Filthy Crown by Eleanor Aldrick

I squeeze my eyes so tight I see sparks of white. What the fuck is wrong with me? I just can’t help myself, can I?

Letting out a deep sigh, I rub a rough palm across my face. I need to get my shit together. There’s no way Austin would approve of the way I’m handling his daughter. She might not have been his blood, but I knew he loved her just the same. And that man would have my hide if he saw me pressed up against her tight little body.

I groan, sending up a prayer she hadn’t felt how her body affected mine. That was definitely inappropriate.

Needing to change my train of thought, STAT, I dial one of the sat phones. The roads are tricky up to Hunter’s cabin, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t on edge. There seems to be a dark cloud following our family around and I wouldn’t put it past fate to fuck with us once more.

The line rings and rings, but there’s no answer. Dammit. I’ll try again later, knowing the unease in my stomach won’t go away until I know they’ve arrived safely.

Heading upstairs, I take the steps two at a time. It’s been a while since I took the time to enjoy my property and I’m actually looking forward to sharing this time with the kids.

I’ve just made it to the landing when a voice pulls my eyes to the left hallway.

“Jack! I’m so glad I found you.” Georgina speed walks toward me as if I were to run away.

I smile while shaking my head. “I’ve been home this whole time, Georgina.”

“Right, but you were locked up in your study for so long.” She bats her lashes at me as she takes a couple of steps forward, bringing her body a mere inch from mine. “I just wanted to make sure you still wanted my help with the kids. It doesn’t seem Pen likes me very much and I don’t want to overstep.” With her last word, she brings up a hand, her palm splaying over my chest.

“Yes, I’d like you to help with the kids when it’s necessary. I can’t be expected to keep an eye on them at all times and run my business at the same time. As for Pen… she’s just a teenager. I’m sure it’s nothing personal.”

Steps on the landing have me freezing, as if I’ve been caught doing or saying something wrong. In my mind I know that’s impossible, but it does nothing to stop the sinking feeling in my stomach.

Turning my head, I see Pen with an unreadable look in her eyes, her hand clutching tightly onto that of her little sister’s. “Amanda spilled her lemonade; she needs a change of clothes.”

I jerk a nod, moving out of her way and effectively breaking Georgina’s touch.

Speaking of Georgina, she pipes up, “Oh, I can take her. It won’t be a problem.” She smiles at my two nieces, but they both just glare at her, all while Amanda scoots closer to her sister.

Needing to diffuse the tension, I decide to step in. “That won’t be necessary. It’s clear Amanda is being helped by Pen. If you don’t mind, could you please check in on Leventhal and his associate?”

Georgina pouts, but she remains quiet, only giving me a nod before rushing past Pen and Amanda. Well, that didn’t go well.

Turning back to Pen, I see that she still has the same unreadable look on her face. Not ready to dive into that nugget of emotion, I avoid it altogether. “Be ready in twenty.”

I don’t even bother looking back. It’s been one hell of a day already and it’s not even lunch yet. God, I wish it were acceptable to drink whiskey at this hour.

Penelope

Breathe, Pen. Breathe.

I take in a lung full of air before releasing it slowly, needing to calm the fuck down. If Amanda wasn’t right next to me, I swear I’d be screaming into a damn pillow.

She’s just a teenager.

She’s just a teenager.

She’s just a teenager.

Getting Amanda quickly changed, I decide to swallow my pride and forget that whole incident. Mom’s voice floats into my head, haunting me with her wisdom. If you want true happiness in coexisting, you must learn to pick your battles.

The ever romantic actually had a good point with that one. I saw firsthand how she was with Austin, and after years of searching for her Prince Charming, she finally found him.

My heart clenches at the cruelty of it all. How awful is fate to give you your other half only to tear them away?

Even though Jack is in no way, shape or form, my Prince Charming, we still have to co-exist and I still have to convince him to let me take the kids. So Mom’s words of wisdom it is.

We’re back downstairs way before Jack’s twenty-minute timeline so I decide to make myself an iced coffee roadie. I snicker, knowing how much it’ll bother Jack.

Sure enough, just as I’m pouring the delicious concoction into a travel container, I hear it.

“Again with that nonsense?” Jack shakes his head as his face contorts into one of disgust.

“Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.” I purse my lips to the side and raise a brow, unwilling to give up my lifeblood just because he’s bothered by the idea of it.

To my surprise, Jack walks toward me, his face a breath away. I’m unsure of what he’s doing until out of my periphery I see him pick up the travel cup, and then right in front of my eyes the man who has been trash-talking the most delicious drink known to mankind takes a sip.

My mouth drops open, still in shock from it all. I never thought he’d actually try it. Before I can even ask him how he likes it, he licks his full lips and I swear my lady bits clench at the sight.

“Yeah, that’s a no for me.” Jack raises a brow while putting the drink down. Meanwhile, I’m still in a stupor.

He finally takes a step back from me and the fog he had me under lifts, the sudden clarity allowing me to reply. “Well, you’ve always had crap taste, so it doesn’t surprise me.”

Jack cocks his head back and laughs. “Excuse me? What do you know of my taste?”

Unable to hold back, I let him have it. “Oh, I remember the woman you brought over to my twelfth birthday party.” I raise both brows and give him side eye. “That woman was a hot mess in her too-tiny dress for a young girl’s party.”

Jack’s face turns a funny shade of pink. So he remembers. “God. That was ages ago. In all fairness, I didn’t tell her we were going to my niece’s birthday party.”

His niece. That would be me. So what in the hell am I doing? Is this flirting?

Mary cuts into my thoughts. “Sir, I’ve called Sam to pick up your lunch. He’ll take it to the creek for you.”

“Great. Thank you.” Jack doesn’t waiver his eyes from mine. “You ready, Princess?” He waits for my nod before turning to the kids. “We’re heading to the stables first.”

“Horsies!” Amanda squeals. “Are we going to ride?”

Jack’s face breaks into a huge grin. “Yes. We’ll be riding doubles.”

“Doubles?” Alex’s blond brows push together.

“That’s when two people ride on one horse,” I add, trying to remember the last time I saddled up.

“Exactly. Still remember how to ride, Pen?” Jack asks.

I smile and nod. “Yes, it’s like riding a bike. Well, not literally, but the muscle memory of it all. Once you learn it you can’t unlearn it. That’s what the old colloquial saying means, anyway. Not that riding a bike is anything like riding a horse.” I stifle a groan, realizing I’m rambling. Rambling because I’m nervous. Why am I nervous?

Probably because my subconscious knows that I’ll be in close proximity to this beast of a man all afternoon. Equal parts thrilling and terrifying. Thrilling because it will give me the opportunity to prove myself, but terrifying because every time I’m around him, I fall into my old thoughts of adoration. Only this time, they’re mixed with lust. Not a good thing.

Thankfully, Jack is either oblivious to my inner freakout or is just being nice and chooses to ignore it. “Alright then, shall we?” He extends a hand toward the back door.

Clearly not holding any of my reservation, both kids line up in front of him, ready to take on the day. Good. They need to have fun after the heavy morning we’ve all had.

Suddenly, the sound of horseback riding and a picnic doesn’t sound too bad.