Forever Bold

by Kathleen Brooks

  “Dad?”

  “Ah, it’s time then.” Mo stood up and made his way to the door and opened it wide. Dani, Zain, Mila, Gabe, and Sloane stood behind Mo. “We wanted to say goodbye.”

  Jameson didn’t know what to say. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”

  Jameson shook hands with Mo, Gabe and Zain and hugged Dani, Mila, and Sloane.

  Gabe pulled him close and thumped his back. “I don’t know if you’ll make it, but if you do, we will have our little chat then. No use wasting a good chat if you’re not around next month.”

  “I look forward to it,” Jameson whispered back and Gabe grinned.

  “Thank you all. It’s been an honor to get to know each of you. Hopefully, we’ll be seeing each other soon. Now I’d better get going or I’ll miss my flight.”

  “No need to worry about that,” Veronica said, walking in looking as if she were ready for a board meeting even at four in the morning. “The private jet is fueled and waiting. It won’t leave without you.”

  “But my ticket,” Jameson started to say, but Veronica rolled her eyes at him. What was it with the women of Keeneston rolling their eyes at him as if he were stupid?

  “I canceled that as soon as I found out you made it. Mo and Dani insisted that the man who saved their daughter’s life is flown home on their plane. Besides, you’ll need the room.”

  “Room for what?” Jameson asked as Veronica spun on her heel and walked to the front door, leaving Jameson and everyone else to follow.

  She opened the front door and lined up along the circular drive was half of Keeneston. “For your trip,” Miss Lily said, handing him a plate of cookies.

  “For your office,” Miss Violet said, handing him a large container of mint julep brownies.

  “For breakfast on the plane,” Miss Daisy said, handing him a thermos of what smelled like sausage gravy and a bag of fresh-baked biscuits.

  “You won’t have time to pick up lunch for the day either, so Poppy and I made you lunch,” Zinnia said, handing him a brown paper bag with his name written across the front of it.

  “We don’t want you to starve,” Dani said from behind him as she handed him a basket. He lifted the lid to find three casserole dishes. “Those are from Kenna, Paige, and me.”

  “Thank you, everyone. So much. I’ll miss you all.” Jameson would, too. More than he ever thought possible.

  “Come on, I’ll get you to that airport,” Kale said, reaching out and grabbing some of the food. Pies, cookies, and snacks were piling up in his arms as he made his way to Kale’s car. Kale looked at the armful of food and the bags and then to his little car. “We’ll take the SUV.”

  Jameson turned and hugged Ariana to him as soon as he put everything into the SUV. “I love you,” he whispered into her hair as he held her tightly to him.

  “I love you, too.” Ari pulled back and then went up on her toes to kiss him.

  Getting into that SUV was the hardest thing Jameson had ever done in his life.

  24

  “You can stop sulking you know,” Kale muttered. “It’s already been a week.”

  “I’m not sulking. I’m just not up for your bar-hopping nights,” Ariana said, smacking his arm. “I’m preparing for my UN talk anyway.”

  “You just don’t want to miss your nightly video chat with Jameson,” Kale said, annoyed.

  “I’m sorry, Kale. You’ll see. One day when you fall in love you will understand. I’m not up for clubbing, but I’m totally up for dinner.”

  “Don’t even mention the L-word to me. However, dinner at the café and then trivia until your phone date sounds good.”

  “Perfect. Thanks, Kale.”

  “You’re welcome. Just don’t forget about me, okay?”

  “I didn’t forget about you even when we had our falling out. I won’t forget about you just because I’m in love. Nothing has changed except I don’t want to look for men or sit in a bar while you’re trying to hook up. However, beating you to the point of humiliation tonight in trivia will always be something I want to do.”

  “As if you could beat me,” Kale scoffed but looked nervous. He might kill her on the tech stuff, but she beat him on history every time.

  “Ariana,” Veronica said seriously as she stepped into Ari’s office. “We have a problem.”

  Kale was by her side in an instant as Veronica stepped aside for Ari’s parents to join them. “Deming Nikan is in town for the January horse sales. Why? I have no idea. They don’t have any horses that I know of, but he’s telling people you got him interested in racing.”

  “Then I’ll just hunker down at the farm and not go to the sales. I can watch them on television anyway.” It irked Ariana that Deming was there, but she didn’t have to see him, so what did she care?

  “It’s worse than that,” her father said with a sigh and then gestured to Veronica to continue.

  “Your uncle has decided to try to flip Deming. Deming will be the next leader of Crusina. He believes we can use Deming’s obvious interest in you to bring him to our side. As you know, your uncle has been working hard to turn Rahmi into the equivalent of a constitutional monarchy. The difference between Rahmi and England being that your king is the head of the country and is political, but laws are passed through the Rahmi Elected Council who are voted on by the people. He’s wanted Deming to push for some kind of government entity that gives people a voice and also checks the power of the ruler.”

  “That sounds good and all, but what do I have to do with this?” Ari asked warily.

  “He’s asked that you and your family host Deming for the length of his visit.”

  Ariana cussed, but the language that came out of her mother made her curse seem like a compliment. “Please tell me my uncle isn’t pimping me out to Deming.”

  “No,” her father said instantly. “He’s requested that you simply be cordial and talk about the benefits Crusina would gain if they stepped back from a personalist dictatorship. Deming will be here at four.”

  “I’ll put him in the carriage house,” her mother said to Veronica who nodded. “That way he can’t get near any of our offices and that also keeps him away from Ari. I am so having a word with your uncle about this.”

  Her father shook his head as if he felt bad for his brother. “What do we do about Ari?”

  “Dinner only,” her mother answered quickly. “I wish Jameson were here.”

  “I’m not Jameson, but Ariana and I did have plans for dinner and trivia tonight.”

  “I think I’ll need some Rose sisters’ special tea if I have to smile through dinner,” Ariana muttered.

  “Get her away from here as soon as possible. Thank you, Kale. Now, Ari, make yourself scarce. Why don’t you head over to Kale’s now so I can honestly say you aren’t here when Deming arrives.” Her mother looked ready to either pass out from exhaustion or stab someone. Ariana couldn’t tell which.

  “Come on,” Kale said, picking up her laptop. “I’ll get you some really good research for your presentation. Want me to hack the Human Rights Council’s emails and government databases?”

  “Don’t tempt me,” Ariana teased as she grabbed the rest of her things. “I’ll be back in time to get ready for dinner,” she told her parents who looked just as annoyed as she did.

  “You did it for your nephew and for Draven,” Veronica was saying to Mo, “Maybe you can be the one to help Crusina.”

  Ari left her parents in a major political/theological debate and she was pretty sure some psychological warfare was also being discussed. She looked at her watch. Jameson was still working. She refused to be the girlfriend who couldn’t handle things on her own. She’d talk to him tonight at ten for their scheduled video chat. Now, she just needed to get through the next eight hours.

  Jameson sent his last email for the day and looked around. Everyone was gone for the night. He had time to hit the gym and then meet some friends for a late dinner before his favorite time of the day—ten at night. That wa
s when he got to video chat with Ariana.

  Jameson pulled his private phone from his desk drawer and turned it on as he finished closing down his computer. The flurry of texts had his brow creasing in surprise. He didn’t get many texts. Maybe a couple from some of his buddies, and the Rose sisters had been checking in on him to make sure he was eating, and sometimes Ari would send a picture, but apart from that, his phone didn’t normally suffer the seizure of constant vibration is was suffering now.

  Jameson Duke has been added to the Keeneston Text Tree.

  Thirty-eight unread texts. Geez. What was this all about? However, it was the text from Dani Ali Rahman that caught his attention.

  Jameson, so sorry to be texting you like this, but I thought you should know Deming Nikan is staying at the house for the rest of the week. Not by our choice. It was commanded. If you have any time off, I can send the plane. Hope you’re doing well. Are you eating enough?

  What the hell was Deming Nikan doing in Keeneston? Jameson scrolled through his texts to see if Ari had sent him a text.

  Nope, but Zain had. I hate to say this, but we need you here. I just took Deming Nikan on a tour of the farm. Not our choice. My uncle made us. Deming couldn’t stop talking about Ariana and asking about her personal life. You need to get here and deal with him.

  Then there was one from Gabe. You’re better than this asshole. He’s trying to hit on my sister. We just met for cocktail hour before dinner and he’s like a freaking octopus. If it’s between you and him, you’re in. But I still get to interrogate you and find out all the embarrassing stuff you’ve ever done so I can hold it over you for the rest of your life. Just get here and put this guy out of our misery.

  Then Jameson looked at the Keeneston text tree. Text after text about the pain in the ass Deming Nikan’s security is being in town. Someone told Nikki to stop trying to sneak onto Mo’s farm. Dani replied that she was welcome for dinner. Apparently no one was happy about Deming except Nikki and they all wished Jameson was there.

  “Is something wrong? You have a very strange look on your face?”

  Jameson looked up from his chair at his boss. “Yes. I need to get to Keeneston. Deming Nikan is there and wants Ariana for himself.”

  “The princess? The one you disclosed last week that you’re dating? You need to leave because you’re jealous?”

  “That’s not why I need to leave. This is much more than that. Whenever Deming is around, something happens to Ariana.”

  Joseph crossed his arms over his chest and glowered at him. “Sorry, but you just took all your vacation time to escort your girlfriend to a wedding.”

  Jameson shook his head. “Ariana isn’t safe if Deming is there.”

  “She has a whole team of Rahmi guards there. There is no reason for you to go. Look, you’re going to have to find a way to balance your work life and your personal life.”

  Jameson stood up. “You’re right. I’ll be the first person to admit I’m letting my personal life affect my job. However, I have a very strong feeling that there is a connection between Deming and the attacks on Ariana. I know I should put the job first, but if your wife were in danger, would you wait for a vacation day to see her?”

  “It’s not the same,” Joseph said as he shook his head.

  “The only difference is Ariana isn’t my wife, yet.”

  “Yet?”

  “That’s right. Yet. I wouldn’t get involved with a high-profile woman like Ariana unless it was forever. She’s in danger, and I won’t let anything happen to her.”

  Joseph shook his head. “I’m sorry. It just has to wait until the weekend.”

  Jameson reached into his pocket and pulled out his government identification and placed it on his desk along with his government-issued weapon. “I quit.”

  “You can’t quit!” Joseph argued, but Jameson didn’t care. He had a gut feeling that he had to get to Ariana, and if he didn’t, he’d never see her again. Job be damned. Ariana was the most important thing in his life.

  “I’m sorry Joseph. You’ve been great to me and this is no way to repay you for getting me to the New York office, but Ariana’s safety is more important than my job.”

  Joseph let out sigh as Jameson pushed the elevator button. “I accept your resignation but I’d better get an invite to the wedding.”

  “Deal,” Jameson said, turning to shake Joseph’s hand.

  Jameson ran to his car and raced home to pack. If he drove through the night, he’d reach Ariana by six in the morning.

  25

  “I love how we both care about the same things.” Deming smiled at her across the dinner table.

  “Like what?” Ariana asked. Something wasn’t sitting right. She just had a bad feeling. She couldn’t tell if it were coming from Deming or his entourage. His personal assistant stood against the wall behind Deming and his eyes never moved from Ariana.

  “Horses. You have horses, I want horses.”

  Ariana could practically hear Sloane’s eyes rolling next to her.

  “I need to go powder my nose,” Sloane said, standing up. “Ariana, can you help me. Pregnancy does the weirdest thing to you. I’m sure your mother has told you about it.”

  Deming swallowed hard. “Um, no. She never told me about being pregnant.” He stood as they left the table.

  “That was weird,” Sloane whispered as they made their way to the hallway.

  “Yeah, it was. This whole thing is weird. What’s up with his assistant staring at me?” Ari shivered. Everything in her screamed that something was off.

  Sloane and Ari walked into the women’s room that consisted of an outer sitting area filled with couches and three large mirrors. Ariana dropped onto the couch as Sloane headed to the restroom.

  “I wish Jameson was here,” Sloane called out.

  Ari did, too. She looked down at her phone and frowned at the text she’d gotten during dinner from Jameson. Won’t be able to talk tonight. We’ll talk in the morning. Call me if you need me. I’ll always answer. I love you.

  Ariana sighed. Her heart ached. She missed Jameson with every fiber of her being, but she wouldn’t bother him. They were going to make this work. The longing was only leading to a stronger desire to see each other and a deeper examination of her feelings for him. Jameson was the man for her. There was no doubt.

  “Ari? Is everything okay between you and Jameson?”

  “Of course. Hey, Sloane, can I ask you a personal question?”

  “Shoot,” Sloane said as she came out and took a seat at the mirror to fix her hair.

  “Was it love at first sight with my brother?”

  If Sloane was embarrassed, she didn’t show it. “Yes and no. I definitely noticed him and wanted to get to know him. The love developed as I got to know him.”

  “Oh.” Ari slumped back against the couch as she worried that her feelings for Jameson were developing too quickly.

  “Now,” Sloane said, turning in the chair, “that love didn’t take long to develop. You’d think being a royal would be to his advantage, but it wasn’t. As soon as I accepted that I loved him, as a prince and the man who bore that title, everything worked itself out. When you know, you know. I knew, but I had to work out the whole he’s-a- prince-I-would-be-a-princess thing. Took me a couple of extra days with the whole guilt over who my parents are. I didn’t think I was good enough.”

  “You’re the best sister I could have.”

  “Gee, thanks,” Mila said, walking into the room.

  “You too. I’m very lucky that my brothers married wonderful women,” Ari said, holding out her hand for Mila. Mila squeezed it and took a seat next to Ari.

  “I explained how hard pregnancy was on women and that Sloane might need a woman who has been through it to help her. I swear, men are so stupid. Deming was just nodding away. The guy has no clue.”

  “Ari is asking about falling in love and if it was love at first sight,” Sloane told Mila.

  “Jameson? Oh, Ari, he’s perfec
t for you, and I know he loves you.”

  “I know. I guess I just miss him. While he’s been gone, I haven’t been thinking about how much it hurts. I’ve been thinking of what our life will be like when we’re together and I keep going to marriage and family. But he’s not here. We’re not married. We’re just starting our relationship. I feel like I’m rushing it but I know it’s meant to be. I feel it with everything I have, just like I feel something really weird is going on with Deming.”

  Mila nodded and didn’t look surprised at all. “When you know, you know. Time doesn’t matter. Distance doesn’t matter. When my feelings shifted from that initial interest to something much deeper, there was nothing that was going to stop me from being with Zain, even the whole prince thing.”

  “You too? Sloane said the same thing. I thought us being royalty would be a plus.”

  Sloane and Mila both shook their heads. “Maybe to someone like Nikki,” Mila said. “But it’s complicated when you marry into the family. Marrying your brother meant marrying a direct heir. I had to submit to a physical exam to prove I could have children. It was horrible. I had to give up a lot, including my private medical records and my body to the royal examiner. Now, I’m lucky that Keeneston is how it is and I can still be myself here, but elsewhere it’s not the same. Photographers, gossiping, the constant attempt to tear you down . . . marrying into royalty isn’t all glitz and glamour.”

  “Then why did you do it?”

  “Love. I love your brother with all my heart,” Mila told her. “We sat down and discussed the expectations of my new job as princess. I don’t think you all know this, but Zain even said he’d step down if it were too much for me. That’s how much he loves me.”

  “Gabe said the same,” Sloane said with a little smile. “However, Mila and I, and whoever you marry,” Sloane dropped her voice and pretended to cough. “Jameson, March 19th..” Then Sloane stopped coughing and gave her a wink. “Whoever you marry will have the support of a wonderful family. Since Zain and Gabe are no longer the next in line, your uncle has given us a lot of freedom. I can still work doing what I love, and so will whomever you marry. Cough, cough, Jameson.”