The Unexpected Honeymoon

by Barbara Wallace

  Her heart leaped to her throat. “C-Carlos?” She whispered the name in case she was dreaming.

  Carlos turned around and smiled. The shyness nearly broke her. “Buenos dias.”

  “Buenas tardes,” she corrected. “It’s afternoon.”

  “I guess I’ve got my time zones mixed up.”

  As he started toward the elevator, everything else in the lobby faded away. The only thing worth looking at was his face. Habit already ingrained, Larissa looked to his eyes. They shone like two dark jewels, bright and open. So incredibly, wonderfully open that she wanted to cry.

  “Querida, no...” He cradled her cheeks in his palm, smoothed her trembling lip with his thumb.

  “I can’t believe you’re really here,” she whispered.

  “I can’t believe it myself, but I needed to tell you something, and face-to-face was the only way.”

  “Tell me something?” She felt her heart skip with a hope she dared not acknowledge.

  Carlos nodded. “I wanted to tell you that you were special. That’s the reason I did everything I did. Because you were...are...special.”

  He pressed a kiss to her forehead. To feel his lips after all this time... Larissa had to squeeze her eyes tight to steel herself against the thrill building inside. “I spent so many years thinking I was dead inside,” he whispered. “Then this beautiful drunk blonde opened a door and I found out I wasn’t dead after all. I was waiting for her. Only I was too scared to take a chance. Too afraid of how badly it would hurt when she walked away. So I tried to lock her out.

  “Except,” he said, smiling down with shining eyes, “she got in anyway. I’ve tried to deny the feelings for three weeks, but I miss you, Larissa. There’s been a hole in my chest since you left.”

  Oh Lord, how she’d longed to hear those words. “There’s been a hole in my chest, too. I’ve missed you so much.”

  “Same here, querida.”

  It felt like an eternity, but at last, Carlos swept her into his arms. His kiss was honest and real, the connection instant. Gone was the distance she used to sense. Larissa wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with an intensity that left them both breathless. When they finally broke, and she remembered where they were, she started to giggle.

  “What’s so funny?” he asked.

  “Nothing.” Looked like his kisses did have the same impact while standing on Madison Avenue.

  Still, kisses weren’t everything, and while she would far rather spend the next twenty four hours wrapped in Carlos’s arms, they needed to talk. “So where do we go from here?” she asked, putting some distance between them.

  “What do you mean?”

  It meant dealing with nitty-gritty reality. Carlos coming to New York was a start, but if they were to make a real go of things, they needed to negotiate life beyond La Joya’s romantic facade.

  “For starters, we live three thousand miles apart. I have a job here. Delilah and Chloe are here.” That she had been about to fly back to Mexico was beside the point. That was when she was depressed and thinking illogically.

  “I’m well aware of the distance, and I’ve got a solution.”

  “Already? You’ve only been here five minutes.”

  “I’ve had a long time to think before I got here, and I realize I’ve been a selfish bastard.”

  “No—”

  He held up his hand. “No, querida, I have been for a long time. By shutting myself off from the world. And, just because I’ve woken up, doesn’t mean I have the right to ask you to give up your life. Not yet.”

  Larissa’s heart started pounding. “Carlos, what are you trying to say?” She knew what it sounded like, but...would he really make that kind of commitment?

  “I’ve put a call in to Kent Hotels regarding a position here in New York.”

  Oh my God, he was making that kind of commitment. “You’re leaving La Joya?”

  “The hospitality industry has always been a little nomadic. I’ve moved from hotel to hotel before. What’s another move?”

  “But it’s your family’s business.”

  “It’s a business. Businesses can be replaced. Hearts can’t.”

  “Wow.” She didn’t know what do say. He was willing to leave his family’s business and move to New York City for her when neither of them knew what the future had in store. An incredibly gigantic chance for a man who feared getting hurt. That Carlos would take such a leap of faith for her... “I’m so humbled,” she murmured.

  “You’re so worth it,” Carlos replied.

  If Larissa’s heart ever had any doubt whether she belonged with him, those four words erased it. There was still one more question to ask, though. “And when things get rough?” She needed to know.

  “We’ll deal with them together.”

  “Are you sure? Because I want it all. The good, the bad and the ugly.”

  “So do I, querida.”

  They were both tired of keeping space between them. When Carlos stepped close again, Larissa melted into him. “I love you,” she said, resting her head against his chest. “I don’t care if it’s too soon to say the words, but I—”

  “Shh...” He pressed a finger to her lips. “Say them all you want, querida. I love you, too.”

  His kiss showed her just how much.

  “Now,” he said, planting one last kiss on the tip of her nose. “Why don’t you take me upstairs to meet these best friends of yours? Then tonight, after you finish work, you can show me around my new adopted home.”

  “Okay, but I’ve got a better idea. How about I introduce you to Chloe and Delilah, and then, I show you how much I missed you.”

  He smiled. “I like your idea better.”

  “What can I say? I’m a terrific event planner.” As she led him to meet the two most important women in her life, Larissa thought of how lucky she was. She’d gone to paradise to lick her wounds over lost love and discovered a love that was even better. What’s more, with Carlos in her life, it wouldn’t matter if she ever travelled to paradise again. Because paradise was wherever the two of them were together.

  One year later...

  “Tell me again why we came on this trip?” Simon Cartwright lifted himself from the infinity pool. Water dripped from his Olympic-fit body as he walked to the nearby lounge chair to grab a towel.

  “Near as I can tell,” Ian Black replied, “it’s so we have someone to talk to while our wives ignore us.”

  He smirked at the nearby table, only to have one of the women stick her tongue out in return. “Watch it, Mister. I’m not your wife yet,” Chloe Abrams said, waggling her index finger at him. “I still have twenty-four hours to change my mind.”

  “Idle threats, Curlilocks. You and I both know you’re stuck with me for life.”

  Rolling her eyes, the brunette turned back to the other women at her table. “I hate when he’s right.”

  “You think he’s bad now, wait until the two of you decide to have children,” Delilah told her. “Simon’s been strutting around like a peacock ever since the ultrasound. You’d think I was giving birth to the king of England.” She squealed as Simon splashed water in her direction.

  From her seat at the far end of the table, Larissa watched the whole exchange with misty eyes. She missed this—spending time with her friends. It’d been nine months since she returned to Mexico. True to his word, Carlos did stay in New York, although he took a year’s leave of absence rather than find a new position. While Larissa knew beyond a shadow of a doubt the two of them belonged together, she told him they should take things slow, and he agreed.

  New York lasted exactly six weeks. Surprisingly, it was Larissa who initiated the move back to Mexico. The decision came while she and Carlos were sitting in Bryant Park one brutally hot Sunday afternoon. If she was go
ing to endure oppressive heat, she told him, she wanted egrets to sing her good-night. They returned to La Joya two weeks later. She didn’t regret the decision for a moment.

  Fishing the pen from behind her ear, she flipped open the file folder on the table in front of her. “Before Simon tosses Delilah into the pool, I want to make sure you’re absolutely okay with the plans for tomorrow’s ceremony. Are you sure you don’t have any changes?”

  “Other than the size of my bridesmaid dress?” Delilah quipped. “It appears the future king has decided to take up residence in my rear end.”

  “No worries,” Larissa told her. “The dresses I picked out are very figure-forgiving. You’re not the only one whose rear end has decided to expand.”

  “Perhaps because someone feels the need to sample every wedding cake that comes through the hotel.”

  Carlos came strolling out from the restaurant, resplendent as always in his manager’s suit. Twelve months together, and the way he moved still sent shivers down her spine. He smiled at her, his eyes warm and bright. “I guarantee tomorrow’s ceremony will be flawless. After all, you’re using the finest wedding planner in all of Mexico.”

  “She’s also the only wedding planner who didn’t have a wedding of her own,” Delilah noted. “Noontime at City Hall? Seriously, what kind of wedding is that?”

  Her cheeks growing warm, Larissa reached up and entwined her fingers with the hand resting on her shoulder. She and Carlos got married right before their return. “I had everything that mattered.”

  “And so do I,” Chloe said. “I’ve got the man of my dreams and my best friends. Tomorrow will be the icing on the cake as far as I’m concerned.” She giggled. “Sorry, La-Roo, did saying the word cake made your butt get bigger?”

  “It did Delilah’s,” Simon said with a laugh. Before the brunette could retort, he gathered her in his arms and gave her a kiss. “And I love every inch.”

  “You better,” she grumbled, kissing his nose.

  “Ah, the sparkling cider is here.”

  At Carlos’s announcement, a waitperson appeared bearing a tray with six glasses. “I thought we should have a toast to start the weekend,” he said.

  “To the bride and groom,” Simon said, once the glasses were in hand.

  “And good friends,” Ian added.

  Chloe leaned over and gave him a kiss. “To family,” she corrected.

  “No, to soul mates,” Delilah said.

  Larissa looked at the people around the table. The six of them had endured a lot to find one another and now had nothing but lifetimes of happiness ahead of them. Who knew, when she walked into CMT Advertising four years ago, that a corporate orientation would bring her such enduring happiness? As far as she was concerned, the six of them shared one thing worth toasting above everything.

  “To love,” she said raising her glass. “To love.”

  * * * * *

  Read on for an extract from A PRINCESS BY CHRISTMAS by Jennifer Faye.

  CHAPTER ONE

  AT LAST HE’D lost them.

  Prince Alexandro Castanavo of the Mirraccino Islands stared out the back window of the cab as it snaked in and out of traffic. He’d never driven in New York City but his concern deepened when they swerved to the berm of the road. While all of the other traffic was at a standstill, they kept rolling along.

  When the cab suddenly jerked to the left, Alex’s shoulder thumped into the door. He reached for the armrest and his fingertips dug into the hard plastic. What had he done to deserve the cabbie who thought he was a grand prix driver?

  Alex jerked forward as the car screeched to a halt in front of a traffic light. At least the guy obeyed some traffic rules. Another glance out the rear window revealed a bread delivery truck behind them. He breathed a sigh of relief. No one was following them. But then again, how could they? He doubted many people drove as erratically as this cabbie.

  “You can let me out here?”

  “No. I get you there quick.”

  Alex reached for his wallet, but before he could grab it, the car lurched forward. He fell back against the seat. What was up with this guy? Didn’t he know that he’d make more money by taking his time?

  “You don’t have to hurry.”

  The man grinned at him in the rearview mirror. “Hurry? Sure. I hurry.”

  Alex inwardly groaned. He was about to correct the man when he realized that every time the man spoke, he took his eyes off the roadway. It was best not to distract him if Alex wanted to reach his destination in one piece.

  He silently sat in the backseat while the cabbie jockeyed through the streets of Manhattan. Alex stared out the side window as a fine snow began to fall. Cars and people abounded in every direction, seemingly undisturbed by the deteriorating weather. Garlands and festive wreaths adorned the fronts of buildings while pine trees and shiny ornaments decorated the shop windows. Christmas was definitely in the air, even though it was still a few weeks away.

  City life would definitely take a bit to get used to. Not that he planned to live it up while in town. Unlike his usual need for high visibility on behalf of the kingdom, this trip required stealth maneuvers, especially since he’d gone against protocol and stolen away without his security detail. Although in his defense, it was a necessity. Trying to elude the paparazzi was tricky enough, but doing it with an entourage would be impossible.

  Soon the stores faded away, traffic thinned out and rows of houses dotted each side of the street. One last glance out the rear window assured him they hadn’t been followed. At last, the tension in his neck eased.

  When a loud clicking sound filled the car, he noticed they’d turned onto a cobblestone roadway. It was a narrow residential road with no parking on either side.

  Alex sat up a little straighter, taking in the sweeping willow trees on either side of the street. This must be the exclusive neighborhood of Willow Heights, aptly named.

  The homes in this area sat back off the road. They were older mansions that were well kept and still stunningly beautiful. Being here was like stepping back in time. A wrought-iron signpost came into view. It stood in front of a stone wall and read: The Willows.

  Alex glanced up at the stately home with its old-world charm. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting. When the problem at the palace had come to light, there had been no time for detailed planning. He’d moved directly into action. His mission was to draw out this game of cat and mouse with the press—not knowing how much time would be needed to resolve his brother’s latest fiasco.

  The driver turned in to the gated driveway. “That is some swanky place. You some rich muckety-muck?”

  He wasn’t sure what a muckety-muck was, but it didn’t sound good. “No.”

  “You stay long?”

  He wished he knew. “I’m not sure.”

  “When you need a ride. You call. Freddy take you.”

  English might be Alex’s second language, but this man made him feel as if it was his first—the broken English combined with a very heavy accent left Alex struggling to understand what the cabbie was trying to say. But one thing he knew was that he wouldn’t be summoning Freddy for another ride—anywhere.

  The paved driveway led them to a spacious three-story flagstone mansion. By the looks of it, this place dated back a century or two. The owner certainly had done a fine job keeping up the outside. Ivy grew up one wall and its vines were dusted with snow. It didn’t even come close to the enormity of his family’s palace, but the large, sweeping porch draped with garlands gave the place a warm, homey feel.

  The car pulled to a stop and the driver cast him a big, toothy grin. Alex reached for his credit card to pay the fare but paused. On second thought, he grabbed some cash from his wallet. It was best to keep his true identity under wraps for now.

  Once he and his luggage
were settled on the sidewalk, the cab raced off down the driveway. Alex’s shoulders slumped as the adrenaline wore off and fatigue weighed him down. He stifled the urge to yawn. He’d never been so happy to have his feet on solid, unmoving ground; now he just had to find his room and get some shut-eye before he dropped from exhaustion.

  “Welcome,” chimed a sweet voice.

  He turned, finding a young woman coming up along the side of the house, lugging a big cardboard box. Her reddish-brown ponytail swayed as she made her way toward him. Her beauty captivated him, from her pink-stained cheeks to her full rosy lips.

  Her breath came out in small white puffs in the frigid air. Her forehead creased with lines of exertion from carrying a box that was far too big for her.

  Alex sprang into action. “Let me take that for you.”

  She looked hesitant but then relented. “It goes on the front porch.”

  “Your wish is my command.”

  They strolled side-by-side along the walkway. She cast a curious glance his way. “Are you all right? You looked a little shook up when you got out of the cab.”

  “You wouldn’t believe the cab ride I had here.” He stopped at the bottom of the steps. “I think the cabbie drove off the road more than he drove on it.”

  “I take it you didn’t enjoy your adventure?”

  “Not at all. I am very grateful to be here in one piece. Remind me to think twice before I call that cab company again.”

  The young lady smiled and he found himself smiling back. This was not good. He knew better than to encourage the attention of women. It only complicated things when they wanted more than he could offer.

  He forced his lips into a flat line as he moved onto the porch. The box landed with a thunk. He turned around to find the young woman standing just behind him.

  As he dusted off his hands, he took in her white winter jacket with the logo for The Willows stitched in blue thread on the chest. His gaze skimmed downward, catching her snug jeans and the wheat-colored work boots that completed her ensemble. He drew his gaze up from her peekaboo curves. At last his gaze made it to her eyes—her big brown eyes. He wondered if she knew how beautiful she was. The guys must go crazy over her.