by Debra Kayn
"We have games between the girls, but I let the younger girls win. It makes me happy to see the joy on their faces. When I snuck over to the boys' room, I played them at cards and won, but they knew if I got caught with money from a win I'd be punished, so I played for fun."
"Then, I'm glad you won today. Just this once, because I have a feeling you are a poor winner." He laughed.
Celina snorted and covered her face. She couldn't believe she snorted in front of Drake. Her papa would have banished her to her room for being so improper. He always frowned at rudeness.
"Looks like Dad beat us home tonight." Drake pulled into the driveway.
"Did he have a date with his girlfriend?"
"Yeah, I think."
"I can't wait to meet her. Charles loves her, I can tell. He gets a grin on his face when he talks about her." Celina stepped out of the car.
"They're really happy together." Drake led his way into the house.
Celina ambled into the kitchen behind Drake. Charles sat at the table, a bowl of ice cream in front of him. She hurried over to his side to show him her prize.
"I beat Drake at putt-putt golf, and I won the bull's-eye prize." She thrust the free pass in front of Charles.
"Good for you. About time someone beat the pants off my son."
"Oh, no. I did not take his pants." She held up the ticket. "I just won a free game. Drake says he'll take me to play again sometime."
Charles patted her hand and smiled over her shoulder at Drake. "Excellent. Good job, Celina."
"I'm going to my room." She held the pass to her chest. "Goodnight, Charles. Goodnight, Drake." She would save the ticket to show her sisters.
The two men murmured goodnight, and Celina headed out of the kitchen. She stopped and hurried back to Drake's side.
"Thank you for the movie and the putt-putt golf game." She stood on tiptoes and whispered in his ear. "And the kiss."
She slipped into bed, surprised to hear a familiar melody from back home escaped her lips. She squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to bottle up the happiness she'd found today with Drake. Not once did he push her away, and there were times she was sure he touched her for no reason.
Chapter Nine
"I'll see you at the party, Drake. Celina, don't forget the appointment I set up for you," Charles called out.
The garage door closed, and Celina stood up.
"Do you think Charles would notice if I stay in my room during the party?"
Drake threw the hand towel at Celina, but it fell short of its mark. She bent over to pick it up and, not wanting to sully the counter, held it in her hand.
"I'm serious, Drake. I'm nervous. What if everyone thinks I'm strange and I wear weird clothes?"
"They are not going to think you are strange. Look how much you talk after only being here a few weeks." Drake rubbed his knuckles down the side of her arm. "Plus, Mrs. Stevenson bought you new clothes for the party, didn't she?"
"All my clothes are new, but yes, I have a new dress for the party." She sighed. "I'm learning, but I still feel so different...inside."
Drake removed the washcloth from her hand and tossed it into the sink. He grinned, and she cocked her head to figure out what he was thinking. She hoped it included kisses and touching. Lately, he gave them to her more and more.
Last night they even met up with some friends of Drake's at a place where people danced and drank. Shy and self-conscious, Celina soon learned to relax and enjoy the group of friends. The women in his circle treated her nice, and the men were polite and made her feel special for being different.
Drake stayed by her side the whole night and asked her if she needed anything to eat or drink throughout their date. She bit her lip to keep from smiling. He even stopped his male friends from asking her to dance.
By the end of the evening, the girls convinced her to try dancing and dragged her out on the dance floor. During the all-girl dance, she looked over to Drake, and he did the funniest thing with his face. His forehead wrinkled, and his eyes narrowed even with a smile on his face. She'd seen the look before, right after each kiss he gave her.
"Hey you—earth to Celina?" Drake's hand flashed in front of her face.
She blushed and leaned toward him to hide her face. She inhaled. He always smelled of the peppermint plant that grew wild back home.
"Dad said he'll pick you up at the spa after your appointment, so you can make a grand entrance." He performed an elegant bow.
"I don't know about this spa. They won't cut my hair, will they?" She swung her head and gathered all her hair over her shoulder in front of her. "An Antakian woman must have long hair or she's not worthy of a man."
He growled and fingered her hair. "Hell, no. I gave them strict instructions to only wash and style. No cutting."
"What are you going to be doing while I'm at the spa?"
The strand of hair Drake wrapped around his pinky tangled and wouldn't come off. Celina grimaced and reached up to help him get loose.
"I have some errands to run for Dad, and pick up a few last-minute things for the party. Oh, and I need to pick up his girlfriend and bring her back to the house. You'll finally get to meet her." He glanced away over her shoulder.
"I bet she is wonderful. I can't wait to meet her. I feel like I know so much about her already, just from Charles' stories."
"Yeah, she is something."
The clock chimed, and Drake scratched his chin. "We have a little time until we have to leave. How about a swim? Last one in is a rotten egg!" he yelled on his way out the door.
All week Drake had given in to her competitive nature. He let her bask in the glory of winning. She giggled and pulled her shirt over her head and dropped her shorts on the kitchen floor. This time she would let him win.
Celina dove headfirst into the pool, and headed right for Drake. She glided through the water until she spied Drake's legs. She broke surface beside him, leaned her head back, and let her hair float behind her.
"I told you I could be a good loser."
Drake growled low in his throat. Her bare breasts bobbed in the water.
"You're killing me here."
"Me?" She batted her eyelashes, her eyebrows raised in pretend concern. She'd learned how to be conniving like a pro in a house full of females. "I only want to please you."
Drake splashed the surface of the water and swam away. She slapped a hand over her eyes, but the water already blinded her.
"That wasn't fair!"
Safe over on the shallow end, Drake laughed. She wiped her eyes clear of pool water and blinked the moisture out of her vision.
"Do you think it's funny?"
Drake nodded, his elbows resting on the steps at the other end of the pool. She sent him a squinty-eyed glare, and he waved his hand. She kicked off the bottom. The moment she surfaced again, Drake hefted himself out of the water and sat in one of the lounge chairs.
"You don't play fair, Drake Randall."
"Neither do you, Celina. You promised to wear your swimsuit." He picked up one of the towels on the chaise lounge and wrapped it around his trunk.
"But Charles isn't here. I want to show you my body. I know you well enough now. I can see how you like it when I surprise you this way." She grinned at him while floating on her back.
"I'm going to run in and grab a shower before we have to head into town." He kept his back toward her.
Celina swam a few laps after Drake went in and got out of the pool to shower off in her bathroom. Sometimes Drake acted strange. Like today. One minute he acted happy, and the next minute he ran away faster than one of the prince's horses.
Chapter Ten
Julie's Boutique sat in an upscale building across the road from Nat's apartment. She'd reserved Celina's appointment to have her beauty treatments done at Julie's for the sole purpose of catching a glimpse of her before the party. All these weeks of having Celina within arm's reach, and she still hadn't seen her with her own two eyes.
She stood in
the window of her living room. At any moment, Drake's car would pull up and Celina would get out. Her heart pounded harder, and she wondered if she did the right thing. The picture of baby Celina burned deep within her, and she hoped a resemblance of the child remained in the woman today.
With her blonde hair and her father's brilliant green eyes, she loved the beautiful child she'd left with Prince Joqua more than she loved herself. She tried not to think back to the day her whole life turned upside down and inside out. For just a moment, she wished Celina was a child again and the past erased.
Drake's car pulled up to the curb across the street, and Natalia pressed her forehead against the window. She held her breath. The car door would open any second and her only child would unknowingly walk back into her life. God, she'd give anything to go down there on the sidewalk with her arms open.
She'd waited so long to welcome Celina back into her life.
Celina remained in the car, and already tears began to roll down Natalia's cheeks. Unable to hold her breath any longer, she panted and fogged up the window.
The passenger door swung open, and a woman with the grace of a princess stepped out. Natalia sobbed and grabbed the windowsill for support. The most beautiful woman stood on the sidewalk.
Celina turned back and looked inside the car at Drake. It gave Natalia a chance to study her daughter with new eyes. The body now hosted womanly curves, her darker blonde hair still showed signs of falling into her face, and Natalia smiled remembering the way she used to lick her fingers and pat down Celina's fly-a-ways before Joqua came to visit.
Celina smiled and laughed at something Drake said. Natalia gasped and covered her mouth, afraid Celina might look up at the window where she stood and catch her watching. Her daughter's smile—a true gift from the heart.
Natalia stood rooted to the spot in front of the window long after Celina walked into the boutique and Drake pulled away from the curb. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand and inhaled a big breath. Tremors rocked her body. She couldn't fall apart now. She needed to attend Celina's party tonight and end the charade she'd started.
More than anything, the desire to have her daughter in her arms again plagued her. She needed to right a wrong. Natalia clasped her hands in front of her and whispered a prayer. Soon, her ride to the party would pull up, and the moment to pay her dues for her decision would finally come.
Charles had assigned Drake to swing by to pick her up. Sweet Charles. He would do anything for her, and yet she couldn't give him the one thing he wanted most. Maybe, if she righted all her wrongs, she would be able to forgive herself and love Charles. He deserved her love.
Natalia shook her head to get rid of the thoughts and dropped her robe to the floor. She'd take a bath, make herself beautiful, and be ready for her ride to the party. In the meantime, she'd try to gather enough strength to be strong for the daughter who deserved to know the truth.
Chapter Eleven
The other four women who worked for Julie stood in front of Celina with huge smiles on their faces, and gave conspiratorial winks to each other. The spa attendant kept her hands on Celina's shoulders. Unable to look at the new and improved image, Celina squeezed her eyes shut.
"Okay, Princess Celina. When I count to three, I want you to slowly turn around and look in the mirror." Ann smoothed Celina's dress.
"I told you, you don't have to call me Princess."
"Oh, stop it. How often do we get a real live princess in here to pamper? Indulge us." Ann patted her shoulder.
She sighed and gave up. She did not understand the fascination with her status.
The moment she'd stepped into the spa, the other women fell over themselves serving her and making her comfortable. They did not listen to her explain that only the prince relied on servants to do his bidding.
"Now. One...two...two and a half..."
"Ann!" a chorus of attendees groaned.
"Okay. Three."
The woman who stared back at her in the mirror appeared more sophisticated and confident. Celina stepped closer and studied the differences. She'd never worn makeup in her life, and now she looked...American.
She gasped and placed her hand on her chest. An American?
At one time, the very thought of being an American had her questioning her identity. Now, with her beliefs tested over and over, it no longer seemed to cut into her soul knowing that she was American by birth.
She felt beautiful. The women had brought out the best in her features, and her usually wild hair hung around her body with more life in it than she'd ever had before.
"Well? Do you like, Princess Celina?" asked Julie.
She nodded. Her earrings dangled every time she moved her head, and she smiled.
"Thank you. You make me feel beautiful." Celina fingered the many bracelets on her wrists, one bracelet for every birthday, and a gift from the prince that she never removed except to bathe.
Her eyes misted. She hiccupped and laughed self-consciously.
"You're welcome, and stop the water leaks. We can't have you messin' with your makeup." Julie straightened a strand of hair beside Celina's cheek.
A car horn blasted over the voices of the others. She jumped and searched for a clock. "Oh no! What time is it?"
"Looks like Mr. Randall is here to pick you up," Julie said.
This is it. Time to go to the party. Her first party thrown only for her.
She waved to the girls clustered in the doorway and tiptoed across the sidewalk in her heels to Charles, who waited by the back door of the limousine.
"My word, Celina, you look just like..." Charles rubbed his chin.
"Like what? An Antakian who is extremely nervous? Because I am." Her own insecurities bubbled to the surface. Charles deserved better from her.
Charles helped Celina with her dress and followed her into the limousine. She reached over and picked up Charles' hand. "I'm sorry. I'm nervous. Thank you, Charles."
He patted her hand. "You look like a rose—a perfect rose plucked early in the morning that's waiting for the first ray of sun to make you bloom. You'll do fine, dear. This is your night to shine. Everything will be wonderful for you, just relax."
Celina tilted her head and gave him a shaky smile. Her nerves tumbled around inside an empty stomach. "I'll make you proud of me...Make my papa proud of me too."
"Speaking as someone who has observed you grow and blossom over the weeks, I can say we are both very proud of you and how much you've accomplished in this short time."
"Y-You talk to the prince?" She dropped her hands in her lap.
"Of course." Charles patted her knee. "He keeps up with how you are doing."
She sat up straighter. Could it be that if she does well and learns everything she came here for then Papa would let her come back?
The streetlights fluttered to life and revealed the many cars parked along the street in front of the house. She scooted to the window.
"All those people are in your house?" She widened her eyes and shook her head. "I'll never remember everyone's names."
Charles laughed and helped her out of the car. He hooked her arm under his, and she groaned. Let me walk without falling and talk without embarrassing myself.
"Come, Celina, let's make your entrance so everyone can welcome you to America."
"This is a strange custom you have, Charles."
"Maybe, but I think you'll enjoy yourself. Give us all a chance, that's all I ask."
"I will. For you, Drake, and the prince. I'll make you proud of me." She caught her lower lip between her teeth. "Let's go party."
Charles laughed. "That's the spirit."
Celina stepped in the house and couldn't believe her eyes. Lights twinkled around the ceiling and gave the appearance of stars in the night sky. Candles lit up the foyer and living room. So many people stood around and mingled with each other. The house no longer resembled the Randall's home, but a magical place decorated just for her.
Charles guided her f
arther into the room. Men and women smiled, and she found herself smiling back without a thought. She promised herself she wouldn't duck her head, but stand up proud tonight and prove to everyone how much she'd learned. She'd show them that Antakians were just as capable of doing anything Americans could do.
Soft music played in the background, adding to the mystical atmosphere. This party resembled a dream she'd dreamt long ago where stars danced overhead while she danced on the sand of the beach. She searched for the one person she wanted to be here more than anyone else.
Drake.
He stood against the living room wall. Her gaze locked with magnetic force on him. She giggled over the raised brows and slow smile of appreciation she witnessed come over his surprised expression. She waved, but Charles led her over to a group of people, and she lost sight of him.
Chapter Twelve
Drake spied Celina the moment she entered the house. He placed his arm around Nat's back, knowing she needed all the support to survive the evening. The beating of his heart pounded harder the more he thought of how this would all play out.
He didn't want to see Celina hurt. He'd do anything to protect her from the doubts, the fears, and truth that would soon come her way. He inhaled swiftly. Celina came back into view. Any moment, he might keel over from the love growing inside his heart.
Celina looked beautiful. The ladies of Julie's boutique had done a wonderful job. She came away more exotic and fresh than the day she'd arrived in this country. The way she moved her body told of the years of belly dancing and studying with her sisters on how to seduce a man. Her sexuality came naturally, freely.
Against her bronze skin, her dress, the color of the sea, brought out the sun's highlights in her hair. The air in Drake's lungs erupted at the sight of the cascaded waves. Untouched, but hanging loose—perfect. He swore the jingle of her bracelets reached him from across the room.
Nat's body fell back, and Drake tightened his hold. He broke his gaze on Celina and concentrated on Natalia.
"Are you hanging in there?" He rubbed her back.
