The Starbucks shop appeared a little crowded, an early morning rush of workers coming in to get their morning coffee before heading to work.
Hardy would never have believed Celine would be seated in a corner, nursing a steaming mug of coffee with her delicately manicured hands if he'd been told. Some things are better witnessed than hearsay.
The fragile-looking princess, born with a golden rather than a silver spoon in her mouth, had never known a single moment of discomfort or need. She always got what she wanted. Including the best coffee in the world.
Dressed in his grey t-shirt and black jeans, hair tousled and sitting in a corner diagonal to where Celine sat, no one would know he was there to keep an eye on her.
He could not wait to see the look of shock on her face when she saw him. So she could know how easy it was to find her when she used her credit card to check into a cheap motel and also buy coffee.
He should be on his way to the States on a covert assignment involving the murder of a maid to their diplomat based on a joint agreement with the Mossad. Instead, Celine's father begged him to bring the spoiled princess who thought it wise to spread her spring chicken wings by running away from home to London at a perilous time when her father's enemies were on the prowl.
Tracking her had been the easiest thing he'd ever done. She loved coffee. Her father made sure she owned the best coffee company in the world. Hardy did not need a soothsayer to tell him where to find her. Celine would always go where the best coffee was served.
And she loved him. Hardy did not need a test result to know that.
She sipped from her mug, the swirl of steam rising into her small button nose. She closed her eyes to savour the taste and opened them to stare directly at him.
Her eyes widened in shock. She blinked twice and still saw Hardy seated in a corner of the cafe. He gave her an evil smile saying I got you, baby.
If smoke could rise out from her ears at that point, it would. How dare her father send his lackey after her? She fumed, rose clumsily and stormed out of the cafe. Hardy followed her and stayed on her trail till she entered an alley leading to a cheap motel, the place where she was hiding out.
"Stop following me!" She screamed over her shoulders. Hardy increased his strides, caught up with her and pulled her roughly to himself.
"Don't EVER pull such a stunt again," he whispered roughly into her ears. "Time to go home, Princess. Your father misses you and so do I."
Celine turned into his arms and hugged him.