Page 35 of Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire

Reina sat on one sofa.

Alex sat next to Michele on the other one.

“Gregory,” said Reina. “Why don’t you show Erin your playroom?”

The boy looked up from where they were playing. “Yes, Mama.” He took Erin by the hand and disappeared through a door on the side of the room.

“Are they safe?” Michele wrung her hands.

“Yes.” Alex placed one of his hands on top of hers to stop their movement. “The room has only the one door. They will be fine.”

She sagged. “Thank you. I feel much better now.”

Alex squeezed her hands. “I will keep you and Erin safe.”

“Also…” Reina’s mouth was in a flat line. “Nicolai is not here. He is nothing like Gregor. Never was. Even though they looked alike, I always knew that he was not Gregor.”

Michele looked up at Alex. “I wish I could have met your father.”

“He was a great man. His people and his family both loved him, except for Nicolai,” said Reina.

The hand Michele held started to turn into a fist. She tightened her hold.

He relaxed his hand.

Reina looked at Alex, and her expression softened. “In a way, youhavemet him. My Alex is the best of his father, and the fact that he looks almost exactly like him means you have the best of my Gregor in his son.”

Michele gazed up at Alex.

He squeezed her hand lightly and then brought it to his lips and kissed the back, before lowering their clasped hands to her lap.

“I see you’re wearing Mother’s ring. I wondered who Alex would deem worthy enough for it. You must have impressed him very much.”

“She has, Mother. She’s the most remarkable woman I’ve ever known, and I care for her and her daughter more than anyone.”

Reina glanced from Alex to Michele and smiled. “I’m very glad he found you.”

Michele’s eyes were suddenly heavy with tears, but she blinked them away.

The queen narrowed her eyes just a smidge and then widened them and gave a very slight nod.

She can tell. She knows I love her son and don’t know if he loves me. But I can’t stand the thought of him marrying anyone else. Will she tell him not to marry me?

This was so far removed from the Alex she knew. The one who wore cowboy boots and a hat. The one who raised horses and helped her muck out stalls sometimes. Was the other man just him playacting? Was this the real Alex? Or were they both Alex? Was he much more complex than she’d given him credit for?

She looked over at Alex and saw a serious look she’d never seen. His brows were furrowed, but his eyes were sad with the sheen of unshed tears. Tears she knew he would not shed. His mouth, instead of forming the smile she was so used to seeing, was down-turned. His jaw was clenched, and she knew he was doing his best to keep his temper.

“Alex, why don’t you take me for a walk and show me the palace?”

“I can’t. Can’t you see I’m busy?”

His barely capped anger was showing.

“The children are safe and I need a walk.”

He stared at her.

His eyebrows slashed up in the middle and his eyes widened before narrowing. “Michele—”