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"Noah doesn't want to die early of a stress-induced coronary," Albie explains, "So he would never agree to being part of your personal security detail"

"On the other hand," I say, gesturing toward the new guy, "this ?"

Albie chuckles "Be nice I owe that ned off on it"

"Oh, has he? He's done that from whatever country he's jetted off to with the Ice Queen?" I ask Our father, the king of Protrovia, is dating again Correction: he's in love Okay, it's been several years since my mother's death, and it's not like I want my father to be miserable and alone, but still, it's an adjust back into the dating pool He's a king And Sofia Kensington is an American woman; she's not even Protrovian! More importantly, she's a complete bitch and as unlike our mother as she could be I can't fathom what my father sees in her

"They'll be back tomorrow," Albie informs me

"Yay," I say flatly, rolling my eyes "Lucky us"

"Alex," Albie warns "Maybe you should give her a chance"

"Thanks ever sobrother"

Albie grins "Maybe also try giving your new security a chance Don't run this one off like all of your other bodyguards, Alex"

"I've not run off a singleinnocence Technically, that's true; I haven't run off just one of them

"You've run off all of theht for me anyway

The new bodyguard suards weren't uard u

sually would in front of the royal family, which makes me wonder exactly how he knowsanywhere"

Albie laughs and shakes his head "You don't knowto consider it her own personal et you to quit"

The new guy is wearing aze from behind the lenses "Well, then," he says, "I'll consider it oal"

"Your funeral,to leave

"I assure you that I always achieve what I put uy

Albie clears his throat "Well, et to know each other" He and Noah walk off, and I can hear Albie chuckling as he leaves

I roll uard I adued What in the world could uard"

"I am, princess," he replies stiffly He stands perfectly still like a statue, looking forith his hands balled into fists at his side, a habit he obviously picked up in the military – but not in the Protrovian ht be Auard even stranger, since the job is usually reserved only for Protrovian citizens

My gaze lingers for aon the way his suit ski on his face "My last bodyguard, Jauards turn over so frequently that I stopped learning their nao Now, I simply refer to all of them as James, whether they like it or not "He lasted three days, I believe The one before that made it a week I think the record is teeks"

"Let et rid of uards"

I can't help but smile "Ah, the unbridled optimise, James"

He reaches for his sunglasses and re up at me When he does, my breath actually catches in aze direct, not obsequious or deferential in any way He looks at me like an equal – or maybe even like I'e, ever-so-slightly, uards would have ever dared to look at me like that

A thrill rushes through e

"Max Donnelly," he says He doesn't look away for a moment, and I can't takeHe has the kind of strong, chiseled jawline and bright eyes that ruff masculinity like a film star from the fifties

“Excuse me?” I ask, less because I didn't hear what he said and more because I need to shake off the spell he seems to have me under