Romancing the Crown: Kate & Lucas: Under the King's Command / The Prince's Wedding

Despite her lack of uniform, Kate drew herself to attention and snapped up her hand in a salute. “Lieutenant Kate Mulvaney, Your Highness.”

As diplomatic as he was reputed to be, King Marcus ignored her dishevelled appearance and her lack of military attire as he returned her salute. “I gather you were jogging past and witnessed what happened?”

“Yes, sir. After I apprehended the suspect, I thought it best to guard the child until someone from the palace arrived. Admiral Howe, the base commander, agreed when I reported the situation to him. I’m at your service until you wish to relieve me.”

“I appreciate your quick thinking, Lieutenant.”

The baby was gurgling again, happy with the attention he was receiving from the queen and the prince. Montebellan royalty who just happened to be his grandmother and his father. Kate felt the gleeful sound grate across her nerves.

Standing guard over the baby had been difficult. Not because there had been any danger, but because she had wanted her involvement with all of this to be over an hour ago. Had she thought the baby stirred painful memories? That was nothing compared to what she’d felt when she’d seen Sam walk in the room.

Why couldn’t she have kept on running?

“I was happy to help, sir,” she replied.

“I hate to impose further, but I’d appreciate it if you could remain and answer a few questions for us.” The king nodded toward Sam. “This is Lieutenant Sam Coburn.”

Unable to postpone it any longer, Kate let her gaze meet Sam’s.

Oh, God. Five years had passed, but some things hadn’t changed. His golden brown gaze still had the power to make her knees weak.

She wanted to leap into his arms.

She wanted to curl into a ball and hide.

Duty, she reminded herself. Do your duty, just as you’ve always done.

“Yes,” she said. She was proud of the way her voice remained level though her pulse pounded in her ears. “Lieutenant Coburn and I have already met.”

“Excellent.” The king glanced at his son. Under the supervision of the doctors and the doting gaze of Queen Gwendolyn, Lucas was carefully lifting his child into his arms. A look of amazement softened his features.

Kate pressed her nails into her palms to keep herself steady. The emotions kept on coming. Seeing the prince cradle his infant so tenderly made her wonder what might have happened if Sam…

No. She wouldn’t go down that road. She wouldn’t let that thought form. She’d avoided it for five years. She could keep it at bay for another five minutes, couldn’t she?

“Since you two are already acquainted,” King Marcus continued, moving to join his family, “I’ll let Lieutenant Coburn fill you in. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a grandson to get to know.”

And just like that, Kate found herself face-to-face with the one man she’d believed she’d never see again.

“Hello, Kate.”

His voice strummed over her raw nerves in a melody too haunting to forget. She’d always loved his voice. It didn’t belong here in the sterile efficiency of a hospital. It belonged on a moonlit beach, with the sound of the waves whispering over the sand and the rhythmic smack of naked skin on naked skin….

She tightened her fists, surprised her nails hadn’t yet drawn blood. Her gaze returned to his. “Hello, Sam.”

“You’re looking well.”

“You, too.”

He smiled. “I guess it would be kinda too corny to say long time no see.”

His smile deepened the new lines around his eyes and folded brackets beside his mouth and still made her stomach knot like that of a schoolgirl with her first crush.

Damn him, that hadn’t changed, either. “The king said you would have some questions for me.”

At her brisk tone, his smile dimmed. “That’s right.”

“All I did was recover the baby. I’m not sure I understand how that would involve a Navy SEAL.”

Sam tilted his head toward the door. “I’ll fill you in on the way to the security office.”

She started to move forward when she saw him lift his hand. He was going to touch her. She felt his intent as plainly as if he had spoken aloud.

Sam had always been a toucher. In public it had been a palm on the small of her back, a brush of fingertips over her forearm or an easy drape of his arm over her shoulders. Casual, respectful touches that had kept her body humming with awareness.

And when they were no longer in public, he hadn’t only made her body hum, he’d made it sing.

Kate stepped to the side to avoid his hand and strode out of the examining room. Sam might not have changed, but she had. She was older, wiser and in complete control of her life. She could do this. Yes, she could.

Sam fell into step beside her. “What would you like to know first?”

Where did you go after your letters stopped? Did you ever think of me? Did you ever wonder what would have happened if only circumstances had been different? The questions clamored in her heart, but she asked, “Why are you taking orders from the king of Montebello?”

“I’m working as an adviser. He requested our government to provide someone with my training to help coordinate the efforts of the police and our navy in the search for a murderer.”

“The woman who killed his nephew, Desmond Caruso?”

“That’s right. How did you know?”

“I saw the artist’s sketch of the suspect in the paper today. It’s logical that the king would ask for high-level help.” She glanced at Sam. “And by someone with your training, you mean counterterrorism, I assume.”

“Right again.”

“Congratulations.”

“Why?”

“If you’re an expert in counterterrorism, then that must mean you’re in SEAL Team Six. Just like you always said you wanted.”

“There were plenty of things that I wanted, Kate.”

She could tell by his tone that he wasn’t referring to his career. But she wasn’t going to talk about this now. It was over. The past was gone, gone, gone. “And you succeeded,” she said, refusing to let the conversation get personal. “But how does all of this involve the prince’s baby?”

“That’s what I’m here to find out.”

They reached a set of swinging doors. Sam stretched his arm past Kate’s shoulder and pushed open the door before she could reach it. He didn’t touch her, but she could feel the warmth of his arm as it passed near her head.

She tried to attribute the shudder to fatigue. “I still don’t understand.”