by Leanne Banks
“Therefore you are due $103 American dollars per month after all taxes are removed. Additionally, you will receive an education stipend of $5,000 American dollars payable after your completion of an undergraduate degree.”
“Oh,” she murmured. “I couldn’t finish my degree because my mother died.”
Mr. Singleton cleared his throat. “Perhaps an exception could be made.”
“Perhaps it could,” Benjamin said.
Mr. Singleton nodded. “I’ll discuss this with the other advisors. I must inform you that although it appears that royals lead an easy financial life, they must meet several criteria for financial support. The list of appearances they make is endless.”
Coco nodded again. “I—”
Benjamin placed his hand over hers. “That doesn’t alter any obligations toward Prince Edward’s offspring—Coco.”
Mr. Singleton sighed. “Very true, sir. I’ll tell you the results of my discussion with the other royal advisors. Mr. Bernard shall now guide you to the family gathering. I understand you’ll be meeting outside due to the favorable weather.”
Mr. Singleton rose and extended his hand. “Miss Jordan,” he said extending his hand. He turned to Benjamin. “Mr. Garner.”
Benjamin shook the man’s hand. “Nice meeting you.”
“Thank you, sir,” he said and Mr. Bernard arrived to lead them outside.
“It’s a beautiful day. Princess Eve has determined that everyone would enjoy the warm sunshine. There will be a time at the playground so the children can release their energy. Princess Bridget’s twins will especially enjoy the opportunity to play and explore, as will Princess Stephenia.”
“Princess Stephenia?” Coco asked, trying to recall what she’d heard about the name.
“Princess Stephenia is Prince Stefan’s daughter.” He chuckled.
“Why do you laugh?” Coco asked.
Mr. Bernard frowned. “I’m not laughing.”
“Yes, you did,” Coco said. She sighed. “You’re safe. We won’t rat on you. Why did you laugh?”
Mr. Bernard slid her a sideways glance. “Princess Stephenia is quite the handful. When she arrived here, she screamed every time she encountered the prince.”
“When she arrived?” Coco echoed.
Mr. Bernard pursed his lips. “That’s all I have to say. Princess Stephenia is a delightful child.”
Coco glanced at Benjamin. “Looks like you and Stefan may have more in common than you thought.”
Benjamin glared at her.
The car stopped beside a playground with a slide, swings and climbing equipment. “It looks like a lot of fun for the children,” Coco said.
“We are happy to please,” Mr. Bernard said and moved outside the car to open the door. “A stroller will be brought to you for your convenience.”
Surprised at the thoughtfulness, Coco automatically extended her hand to Mr. Bernard’s arm. “Thank you. That is so very thoughtful.”
Mr. Bernard looked at her in surprise then glanced away. “As I said, we’re very happy to please. Call me for any need,” he said and got back in the car.
She and Benjamin watched the car drive away.
“Weird guy,” Benjamin said.
“But nice,” she said. “I think the royal stuff keeps him from being too real.”
Benjamin shrugged. “Maybe. Let’s give Emma a try in the swing before everyone else shows up.”
Coco smiled. “Great idea.”
They strapped Emma into the baby swing and Benjamin gently pushed it from the front. Coco stood to the side and watched the baby’s eyes grow round. Benjamin increased the force of the push and Emma began to laugh. With each successive swing, she let out a shriek of delight.
Seeing Benjamin with his baby girl in such a happy moment brought tears to Coco’s eyes. When she’d first arrived at Benjamin’s home, they’d both seemed terrified of each other. Now they were truly starting to bond. Coco knew that Emma was one lucky girl. Benjamin was on the road to becoming a terrific father. She was so caught up in watching Benjamin and Emma that she didn’t notice Princess Phillipa until she appeared by her side.
“Oh, hello, Your Highness,” Coco said and started to curtsey.
Phillipa shook her head. “Not necessary, and please call me Pippa.” She pointed toward Benjamin and Emma on the swings. “He looks like excellent husband material. I hear congratulations are in order for your engagement.”
Coco blinked for a few seconds then remembered the pretend agreement she and Benjamin had made. “Thank you,” she said, uneasy with the deception. “It was nice of Prince Stefan to arrange this time on the playground for us.”
Pippa chuckled. “You can thank Eve for that. Ah, here she comes, along with Stephenia, and the twins and Bridget bringing up the rear. When will Bridget learn not to wear heels when she’s chasing toddlers?”
“Boys, Stephenia,” Pippa said, stepping in front of the galloping toddlers. “Careful of the swing.”
The three youngsters stared at the baby in the swing. The little girl with ringlet curls pointed at Emma. “Who?”
“That’s Emma,” Pippa said. “She belongs to Mr. Garner and Miss Jordan.”
Benjamin waved at the kids and Pippa made the introductions. He continued to push Emma in the swing. The toddlers scrambled onto the various pieces of miniature playground equipment.
“I didn’t realize there were so many children,” Coco said, trying to recall what she’d read about the Devereaux offspring on the internet.
“And more on the way,” Pippa said, touching her abdomen. “Eve is due before I am, but I’m having such an easy time compared to her that I feel guilty.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Coco said to the tall, dark-haired woman.
“It’s not high-risk, just extremely uncomfortable,” Eve said.
“How are you feeling today?” Pippa asked Eve.
“I’m fine. I slept longer than usual,” Eve said then turned to Coco. “Coco, it’s my pleasure to meet you and welcome you to where the wild things grow here in Chantaine,” she said with a smile. “I hope you’ll enjoy your time here.”
Bridget glanced around the playground. “Where are my little darlings?” she muttered, narrowing her eyes. “Ah, in the hide-and-seek house. Should have known.” She turned to Coco and smiled. “So nice to see you again. That’s a darling baby in the swing. Hope the man is just as darling, too. The Devereaux seem to have a weakness for Texans.”
A shriek of distress sounded from the other side of the hide-and-seek house. “Excuse me,” Bridget said. “That’s mine. I know his voice.”
“I never would have believed what a great mother she’s become,” Pippa said.
“She fell for the doctor and his boys hook, line and sinker,” Eve said. “A joy to watch. Bridget always gave the impression of being the royal fashion plate, and single forever. Turns out her heart was squishier than she thought.”
At that moment, Coco began to feel a little hope that maybe she wasn’t completely alone in the world after all. Maybe the Devereaux actually were a little bit like her. At least on the inside.
After playtime, which included Benjamin chasing the toddlers and making them laugh until they were breathless, everyone went inside for lunch. Nannies arrived to take the children when they grew restless. Stephenia, however, wanted to stay, and Eve permitted it.
Coco noticed that Benjamin talked very little. She could practically feel his mind clicking with all his observations. He put his hand over hers and her brain instantly stuttered. Even though she knew his touch was just for show, it still affected her. Bridget gave her apologies as she left for an event at a library. Pippa received a call from her husband and left the room to take it.
Eve had seemed to grow much more weary as the day
proceeded. Coco feared that Eve’s desire to make her feel welcome was making Eve stay longer than she should. “It’s been wonderful having this opportunity to get to know all of you better. I can’t tell you how much I’ve appreciated the time with you. We should probably get back so Emma can take a nap.”
“Are you sure I can’t do anything else for you?” Eve asked as she shared a small cookie with Stephenia while the toddler sat on her lap.
“Not a thing,” Coco said and stood.
“Well, if you’re sure,” she said and set Stephenia on her feet. Eve stood, and the blood appeared to drain from her face. “Oh,” she murmured and collapsed onto the floor.
Benjamin was by the woman’s side in an instant. Stephenia began to cry, so Coco set Emma on a blanket and picked up the distressed toddler. “Is she okay?” Coco asked. “We need to get help,” she said and stepped into the hallway where a man stood outside the door.
Moments later, the room was filled with a doctor, nurse, two guards and Pippa.
“I keep telling her she’s doing too much, but she won’t listen,” Pippa said, wringing her hands. “She’s just not used to sitting still for anything. She thinks it’s a sign of weakness.”
“True Texan spirit,” Benjamin said, now holding Emma. “Good luck to her husband.”
Stephenia was still upset, but quiet as she clung to Coco with one hand and soothed herself with her thumb in her mouth. “She’ll be okay,” Coco said to the child resting on her hip. “See, she’s sitting up.”
“Already fussing at the doctor,” Pippa said in a wry tone.
Eve waved aside the crowd around her and stood. The doctor and guards, however, stayed within arm’s reach. “I’m fine. Completely fine.”
“One of the top lies spoken every day,” Benjamin said in a low voice.
Eve glanced across the room and spotted them. “Oh, no. I’ve frightened Stephenia,” she said, walking toward Coco.
“She’s okay,” Coco said and set the toddler down onto her feet.
“Mamaeve,” Stephenia wailed, lifting her arms for a hug.
Eve bent down and Benjamin pulled out a chair for her to sit down. Eve flashed a look of impatience. “Honestly, there’s no need for a fuss.”
“The fainting thing cancels out your denial. You know the old saying—actions speak louder than words,” Benjamin said.
“I’m glad someone else said that,” Pippa said.
Eve still looked irritated. “I don’t like being forced to sit.”
“You’re not being forced,” Coco said. “You’re being helped.”
Eve rolled her eyes in disbelief.
“It’s true,” Coco said. “You have a very important job to do. Probably one of the most important jobs of your life. You’re nurturing a baby. There are two lives at stake and both are very important to many people. Even though it seems that sitting down or resting is being lazy, it’s not. You probably think it’s difficult and boring, but it’s a necessary part of your job.”
Eve stared at Coco for a long moment. “I guess I never thought of it that way. I just expected to take pregnancy in stride and keep doing what I’ve always done.” She glanced at her doctor. “I guess it doesn’t always work out that way.”
“Quite true, Your Highness,” he said.
“I’m just not the fainting type,” Eve said.
“As long as you follow the doctor’s direction, you won’t become the fainting type,” Pippa said. “Like you were today.”
Eve bared her teeth slightly then sighed. “Okay, my job is to gestate. Hopefully someone will help amuse me.”
“The line forms behind me,” Pippa said with a smile.
Coco felt another invisible thread connecting her to Eve and Pippa.
* * *
That evening after Coco and Benjamin both bathed Emma, they sat on the love seat and propped their feet on pillows placed on the coffee table. Benjamin rotated between a soccer game and a television show on the BBC.
“I feel like I need subtitles. The British English is so different from Texas English,” Benjamin said.
Coco laughed, and the sound made his chest tighten and expand.
“Does that mean you feel the same way?” he asked.
“I guess so. I just never thought of it that way,” she said and met his gaze. “Thanks for being with me today. Between the meeting with the advisor and Eve fainting, it was a roller-coaster ride.”
He nodded. “Yeah. What do you think of the Devereaux now?”
“I think they bleed,” she said. “Like you and me.”
He met her gaze and something inside him grew and expanded. Coco was deep, sometimes sad, but he could tell that she kept trying to be positive and hopeful. Despite everything she’d been through, she wanted to give people the benefit of the doubt. Being with her made him want to be less cynical.
“You did well today,” he said.
She laced her fingers together then unlaced them. He covered her hand and her fidgeting stopped. She glanced up to meet his gaze. The moment stretched between them.
Fighting a massive internal debate, Benjamin lowered his mouth to hers. Slowly. Slowly enough that she could turn away if she wanted. But she didn’t. Her gaze was locked with his. Her eyelids lowered with each millimeter he drew closer. He wanted to take her mouth, absorb her into him. He wanted to rush, but he made himself go slow.
Eons seemed to pass. He finally pressed his mouth against hers. Her lips were soft and sweet. There was a sense of waiting and wanting in the air. He inhaled briefly, wanting to focus on her mouth.
She responded, rubbing her lips against his.
The sensation of need ran through him like wildfire, and he felt a little of his self-control shatter. Clenching his hand into a fist, he tried to regain control. But then she rubbed her lips against him again and he felt it all the way down from his mouth to his chest to his gut to his groin.
Benjamin opened his mouth and slid his tongue into her mouth. She tasted sweet and wild. When she slipped her hands around his neck, he just wanted more.
Chapter Eight
Coco felt as if she were stuck on the top of a ferris wheel. She sank against Benjamin’s chest as his mouth took hers. She hadn’t allowed herself to want him. She’d scolded herself not to be attracted to him. He was her boss, and he was wounded from his experience with Emma’s mother. A bad combination.
But now he felt strong and everything about him was too seductive to resist. The way he kissed her, the way he held her. He deepened the kiss further and her breath seemed to stop in her throat. She felt a terrible restlessness that invaded her from head to toe, with special emphasis in between. She wriggled against him to soothe the sensation, but that just seemed to make it worse.
Benjamin let out a low groan and the sound vibrated inside her. Leaning backward, he dragged her on top of him. One of his hands slid to cup her breast while his other pressed her pelvis against him. His unmistakable hardness found the place between her legs where she began to ache.
She tugged at his shirt, wanting to feel his bare skin. He growled in approval and seconds later she felt her naked breasts against his chest. With her skirt and his jeans between them, she just wanted to get rid of everything keeping her from being as close as possible to him.
He must have heard her need. Benjamin found the zipper to her skirt and pushed it down, along with her panties. Finally, she was naked. All she needed was to help him get rid of his jeans and underwear and—
A muffled sound emanated from the baby monitor. Coco was so turned on she wasn’t sure that she’d heard correctly. Benjamin continued to caress and kiss her, making her hotter with each passing stroke.
Another sound from the baby monitor. This one louder. Another that turned into a wail. Coco stilled as her heartbeat throbbed
in her ears and throughout every pulse point in the body. Benjamin didn’t seem to hear.
“It’s Emma,” she finally managed to say. “She’s awake. And crying.”
Benjamin pulled his mouth away from hers, his eyes dark with the same need she felt. When Emma let out another cry, realization crossed his face. He swore under his breath and helped both her and himself into a sitting position.
Coco was still aroused, but she suddenly felt self-conscious by the contrast of her complete nudity and Benjamin’s half-dressed state. Fumbling with her blouse, she struggled to find the buttons. “I’ll get her,” she said. “I just need to put on my clothes.”
“No, it’s okay,” he said as he stood. “I’ll do it.” He pulled on his shirt and left the room.
The blouse was turned half-inside-out, making the act of dressing herself that much more frustrating. She finally put it on, then pulled on her panties and skirt. When she stood, she suspected her panties were on backward.
Confused about what she should do next, she pushed her hair out of her face and walked toward the room where Emma was supposed to be sleeping. She glanced inside in the darkness and saw the outline of Benjamin standing as he rocked from side to side with Emma in his arms.
She didn’t want to interrupt because it appeared he’d successfully quieted her. Her heart twisted. More progress between Dad and his daughter. A few moments ago, however, she’d thought of him as anything but a dad.
Coco stood there for a few moments to collect her breath and sense. What did it mean that they had nearly made love? What next? Should she stay awake or try to go to sleep?
Slowly, she walked to her bedroom and sank onto the bed, her head still spinning. Coco could hardly believe that Benjamin was really interested in her. She’d always viewed herself as very ordinary, but with determination. That determination had kept her sane during life’s less sane moments. And this was one crazy moment. Coco knew that she was no bombshell, like the woman who had given birth to Benjamin’s child.
Wash your face. Brush your teeth. Things will be clearer in the morning. How many times had her mother repeated those words to her? Coco followed her mother’s advice, then crawled into bed and told herself to stop thinking about Benjamin. But then she turned on the baby monitor just in case Benjamin went to sleep and Emma awakened again.
