—”
    â€œYeah, yeah,” Max interrupted impatiently. “Due to the circumstances, the treason and all, I’m cutting you some slack here, but you’re on dangerous ground.”
    Chuck