by Dani Collins
“What are you thinking?” Javiero asked in a rough morning voice. His arms came around her from behind.
“That one day, when Locke is old enough, we should take him on safari.”
He shifted, releasing her so he could turn his back on the view. He leaned his hip on the rail and regarded her with his one eye. He wasn’t wearing a stitch, not even his eye patch, but his mutilated eye socket and scars were something she saw only in the way she noted that he hadn’t shaved or had forgotten his watch. All these battle marks were simply him. The man she loved.
“I’m thinking...” She stroked a caressing hand down the center of his naked chest and grew emotional. Her eyes welled. “That I can see a future for us. It’s beautiful. It’s vast and solid and the memories it might contain are like Christmas gifts. They’re exciting surprises that already make me happy, before I even know what they are. I’m thinking I love you beyond measure and I am awed by how much you love me.” Her hand was shaking now. “I’m sorry I made you prove yourself. I should have taken you at your word.”
He caught her hand and kissed her knuckles.
“My past was still damaging my life. All you did was point that out to me.” He drew her into his front. “I’m grateful, Scarlett. I feel...lighter. When Locke was born, I swore to him that I would be a better father to him than I had. I’m following through on that. It feels good.”
She couldn’t help the tears wetting her lashes. At least they were happy ones. Ecstatic ones. “Can I ask you something?”
“Put on some clothes?” he guessed.
“That seems like a waste of time when we only have a short while before our busy day. No, I was wondering if you, Javiero Rodriguez, would consent to marry me?”
His mouth twitched and the harsh lines in his face softened. His brutish, marred features were handsome and brimming with love, and she grew light-headed.
“Yes, Scarlett Walker,” he said in a voice that sounded deeply moved. “I love you with all my heart. I would be honored to join with you in matrimony. Later.” His smoldering smile widened. “Right now, go back to the part about the time we don’t want to waste...”
EPILOGUE
Two years later...
“WHAT’S WRONG?” ASKED JAVIERO.
Scarlett paused in removing her earring, dragging her gaze from the view of the Eiffel Tower. “Hmm? Nothing.”
“You’ve been quiet all evening. Was it something your mum said?”
“No, things are okay there.” Not fantastic, but not terrible. Ellie had gone to America and Scarlett’s father was ordered by the court to attend addiction classes as part of his release agreement. Her mother went to meetings for families of alcoholics at the same time. At least it gave her a network of people who understood her situation and kept an eye out for early signs of trouble.
“Val, then? Did you fire him?”
She grinned. “No, I said he could take maternity leave.”
“Ruthless.” He smiled, too.
She turned so he could unclasp her necklace. “And I said we’d talk more tomorrow. It was Kiara’s night. I didn’t want to get into it at the gallery.”
“That was quite a crush, wasn’t it? I knew Kiara was talented, but when you see her body of work assembled like that, it’s astonishing. I’m really annoyed I didn’t win more bids. How is she managing with a new baby and all the work that went into preparing, though? Is that why Val wants time off?”
Scarlett turned to take the necklace and saw he was genuinely concerned. She nearly melted into a puddle of liquid sugar at his feet, he was so sweet. She set aside the necklace.
“She’s good. Really good. Val admitted he’s motivated by pure selfishness, wanting to spend more time with Rafael, which is understandable.” Val had missed his daughter’s first two years. “But I didn’t want to let him go permanently.”
“No? I told him I didn’t think you’d have a problem with firing both of us.” He snapped off his cuff links.
“He ran it by you first?”
“Of course. He didn’t want to leave you in the lurch if you weren’t ready.”
“Men,” she tsked, secretly thrilled at the working relationship they’d developed, one that had spilled into a social one. A familial one.
“We weren’t conspiring. He brought it up because you’re sticking your nose in more than usual, checking up on us.” He tilted his head in what would have been a stern look, but held a little too much indulgence to be taken seriously. “We would both rather pull back and let you take the wheel than be micromanaged.”
“But I like bossing you two around.” She tugged at his bow tie to unravel it. “It’s delicious payback after all those years when you obstructed me at every turn.”
“The heady drug of a power trip has hit her veins, ladies and gentlemen. We’re not above mutiny, you know.”
“You’re going to take Val’s side against me?” She splayed an appalled hand on her chest.
“You’ve got me there. I couldn’t do it.” He sighed in mock despair.
She grinned as she worked her way down his buttons, revealing a strip of tawny skin sprinkled lightly with hair.
“Really,” he said with hands coming to rest heavily on her hips. “Before we get distracted, are you sure you’re not ready to fire both of us? I thought you only wanted to wean off the pills and see if you still had symptoms.”
That had been three months ago and she had been feeling really good ever since.
“I thought I was ready, too.” She tugged his tuxedo shirt from his waistband and exposed more of his wide, powerful chest, then smoothed her hands over his sides, loving the warm silk of his skin against her palms. “The five-year plan we’ve made has me very excited for all the new challenges. I was ready to go full steam ahead at work, but earlier today...”
He tilted up her chin so he could see her expression.
“A setback?” His real eye was troubled, the matching false one pretty to look at, though not the place she sent her attention when they were having a serious discussion. “What happened?”
She clasped her hands around the open edges of his shirt and sheepishly admitted, “I held Rafael.”
His frown held for a second longer before comprehension dawned. He grew infinitely more tender. His heavy hands drew her closer.
“You were bitten by the baby bug.”
As her head came to rest on his chest, she heard the hard, uneven thump of his heart.
“It feels like I fell into a hill of them and I’m itching all over. And I know it took me a long time to find an even keel after Locke. And I know Val ought to have a lighter load while they have a new baby in the house so Kiara doesn’t risk becoming overwrought like I was. And I know my chances of suffering postpartum depression again are high if I have another baby, and still... I really want one,” she confessed in a whisper, afraid to look at him. “What do you think?”
“I think our son is the most amazing little person I could have imagined.” His arms cradled her as though she was precious. “I would make a dozen more children with you if you were up for it. But it has to be your decision, my love, given what you might go through again.”
“I was thinking just one more. For Locke. To keep him company.” She looked up at him, letting him see the yearning in her eyes.
“For Locke.” His mouth twitched.
“And me. And you,” she allowed, giving a little tug on his collar to entice him to come down for a kiss. “We know the signs to look for. You wouldn’t let me lose myself again.”
“I would not. I refuse to lose you to anyone or anything. I love you far too much.”
“So maybe that’s a yes?”
“That’s definitely a passionate yes.”
She smiled as they got started.
* * *
Swept away by Dani Collins’s Beauty and H
er One-Night Baby?
Discover the first installment in her Feuding Billionaire Brothers duet A Hidden Heir to Redeem Him.
Available now!
And why not lose yourself in these other Dani Collins stories?
Untouched Until Her Ultra-Rich Husband
The Maid’s Spanish Secret
Bound by Their Nine-Month Scandal
Cinderella’s Royal Seduction
All available now.
Keep reading for an excerpt from Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight by Natalie Anderson.
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Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight
by Natalie Anderson
CHAPTER ONE
‘FI?’
Hester Moss heard the front door slam and froze.
‘Fifi? Damn it, where the hell are you?’
Fifi?
Hester gaped as it dawned on her just who the owner of that voice was. As Princess Fiorella’s assistant while she was studying in Boston, Hester had met a few of the important people the Princess consorted with, but she’d been in the Princess’s brother’s presence only once. That one time there’d been many present and she certainly hadn’t spoken to him. But, like everyone, she knew he was outrageous, arrogant and entitled. Not surprising given he ruled the stunning Mediterranean island kingdom that was the world’s favourite playground.
She’d had no idea he was coming to visit his sister. It wasn’t in the immaculate schedule she kept for the Princess, nor in any correspondence. Surely it would have been all in caps, bold, underlined and highlighted if it had been planned? Perhaps he was trying to fly beneath the radar—after all, he attracted huge publicity wherever he went. But if that were the case, why was he shouting?
‘Fifi?’
No one spoke with such familiarity to the Princess, or with such audible impatience. For a split second Hester considered staying silent and hiding, but she suspected it was only a matter of seconds before he stormed into her bedroom. With a cautious glance at the corner Hester sped to the door and quickly stepped out into their living room.
And there he was. Prince Alek Salustri of Triscari, currently turning the lounge she and the Princess shared into a Lilliputian-sized container—one that was far too small to hold a man like him. Not just a prince. Not just powerful. He was lithe, honed perfection and for a moment all Hester could do was stare—inhaling the way his jet-black suit covered his lean muscled frame. The black shirt beneath the superbly tailored jacket was teamed with a sleek, matte-black tie and he held his dark-lensed aviator sunglasses in his hand, totally exuding impatience and danger. It was more than the bespoke clothing and luxurious style. He was so at ease in his place in the world—monstrously self-assured and confident because he just owned it. Everything. Except right now?
He was angry. The moment his coal-black gaze landed on her, he grew angrier still.
‘Oh.’ His frown slipped from surly all the way down to thunderous. ‘You’re the secretary.’
Not for the first time Hester found herself in the position of not being who or what had been hoped for. But she was too practised at masking emotion to flinch. No matter what, she never let anyone see they’d struck a nerve. And being the source of irritation for a spoilt playboy prince? Didn’t bother her in the least.
‘Your Highness.’ She nodded, but her knees had locked too tight to perform a curtsey. ‘Unfortunately Princess Fiorella isn’t here.’
‘I can see that.’ He ground his teeth. ‘Where is she?’
She kept her hands at her sides, refusing to curl them into fists and reveal any anxiety. It was her job to protect Princess Fiorella from unwanted interruption, only Prince Alek wasn’t just higher up the ladder than most of the people she shielded the Princess from, he was at the very top. The apex predator himself.
‘At a bio lab,’ Hester drew breath and answered. ‘She should be back in about half an hour unless she decides to go for a coffee instead of coming back here right away.’
‘Damn.’ Another stormy emotion flashed across his face and he turned to pace across the room. ‘She’s with people?’
Hester nodded.
‘And no phone?’
‘Her bodyguard has one but the Princess prefers to be able to concentrate in class without interruption. Would you like me to message—?’
‘No,’ he snapped. ‘I need to see her alone. I’ll wait for her here.’
He still looked so fierce that Hester was tempted to send a quick message regardless. Except blatantly disobeying his order didn’t seem wise.
She watched warily as he paced, brusquely sidestepping Hester’s scrupulously clean desk.
‘Is there anything I can help you with?’ She was annoyed with how nervous her query sounded. She was never nervous dealing with Princess Fiorella. But she wasn’t quite sure how to handle this man. Any man, actually.
He paused and regarded her, seeming to see her properly for the first time. She stared back, acutely aware of his coal-black bottomless gaze. Whether those beautiful eyes were soulful or soulless, she wasn’t sure. She only knew she couldn’t tear her own away.
With slow-dawning horror she realised the inanity of her question. As if she could ever help him? He was Prince Alek—the Prince of Night, of Sin...of Scandal.
His phone buzzed and he answered it impatiently. ‘I’ve already said no,’ he snapped after a moment.
Even from across the room Hester heard the pleading tones of someone remonstrating.
‘I will not do that,’ the Prince said firmly. ‘I’ve already stated there will be no damn marriage. I have no desire to—’ He broke off and looked grim as he listened. ‘Then we will find another way. I will not—’ He broke off again with a smothered curse and then launched into a volley of Italian.
Hester stared at the top of her desk and wished she could disappear. Clearly he wasn’t concerned enough by her presence to bother remaining polite or care that she could hear him berating the ancient laws of his own lands.
The world had been waiting for him to be crowned since his father’s death ten months ago, but he hadn’t because ‘Playboy Prince Alek’ had so far shown little interest in acquiring the wife necessary for his coronation to occur. None of those billion Ten Best Possible Brides lists scattered across the world’s media had apparently inspired him. Nor had the growing impatience of his people.
Perhaps he’d been taking time to get over his father’s passing. Hester had seen Princess Fiorella’s bereft grief and had tried to alleviate any stresses on the younger woman as best she could because she knew how devastating and how incredibly isolating it was to become an orphan. She’d been pleased to see the Princess had begun spending more time with friends recently. But Prince Alek hadn’t retreated from his social life—in fact he’d accelerated it. In the last month he’d been photographed with a different woman every other night as if
he were flaunting his refusal to do as that old law decreed and settle down.
Now the Prince growled and shoved his phone back into his pocket, turning to face her. As she desperately tried to think of something innocuous to say a muffled thud echoed from the bedroom she’d stepped out of. Hester maintained her dispassionate expression but it was too much to hope he hadn’t heard it.
‘What was that?’ He cocked his head, looking just like that predator whose acute hearing had picked up the unmistakable sounds of nearby prey. ‘Why won’t you let me into her room?’
‘Nothing—’
‘I’m her brother. What are you hiding? Is she in there with a man or something?’
Before she could move, the Prince strode past her and opened the door as if he owned the place.
‘Of course you would think that,’ she muttered crossly, running after him.
He’d halted just inside the doorway. ‘What the hell is that?’
‘A terrified cat, no thanks to you.’ She pushed past him and carefully crept forward so as not to frighten the hissing half-wild thing any more than it already was.
‘What’s it doing in here?’
‘Having dinner.’ She gingerly picked it up and opened the window. ‘Or at least, it was.’
‘I can’t believe Fi owns that cat.’ He stared at the creature with curling cynicism. ‘Not exactly a thoroughbred Prussian Blue, is she?’
Hester’s anger smoked. Of course he wouldn’t see past the exterior of the grey and greyer, mangled-eared, all but feral cat. ‘He might not be handsome, but he’s lonely and vulnerable. He eats in here every day.’ She set him down on the narrow ledge.
‘How on earth does he get down?’ He walked to the window and watched beside her as the cat carefully climbed down to the last available fire escape rung before practically flying the last ten feet to the ground. ‘Impressive.’
‘He knows how to survive.’ But as Hester glared at the Prince her nose tingled. She blinked rapidly but couldn’t hold back her usual reaction.
