[English] Suddenly Royal

Suddenly Royal
Suddenly Royal Page 30



“You need to go?” I sat up straighter in my seat. I had been slouching forward, laughing at Chadwick.

“I’m afraid so.” Alex bowed his head. “Duty calls.”

“Thank you for coming with us today.” I stood up and everyone else did as well. I moved to the door and Alex followed closely behind. Once we were in the hallway, Ned moved ahead of us and out the front door.

“I enjoyed it.” He turned to look at me just inside the door. “I’m sorry I have to leave.”

“Me too.” I bit my lip and stepped forward to press a kiss to his cheek. I leaned back just enough to look up into his eyes.

He looked down at me, searching for something. His fingers touched mine briefly before he pulled away and left. I watched out the window for a moment before turning back and looking at my new house. I could hear the laughter from the dining room and something about it struck me as familiar. I was standing there enjoying the sound when it hit me. It sounded like home.

I made my way back to the dining room and threw myself into the conversation. Stanley and Margie were easy to talk to, offering up information about the house and the staff. The two of them lived in a small house just off the side of the main driveway. Jeanette had a small flat above their apartments.

“Where will poor Chadwick live?” I winked at my assistant. “And Becca. Will she be staying here as well?”

“Just clear out the barn.” Chadwick laughed.

“No, no. There is a small house behind the manor home. A very short walk and it has plenty of room,” Stanley said. “We already put your bags in there. And Becca has a room attached to this house in the back. It is completely self-sufficient but closer for security reasons.”

“Though if you’d prefer the barn, I could clear out a stall.” Margie winked at Chadwick.

“I think I’ll be glad of the house.” Chadwick shook his head. “Looks like your milk will be safe, Samantha.”

“As will my eyes.” I laughed when Margie and Stanley exchanged a confused look. “It’s a long story.”

“How have you found Lilaria so far?” Margie cut a piece of the cake and put it on a plate for me. “You’ve been in the papers every day. I imagine you haven’t had a chance to see much.”

“It’s a beautiful country, but I’m looking forward to things settling down.” I took a bite of the cake. “I’m also looking forward to having my father here. I think he’ll enjoy the area.”

“When you have had time to settle in, we can talk about what type of changes you’d like to make in the home.” Margie smiled. “There are a lot of excellent local artisans.”

“I can’t imagine what I would want to change right now. The house is beautiful.” I finished up the cake and stretched. “I do want to see more of the town and the area.”

“I’d be happy to take you around,” Stanley offered. “I imagine that you’ll only have a few days before the locals start making requests of your time.”

“You’re probably right, and thank you—that would be nice.” I picked up my plate to take it to the kitchen, but Margie tsked at me and took it out of my hands. “Margie, I’m happy to clean up behind myself.”

“No, ma’am. I’m happy to do it. Especially today!” She smiled. “Imagine, we finally have a Rousseau back in the house. This is a wonderful day.”

“It must feel weird. You’ve been here your whole lives and I just show up and it’s mine.” Chadwick choked on his drink, but I wanted to get that out in the open. “I hope there won’t be any hard feelings. I’m going to need your help.”

“You have it.” Stanley stood up and grabbed some of the dishes. “I assure you there is no resentment. Taking care of the Rousseau Manor and its holdings is a job passed down through the generations of my family. It’s something that we take very seriously.”

“Thank you.” I picked up some of the other dishes since Margie’s hands were too full for her to take them.

“Have you thought of what you’d like to do tonight?” Margie asked. “For dinner, I mean. We weren’t sure if you’d want to eat here or go out.”

“I’d like to unpack and relax a little.” I looked over at Chadwick to make sure he didn’t have any other ideas. He nodded his head and I felt relief wash over me. “In fact, I’d like nothing more than a big sandwich for dinner and to spend some time getting to know the house.”

“Are you sure, ma’am? I’d be happy to make anything you would like.” Margie stepped in front of the sink so she could keep me from doing any of the cleaning.

“Margie has even scoured the Internet for American dishes.” Stanley smiled at his wife proudly.

“Honestly, one of my favorite things to eat is a giant turkey sandwich with lots of cheese and mayo.” I sighed. “It’s comfort food.”

“Then a turkey sandwich it will be. Do you have a preference for when you like to eat?”

“Margie, I can make my own sandwich. You don’t need to do that.” I frowned. “Really! I’ll call you for the big dinners or anything fancy because I’m pretty helpless in the kitchen. But I can make a turkey sandwich.”

“Are you sure, ma’am? I truly don’t mind.”

“I’m sure, and please call me Samantha.” Margie’s eyes widened and I heard Chadwick sigh.

“She’s having a hard time adjusting to being royalty,” Chadwick explained.

“He’s right. Everywhere I’ve gone in the last week or so people refer to me as Duchess, ma’am, or some other title. I’ve shaken hands with a million people and had my photo taken two million times.” I paused, trying to find the right words. “But here? Here I want to be Samantha. I’d prefer Sam even, but I’m willing to compromise. I just want to feel at home.”

Margie smiled sadly at me. “All right then, Samantha. I’ll let you make your own dinner tonight.”

“Thank you.” I felt relieved that we’d gotten that out of the way. I talked to them for a while, standing in the kitchen, laughing as they told me stories about the locals and their families. Stanley offered me a glass of wine and I forced Chadwick to take one as well.

After a while, Chadwick and I meandered around the house, looking at the rooms. The mixture of Chadwick’s sly jokes and the wine had given me the giggles. When we opened a closet only to have an avalanche of blankets fall out, I died laughing as Chadwick tried to push them all back in. I held his glass while he cursed under his breath and used his shoulder to force the door shut. Eventually we ended up in the library upstairs.

We were looking at a painting when I saw the package on the desk. There was a note tucked into the twine that held the brown paper in place.

I wanted you to have something here that would make you feel as if your mother was with you.

Happy Housewarming.

-A

I shook my head as I unwrapped the copy of Pride and Prejudice we had argued over. I opened the book and gently flipped through the pages as Chadwick looked over my shoulder.

“Oh, is that Pride and Prejudice?”

“Second E***ion.” I closed the book and ran my fingers over the spine.

“I’m guessing this was from Alex?” Chadwick stood back and narrowed his eyes.

“What makes you assume that?” I looked around the room, trying to pick a place to put the book.

“One, you haven’t had a ton of guests today. Two, that silly smile.” Chadwick wiggled his eyebrows over his glass.

“Shut it, Chad. Yes, it was Alex.” I sighed. “I guess this is why Ned didn’t join us for lunch. He must have snuck up here while we were eating.”

“You like him.”

“Ned?” I laughed.

“You like Alex.” It wasn’t a question. I looked at Chadwick, wondering what I should tell him. Maybe it was the wine, but I felt like I could trust him with just about anything.

“Yes.” I groaned. “A lot. So much more than I should. I’m starting to not even care that he’s a prince.”

“His title is why you’re playing hard to get?”

“I’m not playing hard to get. What the hell would I do with a boyfriend who’s in line for the throne?”

“What the hell would he do with an American duchess?”

“Harsh, but true.” I fell down into the old leather chair behind the desk. “And you summed up the whole problem in one sentence.”

“I don’t get it. You like him. He likes you. Why fight it?” Chad leaned against the desk. “You’re making this more difficult than it should be.”

“Maybe. I don’t know.” I leaned my head back and stared at the ceiling. “Hey, there’s a pattern up there.”

“You’re drunk.” He looked up at the ceiling. “Ew, someone put wallpaper under the molding. That needs to go.”

“Heh....

Suddenly Royal
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“Maybe you’d be the one doing the dumping,” Chadwick pointed out.

“And what if there is no dumping?” I said the words quietly.

“You mean, what if you guys decide to tie the knot and make adorable little babies?”

“I hadn’t thought about babies, but what if we fall in love? Where does that leave him and his title? I just can’t imagine starting something with him, knowing there’s an expiration date.”

“Oh, honey. I think it’s too late to be worried about falling in love.” He chuckled. “And why would it affect his title? You’re a royal. There’s no reason he couldn’t marry you. Heck, The Prince of Wales in England married a commoner. The world is changing.”

“But me? I’m not from Lilaria. Not really.” I frowned. Chadwick thought it was too late for me to worry about falling in love? It wasn’t love. It was fascination. I liked him, yes. I respected him. I certainly lusted after him. But it wasn’t love. Yet.

“Royals have married royals from other countries throughout history. The key is to make the person feel loved. Let them know you would put them first.” He said something in Lilarian that made me sit up straight.

“What does that mean?” It was the exact phrase Alex had used on the plane after helping me with my dress.

“All things are possible with love.” He smiled at me. “It’s a very common expression here.”

“All things…” I let the words sink in and tried to apply them to me and Alex.

“Think about it.” He stood up and stretched. “I’m going to bed.”

“Thanks, Chadwick.” I smiled at him.

“For what?”

“For letting me be me.” I stood up and hugged him. “For poking me, for talking this out with me.”

“Ah, you’re a sap when you drink.” He laughed. “Go get some sleep.”

“All right, but I’m not drunk.”

“Good night.”

I took our glasses to the kitchen and rinsed them out before heading upstairs. Chadwick must have had someone unpack my bags because my clothes were in the closet and dressers. On a whim I grabbed one of the satin nightgowns and slid it on. The wine had me hot and the cool material felt good against my skin. I brushed my teeth and climbed into bed but couldn’t get comfortable. My mind kept going over the phrase Alex had used. Could it be true? Could love get someone through anything? I ran my fingers over the necklace around my neck.

After a while I decided to get a glass of water. In less than thirty seconds out of my bedroom door, I had stubbed my toe and ran into a small table. I held onto the stair rail and took the steps slowly. How ironic would be if they brought me back here and I fell down the stairs my first night? A small lamp in the corner of the kitchen gave me enough light to find the glasses. I poured myself some water and leaned against the counter.

I was contemplating making a snack since I had never gotten around to making my sandwich when someone knocked on the front door. My body froze in place except for my heart—it sped up. I set my glass down and made my way through the living room. Maybe Chadwick had gotten lost on his way to his house. I wasn’t crazy though and grabbed a large bust from a nearby table. Edging to the door, I tried to peek out of the small window at the top, but I couldn’t see anything.

“Who is it?” I called.

“Alex.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

A Royal Sleepover?

—Lilarian Tale

If I had thought my heart was beating fast earlier, it didn’t compare to what happened when I heard his voice. I twisted the lock and peeked out the door.

“What are you doing here?” I brushed some of my hair out of my eyes. He was standing there in jeans, a dark T-shirt, and a simple jacket.

“I have to leave tomorrow afternoon.” He tucked his hands into his pockets. “May I come in? It’s cold.”

“Oh, yeah.” I pulled the door open wider and stepped back. His eyes raked over me and I realized I was standing there in my nightie.

“What were you going to do with that?”

I looked at the statue I was clutching and set it back on the table. “I don’t know. Bash you on the head I guess.”

“I see.” He definitely saw something. His eyes were locked on me like laser beams. “I thought you slept in your underwear.”

“That was a joke.” I frowned.

“This isn’t so bad either.” He took a step forward, his fingers grazing the material along my waist. “Were you sneaking down here for a glass of milk?”

“Water.” My voice caught and I had to swallow to wet my throat. “Why are you here?”

“I told you I’d see you before I left.” He didn’t move his hand from my waist and his fingers were causing waves of need to wash through my body. “And I found out I have to go to Paris tomorrow afternoon.”

“Oh.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “Thank you.”

“I was hoping to catch you before you went to bed, but I never expected to find you dressed like this.” His fingers slid up a little farther to trace the thin strap.

“I wasn’t expecting company.” My fingers itched to run over his chest.

“What would you have worn had you been expecting company?”

“Shorts and a T-shirt, if I have any left after Chadwick packed my stuff. He hates them and made me go shopping.” I took a deep breath when he shifted closer to me. “Lucky you.”

“Lucky me.” His breath rushed over my skin and I shivered. “Why did you want to see me, Samantha?”

His fingers had moved to brush the hair off my shoulder and grazed along the skin of my collarbone. I don’t know if it was the wine or the fact that I didn’t want to fight it anymore, but I threw caution to the wind.

“Kiss me.”

“Not exactly a request.” His eyes darted down to my lips.

“It’s a demand.”

“About damn time.” His mouth crashed down onto mine as his arms wrapped around my body. I ran my hands over his chest while I greedily returned his kiss. When he pulled me against his body, I groaned in pleasure. Spinning around, he pinned me against the front door and I could feel the bulge in his pants pressed against my hip.

He pulled away from my mouth to trail kisses over my neck, his tongue flicking over the pulse point below my ear before he bit down gently. I let my head fall back against the door and moaned. His hands ran over my waist, down to my hips, and back.

“Jesus, I can’t get enough of you.” He whispered the words right before he captured my mouth in another scorching kiss.

He wasn’t the only one that couldn’t get enough. I’d opened Pandora’s box and there was no turning back. I pushed his jacket off his shoulders and he let go of me just long enough to let it fall to the floor. His hands slid up over my body, his thumbs tracing my n**ples through the material of the nightie. Fire ran over my skin, every cell in my body alive with need.

I ran my hands under his shirt to trace the ridges of his muscles before tugging the material up. He shrugged the shirt off quickly and threw it to the side. The moonlight poured in through the windows, making his eyes glow as he moved back to me. He slid his hands down to cup my rear and lifted me from the floor. I wrapped my legs around his waist and sighed in relief when he pressed his hard body against my hot center. His mouth teased my lips open and he kissed me as if he was drowning. I shifted my h*ps in a slow move, enjoying the feel of him between my legs. Then again, harder.

“Oh, ****.” He pulled away from the kiss and groaned against my neck.

“I want you.” I whispered the words into his ear as I moved against him again. Forget caution. Forget willpower. I wanted Alex and I wasn’t going to fight it anymore.

He stepped away from the door, still holding me against him. I kissed along his jaw as he stumbled through the house and up the stairs. When we reached the landing he moved much more steadily and we were in my new room in no time. He set me down next to the bed and cupped my face in his hands.

“You’re sure you want this?” He was breathing heavily and pressed his forehead against mine. “There’s no going back.”

“I told you.” I traced the top of his jeans with my fingers before tugging at the button. “I want you, Alex. All of you. Right now. No more games, no more waiting.” Slowly I slid his zipper down before pushing his jeans off his hips.

“Are you on birth control?” He kicked his shoes off, stepped out of his jeans, and let his boxers go with them.

“Yes.” My breath caught in my throat. He was gorgeous. “Should I worry about you being tested?”

“Done. I’m clean.” He looked at me seriously. “You?”

“After my last boyfriend. No problems.”

Taking a step closer, he grabbed the bottom of my nightgown and pulled it over my head. His eyes ran over my br**sts and down to the tiny black panties I was wearing.

“I’ve wanted to undress you since I helped you with your zipper...

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“Good morning.” His voice rumbled out of his chest. He was propped on his elbow looking down at me.

“Uh.” I made a face and closed my eyes against the bright light streaming in through the windows. “That’s weird.”

“What?” He chuckled.

“Watching me sleep. Is this going to be like those movies where we have *** and then the really hot guy turns out to be a creeper?”

“You make little mewing sounds.”

“I do not.”

“Like a baby kitten.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “I am not a baby kitten. I’m sleepy and annoyed.”

“It’s cute and ***y.”

“Oh, no.” I groaned. “You’re a morning person.”

“Mmhmm.” He moved so that I was lying on my back and nuzzled my neck.

“We’re going to have a hard time.” I sighed as his hand ran over my stomach.

“I think you’re right.” He moved so that I could feel him pressed against my leg.

“Oh boy.”

“You can say that again.” He chuckled as he slid under the sheet, his mouth trailing over my skin.

“Oh boy.” His mouth covered one of my br**sts, his tongue running over it teasingly. “Oh boy.”

When he spread my legs and pressed kisses to the tender skin there, I whimpered. I was starting to think I had been waking up to the wrong alarm clock all these years. As he took his time tasting and licking, I closed my eyes and floated along the bliss. When he slid his fingers inside, my h*ps moved in response. I was tender in a good way, like after you exercise for the first time in a while. One thing was sure, he had given me a good work out.

He focused all his attention on the sensitive place at the top of my mound while he worked the perfect rhythm. His fingers flicked just the right spot and I groaned loudly. I reached down, tangling my fingers in his blond hair. My movements increased and he understood the cue. Crawling up my body, he licked and sucked as he made his way out of the sheet. Reaching between us, he rubbed the head of his manhood against me.

I whimpered, needing him, and he smiled smugly. “Ask me.”

“For what?” My voice came out breathy.

“What you didn’t ask for last night.”

I licked my lips. “Please kiss me, Alex.”

His mouth covered mine and I could taste us mixed together on his lips. His tongue slid into my mouth while he continued to tease me under the covers. He eased in just enough to make me moan, then pulled right back out. I growled into his mouth in frustration. When he did it again I slid my hands over his ass and pulled at him. I made some headway before he chuckled and pulled away.

He sat up and the sheet fell behind him, letting me enjoy the sight of him in the morning light. Gripping my hips, he pulled me to him, tilting me upward so that he could slide in. My breath left on an exhale of pleasure as he filled me. I wiggled against him, wanting more, but couldn’t get enough traction. I reached above my head and placed my hands against the headboard and pushed, making us both groan.

He ran a hand over my stomach and between my br**sts before cupping the back of my neck. He pulled me against him and moaned, his h*ps setting a slow rhythm that was just enough.

“I could watch you all day.” He groaned louder when I pushed harder against the headboard, slamming him deeper. “God, that feels good.”

“Samantha. I’m Samantha, not God.”

“Samantha.” He leaned forward, bracing himself on the hand that had been holding my neck. “Samantha, you feel so damn good.” His words slipped into Lilarian and I only paid attention to the sound of his voice.

As we moved together it wasn’t fast or rushed, but a steady pace to find the finish line. When his breathing hitched, I was right there with him, my orgasm slamming into me as I felt him jerk inside of me.

He laid on me and rolled so that we were on our sides but still connected. It was a comfortable feeling and I liked knowing he was still inside me. My body was still twitching with aftershocks of pleasure. His hand lazily ran up and down my arm.

“That’s a great way to wake up.” I sighed against his chest.

“Glad I could help.” I looked up into his blue eyes and enjoyed his smug grin.

“But now I want a nap.” I rubbed the tip of my nose against him.

“That sounds like a great idea.” He pulled me tighter against him. “Unfortunately I have to leave soon.”

Disappointment crashed into me, even though I had known he would need to go. I didn’t say anything for a minute, just listened to his breathing and wondered what he was thinking. His hand continued its steady movement against my skin and I sighed. I fought against the nerves that were starting to bubble up underneath my skin. The realization that I was already in deep was sinking in slowly.

“Do you have time for breakfast?” I looked up at him. We couldn’t lie here all morning if he needed to go. And I needed to do something other than obsess about my fears.

“I have time to eat.” His eyes twinkled down at me. “And to take a shower.”

I rolled away from him and stood up, looking over my shoulder as I walked to the bathroom. “What are you waiting for?”

I turned the knobs for the water until I found a comfortable temperature. I was checking to make sure we had enough towels when he slid his hands around my waist. I sucked in a breath and fidgeted in his grasp.

“Your hands are so cold!”

“That’s why I’m trying to warm them up.”

“Dirty.” I stepped away from him and pulled open the shower door. I smiled at him as I moved under the water. He followed close behind and turned a knob so the extra shower head came to life.

“You already know I don’t play fair.”

My soaps had been put in the bathroom, which was kind of creepy, but I didn’t linger on it for too long. I poured body wash onto the bath sponge and began to lather my arms when Alex plucked it from my hands.

He didn’t say anything, just ran it over my body in slow circles. I had thought I was more than sated, but when he knelt down to wash my legs, my hormones came alive. He looked up at me, his wet hair trailing water down his shoulders as he lifted one of my feet and then the other. There was something gentle in his expression as he took his time cleaning me and it made my heart thump in a different way.

When he had finished I took the sponge and gave him the same treatment. I took my time cleaning every inch of his body. When I moved my hands down his thighs, he twitched and started to grow hard. Alex grabbed my wrists and wrapped my arms around his neck. He kissed me slowly before pressing his forehead to mine.

“I’d like nothing more than to stay locked away with you, but I have to go to Paris.” He twined his fingers with mine. “And if you kept doing that we aren’t going to make it out of your room.”

“Now you have something to look forward to.”

His eyes bored into mine. “I won’t be able to think of anything else.”

Eventually we finished getting clean and dried off. Thankfully, there were extra toothbrushes in the cabinets. I pulled out some new clothes and got dressed while he pulled his jeans from the night before back on. He stood there for a minute, looking around the room.

“What?” I pulled on a sock and looked at him as he frowned.

“I think my shirt is downstairs.” Alex looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

“Oh.” I realized we had left evidence. “Oh! I’ll go down and grab it.” I opened the door, but someone had folded and stacked his shirt and jacket neatly just on the other side. “So much for no one knowing what happened here.”

He took his shirt and pulled it on. “They won’t say anything, Samantha.”

“I know.” I frowned. “It’s not them I’m worried about.”

“The press?”

“I just got here and this would be even more fodder for the tabloids.” I bit my lip. “But it’s not just me, Alex. The papers would eat this up because it’s you. I mean, can you get in trouble for this?” I motioned between us.

“I’m a grown man, or hadn’t you noticed?”

“I noticed all right.” I smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed next to him while he put on his shoes. “I just don’t want to cause trouble for you.”

“People are going to be interested in us no matter what. That’s not going to change whether we’re together or not.” He looked at me seriously. “And there is no reason I would get in trouble over us.”

“Is there an us?” It sure felt like there was an us after last night. And this morning. And the shower.

“You told me you don’t do one-night stands.” He brushed some of the wet hair away from my face. “And while the *** is awesome, that’s not all I’m looking for either.”

“So, us.” I shook my head. “Alex, I—”

“Don’t make this complicated.” He frowned. “We can keep it quiet, see how it works.”

“Someone already knows.”...

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“Did you know that Lilaria is considered one of the happiest countries?” Chadwick asked me.

“I didn’t.” I finished my coffee. I hadn’t really thought of the monarchy as offering support and guidance. Then again, as an American I hadn’t really spent a lot of time thinking about what a monarchy did. “It’s almost like you guys are the parents and the country is your child.”

“You’re part of that too.” Alex leaned forward.

“And you know how you can tell if there are good parents?” Chadwick asked.

“Happy children,” Margie said.

“Exactly.” Chadwick smiled.

Alex stood up and put his plate in the sink. I could tell from his face that it was time for him to leave but he didn’t want to. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest, watching me as I finished my food.

“Have to go?”

“Unfortunately.” He pushed away from the counter and walked around the island. I stood up, intending to walk him out, but he pulled me into his arms and kissed me right there. It was a tender kiss that left me feeling breathless. So much for keeping things quiet. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay.” I looked up at him and couldn’t help the smile pulling at the corners of my mouth. So far I was kicking myself for having not given in sooner.

He pressed a kissed to the charm on my necklace before letting me go, then turned to smile at the cook. “Thank you for breakfast, Margie.”

“My pleasure, sir.”

“Chadwick, always good to see you.” Alex shook his hand.

“Have a safe trip.”

He pulled on his jacket as he left and my knees felt weak as I watched him go. I slid into my seat and sighed.

“You’re welcome.” Chadwick bit off a piece of toast and smiled at me.

“For what?”

“My pep talk. Maybe I should become a life coach.”

“Oh, good idea since you’re about to lose your current job.”

“Apparently your pleasant morning attitude left with Alex.” He shook his head.

“What are we doing today?” I sipped my coffee, ignoring him. “I’d like to see more of the property.”

“I’ve kept the next few days clear so you can take your time learning the area.”

“Great. I want to see the lake.”

After breakfast I headed out with Stanley to see the property. The lake was a short walk from the house, but long enough that I worried my dad might not make it.

“Do we have anything that would be able to carry my father here?” I stared out over the water. It was beautiful.

“Yes, we have a golf cart that can make the drive as long as there hasn’t been any bad weather.” Stanley put his hands on his hips. “We also have furniture that we can put up and leave once spring sets in.”

“That sounds good.” I walked along the edge of the water. The call of a hawk drew my attention up to the sky. The weather had cleared up a great deal and standing there in the sun with the birds flying overhead, I felt like I could finally breathe.

“The lake also runs along the prince’s estate.” Stanley pointed off in the distance. “I’m sure the land was divided in such a way that the original landowners could both have access to the water.”

I nodded my head. That made perfect sense. “What else is out here? Tell me about the land.”

“There are a few hiking trails and a running trail that circle the lake.” Stanley pointed out the entrance. “Jeanette runs in the early mornings and I walk the trails from time to time to make sure there haven’t been any problems.”

“That’s nice. I like to run when it’s not freezing out.” I picked up a small rock and ran my fingers over it.

“We also have horses. Most of the hiking trails are perfect for riding.”

“We have horses?” I looked over at him with a smile. “I haven’t ridden since I was a little girl.”

“Three. Let’s go check out the stables.”

The stables were tidy, and several grooms were tending to the horses. They all stopped what they were doing to bow while Stanley introduced them and I spent some time asking about their jobs. The horses themselves were gorgeous and one of the mares was with foal.

“How many other people work on the estate?” I asked as we walked through one of the gardens.

“We have ten full-time staff and five who work part time. Many of them only work on certain days or on rotation.”

“Wow. That many?” That was intimidating. Fifteen people coming in and out of my property all the time?

“Actually, we run on a very tight ship and those numbers include me and Margie. I was planning on hiring more people now that we have you in residence.” Stanley picked up a rake that had fallen over.

“Why do we need more people?”

“I’m sure you’ll be hosting dinners or fund-raisers.” Stanley stuck his hands in his pockets. “We’ll need more staff to keep up with the influx of people.”

“Dinners? Fund-raisers?” I laughed and rubbed my face.

“Eventually all this will feel normal.” Stanley laughed. “I have to admit, I’m looking forward to what all you do. I think this place is going to be much livelier from now on.”

“I guess we’ll see.”

We spent a lot of time going over the things that were done on a regular basis. It probably felt silly to him, but Stanley answered every question with as much explanation as possible. The more we walked around the property, the more I fell in love with it. There was so much history and one of my favorite parts of the whole place was a little area near a stone wall. The trees overlapped and I could see much of the property. There was a worn stone bench and I imagine it had been used by many over the years.

I checked out the cottage that would be Chadwick’s home and the garage. I took pictures as we walked. I couldn’t wait to send them to my dad and Jess. They were going to love it here. Cathy called to see how I was settling in and said she wanted to come visit next weekend. Once we had it figured out, I spent the rest of the day unpacking the boxes I’d brought with me and trying to make the place feel like home.

I was sitting on the floor in my room and sorting my books when my phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket and smiled like an idiot when I realized it was Alex.

“Hello?”

“Miss me yet?”

“Nope.” I smiled.

“Liar.” He laughed.

“You should be studied for that giant ego of yours. It’s unhealthy.” I set a couple of books on a shelf I had cleared.

“I think it’s well deserved.”

“You would.” I laughed. “Aren’t you breaking some kind of dating rule? Like wait a full day before calling?”

“What can I say? I’m thinking about that shower and wishing I had stayed.”

My breath caught as an image of him covered in water flashed in my mind. “Well, I did warn you.”

“True.”

“Have you made it to Paris?”

“I’m here, have unveiled a plaque, finished a conference call, and am now back at my apartment.”

“You have an apartment there?” I was wishing I hadn’t wanted to keep our relationship quiet. I’d always wanted to visit Paris.

“I do. It’s in the seventh arrondissement.” I could hear him walking around. “I can see the Eiffel Tower from my bedroom.”

“Wow. I thought you’d have to stay at the Lilarian embassy.” I leaned back against my bed.

“I like having my own place. Then I don’t have to explain to anyone when I get up in the middle of the night for a glass of milk.”

“I have no idea how to respond to that.” My imagination went into overdrive at the thought of him walking around nak*d.

“I do. Come here and keep me warm.” His voice took on a serious tone.

“I just got here, Alex. And your sister is coming in a few days.” I chewed on my thumbnail.

“It’s for the best, I suppose. The press here can be vicious.” He sighed. “Not to mention you’re a blanket hog.”

“I am not!”

“And you make weird noises.”

“You said that was cute!” I laughed.

“And ***y.” He chuckled.

We talked for a while and he explained some of the internal workings of the FBT and I talked to him about the estate. We didn’t run out of things to talk about and it wasn’t until he got another call that we hung up. I couldn’t wait to talk to him again.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Royal Shopping Spree?

—Paris Post

The next day I convinced Chadwick and Margie to run to town with me. Becca came along just in case we needed her, but I felt like it was overkill. The good news was I didn’t have to dress up for something like this and no one was expecting me to show up.

We parked the car in one of the public lots and hit some of the local shops. I wanted to show my support of the family-run businesses, so I avoided the chain stores. When...

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“It’s not that funny!”

“Oh, that is priceless.” He chuckled. “And you thought the best thing to do would be to take another picture?”

“Yeah. I mean what else was there? Wave her off and leave her feeling horrible?” I shrugged my shoulders even though he couldn’t see me. “It was the first thing that popped into my mind. I was hoping it would make her laugh.”

“And has it shown up in the papers?”

“The local post contacted Chadwick and requested a copy. Apparently Sally, the mother, told them they needed my permission.” I laughed. “They were good sports about it.”

“That was right of her.” I could hear his voice growing thick.

“I think so.” I sighed. “Go to bed. You sound exhausted.”

“Sorry, today was incredibly long.”

“I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Good night.”

Later, after my shower, I plugged my phone in to charge and realized there was a text message from Alex.

Alex: Miss you.

I bit my lip for a second before responding.

ME: Miss you too.

By the time the weekend rolled around, I was itching to see him again. I had almost forgotten that Cathy was coming until she texted me Friday morning. Stanley and I were in the front yard discussing some of the fencing damaged by the last snowfall when she arrived. She was wearing jeans and boots, which was the first time I had seen her looking so relaxed.

She hopped out of the car with a package in her hands. Running straight to me, she threw her arms around my neck.

“Hey!” I hugged her back.

“You look good.” She pulled back to look at me. “I knew you’d feel better once you got out here.”

“I’m really starting to love it.” I took her inside and she handed me the package.

“Happy housewarming.”

“You didn’t need to get me anything.” I held it in my hands and examined the wrapping paper.

“Hush. You don’t go to a person’s new home without a gift!” She smiled at me. “Open it.”

I pulled the bow off and tore into the wrapping. Inside was a beautiful bird statue. I pulled it out and examined the detail. It was a merlin, small but fierce.

“It’s gorgeous.”

“It’s considered good luck. Most homes have a bird tucked somewhere. When I saw this was a merlin I had to get it.”

“Thank you. I love it.” I reached out and hugged her with my free arm. “Where should I put it?”

“A lot of people keep them in their kitchens or offices.” She shrugged. “But it doesn’t really matter.”

“I know just the place.” I led her upstairs and put it on the desk in the library. “Perfect.”

I showed her the house and told her about the few things I had decided to change. While I loved all the history, I wanted to make it feel a little more personal. Most of the things would be very small but would help me settle in.

I had invited Cathy for a pizza party, but I hadn’t known there wasn’t a pizza parlor anywhere nearby. Instead of ordering in I had bought all the ingredients and we were trying to figure out how to make pizza dough.

“You’ve never done this before?” She looked at me over a glass of wine.

“How hard can it be? A little flour, a little water, knead. We can do this.” I shrugged nonchalantly. “Grab the measuring cup.”

I had told Margie to take the night off, so it was just me and Cathy. She looked behind her at the cups on the counter and frowned. “How big?”

“What?”

“Which one do you want? There are four measuring cups here.”

“I don’t know.” I picked up the instructions and read over them. “Three-quarters of a cup.”

“These are in metric.” She laughed but handed me the right one. “Here.”

“I forgot about that.” I frowned. “I hope I don’t mess this up.”

Forty minutes later we were both covered in flour and giggling. The dough had been runny, so I had added more flour, but that hadn’t helped. Cathy was trying to scrape the sticky mess off the counter when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it.” I grabbed a towel on my way and tried to scrub the mess from my hands. I pulled open the door and my heart thumped in my chest. Alex was standing on there with a small duffle bag and a huge smile.

“Hi.”

“I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow night!” I smiled and stepped back so he could come in.

“I managed to get stuff done early, so hurried home.” He dropped his bag and walked toward me.

“Is that why you were so tired last night?” He had snored at one point, but when I told him about it, he denied it.

“Maybe.” He pulled the cloth out of my hands and threw it onto the entry way table. “It was worth it.”

His hands wrapped around my waist and I melted into him. When his lips slid over mine hungrily, I returned his kiss with fervor, devouring his taste. He growled against me and lifted me in his arms so that my feet didn’t touch the ground. There was no hesitation when he turned and started walking for the stairs.

“Now I know why you look so happy.” Cathy’s voice had me pulling my head away from Alex’s. “No, no. Don’t stop for me. I’ll just eat this nasty pizza all by myself.” The fake hurt in her voice made me roll my eyes. I looked over at her and laughed. There was flour all over her face and sticky dough clumped in her hair.

“Funny, huh? You don’t look much better,” Cathy pointed out.

I looked at Alex, who was still holding me off the ground, and realized I had rubbed flour on his face. “Oh no. I must look a mess!”

I wiggled and he set my feet back on the ground before kissing my nose. “I don’t care.”

“When did this happen?” Cathy leaned against the kitchen doorframe. “And I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

“Last weekend.” Alex watched as I retrieved my towel and wiped at my face.

“So your big plan worked.”

“Big plan?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Yes, it did.” He smiled, completely unbothered.

“Oh, it was a doozy.” She snorted. “Incredibly intricate and well thought out.”

“Is that so?” I looked from her to him.

“Stick around as much as possible until you gave in.” He shrugged.

“And it worked!” Cathy laughed.

I shook my head with a smile. It certainly had.

“Are you going to tell me why you’re covered in goop?” Alex reached out and scooped a chunk from my hair.

“Pizza party.” I led him to the kitchen.

“The pizza party from hell.” He whistled. “Margie is going to have a heart attack.”

I looked around and cringed. He was right—we had made a mess. “Yesh.”

“You’re lucky I’m a good cook.” He moved past me and went to work. I looked over at Cathy, who was nodding her head.

“Sit! Talk.” She patted one of the chairs at the island. “What happened?”

“Um.” This wasn’t really a talk I wanted to have with Alex’s sister, especially not when he was listening in. “I just realized I was being dense.”

“And what was your big clue?”

“Chadwick poked me.”

Cathy threw her head back and laughed. “I’ll have to remember that in case you decide to overthink things in the future.”

“I need to tell him thank you.” Alex winked at me over his shoulder. His hands were busy turning our sloppy mess into something familiar.

“I thought you left last weekend for Paris.” Cathy grabbed some of the cheese from a bowl on the island and popped it in her mouth.

“I did. I left the next morning.” Alex laughed while I blushed.

“Then you definitely owe Chadwick a thank-you.” She shook her head. “And I’m leaving after dinner.”

“But I invited you to stay the weekend!” I frowned.

“I have to go back in the morning anyway. And there’s no way I’m staying here while you two act like horny teenagers.” She winked at me. “I’ll stay at D’Lynsal tonight.”

“I can behave myself.” I frowned.

“I can’t.” Alex didn’t look up from what he was working on.

“Yech.” Cathy grimaced. “Really, it’s fine. You can make it up to me and come out with me in the city. I’m tired of it being a boys’ club.”

“Cathy, I hate clubs and bars.” I shook my head. “I’ll do anything else.”

“Please?” She looked up at me with her big eyes and I almost ****d.

“Hey! Stop that! No anime eyes.”

Alex chuckled. “I thought Tabitha was still in town.”

My stomach clenched at the name of his ex and I had to stomp on the jealousy. Who cared if she was at the palace? Alex was here in my kitchen.

“It’s not the same. She’s all over her new boyfriend.”...

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The next morning I woke up to the sound of Alex’s gentle snoring. I opened my eyes to see him still sound asleep. I didn’t want to wake him because I knew he was exhausted after his week in Paris. I couldn’t believe he had worked so hard just so he could come back early.

I studied the planes of his face as he slept, committing them to memory. I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of looking at him. What had surprised me over the last month had been how much I loved just being with him. I hadn’t thought it would be possible to feel so comfortable with Alex, but I was quickly finding that I didn’t know how I had lived so long without him. My phone beeped on the nightstand and I carefully dislodged his arm so I could turn to see who was calling.

When I realized it was my dad I rolled off the bed and tiptoed out of the room.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Sam.” He sounded tired and I tried to figure out what time it was back home, but my mind was too foggy to do the math. I knew it was way too early for a phone call.

“What’s wrong, Dad?” I went to the library and grabbed one of the blankets off the small sofa.

“The doctor wants me to push back my trip.”

“Why?” I chewed on my nail, waiting for the bad news. There was no way it could be anything else.

“There was no change in the scan and they’ve put me on a different medicine.” He sounded so tired it made my heart clench.

“Then we need to get you over here even sooner.”

“I want to wait. The medicine makes me feel pretty bad.” He sighed. “They said it would take a little while for me to get used to it.”

“Dad, why can’t they try something else?” I shook my head angrily. “That’s crazy! They need to change it.” He didn’t say anything for a while and I listened to his labored breathing. “Dad?”

“This is the best thing for me right now. Even Dr. Bielefeld thinks so.”

“You’ve spoken to Dr. Bielefeld?” That made me feel better. “Is he working with your doctors in the States?”

“Yes. They contacted him when they got the scans back. I’ve spoken to him several times now.” His voice was so strained.

“What are you doing up so early? You sound terrible.”

“Gee, thanks, honey.” He chuckled and for just a moment sounded like his normal self.

“I’m serious. Why are calling me so early?”

“I wanted to catch you before your day started. I know how busy you are and didn’t want to interrupt anything later.”

“What does the medicine do? I mean, what’s making you feel so bad?”

“Just makes me sick to my stomach.” He sighed. “And I have a hard time sleeping.”

“I’ll come home.” I rubbed at my cheek. “Chadwick can get me a flight tonight or tomorrow.”

“Absolutely not,” he snapped. I froze, surprised, because he wasn’t one to raise his voice. “I’m coming there, remember?” His voice softened. “I just need to let the medicine get into my system good.”

“I want to be there. I wouldn’t have left if I’d known.”

“I know.” His tone made my eyebrows pull together. “It’s okay. I didn’t mean to upset you, but I knew you’d want to know.”

“Why didn’t Patricia tell me? I talked to her yesterday.”

“I wanted to tell you.” He heaved a sigh. “I knew you would be upset.”

“Damn right, I’m upset.”

“Don’t be. It’s just part of the deal. Hey, do you have any pictures of Patricia’s room? She was asking me about it yesterday.”

“I can take some. I think she’ll like it.” I stood up and paced the length of the library. “Nice change of subject there. I’m still worried.”

“Don’t be.” I heard him moving and realized that he must be in his bed. “I’m going to try to sleep. I’ll call you soon.”

“I miss you.” I took a deep breath.

“Miss you too, baby.”

I hung up the phone and stared out the library window for a minute. Having Dad so far away broke my heart. Especially with everything else going on. Taking a deep breath, I decided I’d call Dr. Bielefeld on Monday morning to see if we had any options for getting here sooner. And if there weren’t, I’d blow everything else off to get home.

Using the blanket as a wrap, I tiptoed back down the hall to my room. Alex hadn’t moved, so I climbed back into bed and curled around him. His mouth pulled up into a smile and he wrapped an arm around my waist.

“Good morning.”

“Morning.” I closed my eyes and breathed in his scent.

“Everything okay?” He shifted so he could see my face.

“Dad called. His scan wasn’t good and they’ve changed his medicine.” I took a deep breath. “He wants to wait to come over, see if his body can get used to the medicine first. It makes him sick.”

“We could get a flight and go to him.”

I looked up at him, my heart bouncing a little. The fact that he had included himself in the plans made me warm all over. Brushing my fingers over his face, I kissed him softly.

“What’s that for?” He looked down into my eyes.

“For being you.” I cuddled closer to him. “He doesn’t want me to go over there. I think he’s worried that if I do, he won’t ever get to come here.”

“Is it that bad?” He rubbed a hand over my hair.

“He didn’t say so, but I’m worried. I’m going to call the doctor on Monday and see what he thinks.” I sighed. “Dad sounded really rough.”

“Why don’t we do something fun today? Take your mind off it until Monday.” He propped himself up on his elbow.

“What do you have in mind?”

“Come to D’Lynsal and I’ll introduce you to my birds.” He raised an eyebrow. “Spend a little time outside. It’s supposed to be nice today.”

“That sounds great.” I sat up and turned to look at him. “Can we go now?”

“Sure.”

D’Lynsal manor was less than an hour from Rousseau. I fiddled with the radio as we drove, amused by the wide range of music. Alex played tour guide and pointed out some of the local landmarks we passed. Becca and Duvall were in a car behind us, which helped make it feel like it was just us.

When we pulled up to D’Lynsal, Alex waved at the gate guard and we were let in. If I had thought Rousseau was breathtaking, it was nothing compared to Alex’s home. Instead of a house that looked a bit like a castle, this was an actual castle.

“Wow.” I leaned forward in my seat as we pulled up. A turret along one of the corners had arched windows and a flag flying on top. Much like Rousseau, there was a circle driveway with a garden in the center. Unlike the home that was now mine, there were a lot of extra buildings nearby.

“What’s that building?” I pointed at the one closest to the house.

“The people who work here have rooms.” He parked at the front door. “Then there are a few storage buildings and work sheds. The stables are behind the house.”

A butler opened the front door for us with a bow. I realized that here would be a lot more people who might possibly sell us out to the press. I stepped away from the hand Alex had on my back and smiled at the people who greeted us. I tried to ignore the look Alex shot me and focused on seeing everything around me.

The house was amazing. The stone walls from outside were also inside and I was reminded of a fancy hunting lodge. Where my home was large, I could still find all the rooms with a quick search. Here, I had no idea where a kitchen would be, much less a bathroom. I stood in the grand room and turned in a circle, taking it all in. Alex watched me as I surveyed the splendor that was his life.

“You grew up here?”

“We have a few other places, but most of my childhood was spent here and the palace.” He motioned for me to follow him up a large staircase. “There is a smaller family area upstairs. These areas are more like a pass-through for us, unless we’re having a special event.”

I thought about the tiny house I had lived in with my mother before she married my dad. The house we had moved into together was larger and newer, but still nothing fancy. Despite all the family portraits hanging along the wall, it felt impersonal and I couldn’t imagine being a child here.

“I bet you never got to watch TV with dinner.”

“Not true. My grandmother used to let us eat with those little tables in front of the sofa.” He smiled at me over his shoulder. “She was addicted to The Price is Right.”

“You guys get The Price is Right here?” I laughed.

“I think they were reruns, but she didn’t care.”

He showed me the family room upstairs and the small kitchen. There was a separate TV room, which amused me. In the States the family room was typically where everyone gathered to watch shows or movies. When he showed me his room, I was ready to be wowed. He...

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“Will I have to do things for the queen?” I knew I had responsibilities to the Rousseau village, but hadn’t thought about much more than that.

“It depends. She tends to pick and choose carefully.” He smiled. “I think it’s reasonable to assume she’ll have some things you’d be perfect for.”

“Hm.” I looked back up at the clouds and wondered if that would change if our relationship did go public. When I thought about all the people who would follow my every move it made me nauseous. Alex was worth it. More than worth it, but it was still something I was going to need to ease into. And there was a big part of me that worried what we had might not last. Then I’d be left to pick up the pieces of my very publicly broken heart.

“You’ve got a while before you have to worry about it. She can’t ask you to take on any official duties until you’ve gone through the reinstatement ceremony.” He squeezed my fingers.

“Good to know.” I started to pull my hand away, but he tightened his grip.

“Samantha, you don’t have to worry about people here. They won’t say anything.” He rolled over to his side and propped his head up. “Most of the employees here are generational. Their families have worked for my family for years. In a lot of ways they’re like extended family.”

I bit my lip and looked up at him. “I’m making this difficult. I know it. But…”

“You’re scared.” He cupped my cheek. “I do understand. I’m willing to wait until you’re ready, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“Doesn’t it bother you?” I frowned. “That people will speculate about us?”

“People always speculate about couples.” He laughed.

“But not on the front page of the papers!”

“That’ll calm down. Eventually they’ll find something else to focus on.” He shrugged.

“I’m just not used to it.” I sighed. “I’ll get there. I promise.”

Slowly, so that I had time to move, he leaned forward and brushed his lips across mine. My body’s response to him was immediate and I forgot about who might be watching. He continued to tease me with feather-soft kisses until I nipped at his bottom lip. That did the trick and he deepened our kiss. I ran my hands through his hair, enjoying how warm it felt on my fingers.

When he finally pulled away, I snuggled close to him and he chuckled. “I should kiss you more often. It makes you much more agreeable.”

“Shut it and cuddle me.”

The rest of the weekend was spent with the birds or learning more about the area. Alex was good at keeping me distracted, but the closer it came to Monday, the more anxious I became.

Chapter Thirty

A Royal Rendezvous?

—L.A. Daily

“He still hasn’t returned my call.”

I shoved my cell phone in my pocket and glared out the car window.

“Samantha, it’s been two hours and he was in surgery.” Chadwick lowered his paper and looked over at me. There was a picture of Cathy on the page he was reading. “I know you’re worried, but give the man a break. He can’t run out of the operating room to talk.”

“I know.” I sighed. “Dad was really snappy this morning. I’m starting to think it’s the medicine.”

“Yes, I’ve heard that can happen with certain prescriptions.” Chadwick folded up the paper. “He will call you. You can’t do anything right now, so focus on why we’re in town.”

“Meetings with politicians.” I leaned back in my seat. “This is going to be awesome.”

“Deep breath. It’s only for an hour and then you get to go home and wear jeans again.”

“And sit through Lilarian lessons.” I picked at my jacket.

“You’ll do great.”

I met with the local council of leaders, listening to what all they did and how they thought I might be able to help. It was an interesting morning and the breakfast was delicious. Simone, the local mayoral figure, kept everyone on track and we actually got a great deal accomplished. When I was leaving, she pulled me to the side to thank me for coming.

“No, I enjoyed seeing how everything works. I know I can’t petition the parliament on behalf of the people yet, but if there are any cases you can think of, let me know. I have time to look into them, even if I can’t do much yet.”

“I like that. You’ll be able to dive right in when the time comes.”

“I like to be prepared.” I shook her hand.

“Wonderful. I hope you don’t mind my bringing this up, but I realize you might not have thought of this.” She took a step closer, still holding my hand. “I know you’ve been worried about how the locals would feel about your coming home and I thought of something that might make you feel better. The royal families that represent the different provinces typically hold open houses or parties for the locals at least once a year. It encourages conversation and makes the villagers feel appreciated. Once you’re reinstated, it might be nice to consider holding one.”

“I’ll look into it. Thank you.”

That afternoon was spent with a nice woman named Mrs. Rewell who refused to speak anything but Lilarian to me. I thought about hiding in the blanket closet but Chadwick kept careful watch. By the time she left I could sing the alphabet easily and count to twenty. I felt like I had run a marathon.

Alex had gone back to the city to work on a few projects that required his attention. He hadn’t wanted to leave until I’d spoken with Dr. Bielefeld, but I insisted. I didn’t want him to put off things that were important just because I was worried.

By the time dark fell, I was in a very bad mood. Not only had the doctor not returned my call, but I couldn’t find my e-reader. When my phone rang, I didn’t even check to see who it was.

“Yeah?” I pulled stuff out of my carry-on bag, hoping I’d stuck the e-reader in there for some reason.

“Hi to you, too.” Alex laughed. “Bad day?”

“Yes. The doctor never called me back and a very nice lady spent three hours refusing to speak any English.” I shook out my jacket, but still no e-reader.

“I’m sorry Dr. Bielefeld didn’t call you back.” The rumble of his voice went a long way to soothing me. “Something important must’ve come up.”

“Probably. I just want to know more about my dad’s scan and medicine.” I sat on my bed and sighed. “Just a frustrating day.”

“I can tell.” He was quiet for a minute. “Did you learn any Lilarian?”

“A little. I guess she’s doing her job.”

“Well, that’s good.” He sounded distracted.

“What’s going on?”

“Eh, it can wait.”

“Oh no. Just get it out of the way.” I leaned back on the bed. Today was not going well.

“I don’t want to upset you.”

“What is it?” My stomach clenched.

“Someone published a picture of me at your house.”

“That’s not so bad.”

“Well, they also titled it Royal Rendezvous.” I could hear the worry in his voice so I tried to curb my immediate response. “Samantha?”

“It’s okay, Alex.” I chewed on my lip.

“I can hear in your voice that it’s not okay.”

“It’s fine.”

“Oh, now I know it’s bad. No matter what language a woman says those two words in, it means bad things.”

I chuckled weakly. “Seriously, it’s okay. I mean, they don’t know anything for sure. Maybe it’ll just blow over.”

“It might.”

“I think I’m going to call it an early night.” I closed my eyes.

“Okay. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Good night.”

The next morning my phone rang during breakfast and I almost dropped it in my rush to answer.

“Hello?”

“May I speak with Duchess Rousseau?” An accented voice asked politely.

“This is Samantha.”

“Ah, this is Dr. Bielefeld. I apologize for not returning your call yesterday. I had an emergency pop up.”

“That’s understandable. I just had a few questions about my father. He said that his scan hadn’t shown any changes and he was taking new medicines.” I got up and walked outside. “He seems pretty miserable.”

“Yes, I have his file here. Mr. Thompson’s scan didn’t show much change, so after speaking with his physician in the States we decided to try a medicine that is a lot more powerful. He’s likely experiencing some side effects.”

“What kind of side effects?”

“Nausea and insomnia are the most common, but he may also experience a change in mood and temperament.”

“I believe he’s dealing with all of those.” I sat down on the steps leading from the kitchen door to the yard. “Is this medicine necessary?”

“Duchess, I wouldn’t have suggested...

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I found that I actually enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of my new job. It was work, but it gave me something constructive to do. The brightest spot of the week was Jess’s call to tell me Bert had proposed. My heart had felt much lighter after listening to her squealing. When I told her she should wait to go dress shopping until she came to visit, I thought my eardrums would explode. Not only was she excited about shopping in Europe, she immediately assumed it meant I was going too. I didn’t have the heart to tell her no, so I decided I’d just suck it up and look for a dress with her.

It wasn’t until Friday arrived that I started to feel blue. I’d stayed so busy I’d managed to not worry too much. Unfortunately, Chadwick was pretty strict about keeping my weekends free. He felt I deserved time off just like everyone else. Normally that would be a great thing, but Alex had called to let me know he couldn’t come back this time. He was attending a formal dinner at the palace and wouldn’t have time to make it here and back.

“Why don’t you go do something? Call Cathy.” Chadwick looked at me over lunch. “You need to think about something else.”

“Are you sick of me?” Not that I’d fault him for it. I was being grumpy. I stood up and put my plate in the sink. Margie was getting used to the idea of us eating in the kitchen and I was getting used to her cooking everything.

“I’m sick of you looking so frustrated.” He threw his napkin on the counter. “Your dad wants you to stay here, but you feel like you should go to him. You miss Alex but don’t want anyone to know you’re together. It’s like you’re trying to torture yourself.”

“I am not!” Margie tsked under her breath while she wrapped up the leftovers and I frowned. “You think I’m being stupid, too?”

“Of course I don’t think you’re being stupid. I think you’re afraid to see the good.” She set the plate she was holding in the refrigerator.

“What do you mean?”

“The man you love loves you just as much.” Her back was to me, so she didn’t see the look on my face.

“Close your mouth, Samantha.” Chadwick rolled his eyes. “You’re the only person who doesn’t realize you’re in love with him.”

“How would you know I was in love before I did?” I crossed my arms and glared at him.

“Because we’re not the ones living it. It’s easier to see when you’re not wrapped up in it yourself.”

“Speaking of being wrapped up in things. How are you and Daniel?”

“Nice subject change. And we’re okay. His sister, Adriane, is helping with his parents.” He leaned back in his chair. “I don’t think he understood how much it upset me until I set an ultimatum.”

“So you’re working things out?”

“We’re trying. Instead of talking about it, he’s actually taken steps.” He smiled. “Alex told him that the crown stood behind him and they wouldn’t put up with any prejudice.”

I smiled. Alex and I had talked about the predicament Daniel was in with his family. It made me happy to know that he had made an official move to back his friend.

“So, are you pushing me out of the house so you can go see your boyfriend?” I raised an eyebrow and smirked.

“I certainly wouldn’t complain…”

“Okay. I’ll call Cathy. She’s been bugging me nonstop to go out with her.” I didn’t want to go to the clubs, but I had told her I would and this gave me an excuse to see Alex as well.

Chapter Thirty-One

President Gregory Visits Lilaria

—Lilarian Daily

Cathy was waiting for me at the palace. When I got there, she grabbed my garment bag out of my hands and made a beeline for the guest room that I’d used last time. I’d shooed Chadwick away, promising I would be fine.

I wanted *****rprise Alex, so hadn’t told him I was coming. He should still be in a meeting, but I was hoping that I’d be able to drag him with us later. Even if there wasn’t going to be any PDA, I’d at least like to spend the time with him. The door to his room was open as I walked down the hallway and I hurried my steps. His meeting must’ve finished early.

He was sitting at his desk with his laptop open and a stack of papers. I watched him for a minute, enjoying his look of concentration before I knocked on the doorframe.

“Samantha?” He stood up and crossed the room in quick strides.

“Hey.” I stepped into his room and pushed the door shut.

He wrapped his arms around me immediately and I sighed into his kiss. It had been a long week without him.

“What are you doing here?”

“I promised Cathy I’d go out with her and figured that I’d get *****rprise you and make her happy at the same time.” I ran a hand over his cheek and the five-o’clock shadow there.

“You came to the palace to see me?” He tilted my chin up. “I know you don’t want to go to the club.”

“I missed you.” It was the truth. The club had been an excuse to come be with him.

“I missed you, too.” He leaned down and kissed me once more. “But it’s a lot harder to keep secrets here.”

“We’ll just have to be careful.” I stepped away from him. “Besides, I’m not going to be sitting around waiting on you. I have to go to the club tonight.” I tried to look excited. “In fact, your sister is probably in my room right now going through the stuff I packed.”

“You’re going tonight?” He glanced down at his watch. “I have to finish up some paperwork, but maybe I can catch up.”

“I think it’s supposed to be a girls’ night out.” I laughed.

“Well, I’ll come over and tell you bye before you leave.” He grimaced. “I really do have a lot of paperwork to catch up on.”

“Sounds good. Now I need to go before she decides my clothes aren’t good enough.”

“Go.” He swatted my ass as I turned around and I looked at him, shocked. He chuckled and winked at me. “Don’t be surprised if I sneak in your room later tonight.”

“I’m counting on it.”

I’d been right. Cathy was going through my clothes, but she hadn’t tried to find something else for me to wear. In fact, she was so in love with the dress I’d brought, she was looking up the designer on my laptop.

“Well, help yourself.” I teased. The dress was risqué, but the high heels I brought to wear with it made me the most nervous.

“Who picked that out?”

“Why do you assume someone else picked it out?” She just stared at me. “Jess.”

“That’s your friend who just got engaged?” She tapped her chin. “She has a good eye. Is she going to do her dress shopping when she visits?”

“Yep. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you come with us.” In fact, Jess would think it was a hoot to have a princess helping her decide.

“That sounds like fun!” Cathy was already dressed for the night. Her long hair was pulled up and she was wearing a ***y, but appropriate, short blue dress. “Get ready! We don’t want the VIP section to fill up before we get there.”

“I thought it was better to make an entrance.” I grabbed the dress from the hanger and slid it on. Once I had wiggled it into place, I touched up my makeup and went out to get my shoes.

“Oh, we’ll be making an entrance.” She whistled.

I pulled on the heels and looked at myself in the full-length mirror. You could see the necklace Alex had given me though the slit in the front. I ran my fingers through my hair so it had that tousled look and turned toward her for inspection.

“Do I pass?”

“I’d say so.” She nodded in approval. “But we need to test it out first.”

Grabbing my hand, she pulled me down the hall to Alex’s room. He was back at his desk working when she barged in with me in tow.

Alex looked up and froze. His eyes ran over me hungrily. “When are you leaving?”

“Now,” Cathy responded. “I just wanted you to know what you would be missing out on.”

“Oh, I’m not going to be missing out on anything.” He leaned back in his chair, his eyes locked on me. “I’ll meet you there.”

“I thought you had paperwork.” I smirked.

“There’s no way you’re going without me in that dress.”

“Then you better hurry up.” Cathy grabbed my hand again and pulled me toward the door. “We’ll see you there.”

I rolled my eyes at her. She was a handful and I’d agreed to go out with her. There was a limo out front instead of one of the normal cars. Becca was present as usual and I knew better than to complain. There was no way we would be able to go *****ch a public place without a guard.

“You’ll love this place. The lounge is above the main floor, but there is plenty of dancing room. And the owner is more than happy to help us if we need to sneak out.”

“Why...

Suddenly Royal
Suddenly Royal Page 38



“Can you talk?” She sounded tired.

“Hold on.” I looked around for somewhere quiet but didn’t see anything. Becca wasn’t standing at the stairs, so couldn’t ask her either. I took the steps down and found a bathroom where the music was much more muted. “I can hear you now. What’s wrong?”

“It’s your dad, sweetheart.” I knew it was bad for her to be calling me, but my heart still stopped.

“What’s happened?” My throat tightened. “Is he—”

“No! No, but it’s not good.” I could hear the strain in her voice. “It’s worse than we knew.”

“I don’t understand. Where is he?” Panic filled my chest and I saw one of the girls look at me in the mirror.

“Sam, I didn’t know it was this bad. He never let us go in with him to the appointments, remember?” Her voice choked up and she took a minute before continuing. “He’s at the hospital. I couldn’t wake him up.”

“He’s dying?” My voice came out on a sob and I covered my mouth with my free hand. I was standing in the bathroom at a club while my father was dying in a hospital.

“Yes, baby. I think he knew but didn’t want us to worry.”

“He knew and didn’t tell us?” I whispered the words. “Why would he do that?”

“I can only guess he didn’t want us to spend all our time focused on him.”

“I’m coming. I’ll have to get a flight, but I’ll leave as soon as I can.” I dragged the back of my hand across my nose and the girl that had looked at me handed me some tissue. I mumbled a thank-you as she left but wasn’t really paying attention. I needed to go.

“Okay.” She sniffed. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I just didn’t know.”

“It’s okay, Patricia. I’ll call you soon.” I hung up the phone and took a couple of deep breaths. It didn’t help. The tears running down my cheeks wouldn’t stop. How had I not known it was this bad? Why did I leave him?

I turned on the sink and splashed water over my face. I needed to get out of here—needed to get to the airport. Rubbing my shaking, wet hands on my dress, I left the bathroom and shoved my way through the crowd. Someone elbowed me and I tripped but got right back up and kept going. The bouncer at the door said something, but I didn’t hear him. There was too much noise in the club. Too much noise in my head.

I practically fell out the door and into the line of people waiting outside. Our car was gone of course, so I looked for a cab. Reporters had gathered outside, the bright flashes of their cameras blinding me as I tried to decide which way to go.

“Samantha! Duchess Rousseau!”

“Rousseau! Look here!”

“Are you upset? Did someone do something?”

“Samantha!”

“Where’s Alex?”

“Where’s Cathy?”

“What happened?”

“Look here!”

“Sam!”

I shoved through the people and tried to put some distance between myself and the reporters, but they kept pace. One of them reached out and grabbed my shoulder. I shrugged him off and kept walking. I had no idea where I was or where I was going. The farther I got from the club, the more my fear fed my anger.

“Tell us what happened!”

“Leave me alone!” I glared at the reporters, but they continued to snap pictures, not caring how upset I was.

“Why are you crying?”

“Samantha! Sam!”

The guy who had grabbed my shoulder reached out and tugged on my purse while pointing a camera in my face. Something inside of me snapped and fury raced down my spine. Turning around, I shoved the camera out of his hand and kicked him in the nuts as hard as I could. He went down with a groan and I turned back around and started walking away. My entire body was shaking and I couldn’t stop.

“Samantha! Why did you do that?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Do you miss home?”

I turned a corner and the heel of my left shoe wedged down into a grate. I couldn’t regain my footing and fell. My body slammed against a metal trash can in a loud explosion of noise. The metal was rusted and a jagged edge gashed my leg. I gasped when I hit the ground, my head slamming against the brick wall and more tears pooled in my eyes. I tried to stand up but my feet wouldn’t work; a sharp pain shot up the leg that wasn’t cut while the bleeding gash on the other throbbed. A few of the photographers put down their cameras and moved to help me, but I shoved their hands away. I didn’t want them touching me. These were the people who had been chasing me.

I heard scuffling in the crowd and I looked up just in time to see Alex slam his fist into a photographer’s face when he wouldn’t move. The man went down with a thud and his camera exploded into a hundred pieces on the concrete. A few of the photographers protested over the treatment of their colleague, but most of them just took more pictures.

“Samantha?” The panic in his voice made my tears come faster.

Alex leaned down, his eyes checking my leg quickly before he scooped me up in his arms. The photographers went wild but gave him room. I buried my face in his shirt and tried to get control of the sobs that were trying to break free. Everything was wrong. My father was dying and I was here, being chased by the paparazzi. Even with my eyes squeezed shut I could see the bright flashes of the cameras.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered in my ear as he walked through the crowd. When someone moved to block his path, he practically growled. “Get the hell out of my way.” No one argued with him. I don’t know if that was because he was the prince or because he had laid a guy out.

Becca and Duvall were there, shoving reporters and spectators away from us so we could get to the car idling at the curb. Becca had disabled a large man and he was on his knees in front of her. One of the members from the detail opened the car door.

“Call the palace.” Alex slid into the seat, cradling me in his lap. “Samantha’s going to need a doctor.”

“There’s a first-aid kit.” Duvall was in the front passenger seat and began rummaging in the glove box.

The car pulled away from the curb and sped through the streets. I kept my face pressed against Alex’s shirt, unable to stop the tears. When he pressed gauze against the cut on my leg, I hissed between my teeth and tried to jerk away. He mumbled reassurances but didn’t let go.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I hiccupped and tried to calm down.

“What happened?”

“Patricia called.” A sob broke free and I had to take a second before I could finish. “Dad’s dying. I just panicked and ran out. I was going to go to the airport.”

“Samantha.” Alex’s voice was laced with pain.

“He’s dying, Alex. I left him and he’s dying.” I pressed my face against his shirt again. How could I live with myself? “I left him.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Cancer Doesn’t Care Who You’re Related To

—New York Reports

Every light in the palace was on and there was a crew of people waiting for us when we pulled up. Alex refused to let anyone take me from him and carried me straight to his room. He laid me on his bed but refused to leave my side, telling everyone that wasn’t required to get the hell out.

A petite older woman followed us, issuing orders. “Samantha, I’m Dr. Rains. We’re going to get you fixed right up.” She patted me on the shoulder before moving to examine my leg.

Chadwick burst into the room and ran straight for the bed. There were tears in his eyes but he didn’t say a word, just reached out and squeezed the hand Alex wasn’t holding.

“You’re going to feel a pinch. I’m giving you a shot to numb the area. You need stitches.” There was a sharp stick, but I didn’t care. I don’t know if I was in shock, but my mind felt frozen.

Someone handed me a tissue and I realized it was the queen. Her eyes were gentle as she looked at me, her calm voice reaching through the haze that had filled my head. “We’ll take care of everything.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and tears slid out. The one thing I cared about, no one could fix. When I opened my eyes again, everyone was gone but Alex and the doctor. He was sitting next to me, his face stone as he watched her work. I didn’t look, didn’t care about my leg. When she finished, she checked the ankle of the foot that had been stuck in the grate and wrapped it with a bandage.

“Take this.” She handed me a pill and glass of water.

“What is it?” I opened my eyes and tried to sit up. The stitches pulled and I winced. Alex reached down and helped lift me.

“It’s for the pain. You might not feel it right this second, but that was a very nasty tumble you took and your leg is going to be sore for days.”

“No. I need to get to the airport.” I shook my head and felt dizzy. She leaned forward and looked at my eyes.

“Did you hit your head when you fell?”

“I don’t know.”...

Suddenly Royal
Suddenly Royal Page 39



“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I have never been more afraid and angry in my life.” He pressed his face in my hair and took a deep breath. “I don’t want to lose you and I just knew this was the end. I wanted to kill all those people standing there and taking your picture while you bled.”

“I don’t want to lose you, either.” Tears sprang to my eyes. “I lose everyone.”

“Is that why you were so stubborn?” He rolled me over gently so he could see my face.

“I didn’t think I would make it if you broke my heart. Not with everything else.” A sob caught in my throat. “I guess a part of me always knew it was a long shot for Dad. And I just didn’t think I could lose him and you.”

“Why would you lose me?”

“You have to be king! You have to make little baby heirs.” I sniffled again—the more I spoke, the more tears threatened. “I know I’m stupid for worrying about that, but I knew I’d end up falling in love with you. How could I not? And then you’d have to get rid of me for someone you could marry. And you can’t marry me… I’m just an American. And I know that’s really getting ahead of myself, but why start something if you know it’s going to end? And, and, and—”

“I’m not getting rid of you.” He framed my face in his hands. “You’re it for me. I knew it the moment I saw you tell off the maître d’ at the restaurant. Do you understand? You’re it. I love you. That sketch was of the moment I fell in love with you.”

“You love me?” My brain was mush and I wasn’t sure if it was from his words or the pain pill.

“Yes, I love you.” His eyes bored into mine.

“I love you.” I traced his cheek with my fingers. “Can you tell me again when I’m not on pain medicine?”

“I’ll tell you every day.”

“Maybe twice a day?” I felt my eyelids growing heavy.

“A hundred times a day.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

HRH Prince Alex and the Duchess of Rousseau Leave for the States

—Lilarian Daily

The next morning came quickly. I felt like I had barely fallen asleep before the sun was streaming through the windows. The palace was bustling with activity and it felt surreal to understand the majority of it was because of my family. There was extra security around the gates and the photographers and journalists had been pushed farther away.

While the doctor checked me out, Alex delegated his tasks to other people. Cathy took the brunt of it, her eyes red and watery whenever she looked at me. Even though I told her it wasn’t her fault, I knew she blamed herself. Becca had offered to resign, which I thought was ludicrous. When I told her to shut up, she laughed weakly and promised I would never be out of her sight again. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Alex refused to leave my side and since walking was out of the question for now, we didn’t leave his room until it was time to go to the airport.

The queen had arranged for their jet to take us back to the states and it was waiting at the airport. Chadwick had gone to Rousseau overnight in the queen’s helicopter to retrieve more of my clothing for the trip. Stanley and Margie had sent food, which amused the queen, but I appreciated it. That’s what you did when someone was having a hard time. You fed them. It was a tra***ion that crossed all cultures.

I called Patricia on the way to the airport and was relieved that Dad had finally woken up. I spoke to him briefly; he was still too tired for much. Jess and Bert were with him as well and that helped ease some of the frustration in my heart. The doctors weren’t sharing much information with them because they were technically not family, but at least he wasn’t alone. That seemed like such an odd thought to me. Patricia, Jess, and Bert were the closest thing I had to a real family. I did speak with one of the physicians on the way to the airport, but there were no good answers.

The cancer cells had been spreading and nothing they tried had helped. Dad had refused more chemo and had decided not to tell anyone the extent of the trouble. It was very like him to not want anyone else to worry about him, but it made me angry. I felt like he had robbed me of time with him. I confronted Dr. Bielefeld about my father’s health, but his hands had been tied. He had never passed on false information, but under doctor-patient confidentiality, he had only been able to share what Dad told him he could. He apologized for not being able to do more and I believed that he was sincerely sorry.

I slept most of the flight, still miserable from everything that happened the night before. My ankle was sprained, so I had been carted around in a wheelchair and had crutches for short distances. The media had gone bat-**** crazy when we arrived at the airport and I could feel Alex’s anger like a physical force. Last night would forever be etched in our minds. I was angry too, but for the most part I just wanted to leave. The queen was dealing with the press and I trusted her to do what was best. Her first move had been to make sure there would be no assault charges pressed against Alex and me. There was photo evidence of the man I kicked touching me and grabbing my purse, which gave me the right to defend myself.

As for Alex, it seemed the reporter was at fault for blocking rescue personnel from a person in need. I had no idea how that worked, but I was saving that to tease Alex with another day. I’m pretty sure I could squeeze several Knight in Shining Armor jokes out of it.

Photographers were waiting in the States, but I chose to ignore them. In fact, our official statement was that there was no official statement at this time and we thanked everyone for respecting us during a difficult time and for giving us our space. I didn’t speak or even look in their direction; Chadwick did all the talking when needed. After the debacle with the nightclub, the city had provided police escorts for us and a security team was set up at the hospital for my father. They were taking no chances. You’d think we would need protection like this from people pointing guns at us, not cameras.

We arrived at the front entrance in a wave of sirens and flashing lights. Jess, Bert, and a man in a suit were waiting at the doors with a wheelchair. Alex helped me out of the car and into the chair.

“Your Highness. Duchess. I am in charge of the cancer ward. I’m sorry to meet you under such terrible circumstances. If I can be of any help, please don’t hesitate to let me know.” The man shook our hands before making way for my friends.

With tears in her eyes, Jess threw her arms around me and then patted my head like I was a sick puppy. Bert leaned down and hugged me carefully, wincing when he saw the bruise on my left temple.

“I’m fine, guys. It’s just my legs. Mostly. I could walk if Alex would stop complaining about how slow I am.”

“Ha ha.” He pushed the chair through the doors and into the main lobby. A few patients seemed surprised to see us, but no one gave us a hard time. The doctor in charge of the cancer ward acted like an ambassador, leading us to Dad and asking if we needed anything.

“How’s Dad?” I looked at Jess.

“He was awake when we came down.” She sighed. “Sam, he doesn’t look good. I just want you to be ready.”

I nodded my head but didn’t say anything. Part of me was terrified of what I’d see and the other part of me wanted to get it out of the way. Some of the staff watched us as we walked by, but it didn’t bother me. They weren’t going out of their way or trying to take pictures. It was more that we were interrupting their routines. It made me feel like a normal person. Who would have thought a bunch of busy, annoyed nurses would make me feel better?

When we got to the door, I made Jess stop. “I don’t want to go in there in a wheelchair.”

“I’ll help you.” Alex slid an arm around my shoulders to help me stand.

“We haven’t told him much. You guys have been all over the news, but I knew you wouldn’t want him to see that,” Jess explained.

“Thank you.”

“We’ll wait out here.”

Alex opened the door so I could hobble in first. He moved beside me to help support my weight on the bad ankle and we crossed the room to the hospital bed. Patricia was sitting in a chair, knitting. Her face was pale and her eyes red. I would hug her after I saw my dad. He had to come first.

“Dad?” I touched his hand, careful to not move any of the tubes or cords. Jess had been right. He barely looked like my father any more.

He opened his eyes slowly and gave me a weak smile. “Hey, baby girl.”

Alex pulled a stool over for me so I could sit down and then moved back to give us space.

“How are you?” I wrapped his fingers around mine and fought the tears that were blinding me.

“Not too bad.” He squeezed my hand.

“Liar.” I sniffed.

“I’m sorry I’m leaving you.” His voice was so soft I had to lean forward to hear him.

“Then don’t.”

“I knew it was a lost cause. Can’t win this one.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let...