Read Online Royal Opposites by Lori Crawford - Free Book Online

questions he got about being royalty from commoners like herself. Assuming he interacted with commoners. Joan almost laughed. She was a commoner. The title never felt more apropos than it did at this moment.
    “First, we’re going to make a copy of the video. I’m not comfortable with there only being one copy. If it’s destroyed, things will become much more difficult.”

    Joan nodded. Fair enough. She liked his plan so far. In fact, she couldn’t have agreed more. If he hadn’t suggested it, she’d decided she’d find a way to copy it on her own. “And then?”
    He pushed his empty plate away in favor of an open phone book. “It turns out that your FBI has an office in this city. I believe they have more authority than local police departments, yes?”
    Joan’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. She nodded. Their ways of life may be different on vast levels, but so far, they seemed to still be pretty well in sync.
    “Good. We’ll contact them for help. We’ll give them a copy of the video to back up our story then let them handle the rest.
    What do you say?”
    Tom’s plan sounded quite sensible. Joan didn’t understand why she felt so abandoned all of a sudden. Yes, he promised to see her through, but contacting the FBI meant they would part company sooner rather than later. She remembered the obligations he’d mentioned in his country. He’d plan to go home today. She was sure he had to be anxious to get home. She had no doubt he would leave once she was under the protection of the FBI. She’d never see him again.
    What was the matter with her? Five minutes ago, she’d been convinced he was a bank robber. Her life had been turned upside down the moment he stepped in it. Yet, here she was sad that their time together was coming to a close. If she had an ounce of sense, she’d be glad to see the back of him. Except that was part of the problem. She was glad to see him. Any part of him.
    Joan shook off the thoughts and smiled. “That sounds like a wonderful idea. When do we start?” She injected an eager note into her voice and he gave her one of those heart stopping smiles.
    “After you eat more than half a bagel.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “I know you’re not one of those women who pick over food, so eat.”
    Joan held on to her smile and forced a laugh. The last thing she felt like doing at this moment was putting something in her churning stomach. Still, she obeyed. She went to the serving tray and selected a larger breakfast. Why not? She didn’t know if she’d ever have the chance to indulge herself on room service at a five-‐-
    star hotel quite like this. Which brought her to…
    “Please let me know how much I owe you for all this. I won’t be able to pay you back all at once, but if you’ll allow me a payment plan—”
    “Joan, stop it. You don’t now nor will you ever owe me a dime. It’s I who is forever in your debt.” His face changed. It was strange, but she knew him well enough by now that his thoughts had turned inward. “I must be truthful with you, Joan. If not for your interruption yesterday, this whole incident could become very embarrassing for my country.”
    Joan frowned. “How’s that?”
    Tom relaxed back into the cushions of the couch. “The majority of Rafferstonia’s income is derived from loans we make to other nations. Our financial reputation is flawless. If that were to change, some of the, let’s say, nosier nations may insist on greater transparency in our process.”
    Joan swallowed a bite of pancakes before asking, “And that’s bad because?”
    “You’re familiar with the term ‘knowledge is power’, yes?”
    He waited for Joan to nod. “Knowing to whom we lend money and how much could shift the balance of power in unfavorable ways for some countries who may then find themselves under attack by others. It’s best for all involved that we keep our books sealed.”
    Perhaps she wasn’t quite so stupid after all. She understood what he was