MAID FOR A PRINCE: (Book 1) (Point St. Claire, where true love finds a way) by Robyn Grady

eyes drifted shut and he brushed his lips over her cheek.
    “I wish I hang around,” he said. “But state business is calling.”
    He rotated her around and, rubbing his palms up then down her back, he kissed her until they’d run out of air.
    When their lips parted, her gaze was heavy and glazed. The tip of her tongue looped around his Adam’s apple. 
    “You taste salty,” she said. “I like salt.”
    “I’m pretty sure I’m salty all over.”
    “I’m pretty sure state business can wait.”
    Guess that meant she’d forgiven him.
    But he really needed to go. He needed to speak with Tahlia.
    “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” He dropped a final kiss on her forehead and headed for the door. 
    Outside the quarters, he practically collided with his quiet-as-a-cat sister.
    Tahlia’s almond-shaped, sapphire-blue eyes sparkled with excitement. “I like the look of your friend, Darius. Do you think she’d mind if I went in and introduced myself?” 
    Darius gave her a hug and planted a kiss on her brow. Tahlia might drive him nuts sometimes but he loved her to bits.
    “Why don’t you let her settle in first?” he asked, heading down the hall.
    “How long is she staying? What’s her name?”
    “Helene Masters. And she’s staying a couple of weeks, maybe a little longer.”
    “How did you meet her?” She looked at him sideways. “You were supposed to be on that island alone. Did an albatross drop her down from the sky?”
    His lips twitched. Smart aleck.
    “She’s American, isn’t she?” Tahlia went on. “I heard her speak. That accent is so sexy.”
    He pulled up sharp. “ Tahlia .”
    “Well, it is.”
    Shaking his head, he started off again. “I’ll explain it later.”
    “Helene Masters could explain it all to me now.” She skipped to keep up with him.
    “There’s plenty of time.” He added, “Everything doesn’t have to be so urgent.”
    As always, she didn’t take the advice.
    “I know you’ve had lots to think about this past week,” she said, walking alongside of him. “But did you give any more thought to Otis and me?”
    He tried not to groan. Here we go . “Tahlia, I want to give you everything you need and deserve,” he said. “But you’re too young to get serious.”
    “Why are you so stubborn about acknowledging him? Acknowledging us?” She stopped walking. “Why is it so hard to let me be who I am rather than who you want me to be?”
    Because he didn’t know what to expect next. Or maybe he did, and that made him wish all the more that their father was still alive to deal with it. Tahlia knew about the birds and the bees. Darius was dead certain Otis did, too. If he “acknowledged” Otis, he might as well give Otis the nod to more than kisses snatched in shadows.
    If his gate-keeping stifled Tahlia’s individuality, too bad.
    She tossed him a parting remark. “You can’t keep us apart. Just like they couldn’t keep Uncle Galen from being with the person who he loved.”
    Darius sighed. He’d have to deal with it at some point, just not now.
    He had a state building downtown where his ministers and staff worked, but he preferred to attend to business from “home” when he could. When he entered his office, he found Yanni standing by a credenza. Glancing up from sorting papers, the Chief Aide greeted him with a smooth smile.
    “Your Highness.”
    “Thanks for taking care of Helene,” Darius said, moving behind his desk and taking a seat.
    “As you asked, I spoke with the ship’s crew before and after the journey.” Yanni wandered closer. “They won’t spread tales about the extra passenger.”
    “And Alexio, the island caretaker?”
    “Of course, he also respects this office’s privacy.” Leaning in, Yanni dropped his voice. “That case is in your quarters. The safe is prepared. I’ll store the figurine away whenever you’re ready.”
    A snapshot of the goddess sitting in that alcove at the villa flashed into Darius’s mind. After