by Leanne Banks
She blinked at him. “She couldn’t possibly get better care somewhere other than the palace.” Bridget frowned. “Do you wish for your assistant to stay somewhere else?”
He paused a half beat, thinking he didn’t want to get overly involved with the Devereauxes. He didn’t want Sophie to get involved with them either. He’d thought all that would be necessary for Sophie would be to go to the tea and that would be the end of it. “I want her to be comfortable.”
“We enjoyed your Sophie—”
Impatience shot through him. “She’s not my Sophie. She’s my assistant.”
Bridget gave an equally impatient nod. “Very well. We enjoyed her very much during our tea and all of us would like to spend more time with her. And we insist she spend her recovery at the palace.”
Max felt a bit more sympathy for Stefan. Bridget was pushy. He wondered if the rest of the Devereaux women were.
Chapter Three
“I’m fine,” Sophie said as she stood beside her bed.
She could tell that Max was concerned that she would fall any minute. “Are you sure?” he asked.
She nodded as he extended his hand to steady her. For that crazy, tiny moment, she relished his touch. His hand was strong and assuring against hers. The doctor had released her with the condition that someone could check in on her throughout the first night.
“Yes, I’m okay,” she said. “I’m sure I’d be fine staying by myself.”
“That’s not going to happen. If you don’t want to go to the palace, we can make other arrangements,” he said and she felt him studying her.
“I’m okay with it. Then I can say I’ve spent the night at a royal palace,” she said, smiling. “Besides, it will just be one night.”
“Or two,” he said.
She was surprised at his concern for her. “Is there something I haven’t been told? Am I okay?” she asked. “Have I lost some of my mental capacity? What did the doctor say?”
“You’re fine,” he said and squeezed her shoulder. “The doctor said all your tests are normal.”
“Then why are you being so weird?” she asked, searching his gaze.
He shook his head. “I was caught off guard. You’re always so strong and to see you hurt, it—” He broke off. “It did something to me.”
His concern rocked through her. “Thanks,” she said. “But I think I’m going to be okay.” She glanced at his face and corrected herself. “I know I’m going to be okay.”
“You call me anytime you want to leave the palace,” he said.
Again, she was surprised at his concern for her. “No problem. I don’t think they’ll throw me in the dungeon.”
“Okay, I’m here if you need me. I’ll ride with you to the palace,” he said. “Bridget was very insistent that you should stay at the palace. She was...pushy.”
Sophie couldn’t help laughing. “You think?”
Max frowned.
“I’ll be all better tomorrow, so it won’t be an issue.”
“Okay,” he said and his gaze held hers.
With his outward expression of worry for her, she could almost think she was emotionally important to him. Could that be possible?
Then he stepped away, and she immediately felt his absence.
The nurse entered the room. “All ready?” the woman asked.
Seconds later, a palace assistant appeared. “We’re ready to escort Miss Taylor away.”
“Here are the instructions,” the nurse said, lifting them.
Max snatched the sheet of paper. “Can you make an extra copy?”
The nurse lifted her eyebrows. “Of course, sir.”
Just a few moments later, Sophie was driven away from the hospital toward the palace with Max by her side. Sophie leaned her head back against the seat. “Those Devereauxes lead a different life.”
She felt Max’s gaze on her. “What?” she asked, not opening her eyes.
“Are you saying you would like to live like a royal?” he asked.
She opened her eyes and met his gaze. “I wouldn’t mind living like a royal every once in a while,” she said. “But not all the time. How’s that royal thing working out for you?”
He frowned. “So far, no one is all that interested in me.”
“That bothers you?” she asked.
“Hell, no,” he said. “I think I understand my role with the Devereauxes. They’re happy to use my resources to improve their island, and they’re relieved I don’t want anything from them.”
“You may be partly right, but after meeting the Devereaux sisters, they seem like caring people. If you gave them half a chance, you might enjoy a nice relationship with them,” she said.
“I’m giving them a good road. I’m sure they’ll value that far more than being buddies with me.”
“I wish you wouldn’t be so stubborn about this,” she said.
“Just because you wish you had brothers and sisters doesn’t mean I do,” he told her gently.
“Deny, deny,” she retorted. “You’ll realize it eventually.”
“My darling analyst/assistant, stop thinking about me, and focus on yourself.”
The car entered the palace gates and stopped outside the side door of the palace.
Sophie drew in a quick breath. “I think we’re here.”
“Yeah, I guess we are,” Max said. “I think I should go inside with you.”
Surprise rushed through Sophie. “Why? Do you really think they’re going to mistreat me?”
Max frowned. “No, but—”
“Didn’t you say I needed to start relaxing?” she asked, wishing she didn’t feel like she needed a nap.
“I guess so,” he muttered.
“Then that’s what I plan to do,” she said and accepted the driver’s hand as he helped her from the car.
“I’ll walk you in,” he said.
“Not necessary,” she said and shut the car door.
* * *
Sophie awakened in the middle of the night and took a potty break. She returned to her bed, but a female staff member was waiting.
“Can I help you with anything, Miss Taylor?”
Startled, she nodded. “I’m fine, thank you.”
“Very well. If you need anything, please call,” the woman said.
Sophie nodded and climbed into bed. She didn’t know if she would ever adjust to palace staff. So far, they both surprised and alarmed her. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. She needed to rest so she could get back to her own apartment.
She awakened the next morning, or afternoon... Sophie wasn’t sure which. Squinting her eyes, she glanced at her clock. Ten o’clock in the morning. How embarrassing. She couldn’t recall when she’d slept this late when it wasn’t due to a time-zone change.
She dragged herself out of bed and into the shower. Standing in the spray, she absorbed the comfort and invigoration of the water. After several moments, she stepped out of the shower and rubbed a towel over herself.
Pulling on a robe, she walked into her bedroom and found Pippa waiting for her at a small breakfast table. “Good morning,” the princess with the wild, wiry hair said. “I have a semi-American breakfast for you. Coffee, tea, eggs, prosciutto, croissants and marmalade. Does that sound good?”
“Perfect,” Sophie said as she joined Pippa at the table. “It’s perfect. How did you know?”
“I have an American husband,” Pippa said, lifting her cup of tea. “He considers our breakfasts quite wimpy. He requires meat or eggs. Or both. I swear, the man would eat steak for breakfast.”
Sophie laughed. “Steak and eggs is a popular breakfast combo in the States, but I have to tell you that I’ve never eaten steak in the morning.”
“So, it’s no
t all that usual?” Pippa asked. “Nic acts as if it’s an everyday occurrence for everyone.”
“He’s definitely pulling your leg,” Sophie said and took a bite of scrambled eggs.
“Pulling my leg?” Pippa repeated, clearly confused.
“Fooling you,” Sophie said.
Pippa frowned. “Is that so? Then I shall give him something horrid for breakfast. What do you suggest?”
Sophie shrugged. “I don’t know. Liver?”
Pippa’s mouth lifted from a frown to a smile. “Excellent. Liver. Is there anything worse to your American taste?”
Sophie searched her culinary memory. “Um, chitlins?”
“What’s that?” Pippa asked.
“Look it up on Google.”
Pippa nodded while she clicked away on her cell phone’s keyboard. “That bad,” she said with a smile. “Let’s change conversation. How are you feeling this morning?”
“Better,” Sophie said and took another bite of eggs followed by toast.
“Dizzy at all?” Pippa asked, and took a bite of a crumpet.
“No, thank goodness,” Sophie said.
Pippa nodded. “That’s wonderful news. But we would be happy for you to stay here an extra night.”
Sophie shook her head. “Not necessary.”
Pippa sighed. “We’re always glad to have someone new and interesting at the palace. Are you sure you can’t stay?”
“I may be new, but I’m not sure about interesting. Thanks for the invite, though. How are you feeling?” she asked, glancing at Pippa’s pregnant belly.
“Excited,” Pippa said, then frowned. “And uncomfortable. I’ve been told the baby has dropped. There’s no comfortable position.”
“Sorry,” Sophie said. “How far along are you?”
“Thirty eight weeks and two days,” she said.
Sophie wondered if she was also recording the hours and minutes. “Hopefully, it won’t be much longer.”
“Hopefully,” Pippa said and sighed. “But it’s all a matter of perspective. We lost Nic’s mother to terminal cancer last year. She was ready to go, but we weren’t ready for her to leave. We miss her so much.”
Sophie’s heart clenched. “That must have been hard.”
Pippa nodded. “It was. But we’re naming our baby after her. Amelie was pure magic.” Pippa smiled. “During those last months, she would scare us to death by escaping the cottage and going to the beach on her own.”
“It’s wonderful that you’re naming the baby after Nic’s mother,” Sophie said. “That’s so—loving.”
Pippa lifted her cup and nodded. “I wish you had met Amelie. She was a wonderful combination of boldness, wisdom and fun. In the short time I knew her, I learned a lot. The biggest lesson was don’t waste your life. Go for it. Life is short and love is the most important gift of all. If you love someone, then you’ve got to give the chance to be with them all you’ve got.”
Sophie took a sip of coffee and tried not to squirm. Did she really love Max? Or did she just have an intense crush on him? Setting her cup down, she stared into the warm brown liquid, wishing it could offer her answers. If she gave in to her feelings, would she have the nerve to go after him? What if she made a fool of herself? What if he completely rejected her?
Her stomach twisted and clenched.
“Are you okay?” Pippa asked, concern etched across her face. “You look a bit ill.”
“No. I’m fine. Just need more coffee,” Sophie said.
“Well, I’m certain you could use more than coffee. I can tell you’re probably one of those types who wouldn’t complain even if you had a broken leg, but your body has been through a traumatic experience. Getting hit by that motor scooter,” Pippa said, shaking her head. “I think I’d want to hide under the covers for a few days to catch my breath. It’s a miracle you weren’t hurt worse. You could have been—” She broke off as if she realized she should be more encouraging. “But you weren’t. You’re fine and you’re just going to get better and better.”
Sophie nodded in agreement, but her brain was stuck on what Pippa hadn’t said. She could have been killed. Her brain instantly went into denial. Killed? That was a little overdramatic, wasn’t it? Her injuries could have been much more serious, but to think that she could have died... Frowning, Sophie firmly shoved the possibility to the back of her mind. A dark place she did her best not to visit.
“Oh, my,” Pippa said, putting her hand on her belly and smiling. “Amelie has hiccups.” She laughed. “Would you like to feel it?”
Sophie had wondered what it would feel like to have a baby inside her. To feel it move. “Sure,” she said and stood next to Pippa, who guided Sophie’s hand to her belly.
Sophie felt the rhythmic bump inside Pippa. “Oh, poor thing,” she said.
“She actually gets them pretty often. It makes me wonder if I’m eating something that bothers her. Sorry, Amelie,” she said and rubbed her belly.
At that moment, a strange awareness sliced through Sophie. She’d avoided the very idea of having a baby. She’d avoided the very idea of being loved by Max, although she’d secretly wished for it.
She felt Pippa’s gaze on her and tried to shake off her thoughts.
“Are you okay?” Pippa asked, reaching toward her.
“Fine,” Sophie said. “Just a little dazed.”
“From the accident?” Pippa asked. “Perhaps you should spend another night here at the palace.”
Sophie shook her head. “I’m just a little behind on my coffee. I’ll be ready for anything in a few minutes.”
“If you say so,” Pippa said doubtfully.
“I do,” Sophie said and patted Pippa’s hand. “And thank you for being so caring.”
Pippa insisted that Sophie stay at the palace through the early afternoon. Sophie left as soon as she could, arriving at her apartment and pacing. Could she have died? Was she being overdramatic?
She shook her head from side to side. Truth was that not everyone survived being smacked by a scooter. She could have been paralyzed or worse.
Sophie thought of herself as being stronger than that, though. She was strong enough to overcome this. A little brush with a scooter couldn’t knock her out forever. She’d survived challenges in every country she’d visited. She was a mule.
Max had even referred to her in that manner, and she hadn’t been insulted or disagreed. She was strong, resilient. She could make it through anything. Right? She put her doubts from her mind and watched a television show.
Dinnertime arrived and her cell phone rang. It was Max.
“How are you feeling?”
“Much better. I left the palace a couple hours ago.”
“What can I bring you for dinner?”
Surprised by his offer, she automatically refused. “You don’t need to bring anything. I can pull a box of something from the freezer.”
“I think you could use something better than that. I’ll be over in an hour or so,” he said and hung up.
“But—” she said and sighed. The truth was she wasn’t hungry. She hadn’t been hungry since the accident. If she told Max that, though, he would think she had been terminally injured.
Sophie puttered around her apartment for awhile then sat down on the couch. She leaned her head back for just a few minutes....
The doorbell jolted her from her sleep. Her heart hammered against her chest and she jumped to her feet. Taking a quick breath, she rushed to the door and opened it.
Max stood in front of her holding two bags, two bottles of beer and a bottle of wine. She blinked. “Wow. What’s all this?”
“Steak, baked potato, salad. Took forever for me to find this in take-out,” he said. “And I’m betting the steak is nowhere as good as we got in Australia.”
“Probably,” she said, taking a bag, wondering how she could possibly eat half the meal he had brought for her.
“But the reviewers said this place made the best steak in Chantaine,” he said.
She took the food from the bag and placed it on the table. Glancing at the steak, she shook her head. “Max, this steak is the size of Gibraltar.”
“Well, maybe you can eat some for leftovers tomorrow,” he said.
“Tomorrow,” she muttered. “Try the whole week.”
“You’ve got to get your strength back. This will help,” he insisted. “Have a seat. Do you want beer or wine?”
“Water, just in case I take a pain pill when I go to bed tonight,” she said.
“You’re still hurting?” he asked, worry creasing his face.
“I’m fine. I’m going to be fine. I’m lucky that scooter threw me clear,” she reassured him. She was flattered by his attention. She’d wanted to feel him focus on her, but she was cautious to take it to heart. “What are you so worried about me for?”
“You didn’t see yourself hooked up to all those tubes,” he said. “Sit down and eat.”
His expression made her stomach tighten. “I know I was knocked out, but it wasn’t that bad. Was it?”
Max met her gaze. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met. It was hard to see you in that condition.”
She cut a bite of her steak. “Well, I’m not in that condition now.”
“Thank God,” he muttered and lifted a bite to his mouth.
She also chewed a bite of steak and looked at Max. “Why were you so alarmed? In the scheme of things, I’m just an employee. I’m technically replaceable.”
He looked at her as if she were crazy. “You must think I’m a nut job,” he said. “You’re not replaceable. I learned that a long time ago.”
She watched him carefully as she took another bite of her meal. “My mom said you sounded upset when you called her. She was afraid she would need to make funeral arrangements.”
“I probably overreacted. I’d never seen you anywhere near that condition,” he said, continuing to eat. “I even called my own mother.”
Sophie blinked. “Your own mother? Why in the world would you call her?”
