Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Holy shit!
Dianxia meant His Royal Highness!
Crown Prince Jin Long Wei, the heir to the throne of Gaoxing, had just walked into the tea shop without a single member of security shadowing his every step.
He. Was. Alone.
No wonder the bounty on his head was so low. Killing this man would be too easy.
Something was very wrong in the city of Jin.
And there was no way in hell West was leaving until it got fixed.
2
JIN LONG WEI
Meeting with Father’s doctor.
Meeting with the prime minister.
Meeting with the defense minister. Reason: China.
Again.
Or maybe just still.
Jin shoved his phone into his pocket as he pulled open the door to the tea shop. There wasn’t time to stop, but this was the one treat he permitted himself a week. Plus, the shop owner expected him now. He hated to disappoint her.
As he stepped inside the cozy tea shop that was only blocks from his home, he smiled at the mah-jongg aunties in their usual spot near the front window. It was the perfect place for them to play their weekly game, catch up on family news, gossip, and watch the people who passed on the street. After he grabbed his usual green tea, he would chat with them for a couple of minutes before rushing off to his first meeting of the morning.
Except there was someone new at the next table.
His face was all harsh angles framed by dishwater-blond hair that hung to his shoulders. Despite being seated, Jin was sure the man was taller than him, his body long and lanky under dark jeans and a collared shirt.
He ripped his gaze away just as the man’s eyes lifted to him, narrowly avoiding eye contact. Yes, that was for the best. It was more embarrassing to be caught staring.
Just keep moving.
Maybe he wouldn’t realize how awkward the illustrious crown prince of Jin was.
“There you are!” He knew that voice and stopped. “Dianxia! Oh, Dianxia! Over here! There’s someone who needs to meet you!”
Pushing his warmest smile into place despite the butterflies taking flight in his stomach, Jin turned to face the older woman while trying to keep his attention from straying to the handsome stranger. “Good morning, Auntie Su.” He took her extended hands in his and bowed his head to her and then to the other ladies around the table. “Good morning to all of you. How are you feeling today?”
“Oh, we’re just fine. Nothing for you to worry about at all.” She released one of his hands so she could pat the top of the hand she still held. “How is your father doing?”
“I have a meeting with my father’s doctor first thing this morning. I don’t believe his condition has gotten worse.” He said the words out of practice and desperately held on to his smile. He did not have high hopes for his meeting with the doctor. But he wasn’t ready to think about that. Not until he had his tea. That was his reprieve. His promise to himself. He could have a couple of minutes before he embraced that pain.
“We are all praying for him every day, Dianxia.”
That made the smile a little easier. Jin bowed his head to the woman at the back of the table. “Thank you, Auntie Wu. Your thoughtfulness is very appreciated.”
“Dianxia,” Auntie Su interjected, reclaiming his full attention. “We won’t take up more of your time. We wanted to introduce you to a young man who would very much like to speak with you. He’s a reporter from the United States, and he’s writing about Gaoxing and the Jin family.”
Jin turned toward the man, who was pushing to his feet. And yes, he was taller than Jin by several centimeters. Their eyes locked. The man’s eyes were pale. He wasn’t sure of the color in the dim lighting of the shop. Maybe blue. Maybe green. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t breathe when he stared into those sharp, wounded eyes. Everything inside of him cried out to gather this man close, hand him a bowl of hot soup, and wrap him in a blanket.
Who was caring for this man? Someone needed to be caring for him!
He woke from his frozen state first and bowed very low to Jin, his hands flat at his sides. “My apologies for bothering you, Dianxia. My name is John West, and I’m a freelance reporter from the United States. I’ve come to Gaoxing to write a story about your country and your family’s long reign.”
Jin bit his bottom lip. His accent was adorable, but his word choices were smart. He’d practiced his use of their language.
“Your interest in our home and history honors my family and me,” Jin replied clearly and a bit slowly. He was never sure how well someone from the West understood their language. He didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable.