The Princess Problem

by Diane Darcy

  Alicia grinned. “Who can eat at a time like this? We have a lot of work to do. Models, sets, filming, and more. It’s going to be awesome.”

  Willa giggled. “Well, I have to say, I love your attitude. I’ll see you later then.”

  Alicia headed for the front doors. “See you soon!”

  * * *

  A few days later, Alicia hid out in her car in the parking lot of Highborn Mattress. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. “All I want to know is why do you have to be seven months pregnant?” Alicia asked her best friend Katie. “The prince was easy, but it’s a lot harder choosing the perfect model for the princess than I’d thought it would be. If you were available, it would have made my life so much easier.”

  Katie laughed. “So sorry to have inconvenienced you.”

  Alicia sighed. “Part of the problem is the models aren’t getting along. Some of them are being nasty to each other and it’s tense in there.”

  “You need to have a little mercy on them. You have one job available, only one of them gets hired, and they know it. That kind of competition doesn’t make for lifelong friendships.”

  Alicia rubbed at her temple to try and relieve the tension before it morphed into a headache. “The other part of the problem is that Willa won’t approve any of them. I think some of them could work, but she’s being picky.”

  “Keep trying. Something will click soon, I’m sure. That’s the way the process works. You’re going along and then, presto, you find the perfect girl for the job.”

  Alicia glanced at her watch. “Okay. Thanks for the pep talk. I gave everyone thirty minutes for lunch, so I guess I’d better get back. But before I go, how is it being back in Seattle?”

  “Let’s just say that Mom and Dad aren’t really thrilled about my single status at the moment and leave it at that.”

  “I’m sorry, Katie. You know you’re welcome here if you need to get away. For however long you’d care to stay.”

  Katie sighed. “I know. Thanks. Isabelle’s offered me a spare bed in Huntington Beach, but I really don’t want to be that near the ex right now. Honey’s offered to put me up in Redding, but she’s got her hands full with a newborn, so I don’t want to intrude. Anyway, for better or for worse, Seattle’s home, and a great place to lick my wounds.”

  “If you change your mind, the offer is always open.”

  “Thanks. I know it is.”

  After they hung up, Alicia headed inside Highborn Mattress, the main store in downtown Portland. Mike was already set up and waiting for her to start again and as she walked toward the set they’d built, Alicia couldn’t help but smile. The setting looked fantastic, even better than she’d envisioned. The bed was stacked high with thin mattresses, each a different-colored pastel material that gave the bed a whimsical look. The top mattress sported a little ruffle, and there was a curtain that curved toward the area off to one side. Pillows, stacked large-to-small, formed a pile at the head of the bed, and a rope cord with a knot and frayed tassel hung almost to the floor. Truly a bed fit for a princess.

  But it was the dress hanging over the edge of the bed that really captured the limelight. Alicia had considered going with a pretty nightgown, but quickly nixed that idea in favor of more princess-like apparel. A thirty-second commercial needed to make an impression, and this dress did. White satin, fluffy netting, beading–all practically screamed princess. Add the tiny crown to be perched off-center on the model’s head, and she loved the whole look. Fairytale princess all the way. Gorgeous. Now if they could just find the right girl to pull it off.

  The remaining models waited off to one side--some sitting, some standing--as Alicia slid into the chair next to Willa.

  “Did you get some lunch?” asked Willa. “Are you ready to start again?”

  “Yes and yes.” She picked up the next portfolio in the stack. “Keira Jones. Can you come and stand by the bed, please?”

  A tall, elegant redhead rose from one of the chairs and moved forward. Mike bent over the camera and instructed her to turn her head to the left, then to the right, and finally facing center. “Okay,” he said. “Now slip the string on the dress around your neck so the dress hangs over your body.” After Keira did so, Mike continued filming as Alicia studied the model. When he finished, he picked up his camera and took a few more shots.

  Alicia smiled at her. “Thank you, Keira. We’ll be in touch.”

  The girl’s face never changed expression as she nodded once, then gathered her things and left.

  Willa handed her a small piece of paper. Too cold, was written on it.

  Alicia exhaled. According to Willa, Ashlin was too stone-faced, Fiona’s nose too long, and Bren’s smile too fake. The same went for the other models. Different girls, different problems, Willa objecting to something specific about each girl. Since Willa had reserved the right to have the final say, it was getting frustrating. Alicia had hoped to nail the princess down today, but the way things were going, it didn’t look like that was going to happen.

  Still, Alicia couldn’t fault her. All the models were gorgeous, but she hadn’t yet seen one she was crazy about, either. Alicia called up the next model.

  A few hours later all the girls were gone and Willa sighed. “The problem is, we need someone real. All these models are too perfect. Too polished. We need warmth and passion. Those are the feelings we want to associate with our product. We aren’t going to capture anyone’s attention with a cold representative.” She paused. “And I’m not so sure about the dress, either.”

  “What?” Alicia jumped up and grabbed the dress, the material so billowy she had to hold it across both arms. “If there’s one thing I’m sure about it’s the dress. It’s gorgeous. It’s princessy. It’s perfect.”

  “Maybe we should be using a nightgown?”

  “I thought about that, but we only have thirty seconds to make an impression. With this dress it only takes a second to realize the girl is a princess. Anyway, the white says nightgown.”

  “Or wedding,” Willa said doubtfully.

  “No, no, look.” Alicia slipped the string around her neck so the dress hung over her body. Then she undid her hair and let the dark, wavy mass fall over one shoulder, before picking up the crown and holding it in place on her head. “See? With long hair and this whimsical crown it definitely looks like a princess dress.”

  Willa studied her.

  Mike snapped pictures. “Turn your head to the left, Alicia.”

  “What? No.”

  “Yes.” Willa straightened in her chair. “Do it, dear.”

  Alicia turned her head, a scowl on her face.

  “Smile,” said Willa.

  She grimaced. “I know what you’re thinking and I’m not doing this.”

  “Give me a smile,” said Mike. “A real one. I’ve had enough fake ones today.”

  Alicia bared her teeth in a fake grin.

  Mike looked up from his camera. “I know what you did last summer,” he said in an ominous voice.

  Alicia couldn’t help it. She laughed as he took some more pictures.

  “You jerk.”

  “It was either that or the Barney song.”

  She laughed again and he snapped some more.

  “Does someone want to tell me what is going on?”

  Alicia’s head jerked up and she stared at the gorgeous man coming toward them as Willa turned around in her chair. “Jonas! What are you doing here?”

  “Mom. What are you doing? Why have you set this up right here in the middle of the store? I thought that girl you hired was a professional. Are you trying to run off customers?”

  “The customers have been having a grand time today, watching us. No one was bothered.”

  As they argued, Alicia stared, appalled because Jonas was so good-looking. She wanted to scream, Are you kidding me? Where is the pig snout? The rude man she hadn’t been able to get out of her head should not look like that. The guy she’d accused of being unable to get a date should
not look like a Greek god.

  As he continued to argue with his mother, he didn’t so much as glance in her direction, giving her a chance to look her fill. No doubt he was used to women both staring and drooling and didn’t notice anymore. She turned to look at Willa, still incredibly good-looking in her sixties, and wondered why she hadn’t considered that any son of hers was bound to be gorgeous.

  “You never once told me this commercial was going to feature a princess. If I’d known, I’d have had something to say about it. The Princess and the Pea? Are you kidding me? Customers are going to be running out of here in droves.”

  Alicia stepped forward. “Well, if they are, it won’t be because of this commercial. It’ll be because of your bad attitude.” Although Alicia had to admit that Jonas wasn’t scaring anyone away. The customers continued to watch to see what would happen next.

  He turned his blue-eyed gaze onto her. What real man had thick, wavy, dark hair and blue eyes? It wasn’t right. He gave her a furious, dirty look. “And who are you, Princess?”

  Alicia lifted her chin and took off the dress. “Alicia Dayne. I’m the professional.”

  He stared at her and she stared back as he studied her for so long she started to feel uncomfortable. “I knew you were trouble from the moment I met you. This princess thing is all your idea, isn’t it?”

  “You’ve got that right. This princess thing was one hundred percent my idea, and it’s a darn good one.”

  “Well, it looks to me like we have a problem, Princess, because I don’t like the sounds of this at all.”

  Willa didn’t intervene, but looked between the two of them, a smile lighting her face.

  Mike filmed them, back and forth with his camera.

  Apparently Alicia was on her own. “It appears that I need to remind you that you don’t have a say in any of this.”

  “Fine. But I want it noted that this isn’t what I want. This is a mattress company. Mattresses are no-nonsense. Maybe if we were only trying to sell to kids then this fairytale crap would work, but this is supposed to highlight our newest, cutting-edge mattress.”

  “Which is exactly what we are doing.” She swept her hand up to indicate the top mattress and flipped back the ruffled bedspread. “See? Do you recognize that?”

  “What I see is that no one can see it underneath all that project pink princess crap.”

  Alicia glared. “I’m not an idiot. It will show up in the commercial. It will be obvious that the comfortable mattress the princess is sleeping on is your newest mattress. Happy now?”

  “And what man alive is going to get off his sofa and run down here to get a princess mattress? Do you want to tell me that? You’re making a mockery of my new product line.”

  “I sincerely doubt that most men are as insecure in their masculinity as you are. A little bit of pink and purple aren’t going to scare your customers away. Besides, most men like to see a gorgeous girl on a mattress.”

  “Insecure?” He took a step forward.

  She backed away a step, then stopped and raised her chin. “I have no doubt that you know the research. Women are the ones who instigate most major purchases in the home.”

  He took another step toward her and Alicia had to admit that she was relieved when Willa moved to stand between them. “Well, I like it. And don’t forget, I’m in charge here. You promised you wouldn’t interfere.”

  He finally looked away from Alicia. “Come on, Mom. Seriously? I think she’s brainwashed you. Can’t we just talk about this?”

  “No. It will turn out wonderful. You’ll see.”

  “You’re really not going to let me have any say in this?”

  “Do you want one?” asked Willa, making Alicia’s heart sink. Willa raised a hand when Jonas opened his mouth. “I mean on this project. Not on canceling this project.”

  He sighed, then lifted a shoulder. “Do what you want.” He pointed at Alicia. “But remember, we hired you to improve our business. If I’m not happy with the results, your boss will be hearing about it. And I get final say on the model. As a guy, I’ll decide if the girl is the right one to draw in the male contingent or not.” He glared at Alicia. “And just so you know, I’ll be watching you.” He finally turned and left, muttering, “There goes my business.”

  Willa watched him leave then turned to Alicia, all smiles. “I thought that went well, didn’t you?”

  Alicia shot Willa an incredulous look. “You’re kidding me? Right?”

  “Not at all, my dear. When I was dating Jonas’ father we hardly said two civil words to each other for weeks. All that passion has to express itself somehow, right?”

  Alicia’s mouth dropped. This confirmed her earlier suspicion. The woman was definitely delusional. She shook her head and headed toward the break room. She needed drink a cold cup of water to bring down her body temperature, and her temper, so they could get back to work. “All right everyone. Ten minutes, then we’ll start again.”

  She hoped that would give Jonas time to crawl back under whatever rock he’d escaped from.

  Chapter Four

  Going to his office and shutting the door, Jonas sank onto his leather chair, spread his long legs out in front of him, and twined his fingers across his stomach. He swivelled his chair back and forth and, after a moment, realized he was smiling and knew exactly who to blame for his good mood.

  Alicia Dayne.

  He chuckled and had to stop himself from getting up and going to the window overlooking the sales floor to get another look at her. She was...well, she was attractive, he’d give her that. But then he’d already known that from the glimpses he’d caught of her by candlelight a few nights before. And passionate. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind and, several times over the last few days, had found himself grinning at the memory of their meeting.

  He’d actually come into the store today to see her. He’d planned to play it cool, get a proper introduction from his mother, and maybe even ask her out to dinner if she was as spirited as he’d remembered. He’d felt let down when she hadn’t been there, then all thoughts of seeing her again had flown out of his mind when he’d realized what the commercial was going to be about.

  The Princess and the Pea?

  Good grief. What was his mother thinking? He sighed. It didn’t matter now. He knew when he was beat. And the fact of the matter was that if any project made his mother sit up and take an interest in life again, he was all for it. Even this ridiculous one. They could afford the cost of another commercial when this one bombed.

  He’d thought Alicia was a model standing there with that frilly dress draped around her neck, holding the crown to her head, and laughing. With her dark hair and sparkling green eyes, she’d been too beautiful to be anything else.

  But then she’d opened her mouth and he’d recognized her immediately.

  Women usually went out of their way to be pleasant to him, but they’d met twice now and both times pleasantness hadn’t seemed to be a major concern to her. He laughed.

  He considered the fact that his mother had actually invited Alicia over to the house so the two of them could meet. Which meant she must be single. His mother and her matchmaking was something that usually had him running hard in the opposite direction, but he had to admit he wasn’t feeling that way this time. He sort of wished they’d met under different circumstances, wished he’d been a little more civil to her, because he found her very attractive.

  He levered himself out of the chair and walked to the window. He’d told his mother she was in charge of this one, but if he decided to hang around and offer advice, somehow he didn’t think she’d mind.

  Alicia might.

  He laughed again.

  All the more reason to stay.

  * * *

  As Alicia stacked the last of her supplies in the trunk, Willa walked up behind her.

  “Hi. I was just wondering if I could talk you into coming over for an early dinner and to see my rose gardens. I’m still hoping we ca
n use them in the commercial somehow. Or, if not the commercial itself, then perhaps in some of the magazine ads. What do you think? Can you come over tonight?”

  Alicia stashed her purse in the passenger seat and studied Willa with slightly narrowed eyes. When Willa couldn’t quite hold her gaze, she asked ,“Will Jonas be there?”

  One hand fluttered. “I’m sure he won’t. He’s been gone for over an hour now and he usually eats at his office or goes out. Please come. I promise we’ll have electricity tonight.”

  Alicia lifted a shoulder. “All right. I’ll follow you home. I do want to get a look at those roses.”

  “Great! You won’t be sorry. They’re gorgeous.”

  Twenty minutes later they were just sitting down to dinner when Jonas arrived. Alicia could actually feel her heartbeat speed up and she tried to relax her suddenly tense muscles and breathe normally. She looked at Willa, then at Jonas. “Hi, Jonas,” Alicia was proud of her neutral tone. “This is unexpected.”

  He sat down across from her, his thick, dark hair slightly awry as if he’d recently run fingers through it. He was far too attractive for her peace of mind. “How so?”

  “Willa.” Tate came in, his elegant white hair slicked into place, his back stiff. “You have a call from a friend.” He cleared his throat. “Would you like to take it here or in the other room?” he asked in an overloud voice.

  “I didn’t hear the phone ring,” said Jonas.

  “I didn’t, either,” said Alicia dryly.

  Willa jumped up and didn’t look at either of them as she skirted the table. “You kids finish your meal so we can go see the rose gardens while it’s still light outside.”

  After Tate and Willa left, Jonas and Alicia served themselves the chicken, rice, and salad, eating in silence for a moment before Alicia casually stated, “I hate to be unkind, but Tate and your mother are terrible liars.”

  Jonas laughed. “What do you want to bet I’m going to be asked to show you the rose gardens all by myself?”

  “I don’t think I’ll take that bet.” She glanced down, finding it easier to look at her dinner than at his handsome face. “Your mom said you wouldn’t be here for dinner.”