Free Tristan on a Harley (Louisiana Knights Book 3) by Jennifer Blake Page B

that she was doing something right. She wasn’t quite sure what, but decided to go with it.
    “There is no freedom in my palace except that which I ordain,” she declared at her most quietly arrogant. “Go. Leave me immediately.”
    “Damned if I will,” Trey said, an unholy silver light appearing in the gray of his eyes as he played up to her.
    “I’ll have you arrested!”
    “You and what army? I don’t see one behind you, Queenie baby.”
    She narrowed her eyes at that deliberate provocation. Trey knew very well that she hated being called baby or any variation on the term.
    “I have only to call, and they will appear.”
    “Fine. Do it. But it’s my dream. Are you sure they’ll come?”
    “As sure as I am that you’re a dead man,” she declared, drawing herself up in the way Trey had approved there at his old house.
    The sharp crack of hands starting to clap stopped them.
    “Excellent,” Peabody called out hard on the sound, moving toward them into the light. “That was excellent. I believe we have our Zenobia.”
    Relief flooded through Zeni so fast and strong that her smile in his direction was warm and unguarded. “It was really okay?”
    “Indeed it was. I hope you are as pleased as I am, darling Zeni.”
    Her smile faded as he moved in close beside her. Was she pleased? It was hard to say. Success was better than failing, but she wasn’t exactly thrilled at the prospect of enduring all this critical attention again when it was for real.
    She turned her gaze to Trey almost without thinking. He gave her a thumbs-up, but made no effort to join her in the limelight. A second later his attention was deflected as Granny Chauvin walked up beside him, circling his waist in a quick hug as she said something about being glad that he answered her call.
    “Who is your friend?” Peabody asked, some of the warmth draining from his voice.
    “My boss, Trey Benedict. You met him at the coffee shop, I believe.”
    “So I did. I’ve also met the Benedict who is the sheriff and the one who owns Windwood Plantation where we’ll be shooting a couple of scenes.”
    She gave a quick nod. “Benedict cousins, all three of them, Mr. Peabody. And if you should need a derelict plantation house, Trey has one of those. Oh, and the older lady is Miss Myrtle Chauvin, who knows everybody who is anybody in Chamelot, and is related to most of them.”
    “Derek, please, since we’ll be working together.”
    Her smile was brief. “Derek, then.”
    “And now I believe I should get closer acquainted with your supporters here.”
    The actor put his hand to the small of Zeni’s back as he moved forward at a languid pace. It made Zeni a little uncomfortable for some reason, but she walked the few steps at his side. Her thoughts were on how Trey might take this cozy approach.
    She was given no time to explain. Derek gave Granny a slight bow. “Miss Chauvin, a very great pleasure.” Turning, he put out his hand in direct contrast to how he’d acted the first time he and Trey met. “Nice to see you again, Benedict. I believe your arrival just now was timely for Zeni’s test.”
    “I doubt she needed me.” Trey’s gaze was level and more than a little assessing as he completed the handshake.
    Granny Chauvin flicked his arm with the backs of her fingers. “Of course she did. Our Zeni having so much practice at putting you in your place, it was only natural for her to give you what for!”
    “Natural indeed.” Derek’s smile was thin. “That being the case, Benedict, I wonder if I might interest you in the part of a palace guard in this scene. It won’t be a speaking role, understand. You merely enter at Queen Zenobia’s call, looking grim and protective, and then stand behind her for the duration.”
    “Oh, I don’t think—” Zeni began as she saw the hardening of Trey’s jaw muscles, a sure sign of his annoyance.
    “I love it,” Granny declared. “Trey’s good at that look.”
    Derek slanted Zeni a glance