Courting His Royal Highness

by Any Hahn

Max looked so handsome—every woman's dream. He took her breath away. Just gazing upon him gave her so much joy. She wanted to run across the patio and wrap her arms about him and hold him close to her heart. She wanted to claim him as her own in front of everyone. She wanted Ingrid and Elizabeth to know he didn't belong to either one of them. She wanted to make it clear he was hers and hers alone.

  But she wasn't brave enough. Even when his eyes caught hers and he smiled the smile that was only meant for her. She hated herself for it. She hated that she didn't have the backbone, the nerve, the guts to throw caution to the wind and take a chance on love.

  Who cared about EVE or the production crew or Toni back in Los Angeles? Did they really matter? And was her career that important? Wouldn't there be other opportunities? Did a person truly only have one chance in Hollywood? That couldn't be true. Life was full of second chances.

  "We'll be ready to roll in ten minutes! Everyone take their places!” barked Mr. Parker.

  It suddenly occurred to Chloe that she didn't know Max's choice. Wasn't she supposed to know? She'd known everything else, including Max's final two selections. And the ring. After all, she'd selected it herself.

  She hurried up to the high-strung director. “Excuse me, Mr. Parker, but I don't know which girl Max is choosing. Shouldn't I know?"

  Mr. Parker shook his head. “No. It was decided that you weren't supposed to know. It adds more suspense and drama that way, if even you are in the dark."

  "So, you all know and I don't. That doesn't seem right. After all, I am the hostess and part of team. Besides, I helped Max with all his previous choices."

  Mr. Parker took a long sip of coffee. He smiled kindly. “Sorry. Upper management made the decision."

  Chloe was positive she detected a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. And Mr. Parker's eyes didn't normally twinkle. They just didn't; he wasn't that type of guy. He was serious about his work and didn't have time for humor.

  Chloe didn't like this one little bit. Something was going on, and she wanted to find out what. She'd never been particularly found of surprises.

  "I demand to know what's going on."

  "I need you to take your place next to Max. We have to get this show rolling. No time. No time.” He tapped his wristwatch with the bottom of his coffee mug. “I'm on a tight schedule here. Very tight."

  Max appeared at Chloe's side and placed a hand on her arm. “Is something wrong?"

  The heat of his bare hand seared her skin, and she stepped away from him. “No. Nothing. Not really. I just don't understand why I don't know your choice."

  He dimpled at her. “Don't you like surprises?"

  She glanced away. “That all depends on what type of surprise."

  "Would you two please take your places? We can't start filming until both of you are in place,” snapped Mr. Parker irritably. “I need more coffee.” He handed his empty cup to his ever-present assistant. “I don't know which is worse, royalty or actors. And I don't have time to figure out which."

  "He is an impossible man,” Chloe hissed under her breath.

  Max chuckled. “He's very intense, but Jack's a good guy.” He touched her arm again. “Chloe, I wish you wouldn't look so sad."

  "I'm not sad.” She moved her arm an inch to the left, just enough so his fingers slipped off. Heat still radiated up and down her arm. She hated the effect he had on her. No, she loved it. But she had to forget how she felt when he touched her. “I just want to finish this show so I can get on with my life."

  "Without me,” Max said quietly.

  "Without you,” she whispered. “Can we please get on with this?” She walked away from him, holding her head high and trying not to notice how wonderful he looked in the midnight suit and blue silk waistcoat and matching blue tie.

  He followed closely at her heels. “I don't want it to end. Ever."

  "Why? Because you enjoy flirtatious romps with beautiful women?"

  He grasped her elbow. “Only with one beautiful woman.” The husky gentleness of his voice caused the skin on the back of her neck to prickle.

  She tugged her elbow roughly out of his hand without stopping. She was not about to fall prey to his charms again.

  This was it—she was in the home stretch. Only a few more hours of this torture, and then it would be all over.

  But deep down, she didn't want it to be over. Ever. She wanted it to last and last and last, because at least she was with him now. That wasn't always going to be the case.

  They walked on a path of crushed rock, moving away from the lighted patio and towards the moonlit backyard. A full moon hung high in the night sky, and thousands of stars blinked like diamonds in the darkness. The shadows of the McDowell Mountains were etched against the inky sky.

  "Is it Ingrid or Elizabeth?” she asked, ducking under the branches of a low-hanging desert willow. The tree was illuminated from trunk to branch tips with tiny white lights. The entire garden was decorated in the romantic white illumination, making it a more enchanting setting for a marriage proposal from a prince.

  "Stop. Stop this."

  "Stop what?” She halted and spun around, slamming her face very ungracefully into his chest.

  "This. Denying what we feel."

  She rubbed the tip of her nose ruefully and glared up at him. “This is a broken record. I'm tired of talking. I'm so tired of doing this. I'm exhausted.” And she was. She felt as though she could curl up in bed and sleep for the next year. That wasn't an exaggeration.

  "Chloe."

  She loved the husky way he spoke her name. No one spoke her name like Max did—no one in the whole world. Tears blurred her eyes. She turned her head to the side and looked away from him, unable to gaze into his eyes.

  He grabbed her shoulders. “I'm tired of talking as well. How about if we simply feel.” He pulled her to him and kissed her cheek, her forehead, the line of her jaw, and the corner of her mouth.

  She remained stiff in his arms, refusing to melt into his tempting embrace. “Don't. Don't make this more horrible than it already is,” she pleaded hoarsely. “I'm beginning to think your whole purpose in life is to torture me mercilessly, ruthlessly, heartlessly."

  "Not true. Not true at all. The farthest from the truth,” he murmured as he continued to kiss her. His lips were warm, and the feathery touch of his kisses on the curve of her ear and the slope of her neck caused her to tremble. His fingers curled with possessive gentleness on her shoulders. As his body shifted closer, he whispered her name over and over again until at last she couldn't resist him. She turned her head, and when his lips covered hers, she sobbed against his mouth. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back with intense emotion.

  "Trust me,” he murmured in her ear.

  She collapsed completely against him and buried her face against his broad chest. “Even you can't have everything you want. Do you even want me?"

  She felt his smile against her hair. “You are all I have ever wanted or will ever want. I promise you that."

  "Max? Chloe?” It was Eric Von Stratton.

  "Trust me?"

  Chloe smiled sadly and walked away from him. “We're over here, Mr. Von Stratton."

  He appeared out of the shadows, smiling warmly at Chloe. “You look quite lovely tonight, Miss Tanner. A vision of loveliness."

  She offered him an over-exaggerated curtsy. “Thank you very much, Mr. Von Stratton."

  His eyes sparked merrily behind his round glasses. “They're ready for you. Good luck."

  Max offered her his arm. “Shall we?"

  Chloe smoothed the front of her dress, flipped a few wayward curls over her shoulder, and blinked a couple times to clear the tears from her eyes.

  "Ready?"

  "I'm ready. As ready as I'll ever be.” She placed her hand on his forearm. He stepped forward, and she clasped his arm tightly. “I wish you happiness, Max. I want you to know that. To always know that."

  "And you. That's what I want for you. Love, health, and happi
ness."

  "Hurry up, you two. They're waiting.” Eric Von Stratton literally pushed them forward; Chloe almost tripped over the hem of her dress. “Tonight is the beginning of great things,” he whispered behind them. “Great, wonderful, extraordinary things."

  Maybe for Max and his new bride—but not for me. I feel as if I'm going to the gallows.

  They stepped out together into the view of the cameras and the glare of the lights. She smiled brightly into the camera and read the lines she was supposed to deliver with practiced ease. She'd never had a problem memorizing dialogue—she was a quick study. She briefly summarized the final week's events and introduced Elizabeth and Ingrid again to the audience. Images and video would be added after the shooting finished and the editing had begun. Footage from Max's last dates with the women would be shown, along with Max's comments about each girl and Elizabeth and Ingrid's comments about him.

  She managed to do it all in one take. That was how badly, how very desperately she wanted to be done with Courting His Royal Highness. The elation of six weeks ago had vanished, and in its place, only pain existed. The already popular show—according to an overzealous Julia—was going to launch her into the career of her dreams. All the things she'd ever wished for and prayed for were about to come true.

  But were they truly? She couldn't help but wonder if she'd ever be happy without Max in her life. She'd have to watch from afar, just like the rest of the world. She'd read about him and his family in magazines, and every now and then catch glimpses of him on the television.

  Chloe somehow managed to introduce Max to the cameras without her voice cracking or tears streaming down her cheeks. She stepped into the background and let him take center stage, watching as Max talked to his audience. He was an old pro. He had the royal smile on, the one he reserved for his adoring public. He was animated and charismatic and he shined. Elizabeth and Ingrid waited in breathless anticipation for him to make his choice. They held hands and looked utterly breathtaking in their long black gowns.

  "And so, it has finally come to this. I have chosen the woman I want to be my bride.” Max paused. He glanced over at Elizabeth and Ingrid, smiling at each one. They smiled back.

  "Both are lovely, wonderful, talented women. I was lucky to meet each of them. I consider myself very fortunate to have met so many amazing women. There were fifteen originally, and now there are two."

  Chloe stood silently, barely breathing.

  Max looked back into the camera. “I feel I should be honest. My choice was not hard to make. It was perhaps the easiest choice I've ever had to make. My heart made it for me. And I'm glad it did. I'm so very glad."

  Elizabeth and Ingrid giggled.

  Chloe wanted to die.

  And then Max turned his attention on Chloe. And he dimpled. His thousand-watt smile beamed only at her, only for her. It was her smile. His eyes looked directly into hers, and Chloe's heart started to race. Her hands flew to her chest, splaying across her rapidly beating heart. Something was happening.

  He looked back at the camera. “Love found me. I never thought it was possible. I never imagined I would find love, especially on a reality television show. But I did. I found it. Or it found me.” He smiled sardonically. “I guess the world's Prince Charming found his fairytale princess.” He focused on Elizabeth and Ingrid. “I hate to break any hearts. I hate to cause any pain. I'm sorry. I apologize to both of you. I apologize because I choose neither one of you."

  Chloe gasped in unison with Elizabeth and Ingrid. Their mouths opened wide in astonishment. In any other setting, it might have been comical. But not here. Not now. Not under these circumstances. Chloe held her breath. What type of game was Max playing? What was going on here?

  She looked around and noticed that no one else seemed shocked. Eric Von Stratton grinned from ear to ear, as did every member of the camera and production crew. And even Mr. Parker smiled. This was not a surprise to them. They had known all along that Max was going to do this.

  "So, you'll marry no one?” Elizabeth asked.

  "I don't know. That's up to someone else."

  "Who?” asked Ingrid.

  Max turned to face Chloe. And his heart was in his eyes. “Chloe. My future is in her hands."

  She started breathing again. Her legs wobbled; she nearly lost her balance. Happiness spread through her like a raging river. This was beyond her wildest hopes. This was beyond all her dreams. How on earth had he managed this?

  Max rushed to her, grasping her hands in his and sinking to one knee. “I love you, Chloe Tanner. I love you with all my heart. Do you still feel the same for me?"

  A sob tore free from her throat. She cupped his face in her hands, and her fingers lovingly traced the handsome lines of his face. She supposed she should be angry with him for keeping her in the dark about this, for the deception. But she didn't feel angry with him at all. It was too beautiful a moment. And she knew he'd put a lot of work into making this special for her.

  "You know I do,” she whispered. “I love you. For always."

  He reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a velvet box. He flipped open the lid, and the ring she'd chosen sparkled at her. Tears slipped through her lashes and cascaded freely down her cheeks. Her entire body shook as he took her left hand in his and poised the ring at the end of her third finger.

  "Marry me. Be my partner for life. Be my bride. Be my princess."

  Max slid the exquisite ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit. The square-cut diamond caught the light, flashing so brilliantly it nearly blinded her. No other piece of jewelry would ever be more precious than that ring upon her finger. It symbolized so much.

  He stood and folded her in his arms. She encircled her arms about his neck and smiled up at him. She'd never been so happy.

  "This is what you meant."

  He quirked an eyebrow at her. “Whatever do you mean?"

  She laughed. It felt good to laugh. “About trusting you."

  "What did I tell you?"

  "That you always get your way."

  He nodded and kissed the tip of her nose. “That's right. Prince Max always gets his way. Of course, it did have to be your choice. I may have not gotten my way."

  "Would you have accepted my rejection of your proposal?” she asked.

  "Never. You belong to me, and I belong to you. Our not being together is not an option. It never was."

  He lowered his head and kissed her. The kiss was so long and so passionate that when he pulled away, she had to clutch tightly to him for fear of fainting dead away. She flushed in embarrassment. The eyes of the cast and crew were on them. The eyes of millions would witness that kiss, unless Mr. Parker decided it should be edited out; of course, he wouldn't to that. It was too good. Much, much too good. She could vouch for that.

  She was rather pleased to be on the receiving end of that spectacular kiss.

  "I think I fell in love with you the first time I met you,” Max murmured. He stroked a curl away from her face. “But I didn't realize it right away. Now, I'm definitely a believer in love at first sight."

  "Me too.” She touched his cheek with the back of her hand.

  "Me too."

  He kissed her again.

  "Cut!” shouted Mr. Parker. “That's a wrap!"

  Chloe smiled against Max's lips. “Should we have him be in charge of our wedding?"

  "I don't think we have a choice. Remember, our wedding will be a major production for EVE. I think Mr. Parker is the director."

  She groaned. “Heaven help us."

  Max kissed her again. Members of the cast and crew started clapping and hooting their appreciation. He dipped her low and deepened the kiss, causing the hollering and applause to increase in volume.

  And Chloe knew without a doubt she was the happiest woman on the entire planet. Happy endings did happen. She'd found her Prince Charming. She hoped the millions of single women of the world wouldn't give up on theirs. Maybe Courting His Royal Highness would prove
that to them.

  It had proven it to her. Beyond a doubt.

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