Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Mia clung to her husband's arm. "Babe, I don't want to leave you."

"Be good, I just need to tie up a few things," Andre said, gently holding her wrist from behind, his broad frame all but wrapping around her, making her feel safe and shielded from the world. "I'd keep you with me if I could, but you're the only one here who knows what it's like to be pregnant and a mom. Annie's at the hospital, and she needs you more. Go be with her, show her the ropes."

A few sweet words and a couple of well-aimed compliments were all it took- before Mia knew it, she'd been coaxed into Mr. Nettleton's car, still a little dazed from her husband's praise. Andre shared a quick, knowing glance with Conner, and they both nodded.

Mia pressed her face to the window, looking back at Andre with a playful little pout. "Honey~"

"I'll pick you up when I'm done," Andre promised, giving her soft cheek an affectionate squeeze, savoring the moment.

Then he closed the door. Finally, his clever wife had been gently ushered away.

Andre turned, eyes sharp as steel, and faced the formidable ranks of the Dark Web. He strode forward, ready for business.

***

The Palace.

Cooper headed straight for Kristen's quarters.noveldrama

Since he was a man, it wasn't exactly proper for him to just waltz into the princess's rooms, so he always brought someone along as an escort.

He waited outside for a few minutes while, inside, Kristen was woken up.

The maids scrambled to help her into some elaborate evening gown, but Kristen waved them off, too lazy to bother, and settled for her simple silk nightgown. Her brown hair tumbled messily down her back.

When Cooper stepped in and saw her in pajamas, he immediately turned his back. "Put something on."

"This isn't skin, you know—it's a nightgown," Kristen shot back, glancing down at the soft silk.

Without her usual jewelry and dramatic makeup, she looked way more down-to- earth-almost girlish.

Kristen gave Henry's little bottom a gentle pat. "So, are you going to stare or what?"

Cooper thought of girls back home, strolling out in their pajamas to grab late-night snacks. Customs were just different here.

He turned and walked over to the princess's huge, canopied bed.

An attendant tried to block him, but Kristen just gave her a look. "Wait outside."

The poor girl had no choice but to step out.

Cooper looked at his nephew, who was fast asleep under a gold-trimmed blanket, his little face clean and sweet-though his hands were grubby as ever. "Stop patting him, you'll wake him up and he'll start crying again."

Kristen pulled her hand back. "That's how the nannies here taught me."

Cooper reached for the covers, but Kristen stopped him. "What if you wake him?”

"I can't stay here all night with him," Cooper said.

Word had already gotten out that Henry was sleeping in Kristen's room, and rumors were

swirling-people whisperingel

the

princess had a secret child.

All it takes is the tiniest rumor to grow into a palace-sized scandal.

The king heard about it and wanted to get to the bottom of things. Luckily, Owen filled him in and explained who Henry really was.

"Andre's kid? How did Logan even find out about that?" the king asked, skeptical.

Owen quickly replied, "Father, there's no saving the Dark Web now."

Cooper looked at his nephew's peaceful little face. He still needed to take the boy back. "His dad'll be here to pick him up at sunrise."

He gently scooped Henry up and looked at Kristen. "Thanks, for today."

Kristen lounged on the bed, her pose lazy and just a little seductive. "You could always thank me with more than just words, you know."

Cooper just shot her a cool look, completely unfazed. Without another word, he carried the sleeping Henry out.