by Mia Carson
Contents
PRINCE CHARMING
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
ROGUE - A Stepbrother Romance
ROGUE
CHANCE - A Stepbrother Billionaire Romance
CHANCE
CONNECT!
PRINCE CHARMING
(A Stepbrother
Romance)
By
Mia Carson
COPYRIGHT © 2016
All Rights Reserved
Chapter 1
Married? To a king? When did I get dropped into a fairytale?
When her mom said she was going on vacation to the Caribbean for a few weeks, Olivia thought she would come back with a tan and a few good stories to share. Normal vacation stuff like a normal person.
Instead she returned with a hunk of a diamond on her finger, engaged to a king.
“Can we go over this again?” Olivia yelled out her bedroom door.
She heard her mom’s heels click on the hardwood floor before she popped her head inside, all smiles and shining eyes. “I went to a tropical paradise, met the king by accident, and after a month of dating, we fell madly in love with each other.”
“And now you’re just going to marry him?”
Melinda sat down on her daughter’s bed, helped fold some shirts, and tucked them away in her opened suitcase. “I’m not just going to marry him. We love each other.”
“But you said he’s a king, Mom. How does that even work?”
“Like any other marriage. Except the entire country will be there, and pretty soon afterwards, I’ll become their queen and you, my darling daughter, will be their new princess.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “You’re crazy, you know that, right? We can’t just pick up and move to some tropical island kingdom that I’ve never even heard of.” She sat down beside her mom and stared at their reflections in the mirror. Their sea-blue eyes were the exact same shade and their long hair almost matched, except that Olivia had paid for highlights mixed in with the brown. “Are we going to move there forever?”
“You don’t have to, I guess. You are twenty-two, but officially, you will become their princess.” She took her daughter’s hand and held it tightly. “I know things haven’t been easy the last ten years or so.”
“They’ve been just fine, Mom. We survived when Dad left.”
“I know we did, sweetie,” she said and pushed Olivia’s hair behind her ear. “I just hope you understand that now that you’re older, I’m ready to move on.”
Olivia laughed and leaned against her. “You could’ve moved on a long time ago.”
“Yeah, well, there wasn’t a man like King Lamont.” She sighed, waggling her eyebrows. “I love him, Olivia, I really do, and his son is just a few years older than you. You’ll get along just fine.”
“So I’m gaining an entire family… and a country,” she mused. That was her mother. She could never do anything like everyone else. Not that Olivia minded. Her life was interesting with her mom always trying to be both parents. “I’ll be fine, Mom. Just another one of your crazy adventures, right?”
Melinda kissed her forehead and said she had to finish packing her stuff, too. Olivia smiled as she watched her head back down the hall, humming as she went. She was happy to see her mom like this. Melinda had always been a happy person, but now, Olivia could tell she’d found someone who really cared about her again. She just hoped she knew what she was getting into. Marrying a king wasn’t exactly an easy thing to do. And a princess? Olivia didn’t know the first thing about being royalty—or having a brother, for that matter.
For now, it was only over the summer. Her spring classes had just ended, and there wasn’t much for her to do in their small town in the middle of Nebraska. Her mom had been thrilled to go on that tropical trip with her girlfriends and had saved up money for years.
Olivia tried to picture her mom acting like a queen and laughed. She wasn’t exactly the most graceful person in the world—or tactful. Olivia had inherited her big mouth from her mother.
The reality of what was going to happen finally settled on her. She took a long look around her room—the soft-blue walls, the posters that had been on the wall since middle school. Was this one of the last times she’d see her room? For all Olivia knew, her mom was going to sell the house after the wedding. The royal wedding.
She still had one year of classes to go, so it wasn’t like she was officially moving in with the family. But when winter break hit and she graduated, she’d move to some tropical paradise instead of staying home. It wasn’t all bad. At least she’d have a nice tan when she visited the US.
“Well, here’s to becoming a princess,” she whispered, words she never thought she’d hear herself say.
Melinda had told her what would happen when they arrived, but Olivia had already forgotten most of it. There were a ton of servants, apparently, and when she became a princess, money would no longer be an issue. They’d been struggling to pay for school, and Olivia had pretty much given up on going to grad school. Now the option was back on the table.
The doorbell rang, and she called out that she’d get it. Her friend Helen was supposed to stop by before she and her mom flew out that afternoon. She charged down the steps and flung the door open.
“What is that?” she asked Helen as her friend held out a gift bag.
“What do you think? It’s from a lingerie boutique. I mean, seriously,” Helen said and gave Olivia a hug. “I still can’t believe you’re leaving me.”
“Just for the summer, and why the hell did you buy me lingerie?”
“All the hotties you’re going to see down there. Did you brush up on your French?”
Olivia led the way back inside and led Helen upstairs. Her mom poked her head out to wave but told them she’d be on the phone. They headed to Olivia’s room, and Helen stopped when she saw the suitcase.
“It’s real. I’m still trying to believe this.”
“You and me both.” She rummaged through the obnoxiously bright pink tissue paper in the bag and pulled out a black lace set of bra, panties, and a teddy she wasn’t even sure how she’d put on. “When am I going to wear this?”
Helen shrugged, a mischievous glint to her eyes. “You have to lose it sometime, you know. Being a princess, the men will be lining up to… ah, court you and all.”
“I’m not taking this. I’m supposed to make a good impression.”
“It’s not like I’m asking you to tell anyone what you do behind closed doors.” Helen took the bag of lingerie and shoved it inside her suitcase. “There, now you’re all packed and ready to go. You have to call me as much as you can. I need to live vicariously through you.”
Olivia’s lips thinned. Helen was a bit overdramatic. “Don’t you have an internship this summer?”
“Sure, we can call it that. Dad’s having me work beneath him at the factory. Sounds like great times.”
“Just another year and you can get a decent job,” Olivia reminded her.
Helen shrugged and had a look on her face that Olivia had seen enough times in the mirror. The feeling that she was never going to get out of this town. She hated leaving her friend behind,
had even gone so far as to beg her mother to let her tag along, but it was out of the question. There was going to be too much going on for Olivia to do anything with a friend, even if she brought one.
“You’ll get out of here,” she said quietly and squeezed her friend’s arm. “Promise.”
“Not before you. You know, I won’t blame you if you don’t come back, but come kidnap me eventually.”
She hugged Helen again, holding her tightly. It was going to be hard going through this without Helen around. They’d been friends ever since Olivia and her mother had landed in Nebraska, almost ten years ago. She’d been in nearly every middle school, high school, and college class with Helen until they went separate ways for their degrees. Helen wanted to eventually go to culinary school and open a restaurant, but at the moment, it was out of the question—too much money and not what her parents wanted.
And Olivia… Well, she was an art major, paint mostly. She had a natural talent that many of her art professors were jealous of, but there wasn’t much she could do as an artist unless she made something of herself. Or had a nice stash of money to live off until she did.
“Alright, girls,” Melinda said, knocking on the doorframe. “Helen, you tell your folks ‘hey’ from me.”
Helen let go of Olivia and gave Melinda a tight hug. “I will. Let me know if Olivia fails at being a princess.”
“Oh, I will, maybe even get some good videos of her trying to curtsy.”
Olivia’s eyes went wide. “I have to curtsy? Dresses and heels, too?”
“Afraid so, sweetie. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”
Helen laughed as she gave one last goodbye and let herself out. Melinda told her daughter to grab her suitcase and help get the rest of the luggage downstairs.
“The cab will be here soon, then it’s off to paradise,” her mom said, shooting her hand up and dancing a bit as she said it. “The scenery is breathtaking. You’ll have an endless amount of inspiration for your art.”
“Will I even have time for that?”
This summer was supposed to be for getting her final portfolio sketched out and created. There was a ton of work she’d have to catch up on, especially now that she might be going to grad school.
“You will, don’t worry.”
Olivia took her suitcase downstairs and hurried back up and into her mom’s room. “Jesus, Mom, you taking your entire wardrobe?”
There were four large suitcases and two duffels stuffed full. Her mom laughed as she tried to pick one up. “I have to. I won’t be coming back here for a while. A very long while.” She glanced around her room, and Olivia saw a hint of sadness. “But don’t worry. The house will stay here for a while longer. No need to sell it until I know you’ll be alright.”
“I’ll be fine as long as I don’t die falling down the stairs,” she muttered as she dragged one of the suitcases out the door. As she straightened, she took one last long look at the house. Olivia reached out and touched the nearest wall. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon enough.”
She wished she believed the words she uttered, but something told her this was not going to be the summer vacation she’d always dreamed of.
***
The flight had one layover in Texas before they continued to the Caribbean. The island kingdom was wedged somewhere between Bermuda and the Bahamas. On the map, it looked tiny, but it did have its own private airport so it couldn’t be that small. The closer they got, the more nervous Olivia became until she gripped the seat so hard her knuckles hurt.
She had never met a king before, and according to her mother, King Lamont would be there to greet them, and he wasn’t the only one. His son, Prince Quincy, would be attending, too. Olivia didn’t know much about him. Her mother had only met him once on her trip down there but said he’d been the perfect gentleman. He was around twenty-three years old. Olivia knew at least that and was thankful he wasn’t any younger. Or older. She wasn’t sure which would be worse.
They made their descent, and she watched her mother’s face light up with glee as the island appeared below them out of the cloud cover. “There it is!” Melinda squealed. “Welcome to the Isle of Bijoux.”
Olivia leaned over so she could see past her mother and out the window. The island was a drop of green in a vast ocean of blue and turquoise. From this height, she could see the white, sandy beaches that surrounded it and told herself she was overreacting. It wasn’t going to be that bad at all.
The small plane touched down gently and glided to a stop. “Well now, are you ready to meet your future family?”
She took a deep breath and nodded. “Do I have a choice?”
“Oh, come on, it’s going to be wonderful, you’ll see.”
“Only for you, Mom,” she replied with a light laugh. The few others on the plane disembarked, and Olivia followed her mother. “Just wait ‘til you see it,” she whispered over her shoulder. “You’ll understand why the island is nicknamed ‘Jewels.’”
Her mother made it to the door and down the few steps to the tarmac. Olivia took one last deep breath and descended the steps. The air definitely did not smell like home, and she felt a weight settle on her chest. It was fresh, though, and clean. The sky was a brilliantly clear, light azure and without a cloud. Everywhere she looked was lush emerald fauna. Palm trees lined the tarmac, and tall grass sprang up where the concrete ended, dotted with crimson and canary tropical flowers with petals as big as her hands.
“Olivia,” Melinda called, and she hurried to catch up, straightening her skirt. “King Lamont, Prince Quincy, this is my daughter, Olivia.”
She froze. Her face turned a bright shade of red, and Olivia raised her eyes to see two men staring kindly back at her. One was older, with white and grey hair speckling the black at the temples. The young man next to him had eyes that matched the palm trees behind him, maybe a shade or two lighter. His hair was black like his father’s and gelled into short spikes. To her surprise, she spotted several tattoos up and down his arms and one on the back of his hand. Olivia tried to tilt her head to see it until her mother cleared her throat.
“Sorry,” she said quickly and fell into a clumsy curtsy. “Pleasure to meet you, Lamont… I mean, King Lamont.” Her face burned even more until she heard the man laugh.
“It’s alright, Olivia. You can call me Lamont.” He reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders. "I am delighted that you and your mother are officially becoming a part of our family. Welcome to your new home.” He pulled her close and kissed one cheek, followed by the other.
Olivia relaxed a bit. He had a gentle smile, and when he turned to look at her mother, Olivia saw the love in his eyes for her. He took Melinda’s hands in his and pulled her close for a kiss.
“Quincy,” the prince said as he stepped forward and kissed Olivia the same way, though his kisses lingered longer than his father’s had. “At your service while you are here with us.”
“Thank you,” she said, frowning when her voice came out a bit rough. She could still feel his lips lingering on her cheek and fought the urge to reach up and touch it. When she looked up at him, the smile froze on her face. Up close, he was even more attractive than she’d originally thought. There was a dimple when he smiled, but only on the left cheek, which matched the smirk he wore on his lips. Not a mean one… no. That was just the way he smiled.
“I believe the valets are fetching your bags,” he said. “Would you like to ride with me in my Jeep? The palace is not far, and I would like you to see some of the island on the way.”
Olivia nodded slowly, realized she was staring, and hurried to look away. “Yes, you’re wonderful—I mean, that would be wonderful,” she corrected as she mentally kicked herself. “Where is your Jeep?”
Quincy smirked again and stepped aside. “Right this way.”
“Mom, I’ll see you back at the palace?”
“Of course, dear. Have a good time,” Melinda said, barely glancing in
her direction.
Her mom was in heaven, and Olivia vowed to be supportive. She walked beside Quincy as he ambled to a bright red Jeep parked nearby. A few men in dark suits stayed close, and when they got into the Jeep, they jumped into another one behind.
“Your bodyguards?” Olivia asked.
“Unfortunately. Don’t worry, they’re yours now too.” He leaned over to open the glovebox, his hand lingering longer than necessary by her knee. Her breath caught, and she glanced at him. “So no misbehaving, my dear princess.”
“Who would misbehave?” Her words were breathy as he pulled his hand back, brushing her leg before he slipped on his sunglasses and started the car.
Quincy grinned wider as he put it in drive and started down a narrow road into the trees. “It’s been known to happen occasionally. Don’t tell me you don’t like to have fun now and again?”
“Of course I do,” she said, glancing out the open Jeep. Through the trees, she caught glimpses of the ocean and sandy shores, but the view was just a tease. Every winding turn in the road pulled her farther away from it, and she shifted in her seat, trying to see. When they made a left turn, the view disappeared completely. “Damn.”
“What?”
“Nothing,” she muttered and settled back, watching the fauna around her.
The flowers were as large as her head. Violets, pinks, and oranges passed by, close enough for her to reach out and grab one. Maybe she would be able to get her portfolio painted this summer. She’d been on the island for five minutes and was absorbed in the colors around her, like nothing she’d ever seen before. The vast array of shades and hues were new to her, because in Nebraska, everything was wheat and corn, yellow and brown. Dull.
“Have you ever traveled?” he asked. She realized he had no accent. His father did, but not him.
“No… I mean just around the Midwest,” she clarified. “Where’s your accent?”
“Why? Would I be sexier with one?”
Olivia’s mouth fell open for a second until she realized he was joking and laughed with him. “No, just curious.”
