Stealing Kisses With a King by Sylvie Stewart

Author:Sylvie Stewart [Stewart, Sylvie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781947853256
Publisher: Rolling Hearts Press

Chapter 14

Malcolm

“Well, old man, look at you leading a life of leisure.”

My father looked up from his paper where he sat dressed in his robe with his feet up on an ottoman “Quite a reversal of fortune, isn’t it?”

I stepped further into the room, hands in my pockets. “Well, it’s past time I settled on a profession. I thought I’d give king a try.”

“Good choice, my boy. I hear the perks are quite nice and the crown isn’t as heavy as it looks.” His mouth lifted at the corners as he gestured for me to sit in one of the plush armchairs in the ornately furnished room. While I preferred to keep my own quarters more modern, my parents fully embraced the opulence and fussiness of royal tradition.

I took my time settling in the chair while attempting a surreptitious survey of my father. He was still a young man at fifty-eight but the MS had taken its toll in subtle ways. His leg muscles had deteriorated somewhat, leaving him to use a cane while his thoughts didn’t come quite as quickly as they used to and his short-term memory sometimes failed him. But, through it all, he maintained his regal air as if he’d been born with it. Even alone in his sitting room, his chin remained high, his shoulders back, and his eyes sharp.

“So, to what do I owe this visit? Checking up on me or seeking counsel?” He folded the paper neatly and placed it on the small antique table beside him.

I coughed out a laugh. “If people don’t stop questioning my motives, I might develop a complex.”

“Is that so? Who’s been questioning you?”

“No one.” I didn’t want to discuss Alice with my father—or anyone for that matter. It was as if I’d discovered a treasure I wanted to hoard for myself. Not because I was afraid anyone would steal it, but they’d want to examine it from every angle and question it or qualify it.

I hurried on, “I just came to say hello since I haven’t seen you in a few days.”

“Your mother has the physical and occupational therapists practically living with us. I’m beginning to consider adoption to make things official.”

“Oh, come on, you love the attention.”

He raised his brows at me. “You’ve obviously never had a seven-stone woman push your legs in directions they were never meant to go.”

“Sounds kinky.”

He shook his head but couldn’t hide the quirk of his lips. “I’d almost forgotten to whom I was speaking.” Lifting a teacup from the table, he watched me before taking a distracted sip. “How are things progressing?”

I nodded and tapped on the chair’s wooden arm. “It’s complete chaos, so it’s going fine.”

“And you?” he pressed, not allowing me to get away with being flip.

“What about me?”

He tilted his head and frowned at me, so I gave in a little and rested my hands flat on the chair arms.

“I’m fine, really. No need to worry about me.”

After digesting my answer, he chuckled for some reason.

“What’s so funny?” I frowned at him.

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