Once Upon a Princess

by Holly Jacobs

  She wanted to be able to tell him how she felt. She was hoping some time away would allow her to clarify her feelings in her own mind and clear up all her loose ends.

  Right now she had a thinks-he-was-her-fiancé to deal with. And then there was the fact that Jace was still her father’s employee, that he’d been hired to follow her. He might not be pleased, but she planned to see to it he was fired.

  There was the file to be read.

  Then, when all that was done, she’d face Jace and tell him the truth—she had feelings for him. Feelings that were growing deeper every second she spent with him.

  She might think it, but she wasn’t prepared to say the L word out loud just yet. But she was pretty sure that’s what the feelings were leading to. Already were. It just seemed too soon to voice it, so she’d wait awhile. She wouldn’t say she was in love with him.

  Maybe she could tell him she was halfway in love with him. That sounded better.

  She decided her sneaking out wasn’t really cowardice. It was principles.

  Principles that had lost her Belgian waffles.

  She sighed as she walked down to Thirty-eighth street and found a bus stop. She stopped at home, took a quick shower and changed into clean clothes, then walked up to Monarch’s and let herself into the quiet store. First Tanner, then her dad, then Jace.

  Jace, I’m halfway in love with you. That’s what she’d say.

  But halfway?

  If she was honest, she was more than halfway. She was on her way to head over heels.

  The way he was with his sister, with the twins. The way he laughed. The way she felt when he held her, when he teased her.

  Normally when people referred to her royalty, she could feel herself freeze and shut down. She didn’t want to be reminded she was different.

  But when Jace had teased her about snoring, about Princess Parker Saws Z’s hitting the headlines, she’d laughed.

  Ever since that incident in high school, even thinking about her name being in the paper was enough to make her stomach clench. But when Jace teased her, she didn’t mind. Facing the press, facing her family, facing Tanner…none of it was threatening.

  Jace saw her.

  He saw Parker.

  That’s all she’d ever wanted. Someone to see more than a princess, more than a way to sell papers. She wanted someone to see her.

  He did.

  For years she’d told herself that she wasn’t running away from the life she’d been born into, that she was running toward a life she wanted. But that’s not how other people saw it. Not her parents, not her friends. Maybe not even herself.

  It was time she stopped running and faced things head-on. Starting with Tanner.

  “Parker?” Shey said as she walked into the store.

  Cara came out of the bookstore. “Parker, where have you been?”

  She smiled at her friends.

  They’d always seen her, as well. Seen Parker, not some symbol, not some royal who was set apart from the real world, who lived some fanciful, privileged life.

  “Parker?” Shey prompted.

  What was the question? Oh, where had she been. “I camped out at Jace’s last night. I needed some time to sort things out.”

  “Tanner’s going crazy. His men have been all over the city looking for you.”

  Parker shrugged. “I don’t have to answer to Tanner.”

  “We’ve been worried, as well,” Cara said softly.

  Parker felt a twinge of guilt. “I’m sorry I worried you two.”

  “I’m just glad you’re all right,” Shey said. For a moment Parker thought Shey might hug her, but Shey wasn’t big into hugging. Instead she gave Parker a small slug on the shoulder, then stuffed her hands into her pockets.

  Parker smiled. Shey tried so hard to be tough. Parker let her think she was—Cara did as well—but in truth, Shey was a huge marshmallow.

  “Do you have a way to reach Tanner?” Parker asked.

  She knew that although she didn’t have to answer to him, she did have to face him. To make sure he understood there was no hope for them.

  “I have his cell number,” Shey said slowly, as if she didn’t want to admit it.

  “Great. Would you call him and tell him to meet me at my place at eleven. It’s time we finished this.”

  “What are you doing between now and eleven?”

  “I’m going to get some coffee and then call my father. Enough is enough,” she said. “I’m done hiding, done running.” She shot Cara a small smile. Her quiet friend gave a small nod, acknowledging she understood. Running to or from…running was running. And Parker was done.

  “I won’t apologize for wanting to live life on my own terms, in my own way. Tanner doesn’t have a fiancée. He’s just going to have to face it. And my father? He can keep the money, keep my title. All I want is for him to love me for who I am. If he can’t—” She stopped, her throat clogged with emotion.

  “If he can’t,” Cara said softly, “then it’s his loss. But I don’t think you have to worry. Your father loves you. You love him. The two of you will find a way to work it out.”

  “Yeah,” Shey said, giving her another thump on the shoulder. “Good for you. I wondered how long it would take you to stand still and figure things out.”

  “Exactly this long, I guess,” Parker said. “Because I’m done.”

  She’d spent far too long worrying about her duties, about the press, about what others expected of her. It was time she figured out what she expected of herself. Maybe there was a way to combine the life she wanted and the life she’d been born into.

  “Can we do anything?” Cara asked.

  “No. I’ve got it under control. But thanks for asking. You both know how much you mean to me, right?” She felt her eyes mist.

  Parker might not think she was as tough as Shey thought she was, but she wasn’t one to give way to emotion often. But right this moment, looking at Shey and Cara, she knew that they’d do anything for her, just as she’d do anything for them. And the emotions sort of leaked through. She couldn’t help it.

  “And you mean just as much to us,” Cara said.

  Shey looked embarrassed. She simply nodded her agreement and said, “Yeah.”

  “Good. You can get by without me at the store today?”

  “I heard you’ve got your money back. And let’s face it, you weren’t really cut out to be a waitress,” Shey assured her with a wicked grin.

  “I was getting better.”

  “Better than awful can still be bad.” Shey laughed as she teased. “Plus, Shelly’s coming back in. I think she’s going to work out to be a real asset.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t mind us hiring her without your approval.”

  “I trust you two, you know that. Now get out of here and I’ll call Tanner for you.”

  “Thanks again,” Parker said, then walked out.

  She felt ready to take on the whole world. As if for the first time in weeks she had things under control.

  “Where the hell did she go?” Jace muttered as he punched Monarch’s phone number into his cell.

  He’d woken up and felt unusually chipper for first thing in the morning. Just knowing that Parker was in his house, in his bed…well, he decided that he wouldn’t mind starting every day like this.

  Then he’d walked down the hall and seen the door to his room was open and Parker wasn’t there.

  She wasn’t downstairs either.

  She’d left.

  His mood took a definite downhill spiral.

  Someone picked up the phone at the coffeehouse.

  “Monarch’s,” came a woman’s voice.

  A woman who wasn’t Parker.

  “Shey?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said slowly.

  “It’s Jace O’Donnell.” Done with social pleasantries, he cut to the chase. “Where’s Parker?”

  “Why?” Shey asked.

  “Because I woke up this morning and she was gone. She didn
’t have a car here, didn’t stick around for the kids or the waffles. I’m kind of worried.”

  The last part just sort of slipped out. He tried to cover it by adding, “It’s my job to keep an eye on her.”

  “Well, maybe she doesn’t like waffles. Or more specifically maybe she wasn’t interested in your waffles,” Shey said. “And she must have called a cab or taken a bus.”

  Jace found he didn’t like the idea of Parker riding a bus any more than her supposed fiancé had. And he didn’t like Shey disparaging his waffles. He was a man, after all, and he had his pride.

  “She’d like my waffles, I assure you,” he said. “Women always love my waffles. They rave about them even. They beg for more.”

  “Parker’s not just any woman. She’s got refined tastes. Maybe waffles just aren’t her thing.”

  “They’d be her thing if she’d tried them.”

  “Maybe she’s afraid that if she tried them and fell in love with them, she’d be hurt if there came a point that she couldn’t have them anymore. Are you willing to commit yourself to making her waffles whenever she wants them for the rest of her life?” Shey asked.

  “I can’t promise that. Besides, she deserves more than waffles. She deserves caviar and champagne. But she’d enjoy my waffles for a while. I can promise her that much.”

  “If you think she’d sign on to a waffle existence for just a while then go back to caviar, you really don’t know her well enough to be offering her waffles. Parker’s not fickle like that. She may have to find a way to reconcile her duties to her country with her personal wants and desires, but I know she’ll figure it out. She might have to play a princess and snack on caviar and champagne on occasion, but Parker’s a waffle girl. If you can’t see that, then you shouldn’t be making her any breakfast.”

  “Don’t you think I know I shouldn’t offer? It’s just I can’t help myself. I tell myself she’s out of my league, but then she’s with me and I forget everything except this overwhelming desire to—”

  “Make her waffles?” Shey asked softly.

  “Yeah.”

  “I think you’d better figure out just what you want before you make her any offers that could hurt her in the end.”

  “She’s okay, though?” he asked.

  “Very okay. She’s meeting with Tanner and settling things once and for all.”

  Tanner. There was something shifty about the prince. Something Jace didn’t like at all.

  “Should I be there?” he asked.

  “No. She’s a big girl. She can take care of herself. I’ve got customers and don’t have time to play shrink, but here’s a last bit of advice—figure out what you want before you see her again,” Shey said and hung up.

  Jace listened to the dial tone.

  Figure out what he wanted?

  That didn’t take much figuring.

  He wanted Parker.

  Problem was, he couldn’t have her.

  At eleven on the dot, Tanner Ericson knocked on Parker’s door.

  “You live in a garage?” he said when she let him in. “My men told me that, but I couldn’t quite imagine it.”

  “I like it here. It suits me,” she said. She wasn’t going to defend her choices, her home, to this man. “Please have a seat.”

  “Finally you’re done running and we can talk,” Tanner said as he settled himself on the couch.

  Another running comment.

  Yes, it was a good thing she’d finally stopped and taken control.

  Tanner looked decidedly out of place on her sofa. Not like Jace. Jace seemed at home on it, in her house. Just as she’d felt at home at his place.

  She sat in the chair opposite him. “I invited you here today because I need to tell you—”

  “I need to tell you—” Tanner interrupted.

  But Parker didn’t let him finish. “Nothing. You don’t need to tell me anything. There’s nothing you can say, and to be honest, there’s nothing really new I need to say to you. I said it all that first night.”

  “Things have changed,” Tanner said as if she hadn’t spoken.

  “Yes,” she said, thinking of Jace. “Yes they have.”

  “About us—”

  “I had hoped to let you down gently. I have fond memories of you when we were young, but we’ve changed.”

  “Yes, change,” he said, nodding. “Change. That’s what I want to talk about.”

  “Unfortunately nothing you can say can change my mind. I don’t love you. You don’t love me. That’s about all we need to say.”

  “So, we agree that we’re not engaged? You’re a free woman, I’m a free man.” He didn’t look exactly crushed. As a matter of fact, he looked relieved.

  “Yes.”

  She’d done it. She’d finally reached the thickheaded prince. She should probably be insulted by his happy expression and how easily he’d taken the news.

  Hey, why was he taking the news so easily?

  She didn’t exactly want to break his heart, but a little regret about what could have been on his part might be nice.

  “And you’ll be telling your father you’ve broken things off with me?” he pressed.

  “There was never anything to break. But, yes, I’ll tell him.”

  “Good. Thank you, Parker.” Tanner stood and smiled. “I wish you nothing but the best, you know. Are you really staying here, then, and forgetting about your family and obligations?”

  “Yes. No. I mean, I want both. I’m just looking for some way to accomplish it.”

  Parker stood and was surprised when Tanner kissed her cheek. It was a gentle kiss, one that friends might share.

  She smiled. “You, too, Tanner. I wish you nothing but happiness.”

  “I think your wish might come true,” he said.

  “What’s up?” she asked, wondering if his upcoming happiness had anything to do with their officially ending their engagement.

  “I can’t say yet, but I promise you’ll be one of the first to know when it’s for certain.”

  “Deal. Good luck, Tanner.”

  Parker watched as her supposed fiancé left. That had gone better than she’d anticipated. Maybe she should be insulted that he’d taken the news of her ultimate refusal with such grace, but she could only feel relief.

  There was only one thing left to do. She had to call her father. She’d tried earlier, but he’d been taking an important call. Rather than hold, she’d said she’d call back.

  It wasn’t a conversation she was looking forward to. But once it was over, she’d be free and clear. She could do anything she wanted.

  And she knew what she wanted.

  Jace O’Donnell.

  She dialed the number. “Hello, Papa…”

  Chapter Eight

  Jace knew he could probably track Parker down with little difficulty, but he didn’t.

  He walked around the house muttering after his conversation with Shey.

  Figure out what you want, she’d said.

  What he wanted and what he could have were two different things. He laid out all of his options and finally realized there was a first step that had to be taken no matter what option he pursued.

  He placed an overseas call to Parker’s father’s private line.

  The secretary put him right through.

  “Yes?” Parker’s father said, anxiety in his voice. “My secretary said it was imperative that you speak to me right away. Is something wrong with Parker?”

  “No, Your Majesty,” Jace said. “Nothing’s wrong. I just called to say I quit.”

  It was as easy as that. Parker was no longer business.

  So what was she?

  He didn’t have a clue. All he knew was that quitting was the right thing to do, no matter what.

  Right…but dumb.

  “I don’t need an investigator,” the king said. “As a matter of fact, Parker said if I didn’t fire you and not hire someone else, she’d disappear and I’d never find her.”

  “She
what?” he asked.

  Parker had told her father to fire him?

  “Parker told me to fire you,” her father said.

  Jace had just quit, but knowing that Parker had insisted he be fired rankled.

  “Did she say why?” he asked.

  “Yes. She said why and a lot more.” The king sounded happy, and while Jace was pleased that it sounded as if his conversation with Parker had gone well, he had to wonder what it meant.

  Jace thanked the king and got off the phone as quickly as he could.

  Parker had wanted him fired.

  Just what did that mean?

  It shouldn’t bother him, since he’d called and quit. But still—fired?

  The phone rang. He ignored it. Odds were good that it was for one of the twins. Those two could talk on the phone for hours.

  “Uncle Jace,” Amanda called. “For you.”

  He held his hand out for the receiver.

  “Are you still staking out that business? Can we come to work with you today?” she asked as she handed the phone over.

  “I finished up there, but thanks,” he said. Finished up except for writing the report. He thought of the other files sitting on his desk, waiting for his attention. Now that he was no longer working for the king, he’d better start in on them as soon as possible.

  “Hello?” he said.

  “Jace,” Parker’s voice said over the phone line, “we need to talk.”

  “Parker,” he said. “I woke up and you were gone.”

  “I had to take care of a few things,” she said slowly.

  “Like what?” Like get him fired, that’s what.

  “I’ll tell you all about it when I see you.”

  “Where are you?” he asked.

  “My place.”

  “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Don’t go anywhere.”

  “I’ll be here. Scout’s honor.”

  He could almost see her smile. “Were you ever a Scout?” he asked.

  “No,” she said with a chuckle.

  “I didn’t think so,” he said.

  “See you in a few minutes,” she said and hung up.

  Jace listened to the dial tone for a few seconds, then clicked the off button on the phone.