Page 65 of The Duchess Effect

“The fact that you did all of this for me means everything.”

“How about we head home, and you can show me how much.”

Home.

Thanking their servers and the chef, they headed up the stairs. Jameson felt a little wistful leaving their enchanted forest and returning to the real world. Roy held the door open for them and they exited the building, holding hands.

“I don’t know if I can wait until—”

“Welcome back, Duchess. Have you seen the queen?”

“Prince Jameson! Duchess! Are you getting married?”

“Duchess, did you introduce Samantha Banks to the prince?”

The throng wasn’t only surprising, it was large. The click of cameras seemed loud after the intimate calm of the restaurant. The lights were blinding.

“What the fuck?” Jameson growled.

“Come here often, Duchess?” a photographer asked, getting too close to Dani.

Jameson saw red. “Back off!”

The photographer continued taking pictures of Jameson.

“Does that make you angry, Prince Jameson?” He moved closer to Dani. “What are you going to do about it?”

Rage erupted and Jameson started for the man, when he felt a steel grip on his forearm.

“Let’s go,” Roy said, and hurried him toward the car.

He dug in his heels. “Not me! Get Dani!”

“Sir, you’re my responsibility. Nicolas has got Ms. Nelson.”

Jameson turned his head and saw the other man sheltering Dani from the press as they hurried to the car.

Dammit, he should be the one doing that!

He felt powerless and knew he wouldn’t be settled until they were safe. He picked up his pace and stopped fighting Roy, something the officer probably appreciated, but Jameson had only done it to accelerate them getting out of the situation.

He climbed in the car and the moment after he was seated, Dani was next to him, waving to the press.

“Thanks, guys,” she said.

“Were you waving at them?” he asked incredulously.

“Yes. If you give them a little bit, they tend to let you be faster. It’s only when you give them attitude that they get crazed and act like jackoffs!”

“Dani! How many times do I have to tell you they’re not like the press in the States and you can’t treat them that way?”

Jameson pulled her into his arms and inhaled her scent, using it to assure himself that she was unharmed.

The drive back to Kensington Palace took twenty minutes.When the Land Rover drew up in front of his apartment, Jameson ordered, “Leave us.”

He would apologize for his rudeness later. But his grip on his composure was slipping and he needed to be alone with Dani.

Now.