“You’ll get used to the idea. You could do worse.”
“Let me think about it,” I say, pushing myself to my feet. My shoulder aches every time I move.
“Don’t take too long. This needs to be done.” The King lets out a heavy sigh. His lips pinch, and the weariness in his face is plainly apparent.
He’s suffering. He needs to step down.
Which means I either need to marry Cara, or find a legal reason not to.
“Father…”
“This is your duty, Theo. You have to take the throne, and you have to take a wife. I’ve done my best to make it easy for you. Now return the favor.”
My father levels me with a stare, and I know I can’t protest. With our Kingdom already divided, if the people learned of his condition, it would only weaken our position. Argyle needs a strong leader.
Me.
And I need to know if I can ascend to the throne as a single man legally, or if I need to find myself a queen.
“Call Flanders back in here,” my father says, nodding to the door behind which his butler disappeared. “I’m ready for my dinner.”
I bow to my father, then head out the door. Flanders heads inside the King’s bedroom behind me, and I turn down the hallway to find my brother Dante. Winding through the hallways, I make my way to the office at the back of the palace where Dante spends most of his time.
When I enter, the lights are low and half a dozen monitors are blinking with spreadsheets and documents I don’t understand. Dante swivels around in his chair, flashing a smile at me.
“Big brother.” He grins. “I was wondering how long it would take you to come see me.”
“Tell me you have good news.”
“Well, my arms are still attached to my body, unlike you.” He nods to my sling. “Cara saved you, huh?”
“Twice.”
“Badass.”
I grunt, leaning on his desk. My head hurts, and I don’t know if Dante knows about Father’s plan to marry me to Cara.
“So? What have you found about the marriage issue?”
Dante lets out a sigh. His smile fades. “Haven’t made much progress. I’ve engaged an independent lawyer to look into it. I trust him,” he adds. “But it’ll take time to figure it out. The legal texts we have to look through are over a hundred years old and a lot of them only exist in the Royal Archives.”
“I don’t have time.” I rub my forehead and then look at my brother, sighing. I explain to him the conversation I just had with our father, and how time is running out.
Dante rubs his jaw with his hand and turns back to his multitude of computer screens. “I need at least two weeks, Theo. Can you do that?”
“Two weeks?”
Dante nods. “Delay. Tell Father you’ll think about it, that you need to get to know Cara or something. Make up some bullshit he’ll believe about true love and compatibility.”
I scoff, and nod. “He doesn’t believe in love.”
“I’m not so sure,” Dante shrugs.
“I’m going on a pre-coronation tour of the islands for three weeks starting the day after tomorrow,” I say. “I could ask him to wait until after that, but who knows what he’d do while I was away.”
Dante taps his chin as he thinks. He glances at me, arching an eyebrow. “What if you bring Cara? Then no one can pressure her while you’re gone. You know how Father is once he gets an idea. He could have the whole thing organized while you’re away, but not if neither of you are here.”
I chew my lip. It’s not a bad idea. Cara is supposed to leave, but maybe it would be better if she was with me. If our parents are plotting to push us together, we might be able to pretend to play along for a bit. It would give me some time to figure things out and would protect Cara from any unnecessary pressure from her family—and mine.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Good luck.” Dante stares at his screens as he taps something on a keyboard. I retreat from the room, rounding my shoulders as I trudge up to my chambers.
As the thoughts swirl around my head, I have to admit something to myself. Something buried deep in my heart, in a hidden corner that hasn’t seen the light of day in a long, long time.
Marrying Cara excites me.
I can pretend that I don’t want to do it. That I feel bad about betraying my brother. That it’s wrong to marry her. Something has shifted inside me, and Cara isn’t off-limits anymore.
The simple truth is, I want her. Badly.
CARA
“FROM LITTLE OLD Cara Shoal to a Queen,” my sister Christine titters, spinning circles around me. “I can hardly believe it.”
“It’s not right.”
“Oh, come on,” our eldest sister, Cathy, sighs. “Mother did well to get you that match. I had to marry boring old Count Yara.”
“I’m not marrying anyone, and I’m not going to be Queen.” I sigh, kicking my feet in the sand as my sisters and I walk down the beach.
“What, you thought that the rest of us would carry the burden of caring for our family? We all had to do things we didn’t want to do. Going off to singing school wasn’t going to help mother and father provide for our family.” Cathy, ever the pragmatist, arches an eyebrow at me.
“But why? Why did we have to marry well? Who cares? It’s not like we’re royalty. Father’s an ex-Olympian. Mother is a smart businesswoman. Why couldn’t we just do whatever we wanted with our lives? We don’t need a house that big. We don’t need to live like the royal family. Why can’t we just be normal?”
Why can’t I just leave this place behind and pursue my own dreams?
“That’s not how it works, Cara,” Christine says, nudging my shoulder with hers. She smiles sadly.
Waves crash on the shore as seagulls squawk above us. The sun dips lower, and soon it’ll be touching the horizon. It’s been over twelve hours since I left Theo’s company this morning, but I haven’t stopped thinking about him for a minute.
My future King. If my mother gets her way, my future husband.
I can’t wrap my head around it.
If betraying Luca didn’t kill me, giving up my dreams when they’re almost within reach surely would. I’m leaving. I’ve already decided. Even if my mother plots and conspires until she’s blue in the face, I won’t marry someone I don’t want to marry.
I’m not going to be Queen.
I’m not going to betray Luca.
I’m not going to give up all my dreams in order to marry a man that I never saw as anything but a friend…
…until last night.
Why am I so against this marriage? It’s not because I don’t want Theo. If the solstice sailing trip was any indication, I’m more attracted to the Crown Prince than anyone, ever.
My mind keeps circling back to Luca. Sure, we broke up. Yes, he shattered my heart. He pushed me away for months until I felt like a shell of who I used to be.
But to marry his very own brother?
That’s low. That’s not something I ever thought I’d do.
“What about Luca?” I ask my sisters.
Christine picks up a long piece of seaweed and flings it toward the ocean. “What about him? He left you and refused to let you see him. He ignored you for months. You waited for him long enough, Cara. If you ask me, he deserves any pain that comes to him. He treated you badly, even though you’ll never admit it. You dedicated your life to being his future wife, for what? To be tossed aside when you begged him to let you help?”
“But to marry his brother? Isn’t that wrong?”
“What’s wrong is for Luca to think that he can treat you like dirt and then have you wait for him. It’s been three whole years, Cara. He hasn’t called you even once. You went to that silly P.O. box every single day hoping he’d write you. You should’ve seen the disappointment on your face every time you opened it up to see it empty. I watched you break, day by day. You shouldn’t care about him. Luca doesn’t want you.”
A few months ago, her words
would have torn me to shreds.
Now?
Surprisingly, they don’t hurt at all. I think that I might have moved on from Luca, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to marry his brother.
The three of us head back toward my parents’ house, where I’m sure the chefs will have prepared a lavish meal for us.
My gut twists. I don’t want any of it.
I want to leave. I want to start fresh. I don’t want to hurt Luca, even if he did hurt me. I don’t want to marry Theo. I want things to be easy and clean.
Even if I’m not good enough to get into singing school, I still want to see what else the world has to offer. My dreams of becoming a decorated, educated singer might never happen. But who knows? Maybe I could still find a way to make music part of my life.
One thing I know for sure is it’s not going to happen if I stay here and marry Prince Theo.
“Well, well, well,” Cathy chuckles darkly, pulling me from my thoughts. “Do we think this is a coincidence?” She jabs her thumb down the side of the house, where a familiar black royal vehicle is parked.
Prince Theo.
Christine titters, throwing her dark, curly hair up into a ponytail. She grins at me, shaking her head. “He’s come here to claim his bride.”
“Oh, please.”
“When was the last time the Crown Prince came to our house for Sunday dinner? Oh, right. Never. Not even Luca came here. Prince Theo is here for you.” Cathy throws me a glance, shaking her head.
My pulse quickens as we slip in through the side door. I hear voices down the hallway, and nod to my sisters.
“You go ahead. I’ll be right there.”
Cathy arches an eyebrow but says nothing. The two of them continue down the hall as I duck into the bathroom.
Locking the door, I lean against the vanity and close my eyes.
My mind and body are at war.
The independent, adventurous side of me is screaming to refuse the engagement. Leave Argyle. Go sing in a dirty dive bar for a few bucks. Explore the world.
The impulsive, carnal side of me wants to stay. See what Prince Theo really has to offer.
I comb my fingers through my hair and re-adjust my clothing. I can do this. I can stick to my guns. I’ll walk out the door and find Prince Theo. I’ll tell him I can’t do it. I’ll say I have to leave. I’ll refuse him.
Inhaling, I turn the doorknob and step out. As it turns out, I don’t have to go far to find the Prince. He’s standing right outside the door.
“Hey.” He stares at me in all his brooding glory.
I jump, startled.
“Sorry.” The Prince roughs his fingers through his hair. His other arm is still in a sling. My eyes drop to the little strip of skin that is exposed between his trousers and his shirt when he lifts his arm. A deep, muscular V is carved into his lower abdominal muscles, and my mouth starts to water.
Is it wrong that I’d love to trail my tongue right down that muscular groove?
Yes. Wrong. Bad Cara.
Theo smiles at me, and that’s all it takes for heat to spark between my thighs. I clench them together as a blush creeps over my cheeks.
It feels like a switch has been flipped inside me. Theo went from being a friend, to all of a sudden being the one man that manages to make me melt with nothing more than a glance.
Whether it’s the knowledge that he’s the future King—and my potential husband—or just some innate quality of the ultra-good-looking, all of a sudden, it’s hard for me not to twirl my fingers in my hair and bat my eyelashes whenever he’s near.
I’d be embarrassed if I had enough extra brain cells to use on embarrassment. Right now, they’re all occupied thinking of all the compromising positions that the Prince has had me in over the past twenty-four hours. None of which ended the way my body had hoped.
“Your Highness,” I say, nodding. “Didn’t think I’d see you here tonight. To what do we owe the honor?”
“You know why I’m here, Cara.” His voice is gruff, his eyes low.
Why is that so hot? His scratchy voice. His dark eyes. Everything makes me want him. Shouldn’t I be telling him all the reasons I can’t marry him?
“Yeah,” I manage to croak.
“My father told me about the proposal today. I’m sorry they sprang it on you without warning. I didn’t know either, if that makes it any better.”
“So you…” I clear my throat. “You want this?” I move my finger between the two of us.
He swallows, and I watch his Adam’s apple bob up and down. “Uh… Do you?”
“I… I can’t.” My voice is small. It’s hard to say the words. I stare up at him, blinking rapidly. “I have to leave, Theo. Everything I told you on the sailboat is still true. I have to see the world for myself. Get out of here. Move on.”
Theo sighs, nodding. He tilts his head back, staring at the ceiling. “Then I have a favor to ask.”
My heart thumps. “Uh huh?”
“I need you to pretend.” His eyes land on mine, sending another wave of heat coursing through my veins. How does he do that with nothing but a look?
Then, my brain processes his words, and I choke on my own spittle. I cough, hitting my chest with my hand before looking at him. “Pretend?”
“I know it sounds crazy. Dante needs a couple of weeks to talk to lawyers and figure out if I actually need to marry to take the throne. I was thinking…” He trails off, biting his lip.
“What?”
“I have a tour of the islands coming up the day after tomorrow. It’s three weeks long. It might be better if you come with me.”
“How would that be better? Won’t that be sending a message to our families and the Kingdom that we’re going to be married?”
Theo sighs. “I’m worried that if you’re here and I’m away, there might be more pressure on you. They might threaten you, or make you agree to things without my knowledge. If you fight it, they’ll fight harder. At least if we’re both gone and both together, it’ll keep them happy for a while. It’ll buy me some time.”
“So we pretend to agree.”
Theo nods. “Or at least, we pretend to consider it.” His brows are drawn together, concern etched on his face. “I know. I’m not asking you to give up your dreams, Cara. I just need time.”
I gulp. My thoughts are at war with each other. I was supposed to leave the Kingdom this week and start my new life. I was supposed to chase my dreams. Now, the future King is asking me to stay and pretend to be his future fiancée.
The Prince sighs, taking a step closer to me. He strokes the side of my cheek with his good hand and I close my eyes, leaning into his touch.
How does he manage to smell so good all the time? Being near him is like standing in a soft ocean breeze on a warm day.
When I open my eyes again, Theo’s chest is almost brushing mine. His eyes are low. When his tongue slides out to lick his lips, my heart stutters.
“I guess I could delay my disappearance,” I say in a small voice. A hint of a smile twitches over my lips. “You’ve been good to me and my family. The least I can do is return the favor.”
“You’ll get a free trip around the Kingdom, too.”
My smile widens. “Could be worse.”
The air between us crackles. There are so many things unsaid between us. I can see, reflected in his eyes, the desire I feel. Pretending to be his future fiancée isn’t a terrible thought. A part of me kind of likes it.
The Prince lets out a low groan. His fingers stroke my face as he gently shakes his head. “Something happened between us on that boat, Cara.”
My throat tightens. I know what he’s talking about, but I ignore it. “Uh, yeah. I saved your life.” I force a smile. “Twice.”
The Prince’s hand sweeps along my jaw to tangle into my hair. His touch sends shivers running through my body. Goosebumps erupt all over my skin and I suck in a deep breath to try to contain myself. My fingers disobey, though. They hook into the waistband of his pa
nts and before I know it, I’m pulling him toward me.
The air between us thickens.
A few inches of space separate his lips from mine.
He’s right. Of course he’s right.
Something happened on his sailboat, and it wasn’t me saving his life. It was a shift in the energy that flows between us. A change in the course of our destinies.
This whole marriage thing isn’t the cause of it. What’s going on between us had already started before my mother decided to find me a royal husband. It started the instant he stepped into my house and asked me to come sailing with him.
The Prince sweeps his thumb over my cheek as he erases the distance between us. My back presses against the wall as his big body cages my much smaller one. I can feel the heat of his chest against mine. The raw power coiled in his muscles.
I want him. Badly.
“There’s only one thing that worries me about this plan.” His eyes drop momentarily to my lips.
“What’s that?” I’m breathless. My body is burning up. My nipples pebble under my thin shirt, and I know the Prince can feel them.
“Whatever’s going on between us. That worries me.”
The words send a thrill through the pit of my stomach. I like the sound of something going on between us. The more I think about it, the more I like it.
I suck in a breath. “There’s nothing between us,” I force myself to say.
“No?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
“Why does that sound like a lie?”
“Because it is one.” My voice is a whisper.
Theo grunts. His eyes are hooded. My body screams.
“This is a bad idea, Theo.”
The Prince inhales. “I need time. Just for this three-week tour. We can tell your parents and my father that we need to get to know each other.”
“We’ve known each other our whole lives.”
“Not like this.” His finger strokes my cheek, and a wave of heat crashes into me.
No, definitely not like this.
“Why me?” My voice is a breath. A whisper.
He shrugs, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “Could be worse.”
Wrong Prince: An Accidental Pregnancy Romance (Royally Unexpected Book 6) Page 6
