An Officer and a Princess by Carla Cassidy

kidnapping of King Michael. But, what Isabel wanted was the person who was at the heart of the treachery, the mastermind behind it all.
    â€œWe’ve gone over this before,” Adam said as he paced the small confines of the room. As usual, he looked like a restless lion passively rebelling against the confines of a cage.
    â€œBut, we’ve got to be missing something,” she replied.
    For the past two days, ever since she’d thrown herself at him, asked him to make love to her and he had responded so coldly, they had endured a cool distance between each other.
    It was a distance broken only when they played their roles of Adam and Bella Wilcox, and in the unconsciousness of sleep.
    Adam had rejected the chair in favor of the bed for sleeping. At night, they got beneath the covers, careful not to touch one another, careful not to in any way cross the invisible barrier of personal space.
    But, in sleep, they found one another. His arm would curl around her, or her leg would fold across one of his. It was as if in unconsciousness, their bodies hungered for one another, their skin sought the touch of the other.
    Each and every inadvertent physical contact suffered during the day was a torture for Isabel. If his hand brushed against hers, her heart leapt in response. If his shoulder bumped against hers, she felt a tingling jolt clear down to her toes.
    â€œThe first person who would have the most to gain would be Nicholas. With your father gone, he becomes king,” Adam said, not halting his rapid pace back and forth in front of her.
    â€œBut we know Nicholas wasn’t involved because they kidnapped Ben impersonating Nicholas,” Isabel replied. “Besides, Nicholas would never do anything to hurt Father.”
    Adam stopped pacing and nodded. He raked a hand across his jaw, as always looking surprised to feel the growth of whiskers on his chin. “I agree. Prince Nicholas is a good man. And that leaves the next in line to succeed, your Uncle Edward.”
    Isabel frowned thoughtfully, trying to stay focused on the conversation and not remember the absolute wonder of awakening in Adam’s arms. “I just can’t believe Uncle Edward would be behind all this. He returned to Edenbourg after years in the States because he wanted to reconcile differences between himself and my father. I can’t fathom that he returned here to have my father and my brother kidnapped so he could be king.”
    Adam finally stopped his pacing and sank into the chair. His eyes were dark, hooded as he looked at her. “That scenario is especially difficult to believe since Edward’s talking about stepping down already.”
    â€œAnd Luke would be next in line for the crown.” Isabel thought of her cousin. “But, it seems so farfetched to think that a man who is fourth in the succession line would go to all this trouble. I mean, how could Luke know his father would get ill and relinquish the crown?”
    â€œI agree. Edward is a relatively young man. What is he, mid fifties?” Isabel nodded and Adamcontinued. “It’s conceivable that Edward could have reigned for the next twenty-five or thirty years.”
    â€œA long time for a mastermind to wait for his reward,” Isabel replied.
    â€œI agree.” Adam looked at his watch. “It’s time.”
    Isabel’s heart jumped. It was time. Time to meet Pam. Time to infiltrate the group that had kidnapped her father. She hoped…prayed that by the end of this night they would have some answers. She stood and together they started for the door.
    â€œBella and Adam Wilcox are now on stage,” Adam murmured and grabbed her hand.
    He held her hand as they made their way through the crowded bar. Isabel loved the way his hand felt around hers. So big and strong, so utterly masculine.
    He released hers only when they stepped outside and started up the street in the direction of the bus stop where they were to meet