by Leanne Banks
When he looked at her again, he saw a tear drop from her eye to Travis’s gown. She gave a quick sound of distress and swiped at her cheek.
The sight of her tears shocked him. Bridget was no crybaby. “Are you okay?”
“I apologize,” she said, not lifting her head. “I was just so frightened for him. And I felt so helpless.”
He couldn’t not reach out to her. Pushing her hair from her cheek, he felt the dampness of her tears against the back of his fingers. “Yeah,” he said. “Me, too.”
She finally met his gaze. “They’re so fragile. One minute, he was screaming bloody murder and trying to scoot to get a ball, and the next…this,” she said, looking down at Travis as he slept, his energy clearly spent fighting his infection.
Moved more than he’d thought possible, Ryder kissed her cheek. “Thank you for coming.”
“There was no other place more important for me to be,” she said and met his gaze again.
The powerful emotion he saw in her gaze resonated inside him so strongly that it took his breath. What the hell was going on? Later, he told himself. He would figure it out later. For the moment, his priorities were perfectly clear. Travis and Bridget.
Just as Carl predicted, within hours, Travis began to make a miraculous recovery. He downed a bottle and afterward seemed to be looking for the rest of the meal. “They told us to go slow on the solids,” Bridget said as she fed the baby some applesauce.
“But he looks like he’s wanting a steak dinner,” Ryder said, pleased with Travis’s improvement.
Bridget laughed. “I agree, but he won’t be getting that from me.”
“He won’t be getting that from anyone, no matter how cranky he gets,” Ryder said protectively.
Moments later, Carl dropped by, examined the baby and released him. Bridget wanted to ride home with him and the baby. As they walked out of the hospital in the hot summer sun, two men with cameras and microphones suddenly swarmed them.
“Princess Bridget, you’ve been spending a lot of time with Dr. Ryder McCall and his nephews. Are the two of you serious or is this just a fling?” the reporter asked.
Anger rushed through Ryder, and he stepped in front of her before she could respond. “It’s none of your business. Leave her alone. Can’t you see we’re bringing a recovering baby home from the hospital?”
“But the people want to know,” the reporter continued.
“The people don’t need to know. It’s none of their business,” Ryder said.
“You obviously don’t understand that royals belong to their people,” the man said and tried to shove Ryder aside to get to Bridget.
“Leave her alone,” Ryder said and knocked the man to the ground.
A half second later, Bridget’s security guard swept her and the baby into a limo.
“But, Ryder,” Bridget protested as her guard closed the door of the limo.
The reporter on the ground winced in pain at the same time he shouted to the cameraman, “Did you catch all that? It’ll be worth a fortune.”
Chapter Ten
“You must leave Dr. McCall’s house this instant,” Stefan said to Bridget over the phone.
Bridget rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to do that. We just brought Travis home. He still needs comfort and Ryder can’t do it all.”
“Bridget, you’re not the mother of these children. You have other duties, and now that the paparazzi has found you, Dr. McCall’s house will be stalked day and night. For your safety, let alone your reputation, you can’t stay there.”
“Oh, to hell with my reputation. If I’m going to be crucified by the press, I can’t think of a better reason.”
“You’re not thinking rationally,” Stefan said. “Perhaps I should pull you from this assignment for your own good.”
Bridget’s heart froze. “You wouldn’t dare,” she said.
“Of course I would dare,” he said. “I must make the calls for everyone’s best interest.”
“Give me two weeks,” she said, determined to keep the desperation out of her voice. “You owe me that.”
Silence followed. “It’s true that Phillipa will be coming soon, but your doctor friend will need to be prepared for extra security at his house,” Stefan said. “I get the impression he doesn’t like a lot of intrusion in his private life. He may not like being told what to do.”
“Of course he won’t,” she said. “Would you?”
“That’s different,” Stefan said.
“He won’t what?” Ryder asked from the doorway, his shirt clinging to him in perspiration.
Her heart jumped and she covered the receiver. “It’s my brother. He’s being impossible.”
“I’m not being impossible,” Stefan said. “Let me talk to the doctor.”
“Let me talk to your brother,” Ryder said.
Bridget cringed. “I’d really rather the two of you meet in different circumstances.”
“Sorry, sweetheart,” Ryder said.
“Now is the time,” Stefan said.
Bridget reluctantly handed the phone to Ryder. “Just start out with Your Highness,” she whispered.
Ryder took the phone. “Good to meet you, Your Highness,” Ryder said. “Your sister has been a godsend to my family.”
Silence followed and Ryder tilted his head to one side.
“My position as adviser to the residents at my hospital can’t be influenced by my feelings for your sister,” Ryder said. “I can’t send doctors to Chantaine if it’s not in their best interest.”
Bridget heard Stefan’s raised voice and turned her head, wincing.
“I’m sure you understand my responsibility,” Ryder said. “Just as you must make the best decisions for your country, I must make the best decisions in advising my residents.”
Another quick silence followed, and Ryder met her gaze. “I have no objection to having additional security so that Bridget can come and go here as she pleases. I don’t want what happened today to happen again.”
A moment later, he said, “We agree on more than you think. Maybe we’ll meet in person sometime. Bye for now, Your Highness.”
He turned off the phone and handed it to her. “Your brother is a tough negotiator. Not as charming as you,” he added with a low laugh. “And I’m sure he’s not as hot.”
She bit her lip, but couldn’t keep from smiling. She closed her eyes for a second, then opened them. “I can be a lot of trouble. My family can be a lot of trouble.”
He shrugged. “Everything can be trouble. Depends on whether it’s worth it. Come back in the den. Travis is calling for you.”
Bridget stayed the day and the day turned to evening. Ryder gave the okay for additional security around the house. He asked Raoul to keep it as invisible as possible. Raoul agreed. Ryder found he couldn’t dislike Bridget’s guard because he felt the same need to protect her. He was still trying to remember the time he’d punched someone in defense of a woman….
And he would damn well do it again and again for Bridget….
When those reporters had rushed him and Bridget, he’d acted instinctively, with a primitive response. They’d gotten way too close for comfort to Bridget and his baby. His head was still swimming with the reality.
Ryder hadn’t realized how important Bridget and the babies had become to him. It was turning him inside out.
That night, against Raoul’s advice, she stayed the night. Ryder took her to his bed and stripped off her clothes. He kissed every inch of her, then took her with every beat of his heart and every beat of hers.
His gaze wrapped around hers. At the same time that he took her, Ryder felt taken. In a way he’d never felt before.
Bridget clung to Ryder as he tried to rise from the bed in the morning. He gave a low chuckle that rippled through her.
“Don’t want me to leave?”
“I don’t,” she said, sliding her hands over his muscular chest. “Pippa is coming to Dallas.”
“Pippa?” he echoed, s
couring her gaze.
“My sister Phillipa,” she said. “She’s having some problems. I’ll have to entertain her a bit. You and I may not have as much time to be together.”
“What kind of problems?” he asked, leaning down on his left forearm.
“I’m not sure, but she’s stressed enough that my brother sent her here to visit Valentina and me.”
He gave a slow nod. “You have a complicated family.”
Her heart twisted. “I warned you.”
He nodded. “So you did. When do I see you again?”
“I’ll have to call you. I’m not sure when she arrives in the States.”
“Call me today. I have surgery, but I’ll check my messages in between.”
Bridget scrambled to make her appointments for the day, then met Ryder at home that night. In between cuddling the twins, they ate sandwiches prepared by Suzanne and Ryder’s friend Marshall.
“They seem to be growing very cozy,” she said to Ryder as they leaned back against the sofa with the TV playing a ball game about which neither cared.
“Who?” Ryder asked, sliding his hand around hers.
“Suzanne and Marshall,” she said.
Ryder groaned. “Don’t tell me that. Marshall doesn’t have a good history with women. His maximum time is weeks, not months. Days are more likely.”
She shrugged. “You never know. Maybe she’s the one. Maybe he’s ready for the real thing and he’s decided she’s the real thing.”
She felt him study her. “What do you think about the real thing?”
“I think the real thing starts on its own and then you have to keep it going,” she said, but when she looked at him, she felt herself spin with emotion. “What about you?”
“I don’t know. I always thought it was a figment of everyone’s imagination,” he said.
“And now?”
He shrugged his muscular shoulders. “Now, I’m not so sure.”
Bridget hit the campaign trail for doctors for Chantaine hard. As one of her last resorts, she even met with the administrator of another medical hospital in Dallas. They were more open to her proposal of sending doctors to her country.
Bridget felt torn at the prospect. She wanted only the best for her country, but she couldn’t automatically turn down the hospital’s interest. It was more than Ryder could offer. The knowledge stabbed at her. She hated that he couldn’t feel her passion for her country the same way she did.
In the meantime, she took deep breaths and decided not to make any impulsive decisions. That night, after rocking the babies, she joined Ryder in his bed. He made love to her with a passion that took her breath away.
Ryder drew her into his arms, flush against his body. She felt his heart beat against her chest. She had never felt closer to another human being in her life.
Travis recovered quickly. It seemed that one moment the baby had been listless and the next he was raring to go, trying to pull up and almost scooting, heaven help them all.
Phillipa arrived at DFW and Bridget greeted her sister with open arms. Bridget was concerned to see that Phillipa had indeed lost weight and there were circles beneath her eyes. “Hello, my darling,” Bridget said. “I’m so glad to see you.”
Phillipa slumped against her for a moment. “It’s so good to see you, too,” she murmured, squeezing Bridget tightly.
Bridget’s concern deepened, but her instincts told her to mask it. At least for now. “I must prepare you for the Texas humidity,” she said. “You can cut the air with a knife. We’re headed to Tina’s ranch. I’m sure she’ll be calling any minute. She’s dying to see you.” Seconds later, her cell phone rang. “Just as I said.” She picked up. “Yes, Tina, she’s here and as soon as we get her luggage, we’re headed straight for your house.”
Bridget nodded and smiled. “Soon, soon. Ciao for now.”
She hustled Pippa into the limo, plied her with a couple margaritas, and chattered during the drive to Tina’s about Texas and the twins and Ryder. “Of course, Stefan is complaining,” she said. “I swear he’d like to put us all in convents.”
“So true,” Phillipa said. “How did you deal with him?”
Bridget made a mental note of Phillipa’s comment. Was Phillipa’s problem romance? “Avoidance is the best policy,” she said. “Emails. Text messages. Direct conversation is the worst because Stefan is disgustingly intuitive. If he would only get Eve pregnant, maybe he would be a bit distracted.”
Phillipa chuckled. “Eve doesn’t want to rush another child. She wants to give Stephenia plenty of time to adjust.”
“Blast her practicality,” Bridget said and took her second sip of her first margarita. “Well, you should know that Tina will arrange for massages and spa treatments. Zach may take us out on his fabulous boat. We also have a social ball to attend in four days.”
“Social ball,” Phillipa echoed, clearly concerned.
“Oh, it’s nothing to worry about,” Bridget soothed. “It’s a charity gala in Dallas. Tina and Zach will attend. If you like, we can make an appearance and bug out. You know I’m quick like that when it suits me. Stefan has fussed about it enough. Plus we can go shopping before and you can get a great dress out of it.”
Pippa gave a mild smile. “So we don’t have to stay all night?”
“Of course not,” Bridget said, patting her sister on her knee. “Have the doctoral studies become a pain in the butt? You know, you work entirely too hard.”
“My studies are fine, but Stefan insisted I take a break,” she said.
“He means well,” Bridget said. “But he still needs some work. I’m hopeful Eve can continue his needed transformation.”
Phillipa sighed and took another sip of her margarita. “Bridget, you have no idea how much I’ve needed to see you.”
Still concerned, Bridget managed a laugh. “Well, prepare yourself for an overdose.”
Pippa smiled and Bridget felt as if she’d scored a small victory. Later, as they arrived at the ranch, Tina rushed down the steps. “Phillipa!” she called stretching out her arms.
Bridget watched her two sisters embrace and her heart squeezed tight with emotion. Tina pulled back. “Look at you. I love your hair. That dress is fabulous. What happened to my sister, the librarian?”
“I’m still here,” Phillipa said. “A stylist put together some things for my visit to the States.”
“Regardless, you look fabulous, but shorts and no shoes are the summertime uniform here. Come visit your niece. She can’t wait to see Aunt Pippa,” Tina said, and tossed Bridget a glance of concern before she led them inside the house.
Bridget and Phillipa played with their gorgeous niece until dinnertime when Hildie served a superb, filling meal. Between the margaritas, the food and the security of her sisters, Phillipa grew drowsy early in the evening. Tina ushered her to one of the bedrooms and returned to the den with Bridget and Zach.
“She’s different than I expected,” Tina said. “Stefan said she was stressed, but—” Tina frowned. “What do you think is behind all this?”
“A man,” Bridget said as she sipped a glass of ice water.
Tina’s eyebrows rose. “What makes you say that?”
“Something Pippa said on the way here.”
“What? Who?” Tina demanded.
“I didn’t pry. She just seemed too fragile,” Bridget said.
Tina sighed. “How did you get that out of her?”
“It was a sideways comment. I was complaining about Stefan and how he doesn’t want any of us to date.”
“True,” Tina said.
“Too true,” Zach said from behind the newspaper he was reading.
Tina glanced at her husband and smiled.
“In this case, I was speaking of Ryder,” Bridget said.
“Hmm,” Tina said.
“So far, he seems like a good guy,” Zach said. “If he was willing to punch out that reporter who was after you, he gets my vote.”
“It’s all about th
e violence,” Tina said, rolling her eyes.
“Protecting a woman is a primitive response in a man. Protectiveness is an important trait.”
“I’m sure Stefan will love hearing that opinion,” Bridget said wryly.
“Stefan just needs to be reminded about what he would do to protect Eve,” Zach said bluntly, then shook his newspaper and appeared to begin to read again.
“She needs a massage,” Tina said. “A ride on the water. And perhaps Hildie’s double-strength margaritas.”
Three days later, the sisters went to Dallas and shopped for dresses. Bridget was distracted. She was late. Not for an appointment. She was late for her period, and she had been, well, exposed to the possibility of becoming pregnant. Although they had used contraception, Bridget wasn’t sure if she had landed in the small percentile of women for whom it had failed.
“What do you think?” Tina asked as Phillipa tried on a gown. “I think the cocoa color is perfect on her.”
Bridget blinked, looking at Pippa. “Yes, it’s beautiful. It really accentuates all your positive attributes.”
“Although, a pastel or dark navy would be fabulous, too, don’t you think?” Tina said.
“I completely agree,” she said and forced herself to pay attention to the rest of the shopping expedition. She rendered her positive opinion to Tina’s choice for a dress, but nixed the idea of getting a new gown for herself.
Tina and Phillipa gasped at once. “Are you ill?” Phillipa asked.
“What is wrong?” Tina demanded. “You never turn down the opportunity to get a new designer gown.”
Bridget brushed their concerns aside. “It’s nothing,” she said. “I have a ton of gowns I brought with me that I haven’t yet worn. We’ve already spent enough time shopping. It’s not necessary to find a gown for me.”
“Enough time shopping,” Pippa echoed. “You’ve often said there’s no such thing as too much shopping.”
Uncomfortable with her sisters’ scrutiny, Bridget shrugged her shoulders. “Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m hungry and we might end up with rubber chicken tonight.”
