Page 102 of Tabloid Princess

“Leia.” The low whisper of my name churned my insides. “This was my idea. I know Daisy is your priority and I will do what it takes to make it right.” Leaning forward, he brushed his lips against my mouth. The monster woke instantly, clawing for more. “And anyway, I missed you, Paris had no beauty this week.”

My eyes fluttered closed. Daisy played in the next room. I shouldn’t be kissing in the kitchen. In the moment, I didn’t care. I wanted his taste on my tongue.

His hand ran along my jaw, tilting my mouth up to his. My breath caught waiting for the next press of his lips. When it didn’t arrive, I opened my eyes to find him watching me. “She looks like you; she has your eyes and smile.”

“Yeah, she does. She’s far more sensible than me though.”

“Ollie!” Daisy’s call came from the lounge and he dropped his hold on my face.

“You made her call you Ollie?”

“We are in the Builder’s Guild. It has to be first names only.”

I shook my head shaking away the crazy.

“I’m needed. My skills are sought after everywhere.”

“Go. I’d hate to stand in the way of your antechambers.”

His flash of a smile darted right between my legs.

I put the milk back in the fridge just as my phone rang. Molly. I almost dodged the call, but in the end I answered.

“Hey.”

“Just checking you were okay. You didn’t make it to the pub last night.”

Oh shit.

“Crap, Molly, I’m sorry. I had such a headache. I ended up going to bed early.” This was a lie. I’d gone to bed early, flustered and agitated, to make today happen all the sooner. That’s how desperate to see him I was.

“Leia. Are you okay? I know all that stuff with the press upset you, but I think in the grand scheme of things you got off quite lightly. It could have been worse.”

I peeped around the kitchen door and found Oliver and Daisy in a very serious conversation about where to put a flag.

“I know,” I whispered. “It could have been a lot worse.”

“Anyway, I guess you’ve seen the news about him having been witnessed being driven around London at random times of night. The gossipmongers are saying he’s sneaking off to see a new girlfriend.”

I nearly dropped the phone. “No. That doesn’t sound very princely behaviour. Did they say who?” I already knew they hadn’t mentioned my name. If they had there would have been far more screaming from Molly’s end of the line.

“Nope. Anyway, at least it means someone else will have the press hounding them now. Poor cow.”

“Yeah.” I didn’t have anything else to say.

“Do you want me to come over? We could take Daisy to the park.”

“Don’t you have some poor guy to get ready to devour later?”

“I do. But I’ve always got time for the swings.”

“It’s fine. I’ll see you Monday.”

“Leia?”

“Yep.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”