Alex brushed her hand self-consciously against her wool skirt, then touched the cuff of her silk blouse. What personal business? she wanted to ask, but didn’t.
‘‘No. It wouldn’t work at all.’’ Betty set her cup on the tray and started to laugh. ‘‘I had a moment of being crazy. Oil and water. A fancy woman and a simple man.’’ Betty chuckled again. ‘‘I mean simple in his ways, not in his head. Mitch is about as smart as they come.’’
Alex realized that Betty had wondered about her and Mitch. ‘‘You’re right, it wouldn’t work. You should have seen the look he gave me when I asked him about covered parking for my car.’’
‘‘You’ve changed things for him, and he doesn’t much like that. But give him time. Sometimes the grumpy old bear can be sweet as pie.’’
‘‘I’d settle for an actual conversation,’’ Alex said.
Betty smiled and rose to her feet. ‘‘I have some fresh salmon. Would you like that for lunch?’’
‘‘How nice. Thank you.’’
‘‘I’ll see you in a few hours,’’ Betty said, then left.
Alex stood up, but instead of returning to her desk, she crossed to the window. From there she could see out to the paddocks by the barn. Mitch stood there, talking with two other men. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but she could see the gestures he made as he spoke. The other two listened with obvious respect.
She told herself it didn’t matter what he thought of her. She was here because she had to find out the truth about her brother. But even though she believed the words, she didn’t like them. She didn’t want Mitch to resent her presence on his ranch. Unfortunately, she didn’t know how to change things. She was great at large-party small talk and giving speeches about needy children, but one-on-one with a man was a mystery.
To make matters worse, she didn’t even think Mitch liked her. At first she’d thought he had, but something had changed and she didn’t know what. If she didn’t know what was wrong, she couldn’t know how to fix it.
‘‘It doesn’t matter,’’ she told herself, speaking aloud. ‘‘I have work to do.’’
So she returned to her desk, but it was a long time before she could forget the handsome cowboy outside and focus on the details of the report in front of her.
Chapter Four
Mitch held out his coffee mug but didn’t say anything as Betty filled the cup. The bad mood that hovered over him like a cloud had him seeing no point in inflicting himself on his housekeeper. This despite the fact that she was going out of her way to bait him.
‘‘You know she has the most beautiful jewelry,’’ Betty was saying. ‘‘She showed me several pieces. There are some diamonds and pearls and even this tiara that’s been in her family for nearly four hundred years. Can you imagine?’’
‘‘Not really,’’ Mitch grumbled. ‘‘Can we talk about something else?’’
‘‘Like what?’’ Betty’s expression was all innocence, but he knew her better than that. She’d figured out that talking about Alex bugged him, so she was doing it as much as she dared.
‘‘I don’t get the fascination,’’ he said, glaring at her. ‘‘The woman is a menace. She’s taken over the ranch like she’s the new owner.’’
‘‘That’s hardly true,’’ Betty protested. ‘‘She barely leaves her office.’’
‘‘Why should she? Everyone comes to her. If it’s not a messenger service arriving two and three times a day, it’s the phone ringing at all hours. I feel like I’m living in a hotel. A man can barely get a decent meal these days.’’
Betty raised her eyebrows as she placed his steaming breakfast in front of him. It was just past six in the morning, but she’d already prepared him eggs, bacon and pancakes. ‘‘Are you complaining about my cooking?’’
‘‘No.’’ He wasn’t going to get Betty annoyed with him. He’d done that a couple of times before and had suffered through a series of vegetarian casseroles and tofu stir-fries until he’d had the good sense to apologize.
‘‘I didn’t think so.’’ She poured herself coffee and settled in the seat opposite his. ‘‘I don’t see what the problem is. Princess Alexandra is a wonderful young woman. I’m proud to know her.’’
‘‘Good for you.’’
Nothing was going the way it was supposed to, he thought glumly. He’d hoped that by avoiding the woman in question, he would forget about his attraction to her. Unfortunately, not physically being in the same room wasn’t enough. He caught glimpses of her from time to time. On a working ranch where everyone wore jeans and sensible boots, including Betty, Alex dressed in silk shirts and long, swaying skirts. When he couldn’t see her, he could hear her voice. When he couldn’t hear her, he could smell her. That damn perfume of hers permeated the house like a stink bomb. The sweet scent was everywhere. If he didn’t know better, he would swear that Betty was washing his sheets in the damn stuff.
He was spending so much time trying not to think about her that she ended up being the only thing he did think about. He was thirty-three years old, and he had it worse than he’d ever had it at seventeen.
‘‘I think Princess Alexandra is doing her best to fit in,’’ Betty said. ‘‘After all, this is her first trip to our country. We should try to make her feel at home.’’
‘‘No one has to try to do anything. She’s at home, all right. She’s the one running the show around here.’’
‘‘If you have a complaint, you should take it up with Princess Alexandra directly.’’
He slammed his mug onto the table and ignored the coffee that sloshed over onto his hand. ‘‘Would you stop calling her that!’’
‘‘What?’’ Betty was innocence personified. In a pig’s eye, he thought.
‘‘Princess Alexandra. She wants to be called Alex.’’
‘‘I like her title. She doesn’t mind that I use it, so you shouldn’t, either.’’
‘‘You’re only doing it to bug me.’’
Betty smiled. ‘‘Maybe, but only because you’ve earned it. If you have any beefs, why don’t you take them up directly with her?’’
He picked up a fork and stabbed his steaming eggs. ‘‘Alex is imperious, snotty, bossy and always expects to get her way. Look at what she has you cooking for her. What was that thing you made for lunch yesterday?’’
Betty stole a strip of bacon from his plate and munched on it. ‘‘Salmon with penne pasta in a cream sauce, steamed baby vegetables and crème brûlée for dessert. Speaking of dessert, I saw you ate two, so don’t try to tell me you didn’t like it.’’
‘‘I did like it, but that’s not the point. You’re not her personal chef. You shouldn’t have to spend so much time catering to her.’’
‘‘I enjoy the challenge,’’ Betty said. ‘‘If you had your way, you’d eat steak and baked potatoes every night. How exciting is that?’’
‘‘It’s plain, simple food. Good enough for me and my family. What about the wine? It’s all imported. How much is it costing me?’’
‘‘She brought her own wine with her. As for it being imported, most of it is from California, or so you’d know if you bothered to look instead of casting blame where it doesn’t belong. If you want my opinions, I think she irritates you so much because you’re two peas in a pod.’’
He nearly choked on his mouthful of pancakes. When he’d finished chewing, he swallowed and glared at her. ‘‘What?’’
‘‘You heard me. You think the princess is imperious and wants to get her own way? Well, the only reason you recognize those particular qualities is that you have them yourself. Looking in the emotional mirror is always painful.’’
‘‘I am not imperious,’’ he said loudly. ‘‘I’m a nice guy. Everyone likes me. I do not tell other people what to do.’’
Betty’s only response was to raise her eyebrows.
‘‘I’m very easygoing,’’ Mitch insisted.
‘‘This from a man who got upset because I served him ham on Wednesday instead o
f Thursday?’’ Her voice was sweetly smug.
‘‘That happened once. It was years ago.’’
‘‘It was last month, and if you want other examples I have dozens.’’
He opened his mouth to respond, but just then he heard footsteps in the hallway. The princess was up and ready for her breakfast.
‘‘Some of us have to work for a living,’’ he said, and tossed his napkin on top of his half-eaten breakfast. He pushed back from the table, then grabbed his hat as he headed for the door.
Betty started laughing. ‘‘I never thought I’d see the day when you were chased out of your own house by a woman, Mitch.’’
‘‘I’m not being chased, I’m leaving.’’
‘‘One day you’ll have to explain the difference,’’ she said with a chuckle.
*
Alex heard both laughter and the slamming of the back door as she entered the kitchen. She glanced out the window in time to see Mitch heading for the garage next to the barn. No doubt he would get in his four-wheel-drive truck and be gone for the entire day. For reasons she didn’t quite understand, she had to fight back a sigh of sadness. Foolishly she’d hoped they might have breakfast together this morning. She’d gotten up a little earlier than usual in hopes of catching him. If she didn’t know better, she would say that Mitch Colton was avoiding her.
‘‘Care to share the joke?’’ she asked as she walked over to the counter by the stove and poured herself a cup of coffee.
Betty grinned at her. ‘‘That man is the most stubborn person on the planet. He’s all in a temper about you, which is really due to the fact that he’s suddenly not the center of the universe. He’s complaining that you’re bossy and always expecting to get your way.’’ Betty winked. ‘‘Of course, what he refuses to see is that the person he’s describing is himself.’’
Years of training allowed Alex to maintain a neutral expression, but inside she felt shock. Betty’s easy chatter and good humor meant that the housekeeper didn’t think she was saying anything extraordinary, so she wasn’t trying to be insulting.
‘‘Bossy?’’ Alex asked, forcing herself to smile slightly.
Betty rose from the table and crossed to stand next to Alex. ‘‘Actually I said imperious. I think that fits better.’’
Alex wasn’t sure if they were talking about Mitch or herself and she didn’t dare ask. ‘‘I’m sorry I’m annoying him.’’
Betty waved off her apology. ‘‘Don’t give it a thought. All this activity is good for him. Mitch has spent too much time on his own these past couple of years. He’s needed something or someone to shake him out of his rut. If it takes a fancy-pants princess to do it, then I say, well done.’’
A fancy-pants princess, Alex thought incredulously. Is that how Betty perceived her? It was all she could do not to walk back to her bedroom and start packing. Had she expected too much of her host and his housekeeper? She knew there had been some unusual requests, but she’d tried to keep them to a minimum. The problem was she had no point of reference. She’d never lived a regular life, so she didn’t know what was normal and what wasn’t.
‘‘Have I been too demanding?’’ Alex asked. ‘‘If the cooking is too much trouble or—’’
Betty cut her off with a quick shake of her head. ‘‘Don’t go thinking that,’’ she said firmly. ‘‘I’ve had a wonderful time talking with you every day, and I’ve enjoyed stretching my cooking skills. I get to try different recipes and ingredients. Mitch isn’t one to eat fancy food so I get bored fixing the same few things.’’ She grinned. ‘‘Of course, he’s going to squeal like a stuck pig when he gets the food bill, but that will be fun, too.’’
Alex leaned against the counter as the next wave of shock raced through her. She thought about all the wonderful dishes Betty had prepared. The housekeeper always discussed the menus with Alex and offered suggestions. Because it was so close to how things were done in the castle, Alex hadn’t given it another thought. But this was Arizona, not Wynborough, and an isolated ranch wasn’t going to have easy access to continental cuisine.
‘‘Of course I’ll reimburse Mr. Colton for the additional expense,’’ she said stiffly as she thought of messengers who made their trips out here several times a day, of the fax and the computer set up in the second guest room, of the phone calls and the additional phone lines she’d had installed.
‘‘Don’t worry about that,’’ Betty told her. ‘‘Mitch can afford it. Besides, he’s eating the same food you are, and I haven’t heard a single complaint out of him. He’s just bellyaching. It doesn’t mean anything.’’
‘‘Thanks for telling me that,’’ Alex said. She made a show of checking her watch. ‘‘I’m expecting a fax, so I’ll just take my coffee back to the office.’’ She turned to leave.
‘‘Don’t you want breakfast?’’ Betty asked.
‘‘Not this morning. Thank you.’’
Alex knew she would choke if she tried to force anything down her throat. She could feel the flush of embarrassment on her face as humiliation filled her. Perhaps it would have meant her parents finding out what was going on, but she should have gone to a hotel. Staying here at the Colton ranch had been a horrible mistake. She saw that now. Why hadn’t she realized what an imposition she would be?
She made it back to her desk before the trembling began. Now what? she asked herself. Should she leave? Rowan would be furious at her and he would hate having to find another secure location, but she didn’t see any other choice. She couldn’t stay here and continue to be a bother to Mitch. No wonder he’d been avoiding her.
She reached for a pad of paper to start a list, but the phone rang. As she picked up the receiver, she wondered how she could have been so incredibly insensitive.
‘‘I thought I’d save you the trouble of having to phone in yourself later,’’ a familiar voice said.
‘‘Mother,’’ she breathed in relief. ‘‘How are you?’’
‘‘Fine, as usual. In the midst of chaos, also as usual.’’ Her mother’s light laughter trilled across the thousands of miles. ‘‘It’s still raining, so the renovations are slowing and that’s making everyone irritable. Especially your father. You know how he gets.’’
Alex did know. She listened as her mother talked about what was going on at home, then took notes on a few governmental issues that concerned her. Finally, when they were about to say goodbye, Alex hesitated. ‘‘I have a question,’’ she said.
‘‘What is it, dear?’’
‘‘Am I…’’ Her voice trailed off as she thought back to what Betty had said. ‘‘Am I bossy and imperious?’’
Her mother laughed again. ‘‘Of course you are, but we love you anyway.’’
Alex was glad she was sitting down. She felt her mouth drop open. ‘‘You’re being serious? I’ve always thought of myself as responsible. Was I wrong?’’
‘‘No, Alexandra. You’re very responsible. You’re a warm and caring person. Your father and I are very proud of you. You take your duties seriously, and we can always depend on you to do the right thing. Occasionally your methods are a little high-handed, but you’re the oldest daughter of a king. Isn’t that to be expected?’’
Her mother spoke for a few more minutes, then said her goodbyes. Alex replaced the receiver, then leaned back in her chair. Did everyone think the same about her? That she was dutiful and responsible, but in a high-handed way? Did everyone hate her? Had she been deceiving herself about her personality?
The unexpected information caused her to think about dozens of incidents from her past. She replayed them in light of the new information and still wasn’t sure what to think. Finally, close to noon, she went for a walk.
While it might be raining in Wynborough, it was a beautiful, clear day in Arizona. The air was chilly, but dry. There weren’t any clouds and the nearby mountains stood like silent sentinels. She inhaled the scent of cattle and horses, of trees and brush, of the fresh air preparing for winter and the distant pr
omise of snow.
She’d pulled a wool jacket over her blouse, and she tucked her hands into the front pockets. Her boots crunched on the scattered leaves that littered the path to the main barn. The door stood open, so she walked inside. To the left were the tack room and feed bins, to the right, the horse stalls. She turned right and walked down the center aisle. Curious horses popped their heads over half doors to watch their visitor.
Alex paused to pet a beautiful bay mare. She stroked the animal’s smooth face and soft nose. Big brown eyes stared at her.
‘‘Hi, pretty lady,’’ she murmured. ‘‘You have a very lovely ranch here. Did you know that? I didn’t. Until just now I’d barely left the house.’’
The horse stomped in response. Alex felt some of her tension easing, although not her pain and confusion. About an hour before, Laura had called her from Aspen with an update on her sisters. Alex had forced herself to ask her social secretary the same question she’d asked her mother. The several heartbeats of silence followed by Laura’s insincere, ‘‘No, of course not,’’ had told their own story. Didn’t anyone like her?
‘‘What’s wrong?’’
Alex jumped at the sound of the male voice. She turned suddenly and saw Mitch standing in the center of the aisle. ‘‘I didn’t hear you come in,’’ she said.
‘‘So I guessed.’’ His dark gaze regarded her steadily. ‘‘I was driving back from the range when I saw you walk in here. You don’t make it a habit to visit the horses, so I thought I’d come see what was going on.’’
‘‘I won’t hurt them,’’ she said quickly, feeling defensive. ‘‘I just wanted to get out of the office for a little bit. I’ve always ridden, English not Western, but I’m good around horses.’’
‘‘I’m not saying you’re not,’’ Mitch said, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘‘I meant I thought there was something wrong. With you, not with them.’’
He took a step closer. She could see the powerful muscles in his thighs bunching and releasing with the movement. He was so tall and so strong. He was also a stranger who resented her presence in his home.
A Royal Baby on the Way Page 5
