The Reluctant Prince

by Candice Gilmer

She pulled out of her pocket a slip of paper and scribbled something on it. “You must give this to Hadrian. It is imperative that he contact me immediately.” She glared at me. “Do you understand?”

  I launched into my best hick voice. “Well, shucks, I may be dumb, but I ain’t stoopid. I took that there schoolin’ ’til I was ten. I figure I knowed what you mean purty good.”

  “Fine,” she muttered and turned around to get back in the black car she was driving, muttering in some language I didn’t recognize. It might have been German.

  A spray of dust choked me as she drove away.

  I caught a glimpse of her license plate, rolling my eyes at the fact that the first three letters were “BTH.” To the average person that wouldn’t mean a thing. To me, that pretty much spelled out bitch.

  Seemed to fit her perfectly.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  It wasn’t much later after that when Hadrian returned with the groceries. He’d bought enough to feed a small army, though neither he nor Robert would let me carry anything into the house.

  Hadrian brought the last few bags in and set them on the counter, and I came into the kitchen and started going through the stuff.

  I pulled out three bags of different kinds of lettuce.

  “What’s with the rabbit food?”

  “You’ll like it.”

  “Seems like an awful lot of lettuce.”

  “It’s not. Some is spinach.”

  I scrunched up my nose. “I don’t do spinach.”

  He took the bags from my hand. “We’ll see about that.” I didn’t say anything, instead sticking my tongue out at him while he set to work putting everything away.

  “What are these?” I asked, holding up a few boxes of more lettuce-looking stuff.

  “Parsley, cilantro, basil, rosemary, thyme.” He took them from me and stuffed them in the refrigerator.

  “A lot of fresh stuff,” I muttered.

  “You don’t buy fresh veggies?”

  I shook my head. “They usually go bad before I can use them.”

  A strange look passed over Hadrian’s face. Suddenly, I was in the middle of a cooking class—right back in high school, where I wasn’t much of a cook anyway.

  Hadrian started telling me all the wonders of having fresh on hand versus frozen veggies or dried spices. Then he started chopping up everything and putting it in storage bags. I felt like I should take notes. He explained how to prep the veggies before putting them away, tricks in keeping them fresher longer and to have them ready when I wanted them.

  “If you chop up your peppers like this,” he held up a bell pepper he’d sliced up into long strips. “They last longer in the fridge, and they’re ready for cooking. If you want a couple, pull some out and chop them as needed, depending on what you’re making.”

  I leaned into the counter. “You’re really starting to resemble my Home Ec teacher in high school, and that’s seriously taking away from your sexy factor.”

  He smirked. “I love teaching cooking, which is pretty much what my show is all about.”

  “Are you going to continue the show?” I had wanted to ask this for a while, but I hadn’t been able to bring myself to do it. Everything was so up in the air. We were stuck in a vortex, waiting to see what would happen so we could figure out how to react.

  “I want to.” He finished chopping up the veggies.

  “But?”

  “I have to figure out what to do with you first.”

  I blinked. “Figure it out? What’s there to figure out? I’m fine. I don’t need you to take care of me.” I was a grown adult, not his pet. I didn’t need to be taken to a kennel and left for the night. And if that’s what he thought he was going to do with me—dump me off somewhere—then I was out of there. “I don’t want anything from you.”

  I turned to leave the room, but his voice caught me, and as though he held on to me, keeping me from walking away.

  “Sydney.”

  I didn’t like how his voice could make me pause. In fact, I was figuring out that I hated it.

  Had I gotten so bitter that all I did was walk away from him? Or any man? A thousand scenarios started flying through my head. Maybe I was the cold woman that Jim claimed I was. If all I did was run away from everything, then maybe I wasn’t able to commit. Maybe I’m the reason Jim…

  I rubbed my temples. The thoughts, while fascinating, were spinning out of control in a direction I didn’t want to go.

  I refused to blame myself for Jim’s infidelity. No matter what conclusions my brain tried to draw.

  “I know you don’t need anything,” Hadrian said, drawing my thoughts back to him as he shut off the faucet.

  Hadn’t he been washing dishes? The dishtowel in his hands seemed to solidify that very thought.

  How long was my brain running off in its own directions? Sheesh.

  “I don’t want you to want anything from me. And I don’t want you needing anything, either. For yourself or the baby.”

  “So what are you going to do, buy me a Toys-R-Us?”

  “If that’s what it takes.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Really, Hadrian, you don’t have to take care of me. I can go home, and you can pretend I don’t exist.” Seemed like a logical conclusion to where this relationship would go. Eventually I wouldn’t be good for him or his life. Whether it was the cook or the prince.

  “Why are you so convinced that I don’t want you around?”

  “Because there’s no reason for it. I’m no one special, I don’t even know if I have a job right now. I’m not a rich girl. I’m not anything that you should be with.”

  “Why is everyone so obsessed with who I need to be with?”

  “Who’s obsessed?”

  “Everyone,” he muttered and threw down his dishtowel. He came over to me and took my hands. I tried to pull away, but it wasn’t working so well. He pierced me with those amber eyes of his, and I was glued to the floor.

  Dammit.

  “Why can’t I choose? I should know my own heart. I don’t need to be told who is datable, and who isn’t.”

  “But I’m not exactly the best choice for you.”

  He stroked my cheek. “Who says you’re not?” He pressed a kiss on my forehead. “There’s so many reasons why you’re the one for me.”

  “Name three.”

  “Nipple rings, blue hair and this awesome, long neck.” He started nuzzling my throat, his tongue running up and down, curling my toes.

  “Uh… Yeah… Those aren’t really…um…what was I saying?”

  “Nothing important,” he muttered as his hands ran over my hips.

  Every part of myself started to burn, and I really thought I would explode right there. To Hell with the doctor’s orders.

  Hadrian paused. “Aren’t you supposed to be lying down?”

  “I am,” I replied.

  A dark lust swirled in his light eyes. “Well then, let’s get you tucked back into bed.”

  I licked my lips. “You know, we can’t do anything yet…”

  He stroked my cheek. “Don’t you remember our first night together?”

  Grecian god lying in my bed. How could I forget? “Of course.”

  “And what did I tell you?” He nipped at my neck again.

  “The sky is blue?” I couldn’t think. His touch was enough to make me swoon like crazy.

  “No. Good things come to those who wait…”

  “I don’t like that phrase.”

  “You Americans are impatient.”

  “You royals are used to getting exactly what you want.”

  He pressed a kiss against my lips. “If I was getting what I wanted, you’d be on this counter right now, screaming my name.”

  I blinked.

  Game, set, match.

  The sun was high in the sky, the breeze cool on my legs and I lounged in a chair on the deck behind Hadrian’s house. I’d dragged a blanket out, because the air was still a bit breezy and covered my legs. I had on
the sweater I’d worn when I went out with Hadrian, the knit keeping my arms warm.

  One of the royal guards stood off to the side, sunglasses on as he remained stone-faced while I read a book. I had discovered, stuck in one of the bedrooms a few shelves of books. All older ones, but many I hadn’t read. The one I was attempting was John Grisham’s “The Client”.

  While I’d seen the movie—even though Tom Cruise was in it—I’d wanted to read the book. Books are always way better than the movies.

  The pages dimmed for a second as a cloud passed over the sun, casting a shadow.

  And I blamed that for why I couldn’t really read.

  Finally I let out a sigh and glanced at the guard. “Really, you don’t have to watch me.”

  He didn’t say anything.

  This particular one—I wasn’t even sure of his name—had been following me around for the last day, and it was getting on my nerves. About the only place I could go without him was the bathroom.

  And even then, I thought he might come in if I took too long. He had the same dark hair as Robert, same grave expression on his face all the time, though when we ate dinner, he seemed to be a few years younger, like the rest of the guards.

  Robert was the eldest of the group.

  “Hello,” I called out, waving my hand in the air.

  His head twisted, and I knew he’d actually looked at me—though through his dark glasses, it was hard to be certain.

  “Do you require anything, ma’am?” he asked, his voice gravelly from lack of use.

  “Look, I’m fine sitting out here.” I held up my book. “I have this to read, and it feels weird, you standing there.”

  “Orders.” He tilted his head slightly, and I got a good look at his profile. And I felt like I’d been hit over the head.

  “You! You’re the one.”

  He tipped his head down, and glanced at me over the top of the sunglasses, confirming my suspicions. “Ma’am?”

  “You’re the one who smashed up my ex’s camera.” The incident in Vegas flashed before my eyes and I shuddered, once again, thanking my lucky stars that Hadrian had been walking through the lobby at the right time.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  I grinned. “Well, take a seat.” I patted the chair next to me.

  “No thank you, ma’am.”

  “Well, at least tell me your name.”

  I didn’t hear anything at first. At least I didn’t think I did… But then I heard the faintest whisper of something from him.

  “What was that?”

  “Nico.”

  “Nico?” I asked. “You’re Nico?” I let that roll off my tongue, saying it a few times. “I kinda like that, Nico.” It humanized him to me. He wasn’t a refrigerator in the corner now.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  I cracked open my book again and forced myself to pay attention to the words on the page. Though it wasn’t working too well. I started making myself whisper them out loud in order for the words to gel in my head.

  I had read almost a whole page when the door came open and out came Hadrian.

  He had a cigarette in his hand. “Hey you,” he said, kissing me on the cheek, then stepping across the balcony to light it, so he was standing down wind.

  I closed the book. This wasn’t working. “Hey,” I said, tucking the book in my lap.

  He stared at the book I tucked away. “Why aren’t you using your toy?” he asked, the pet name for the book reader.

  I shrugged. “No point in buying the book when it’s on your shelf.”

  “True,” Hadrian said, his eyes raking over me. I could tell it was killing him that we weren’t able to have sex.

  Of course, it was killing me too. All the petting in the world wasn’t exactly doing it for me, which is what our nights wound up being, petting fests. Then, eventually, we’d both fall asleep, frustrated. We had until this weekend.

  I hoped I didn’t explode by then. I watched him standing there in the cool breeze, the long sleeve thermal shirt outlining his shoulders and the spread of his chest.

  This wasn’t helping.

  I forced myself to look away, and my gaze wandered to Nico, who was trying not to look like he noticed the way we were looking at each other. He shifted from one foot to the other and stared out on the water. “Your guard here doesn’t want to sit down.”

  Hadrian smiled. “They don’t usually when they’re on duty. Part of guarding your body.”

  I shrugged. “There’s no reason to guard my body. Jim doesn’t know where I’m at.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I talked to Bella yesterday.” I reached under my blanket and pulled out my pack of gum, and unwrapped a fresh piece.

  “When?” he asked, flicking ash off the balcony.

  I wadded up the wrapper and shoved it in my jeans pocket to deposit later in the trash can. “While you were at the store. She didn’t say anything about Jim, so odds are he doesn’t know where I’m at.” A thought came to me, and I reached into my pants pocket, snagging the piece of paper from my jeans.

  “By the way, Alicia came by yesterday and left this for you,” I said, holding out the slip of paper.

  One would have thought I had raised a gun on both Hadrian and the guard, the way they moved. Hadrian flew to me, his cigarette tossed into the sand pot, snagging the piece of paper.

  The guard started doing that whole whisper thing into his earpiece, and even with the sunglasses on, I could tell he was feverishly scanning the area.

  “What’s the matter? Why isn’t she here anyway?” I asked. Everything had happened so fast, and since she really wasn’t my most favorite person in the world, I hadn’t really noticed that she wasn’t around.

  At least not until she came by yesterday.

  And then, I’d completely forgotten about her rather blunt arrival and exit.

  Robert burst through the doors. He immediately grabbed Hadrian and escorted him in the house. I was so flabbergasted by Robert’s reaction, that I hardly noticed Nico coming over and actually picking me up.

  “What the?” I asked, and tried to swing out of Nico’s hold, but he prepared for it, compensating. He hauled me inside and deposited me on the couch.

  Another guard was behind him, locking the doors and the window drapes were being pulled.

  The fast, precise way they all moved frightened the Hell out of me. “What is going on?” I yelled, my heart racing, the adrenalin and sudden fear level taking its toll on me.

  “Alicia was here.” Hadrian, whose hands were shaking, handed Robert the slip of paper.

  Robert read the paper. “When did you get this?” His eyes pierced mine, and I swear, I thought he was going to start yelling.

  “Yesterday. Um…” I fumbled for my cell phone in the blanket still wrapped around me, and when I finally found it, I scanned the incoming calls list. I hadn’t talked to Bella long before Alicia showed up. “It was about thirty minutes before you got back with the groceries.”

  “She came to the door?”

  I shook my head. “I was already outside, and heard the tires on the drive.” Hadrian’s face had gone pasty, and from the way he kept running his fingers through his hair, I had the most horrible feeling that this was very, very bad.

  But why? I mean, his assistant was a bitch, that much was certain, but she wasn’t dangerous was she?

  I mean, she was an assistant. What could she do? Screw up his haircut appointment?

  “What exactly was said?” Robert asked. “I need to know any and all details you can give me.”

  I nodded, relaying as much of the conversation I could remember to them, as well as how she looked. When I finished, I let out a sigh. “I might have played up the fact that we were engaged.” I glanced from Robert to Hadrian. “Was that bad?”

  Robert’s jaw was locked, and he looked very concerned.

  Hadrian came to my side, holding my hand. “It’s fine.”

  “What’s the big deal? Did you fire her or so
mething?”

  Hadrian shook his head. He glanced at Robert, and Robert nodded to him. “We think Alicia was responsible for the attack on my cousins.”

  My eyes went wide. “What?”

  Robert cleared his throat. “There is evidence to support a theory that Alicia orchestrated the attack on the royal family to put Hadrian on the throne.”

  “Oh God,” I muttered, my stomach doing flip-flops. I caressed my belly. “Oh God.” My mind fired off in a million different directions—scenarios that could have happened. She could have shot me. She could have run me over with her car…

  Hell, she could have thrown me off the deck in the back, and no one would have known. Tears poured down my face. Tears for myself, for the baby, for Hadrian, what the gal could have done to any of us, had he been here.

  In this remote location, we could have been hostages for weeks. Months even.

  My stomach churned, and I locked my mouth shut, forcing back the vomit.

  Hadrian came to my side, holding me to him. “It’s okay. Baby, it’s all right. You’re going to be okay. The guards are here to protect us…” He pressed my head against his neck.

  “I was just,” I managed to say against his shirt, but he released me enough to let me bring my head up and look at him. “She could have done anything to me. She could have shot me.”

  Hadrian stroked my hair. “It’s okay. She’s not here, and if she comes back—” he glanced at Robert, “—we’ll be ready for her.”

  I nodded. “I mean, I knew she was a bitch…but…” Then something came to mind. I closed my eyes, trying to draw it into clearer focus.

  “Syd?” Hadrian said, taking my hands.

  I opened my eyes and turned to Robert. “I know the license plate of the car she was driving.” How could I forget? I rattled off the plate’s letters and numbers.

  Robert raised his eyebrow at me. “I’m impressed.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The rest of the day was pretty tense. The local sheriff arrived not long after, and Robert and Hadrian spent a lot of time talking to him. Other officers were there, meandering around, and one asked me questions. I told them what I told Hadrian and Robert, then I slipped into the industrial kitchen, which was practically its own house.