All three jump into action, and my respect for this woman just doubled. Now I get why she and Luke are such a good match. His grumpy side needs someone who understands and yet sets boundaries for him.
While Payton talks to Wade, I join Sophie near the door. “Were you able to find anything out?”
“Officially, they’re here on an anonymous tip.Unofficially, sounds like it was Houston Jennings.” She draws her brows together. “Is it true? Is Payton royalty?”
I glance back at him, unsure of what to say. This is his story to tell, not mine, but I want to help him, too. “Am I talking to Sophie, the reporter, or Sophie, the friend?”
“Yourfriend. I always put the people I care about before the job. And for the record, I’m a photojournalist.”
Her stubbornness makes me smile, but her declaration sends all these warm and fuzzy feelings through me. For the first time in my life, I have genuine friends—something else I’ll have to give up when I return to England.
Although Del proved to be a good friend during this odd assignment. She offered to stay and help wrap things up, but I could tell she was itching to get home, so I told her to go on ahead of me. Now, I wish she were here to navigate this situation with us.
Pressing my lips together, I nod. “Sorry. I had to ask. It’s part of my job.”
“What job?” She blinks her round eyes at me.
I sigh. “I’m not Payton’s wife. I’m his…bodyguard.”
Her mouth drops open just so as she stares at me. “Wow, didn’t see that coming.” She shifts her focus back to Payton. “So, Paytonisroyalty.”
“More like royalty adjacent.” I can tell a myriad of questions are passing through her mind as she processes this.
“So all this time…?” She rolls her lips inward as she thinks. “All that stuff I said…you two seemed so real.”
Without thinking about it, my eyes find Payton and drink him in. He ran his hand through his hair at least once, leaving it a bit tousled, like the way he looks when he wakes up in the morning. He didn’t bother putting his tie back on, so his shirt is unbuttoned at the top. And every time he flexes his arm, I see the definition of his biceps.
But it’s his quiet strength that draws me the most. Andmakes me feel…safe. Maybe what’s happening between us is stronger than I realized.
“Oh.” A mix of mild astonishment and realization flashes across her face as she studies me.
Feeling exposed, I glance away, looking for anything else to focus on. “Yeah.”
No more words. Just the press of her hand against my upper arm to say she understands. And this bundle of feelings and emotions I’ve been holding close feels a little lighter and manageable.
Sophie glances toward the throng outside. “We need to hold a press conference or something. Otherwise, they’ll just keep hounding him.”
As I nod in agreement, Coach Markelson enters the scene, trailed by Luke. Coach pulls Payton aside for a brief chat, then strides out the door to deal with the reporters. Next thing I know, the assistant coach, Derek, is herding us back into the locker room area to Coach’s office.
A few minutes later, Coach joins us along with the rest of the team. “I’ve asked the press to give us a few minutes to get organized.” He zeros in on Payton. “I think it’s time you fill us in, Pay.”
I stay at Payton’s side as he explains his true identity and the entire situation, from his cousin’s disappearance to his sister’s insistence on hiring a bodyguard, which brings a room full of hockey players’ eyes on me.
And crickets.
I glance at Payton, unsure what to say because the spotlight is never supposed to fall on the bodyguard.
He meets my questioning gaze. “I’m the one who insisted Lily pose as my wife, and she has been beyond supportive.”
One of the rookies in the back makes a snickering comment, but Luke’s grunt shuts him down.
I didn’t think a burly man like Luke could appear more awkward than he does right now. With his handsin his pants pockets and shoulders near his ears, he takes on an almost sad expression. “Pay-man, why didn’t you just tell us who you are? We could have helped you deal with all this.”
Sophie stands next to him, giving me a look that says the same—I could have entrusted her with the truth. The rest of the guys are either nodding or making comments in agreement, all out of concern for Payton.
He holds a hand up, bringing a hush to the group. “In hindsight, I wish I had. But I thought keeping my lineage a secret was the easiest way to be a regular bloke who plays hockey.”
Ethan chirps, “Is that what you call that botched play tonight?”
