by Brown, Tara
The blue of his eyes was full of the things he wanted to say. I could see them there. “Just stop assuming the worst. When I tell you I’m in love with you or I want you to meet my family, please assume it’s done with the best of intentions.”
“I will. And you have to trust me. I’m just a flirty girl. Carter doesn’t stand a chance. I’ve known him for almost two decades and he hasn’t won me over yet. You did it in a weekend.”
His face lit up. He pulled me into him and brushed his lips against mine softly.
It was a kiss filled with possibilities and freedom.
If you say pumpkin spice latte in the mirror three times, a teenaged girl in yoga pants and a ponytail from the #PNW will jump out and tell you her favorite thing about fall.
Har-har-har . . . whatever
Chapter Fifteen
Shakespeare and Shit
Linna looked back from the window of the helicopter we had boarded in Barcelona. “Are you excited yet?”
“No,” I shouted. “Still nervous.” The helicopter wasn’t making it better. I hadn’t realized it was a drive-in country only.
“I think it’s weird he went ahead of us. Why didn’t he fly in today too?”
“I don’t know. He said something about needing to do some traveling first.” It didn’t matter. Even if he had come on the flight to Spain with us, I would’ve been a nervous wreck. I was sweating and I couldn’t sit still.
The week he had been gone had been a bit brutal. Sheila had forced our father take her on some cruise vacation for Christmas. Suzzy had made some plans with her new fiancé to spend the holiday with his family in Aspen. So Jess was home alone, losing her V and hanging with Aaron. I felt bad leaving her there, but she had insisted. Linna was still pissed about them being together. I didn’t think she would ever get past it.
We left the small helicopter hangar and walked down the ramp to where the most beautiful guy I had ever seen stood next to Mary who was waving. I held my hand the way she had shown me and waved back. I stood up straight and fought my American urge to slouch. She had threatened to board my back. I didn’t know what that meant, but I imagined it was bad.
Mary walked over to us, not hugging or running. She gripped my hands tightly and smiled. The excitement was in the hands, the same as Aiden. “How are you, Finley? How was the flight?”
I enunciated as she had taught me. Worst week of my life, I swear to God. “It was tiring, but I am excited to be here. We both are. How are you?”
She laughed. “When we get to the car, you may act as you would anywhere.” Suddenly it dawned on me that we were being filmed or photographed. I lifted my face to suck in my dubs, just in case. Mary took Linna’s hand. “Hello, Linna.”
Linna did some weird bow thingy, all the while batting her lashes at the gorgeous guy with Mary. Mary held her hand to him. “Finley, this is my brother, Johan.”
“You all look so similar. It’s lovely to meet you.”
He smiled wide. “You don’t sound very American to me.”
“I do.” I laughed, exactly as I’d practiced. “Wait until we get to the car, Johan.”
Linna cocked an eyebrow. “So you must be a younger bro—prince.”
He pointed. “She sounds American.”
When Linna met Johan I knew she’d never even recall a brief period she spent with a random guy named Aaron.
“At least your mother won’t care how she sounds. It’s me under the microscope.”
“That is true and what a microscope it is.” He nodded at some men. They hurried over and took our bags. Mary offered me her arm. “Come, let’s go and meet everyone.”
I scanned the area. “Where is Aiden?”
There was a smile on her face, but I could see what kind it was when she spoke, “He was asked to remain and help prepare for your arrival.”
My stomach sank. “Cool.”
She gave me a sideways look.
I smiled wide, ignoring the dread in the pit of my stomach. “I mean excellent.”
We walked to a huge Hummer. The driver got the door for us. Linna was staring at Johan like he was a diamond ring with her name on it. But he was staring at me like he just didn’t get it or see what his brother did.
Shit.
I was never going pull this off. I was sweaty and tired and his mom was going to sense fear like a cougar would.
The scenery was unlike anything I had ever seen. When Aiden had said “nestled in the mountains,” he hadn’t been kidding. It was like the Rockies but so much more. The city was in an actual valley, a huge valley. The houses all looked like chalets and there was so much snow on the ground I began to get nervous. My UGGs were stylish and warm, but not meant for five feet of snow.
I slid into the seat and wiped the sweat off my forehead. “I am dying. The anxiety of this is probably going to kill me. I never should have agreed.”
Mary laughed. “And she is back.”
Johan added, “Very American. You are both from Washington?”
Linna nodded and smiled.
Johan appeared nervous about the way she was eyeing him like he was meat. He gave me a weird look. “I’ve always wanted to go see the White House and such.”
I laughed. “Dude, wrong coastline. Washington State is on the western side of the country, and D.C. is over by New York and it’s a district that’s separate from the states. Congress runs it.” I tried to think of the largest city he would be able to relate to.
He looked confused. “You have two places with the same name in one country?”
“Yeah, I don’t know what the deal is with that. We have Washingtons everywhere. Mississippi and Michigan and a bunch of states. George Washington was a pretty major dude for us. He’s our founding father and shit.”
He raised an eyebrow and looked at Mary. She smiled. “The president, George Washington, played a major role in the creation of the United States. He was the first president.”
Johan nodded. “Odd but interesting.”
Linna laughed, but I thought about how weird it was we had so many places named after him. “It must be confusing for foreigners to know where they’re going. We repeat names on everything.”
“We only go to New York so it isn’t really an issue for us.”
I glanced at Mary. “New York? That’s it?”
“I like New York. The park in the middle of the city is stunning. And I enjoy the contrast of the old buildings filled with newer shops. It’s sparkly and beautiful inside but old and English outside.”
Linna sighed. Johan inched away and I tried not to throw up.
The house was a mansion but built chalet style. It was stunning. I couldn’t even see it all. There were trees and a frozen lake, and when we pulled in, the front entryway took up the entire window of the truck. It was simply stunning.
“You live at a hotel?”
Mary laughed at Linna. “No. This is our family home.”
“No palace?”
Mary scowled. “The city has the old house, but we have long been ruled by France and Spain. No castle was needed. And we like this better. We’ve done our time in the French and English castles with family. We have several in other parts of Europe and they’re drafty. This is cozy.”
Cozy wasn’t the word I would’ve used.
Johan took my hand in his. “Are you ready?”
“No. I feel like I might throw up.”
He squeezed. “You will be a delightful addition to our holiday, trust me.”
Mary nodded. “Our family is excited you are coming.”
“You mean everyone but your mom?”
Her eyes twinkled. “Mother needs to learn she can’t always have her way. We are not pawns; we are people.”
Johan grinned. “Besides, Aiden is opening the doors for the rest of us. Geoffrey, our eldest brother, is the only one who should suffer under her reign. The rest of us should be free to choose. I think it is a sign of his character and strength that Aiden has chosen you.”
&nb
sp; It made me smile as we got out of the vehicle. Linna gaped, but I only saw one thing—the blue eyes that started it all.
Aiden was standing at the top of the stairs with a wide smile and a mischievous look in his eyes. “You are finally here. This was the longest week of my life.”
I reached for my bag, but a man gave me a horrified look. I stopped and turned back to Aiden. “Hi.”
He laughed. “Hi.” I walked up to him and let him press a soft kiss into my cheek. “I missed you.”
“Yeah.” I nodded into the kiss. “Me too.”
He took my hand and pulled me to the doors, turning at the last second to look out over the valley. “What do you think?”
I could see the city a little but mostly mountains, snow, and trees, and of course the lake. I smiled at him. “It’s beautiful. It’s exactly the way you described it.”
Linna rolled her eyes. “We tried to get him to take pictures and Instagram them, but he was all bent out of shape that we couldn’t close our eyes and imagine it.”
I tried not to laugh. Aiden sighed. “Your need for constant visual displays is eroding your mind’s ability to create.” Linna shook her head and followed Johan and Mary inside.
“I missed your Shakespeare.”
He kissed the side of my head. “And I missed you being part of the air I breathe. Now, let’s get this part over with. I want you alone and all to myself in about fifteen minutes.”
My stomach fluttered. We hadn’t done it again since the first time. I wanted to, but I didn’t want guards hanging outside the door. That was creepy. So we compromised. If he couldn’t get rid of them, I wasn’t taking off my clothes.
But in his country, we were free. Of course, I had assumed I was staying at his house, like his house. Not his parents’ house. That changed things.
When we got inside, I too gaped, like Linna had. It was too much. The inside of the house made a clear statement about the level of wealth. Everything suggested it was a huge castle and not just a chalet the size of a hotel. There were no logs showing or cedar walls. It was stone and marble and everything was bigger than I could have imagined. The stairs were the size of our house. They swept up in front of us, well across the massive stone floor, and opened to something gigantic upstairs. The carpets were deep colors and very expensive looking. It could have been a hotel inside, but one that people like Linna and me couldn’t afford to go to. The richest people I knew couldn’t have afforded this place.
A woman with dark hair, pale skin, and the reddest lips ever approached us from the top of the stairs. She smiled, but I could see her scrutinizing me. She reminded me of Snow White, but in dress pants and a beautiful sweater. She had dressed down for us probably. She had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. I could tell she was in her forties or fifties, but not from her skin. She could pass for thirty-five, but her eyes were wise and cold.
Everything about her was cold. She scared the shit out of me the moment her frozen stare landed on me. “You must be her.”
“Hello. It is wonderful to meet you. Thank you for inviting us to your home. It’s beautiful.”
She paused, smiling, but only with her lips. The rest of her was evil. Spending a lifetime with Sheila, I knew that look. “You are welcome. I have long awaited the moment we would meet, having heard so many things about you.”
I smiled, swallowing bile and trying not to shake. Aiden wrapped his arm around me. “This is my Finley. Finley, this is my mother, Queen Estelle Dumont Windsor Rey.”
I curtseyed, just as Mary had taught me.
The queen smiled wide and her eyes lifted. “You are not what I expected.”
“Thank you.” I took it as a compliment. She offered Linna something resembling a smile. “You must be the friend.”
Linna smiled. “I am. I’m Linna Barlow.”
The queen gave her a subtle nod just as a man with dark hair and a dark beard came bounding down the stairs. He came right to us, too close for my comfort. Aiden beamed. “Father, I would like for you to meet Finley Roze.”
The man gave me the exact charming smile that all his children had. “It is so lovely to finally meet you.” He took my hand and kissed the back of it. I didn’t know what to do. He was hot in that ‘old guy with a beard’ way. I would have swooned had he not been the father of the guy I was madly in love with. “Finely, this is my father, King Andreu Abello Agramunt Sorenson Rey. The ruler of Andorra.”
My cheeks were flushed as I did the perfect curtsey bow.
His dark eyes narrowed. “You do that flawlessly.” His gaze darted to Mary. “Shopping in New York?”
She blushed. “It’s quite close to Washington.”
Their father nodded, clearly not sure of where it was I came from. He smiled at Linna. “And you must be the friend.”
“Linna Barlow. Pleased to meet you.” She botched a bow.
The king laughed. “Welcome to our home. If you should need anything, please, the staff is here for that. I am certain Aiden and Mary can also assist you in anything you should require.” He kissed my hand a second time. “It was lovely to meet you, but I am needed in the city. I shall dine with you all tomorrow, once the girls are more rested. I am sure you are exhausted from your travels.” He nodded at his wife and turned and left through the front doors. Men followed him constantly. That had to get aggravating.
The queen gave Aiden a look. “Show them to their rooms.” Her eyes landed on me again. “It was lovely to meet you.”
“Thank you.”
She turned and left. Linna sighed. “Oh my God. Dude, your parents are intense.”
Mary folded her arms. She acted worried but tried to smile away. “They have their moments.”
Aiden took my hand in his. “I think it went well.” He pulled me to the stairs and to the right. There were several hallways once we got upstairs. I was going to get lost at least once, for sure. Linna stood staring into the room when Mary opened her door. “This is your room.”
Linna squealed. “This is totes cray.”
Mary scowled. “Is the room not to your liking?”
“You know, like Fifty Shades of Cray? Or cray-cray?”
Mary looked at Aiden who shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Linna rolled her eyes. “It’s crazy good. Okay, I’m gonna peace out and see y’all in the morning. I need some beauty sleep. I’m scared of what’s under my Erase Paste.” She closed the door.
Mary looked at me. “It’s like a whole other dialect.”
“Yeah, pretty much. It means she’s super tired and sleepy. She knows she probably has bags under her makeup.”
Mary glanced at Aiden, lifting an eyebrow. “I will leave you to the next room. I’ll tell mother you’re hiking if she asks.” She winked and walked away, but it looked like she floated. I had noticed their mother walked that way as well. It wasn’t sexy; it was feminine and dainty.
Aiden kissed my hand and pulled me down the wide hallway to a door at the end. He opened it and I felt like Linna had when she saw her room. It was a fantasy room. White furniture, canopy over the four-poster bed, fancy fireplace, a view of the lake from the massive windows, and beautiful linens.
It was too much. I walked in and he closed the door behind us. The bathroom was off to the side. It had a huge soaker tub beneath a window, also overlooking the lake, and a walk-in shower that was so large it had no door, just a tiled wall to walk past. There was a toilet and a bidet and double marble sinks.
“Wow.”
He smiled from the doorway where he was leaning and watching me. “It is the best guest room.”
“It is the best. I have never seen a room this nice.”
He pulled me to him, sweeping me into his arms. “I am ecstatic you are here. I keep wanting to pinch you to see if you’re real.” He lifted me off the ground, carrying me to the bed. He laid me down and walked to the curtains, drawing them, making the room dark. He walked to the door and clicked the lock. My stomach tingled. I crawled up the bed and laid
my head on the pillow. It hit then. The exhaustion and release of stress and nerves all hit at once. I yawned as he climbed onto the bed and wrapped himself around me. “I love you, Fin.”
I smiled and nodded.
“You’re sleepy, aren’t you?” He nibbled at my ear. I shook my head, but my eyes wouldn’t open and my head wouldn’t turn. I was passing out mid thought. “Then sleep and I will stay and hold you.”
I relaxed into the bed as I felt a blanket pull over me.
Do you ever just want to shout out to the entire hallway, “It’s a high school, not a petting zoo?”
Chapter Sixteen
I Will Never be Royyyyyallll . . .
I woke to daylight. It wasn’t intense, but it was filtering through the gap in the curtains. I was alone in the bed and stripped to my underwear and tee shirt. I remembered nothing but coming into the room. I didn’t even know how I had gotten in bed. It came back slowly. Aiden had carried me. I wondered where he was.
I stretched and smiled. I was in Andorra, a real country where the guy I was dating was a real prince. It was real. I lifted a hand, dragging it to my arm, and pinched, just in case.
The pain of the pinch made me smile more.
How had I gotten so lucky? Was it luck? After meeting his mom, I was slightly less scared of her. She was intense, but I was sure I had made her at least stop hating me. The door opened. I smiled, expecting Aiden, but a girl came in. She might have been my age or a little older. She was beautiful the way the queen was. She smiled when she saw me though. It was a genuine smile, unlike the queen. “You must be Finely.” She had tanned skin and dark hair and eyes.
I sat up. “Hi.”
She beamed and motioned for the people behind her to bring in a tray of food and start opening curtains. The girl sat on my bed. “I’m Alexandria. I’m married to their eldest brother, Geoffrey. How are you?”
