Knight is a stranger.

A stranger who needs me as a distraction and said I’m his wife.

He’d be a complete, albeit sexy, stranger had it not been for his introduction. I’d heard of the Kings of Castle Beach.

How they lost their fortune.

How they lost their father.

Back in high school, my best friend’s sister had dated a King and talked incessantly about them. It drove me crazy enough that I remember to this day how she gushed over one King in particular. “Are you related to Deacon King?” I ask.

“Matter of fact, I am. He’s my brother.” Suddenly, his brows dip, his gaze going straight to Hazel. I want to groan in frustration. Perfect. He thinks Hazel is his brother’s daughter.

“My high school best friend’s older sister dated Deacon for a while. I figured with an unusual name like yours and his, you must be related.”

He laughs, his curious gaze turning friendly. He has nice eyes, the color of the ocean in winter. “Yeah, my mom had, actually still has, this obsession with royalty. The Royal family... all things British and Scottish, really. Imagine the possibilities with six kids.”

His laid-back manner puts me at ease, something I haven’t felt for a very long time. “I can’t imagine anything more... royal than Knight.”

“If royal means odd, you’d be right.” He leans against the row of chairs, one long leg straight while the other is bent at the knee. “Prepare yourself—there’s Duke, Barron, Deacon—he keeps us humble, me, Quinn, and... and Laird.”

I don’t miss the catch in his voice, but I do choose to not ask about it. Instead, I settle on a safer question. One that can be asked of anyone without seeming like the beginning of an intimate moment. “Quinn?”

“It means fifth born and as close to queen as Dad would allow my momma to get. He picked all of our very sensible middle names, with Momma’s approval.” Knight shakes his head. “Growing up, we got so much crap about our names from other kids. I didn’t care really. I liked having something that connected me to my siblings.”

I glance at Hazel, wondering if I want her to have siblings. Her rose-colored lips are parted, and her eyes are closed. Dark lashes are starting to grow. She is the most precious person in my life. Too bad her dad didn’t even want her to be born. Well, too bad for him, not me. I don’t regret having my baby at all.

I do miss sleep and ... yeah, mostly sleep.

“I named Hazel after my grandmother.” I toy with the edge of Hazel’s blanket with the hand that hasn’t touched the food. Greasy cheeseburgers are not friends when there is no access to a washer and dryer. “She was the kind of grandmother every kid should have.” And she was a hell of a lot better than my own mother.

My heart pinches. I miss my nana so much.

“Campbell isn’t that common. Any special meaning behind it?” He takes a bite of his burger, his expression expectant. “Brothers? Sisters?”

Have I opened a can of worms by talking with him?

Will he expect me to give him something in return?

Stop painting him with the same brush as your exes. Would you want to be lumped in with the stereotypical dumb blonde or slow southerner by a guy?

“Campbell is my mother’s maiden name, and I have a younger brother—Caine. However, the only thing my momma is obsessed with is her social standing.” I grimace a little, then resume eating my lunch. “Sorry for the TMI.”

“You’re good.”

When I don’t try to keep the conversation going, he doesn’t press for more. Instead, he continues to eat and starts up a conversation with a guy two seats down, who is playing Tetris on an iPad.

Has Knight ever met a stranger?

While he bonds over the game, I finish eating and check my phone for any missed texts.

Who am I kidding?

There won’t be any. In fact, there aren’t any. Not even one of my so-called friends back in Los Angeles has spoken to me since I had Hazel. Actually, if I’m honest, it started before then. It started as soon as Donovan and I broke up. Once I didn’t have access to one of the biggest Hollywood producers on the planet, those same girls who called themselves my best friends on Insta and Snapchat began to ghost me.

Except I feel more like the ghost. It’s like I’ve ceased to exist.

Until Knight noticed me.

I peer at him from under my lashes, hoping he doesn’t catch me ogling him. I mean, I’m not interested in anyone right now, but Knight is mighty fine on the eyes with his light brown hair and grey eyes. From his sharp cheekbones to his full, sexy lips, he is incredibly man-candy worthy.

“Dude, I was on level eighteen and my phone died. Straight up crashes and burns. Lost my points... had to start over,” Knight says with a laugh, and butterflies flutter low in my stomach. “Good luck with level twenty. I heard it’s ridiculously fast.”

“Thanks, man. And thanks for your service,” the guy replies.

Knight ducks his head a little, his cheeks heating even as his eyes get an uncomfortable look to them. “Yeah. Anytime.”

As soon as the guy puts on headphones, I clear my throat. “Do you feel weird when people thank you?”

“Am I that obvious?”

I shrug. “Most guys don’t blush when they’re thanked.”

“Don’t like the attention. Bad enough I have to travel in this.” He pinches his t-shirt and pulls it out before letting go. “When we travel together, it’s a bit easier. Alone... and I feel like all eyes are on me.”

“Welcome to my world,” I say, nodding at Hazel. “Try traveling with a baby. Everyone wants to touch her, ask me about my marital status... Basically, it’s like there’s a neon ask me anything sign over my head.”

He eyes me for a moment. “What is your marital status?”

Is he... hitting on me? “You should know,” I remind him.

“Ah, that. Fine. We’re not married anymore, which would make me single.” He tilts his head to one side. “What about you?”

“Why do you need to know?”

“Asking for a friend.” He winks, and I bite back a grin. “Feel free to tell me to tell my friend to shove it.”

“I’m single, but I’m not... I’m focused on her right now.” I check on Hazel. “She’s my entire world.”

The sound of microphone feedback echoes before a woman begins to talk. She lists what seems like every single outbound flight to points north and east as cancelled or delayed until further notice.

“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Knight mutters before he raises his voice a little. “Campbell, where are you headed, honey?”

“Back home.”

“RDU or...?”

“RDU. What about you and your buddies?” I ask, hoping he’s at least delayed. Silly, I know, but he’s kind. He bought lunch, and I feel safe around him.

“La Guardia.”

I cheer on the inside. “Too bad.”

“Looks like you’re stuck with me,” he says. At that moment, I yawn so big my jaw cracks. He eyes me, then says, “Take a nap. I’ll keep watch.”

Too good to be true. Knight has to be, or he has a hero complex. “You’ve already done enough.”

He leans in, the scent of his aftershave mouthwatering. “Honey, I got this. You and Hazel sleep. I’ll keep y’all safe. I swear on my father’s grave I won’t let anything happen to either of you.”

Tears well up in my eyes.

Stupid tears that have no business showing up. “You didn’t have to go that far,” I whisper, exhaustion hitting me like a battering ram. My defenses against it are so weak it nearly breaks me into pieces. “I...” Biting my lower lip, I get my emotions under control as much as possible. “Okay.”

“Let me get you another blanket.” Quick as anything, he rummages through the other rucksacks that look like his and pulls out two more blankets. “Score.” With a triumphant grin, he rips them out of their packages and helps make my bed.

I sit there dumfounded and amazed at his efficiency, as well as his willingness to help me in my time of need. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I love my momma. When she finally got the help she needed, I saw the difference it made.” He tugs at the collar of his t-shirt. “But it was almost too late.”

I touch his arm, the heat of his skin scorching as sparks of desire flare. “Knight, you weren’t too late. In fact, I’d say you were right on time.”