by Leanne Banks
Then he realized he was imagining the woman he was supposed to protect naked. Treat swore under his breath and gritted his teeth. He needed to keep his distance. He needed to keep a clear head. This job would make a huge difference in his future. Treat could not be attracted to the princess. For too many reasons to count.
* * *
Ericka frowned as she talked to the man speaking on behalf of the country of Sergenia’s royal family. “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re asking,” she said to a man named William Monroe.
“As you know, Sergenia has two princesses and a prince to represent their kingdom, but there is so much unrest. The royal family is in danger.”
“And how can I help you with that?” she asked, drumming her fingers on an end table as she pumped her crossed leg.
“The royal family of Sergenia would like to seek asylum in your country,” Mr. Monroe said.
“Asylum,” she echoed, automatically stiffening. She knew Stefan would never agree to such an arrangement. “Public asylum? Do you really think that’s wise? If there are people who have ill will for the Sergenia family, shouldn’t they be secretly sheltered?”
“Possibly, but—”
“Mr. Monroe, I know my brother will not be willing to make a public issue. If you are looking for a place for the royal family to hide, then that may be a different situation,” she said.
Silence followed. “The royal family would be grateful for the opportunity to reside in your country until the unrest in Sergenia has subsided,” he finally said.
Ericka bit her lip. Heaven help her, this was not her area of expertise. “I’ll research the matter and get back to you.”
“Please don’t wait long,” Mr. Monroe said, then disconnected the call.
Ericka rubbed her forehead and stood. She felt as if she’d been given a huge responsibility. If she didn’t respond appropriately, then the lives of the Sergenia royal family could be at stake. She said a silent prayer as she paced the den. She knitted her hands together. She would have to convince Stefan that hiding the Sergenia royals in Chantaine was the right thing to do.
Heaven help her.
Taking a deep breath, she headed for the kitchen and fixed herself a cup of tea. Sipping it, she sank into a seat. All was quiet in the house. Surprisingly enough, Leo was still napping after his active morning and early afternoon. She half wondered if she should awaken him. She didn’t want him napping so long that he wouldn’t sleep tonight.
Wandering down the hall, she spotted Nanny Marley reading in the sitting room.
“He’s still asleep?” Ericka asked.
Nanny looked up from her book and nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I can wake him if you like,” she said.
“I hesitate to do that,” she said. “Sleeping babies and all that.”
“True,” Nanny said. She nodded toward the video screen. “He must’ve worn himself out this morning.”
“Maybe we should do that more often,” Ericka said, then laughed.
“Perhaps,” Nanny said. “We must be careful not to coddle him due to his—”
“Hearing issues,” Ericka finished for the woman and nodded. “He’s a strong, smart baby. He needs exercise and stimulation. Treat mentioned that he especially needs visual stimulation due to his deafness.”
“That sounds right to me,” Nanny said. “Although heaven knows you’ve exposed him to sign language. You’ve been as perfect a mother as could be.”
Ericka sighed. “I’m not sure about that, but I’m working on it. We’re so lucky to have you.”
Nanny smiled. “You’re a lovely girl. Leo will turn out fine. Trust my word,” she said.
Ericka could only hope Nanny’s words would be true. Soon enough, Leo awakened. Ericka fed him and conducted the sign language lesson even though Leo seemed a bit bored. She lifted his hands so that he could physically experience the meaning of the signs. He seemed to enjoy the physical engagement.
Deciding to take him outside for a bit, she put a tiny hat over her ears and put him into his stroller. The second she opened the gate, however, Treat appeared.
“An evening walk?” he asked, meeting her gaze.
“I thought he might enjoy it,” she said. “I don’t get him out often enough.”
“Aside from his busy day today,” he said, walking beside her.
She noticed again his height and his wide shoulders. “Do you exercise every day?”
“Five out of seven days,” he said. “Why do you ask?”
“I just wondered. You seem very athletic,” she said.
“I always have been,” he said. “I went to college on a football scholarship. I thought my future was in football.”
“But not,” she said.
“An injury can change your life in an instant,” he said.
“But you don’t appear injured,” she said.
“I exercise to compensate,” he said. “I was told that another football injury could cripple me.”
“Yet, you’re a security man,” she said. “You don’t worry.”
He laughed. “Security is much more mental than football. If someone tackles me, they probably won’t weigh over two hundred pounds. If they do, I’ll mess up my knee for a better reason than chasing pigskin.”
Her respect for him went up another notch. “I’m starting to understand why Stefan chose you,” she said. “Not that I like it any better.”
Treat chuckled again. “I told you I would disappear into your household.”
“Not yet,” she said. “I didn’t get a chance to look at the solar system ceiling light. What do you think?”
“Really?” he asked.
“Really,” she said as she studied him.
“I want one of my own.”
Ericka couldn’t contain a laugh. “Why?”
“This thing is slick. Glow-in-the-dark planets with a remote control battery-operated light. I don’t sleep that well, but I think this thing might lull me to sleep,” he said.
“It sounds even better than I thought it would be,” she said.
“If you ever decide to get rid of it...”
She smiled at him, liking his combination of toughness and masculinity. How could she explain that she liked the fact that he coveted her son’s new solar system night light? How utterly strange.
Chapter Five
Despite Leo’s new toy, he still didn’t sleep through the night. Ericka discovered, however, that after a change and some cuddles, she could set him down in the crib and put on the solar system light and he would fall asleep. Although she was weary, her mind was busy with concerns about the Sergenian royals, not to mention the public service announcement she, a British Duke and an Italian royal would make to support clean water for everyone that was scheduled for the next day. Her sister Pippa was in town and had agreed to entertain the visitors with sight-seeing and dinner after the commercial was filmed. She tossed and turned until Leo’s cries awakened her early the next morning.
After feeding him, she handed him over to Nanny while she showered and got ready for the shooting of the commercial. As she fixed her hair and applied cosmetics, she realized she’d forgotten how long it took to transform herself to the polished state that was de rigueur when she lived in France with her ex-husband. Now that she was a mom, she couldn’t imagine investing so much time in a daily routine.
She brushed a kiss on Leo’s forehead, leaving a lipstick print. “Oops. I didn’t mean to mark you,” she said, and dabbed at it with her fingers.
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Nanny said. “I’ll take care of it. Besides, it just shows how much he’s loved.”
“If you say so,” Ericka said skeptically. “Something tells me he won’t like a lipstick print from me once he hits his teen years. Oh, heavens
, I can’t believe that thought crossed my mind. I’m so focused on getting him to his one-year birthday.”
“And that’s the way it should be,” Nanny said. “I’ve had two teenaged children. No need to go there before necessary. I hope your photo shoot goes well.”
“Thanks, Nanny,” she said as she walked out the front door to where Treat stood by the car. Dressed in a jacket, white shirt and dark slacks, he looked dark and powerful. With his sunglasses hiding his eyes, he had an air of mystery.
She felt a twist of awareness at his extreme masculinity. He did nothing to tone it down, although she wasn’t sure if that was even possible.
“Good morning,” she said. “How are you?”
“Good,” he said as he opened the passenger door then rounded the car to get inside. “And you?” He started the car and used the remote to open the gate.
“Well, thank you. You’ll be happy to know the new solar system seemed to help Leo with his sleep. He woke up in the middle of the night, but then fell right back to sleep after I turned on the timed light. I wish I could say the same about my own sleep. Too much on my mind,” she said. “Did you sleep well?”
“I got about four hours,” he said.
She cringed. “That’s not enough for me.”
“I don’t require much. You know how it goes. Everything gets quiet and your mind wakes up. I took a swim and that helped.”
“In the middle of the night? I didn’t hear you,” she said, wondering what thoughts kept him awake at night.
“I hope not,” he said with a chuckle.
“Maybe I should try that next time I have a hard time sleeping,” she said. “Go for a swim.”
“Let me know if you decide to do that,” he said as he continued to drive toward the beach selected for the shooting of the public service announcement. “I don’t want you drowning.”
“I’ll have you know I’m an excellent swimmer. I was raised on an island and my father made sure all of could swim. He didn’t pay much attention to us other than that, but he was adamant that we all learn to swim well.”
“He didn’t pay much attention to you?” he echoed. “Don’t you have several siblings? Why have children if you don’t want to pay any attention to them?”
“Yes, there are six of us. He had children for the sake of progeny. Plus, if there were more of us, he could send us off to make appearances and he could go yachting. He loved his yacht. More than anything,” she murmured, remembering how often he’d been absent due to his love of the sea and perhaps several women.
“Interesting,” Treat said. “That wasn’t in the report Stefan gave me.”
“Oh, it wouldn’t be. Stefan rarely says anything disparaging privately about my father and he would never put such a thing in writing. What was in that report, anyway?”
“Just every fact about you since your birth,” he said.
“Oh, Lord,” she said, feeling a rush of embarrassment. “I’m sure he made sure to note the face that I was the bad princess during my teenage years.”
“It wasn’t worded exactly that way, but...”
“I’ve changed,” she said firmly.
“I can tell,” he said. “He also gave a few details about your ex-husband.”
“Stefan doesn’t trust my ex-husband,” she said.
“Should he?”
“I suppose not,” Ericka said as she looked out the window. “I prefer not to think about him. I don’t see him or have to deal with him, so to me, he doesn’t exist.”
“What about the fact that he is Leo’s father?” he asked.
“He knew I was pregnant when I left him and he’s made no effort to contact me since. Leo’s birth made the news, but I’ve stayed out of the spotlight and I won’t discuss him during interviews except to say that Leo is beautiful and growing by leaps and bounds.”
“Works for me,” he said, and pulled alongside the beach where several others were already setting up the commercial.
Fighting a sudden attack of nerves, she took a deep breath. “I hope this goes quickly,” she muttered as he helped her out of the car.
“Why? Many women would envy your beauty,” he said.
“I’ve never enjoyed being in front of the camera,” she told him.
“But you married a filmmaker,” he said.
“I wasn’t in the films,” she told him. “The reason I married my husband was because he took me away from Chantaine. My life wasn’t studied under a microscope in France. At that time, I just wanted to escape scrutiny. The only time I had to put on a show was for a premiere or awards show.”
“If you hate it so much, why did you agree to do it?”
“It’s for an excellent cause. It’s a very small sacrifice on my part to raise awareness. If my tiny contribution can wield influence, than I should use it.” She gave a silly half smile, half moue. “Time to be a grown-up.”
* * *
Treat walked behind her as she headed for the small group on the beach. She wore a simple blue dress that skimmed her curves without being too tight. Classy, feminine and, in his mind, sexy. Walking in the sand exaggerated the sway of her hips. She probably cursed the way her hair fluttered in the wind. To others, she may have appeared a smiling, friendly, blue-eyed blonde, but he knew there was a lot going on under that pale, creamy skin and “Her Highness” label.
Ericka was complicated with a heart like a mama bear for her baby and devotion to her country and sisters and brothers. She was so busy with the demands of her life that Treat wondered if she had any idea how beautiful she was. He was finding himself thinking about her far more than he should. She was a job, a means to an end. He’d protected other beautiful women. Why was she different?
He watched as she patiently did her part during each take, and there were several. Finally, two hours later, the director appeared satisfied and Ericka took several moments to speak to each person at the shoot. She also gave Pippa a hug and thanked the Duke and Italian royal for their participation.
Treat escorted her to the car and she sank into her seat. “Thank goodness that’s over,” she said. “Everyone was wonderful, but we all seemed to mess up on different takes.”
“Where to now?” he asked, sensing she’d felt a little trapped by the experience. It wasn’t quite midday.
She glanced at him in surprise. “Home, I guess.”
Treat nodded. “Home, it is.”
She let out a sigh. “Well, maybe we could make one stop along the way.”
Treat nodded again. “Where?”
“Gelato. There’s a place in town that makes fabulous gelato, almost as good as Italian. I already know I want dark chocolate,” she said. “You’ll have to get some, too, but you’re not allowed to choose vanilla.”
Treat smiled, but mentally planned the visit in his head in order to protect Ericka from unpleasant surprises. “What if I like vanilla?”
“Then you’ll have to choose that a different time,” she said.
“As you wish, Your Highness,” he said.
“Don’t start with that now,” she warned him, but laughed.
Treat hadn’t seen her this playful even when she was playing with her son. It was as if every exchange with Leo had a serious undertone. Following her directions to the gelato shop, he secured a parking spot down the block and escorted her to the shop.
“You’re going to love this,” she told him as he constantly watched their surroundings both inside and outside.
Two servers, one male and one female, dressed in uniforms stared at Ericka in surprise.
“Your Highness?” the young woman finally managed.
“You weren’t supposed to notice,” Ericka whispered and smiled. “You have the best gelato in Chantaine and I want a scoop of dark chocolate.”
“Ye
s, of course, ma’am,” the woman said as she prepared Ericka’s gelato.
“What kind do you want?” Ericka asked Treat with a curious expression on her face.
“You choose,” he said, his attention focused on their surroundings.
“That’s no fun,” she said, her face falling. “Do you prefer fruit or chocolate?”
“Fruit,” he said. “I’ll take the berry gelato.”
Treat took a bite of his and was surprised by the vivid flavor.
“Excellent, isn’t it?” she asked, savoring a bite of her own.
He watched her lick her lips and felt his gut tighten in awareness.
Suddenly the waitress came up to their table again. “Your Highness, would you possibly allow us to take a photo with you?”
Ericka wrinkled her nose. “Then everyone will think I’m playing hooky,” she said.
“Oh, no,” the female server said. “We can say your visit was official business.”
Ericka laughed. “Okay, but I’m not sure how you can sell that. Treat, would you mind taking a photo with this lovely woman’s smart phone?”
Treat nodded and took the photos. “Just give us ten minutes before you post it for the world to see,” he told her. “Finish in the car?” he asked Ericka. At her nod, he escorted her to the car. He inhaled his small portion of the dessert and started the car.
“Already finished?” she asked, still taking slow bites of her own.
“I wanted to get on the road before there’s a crowd,” he said.
“Oh, I was so busy enjoying the outing that I forgot you’re working,” she said.
“Your brother wouldn’t forgive me if I forgot to protect you,” he said. “That’s always number one.”
She sighed and took her last bite of gelato. “Well, it was nice while it lasted. Hope it wasn’t too much of a trial,” she said, and shot him a glance from beneath her eyelashes that almost looked flirtatious.
