Free Some Like it Secret (Going Royal Book 4) by Heather Long

again, fighting to keep tears at bay. “I’m glad she’s all right. I understood why they needed a place to go…”
    “I promise, I will make our lost week up. I know we got off to a poor start here, but we have the island to ourselves for the next couple of weeks. It will just be you and me—”
    A throat clearing interrupted him, and Meredith glanced back to see impatience darken Sebastian’s countenance. Eduard Vidal, Sebastian’s head of security, stood a few feet away. “Please forgive the intrusion, Your Highness.”
    “Can’t it wait?” Sebastian didn’t take his gaze away from her and she wrapped her arms around herself. They were standing out in the open and they were hardly alone. Security moved to the fringes, save for Eduard, but she could see them arrayed out in a loose circle with several yards between them. Chances were they couldn’t hear anything.
    “My apologies, Your Highness. It cannot.”
    Aggravation slid over Sebastian’s face and vanished so quickly, she thought she might have imagined it. “Please excuse me, Meredith. I will be right back.” He pivoted and the pair walked several feet away. Beyond them, she saw cars in the circular drive—Kate walked down the front steps and spoke to Terry as he exited one of the vehicles.
    Kate greeting him didn’t bother Meredith nearly as much as the very obvious security presence around Terry. Two of Sebastian’s guards bracketed him. He was in trouble because he’d interfered and tried to protect her.
    Abandoning her position, she strode toward the cars. The men noticed her approach right away, but she ignored them all except for Terry. “Are you all right?”
    “Nothing wounded beyond my pride.” He gave her an easy smile. “How about you?”
    She waved off his concern. “You’re not in trouble are you?”
    “You assault the boss, you get in trouble.” His chagrined expression mired her in guilt.
    “You were doing your job.” She frowned and glanced over to where Sebastian and Eduard spoke. Sebastian’s gaze was locked on her and the frown on his brow deepened. “I’ll talk to him…”
    Terry caught her hand and tugged her back before she could take a step. “You don’t have to.” He dropped his voice. “In fact, I think it would be better if you didn’t.”
    Very aware of the eyes on them, Meredith lowered her voice. “You shouldn’t be in trouble for protecting me.”
    “Don’t worry about me. I mean it. Can you handle this?” He dropped his voice as well.
    “I have no idea.” It was the truth. She really didn’t know how she was feeling at the moment. “I’m sorry I got you into this mess. You told me I should reconsider the job offer when it came in.”
    In fact, Terry was the only one who counseled her to think the entire thing through. She longed for a distraction and her department head had been over the moon at the idea of the donation and projected grant money the work could generate—not to mention reputation. If she published again, it would have been five major accomplishments in five years. She was at the top of her field and the project would have sealed it.
    She’d understood Terry’s caution, but at the time, she’d wanted to leave more than worry about impossible scenarios. What she wouldn’t give to be back in Boston, freezing in class and teaching algorithms.
    “Meredith?” Sebastian’s voice washed over her and guilt gnawed at her. Her earlier wishing that she hadn’t met Sebastian was less than charitable and completely untrue. Squeezing Terry’s hand in a show of solidarity, she released him to look at the love of her life. Her heart did another little flip-flop in her chest.
    Yes, she was angry and she was frustrated, but, no, she didn’t want to be in Boston. She didn’t even want to be standing outside the house. She wanted to throw herself at Bastian and lose herself in his arms.
    “All done?” Her attempt to go for a brighter tone sounded odd to her ears and, based on