by Leanne Banks
She disconnected the call and turned off the phone. She couldn’t bear hearing the disappointment in her family’s voices one more minute. Her eyes burned with unshed tears and she tried to hold them back, but they seemed to well up from her belly to her tight chest and tighter throat. A sob escaped and then another. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d cried like this. When her mother had died? When her father had passed away?
A sharp rap sounded on the bedroom door, startling her. She sniffed and swiped at her wet cheeks.
“Hildie here. I have breakfast for you,” the housekeeper said and opened the door.
Horrified, Tina groped for something to cover herself. In her world, staff never entered without receiving confirmation from her.
Hildie bustled around the room. “I don’t often get a chance to deliver breakfast in bed, but since you’re here I do. Lord knows, Zachary never sleeps past dawn,” she said with more than a twinge of disapproval as she placed the tray on a table. “It’s a good thing you rested well, being pregnant and all. I read that it takes a day to adjust to each time zone change, so you’ve got a few days to go. And according to what Zachary said, they’ve been running you like a mule during harvest. A woman with child needs her rest. I hope some of this will suit you. Scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes, grits, fruit and toast.”
Hildie finally glanced at Tina. The woman narrowed her gaze as she studied her then caught sight of the phone in Tina’s hand. “You’ve been crying. Has someone been bothering you?”
Tina sniffled but shook her head. “Not bothering. I had to return a few calls.”
“To who?” Hildie asked crossing her arms over her chest.
“Just a few members of my family,” Tina said, wondering why she felt the need to answer questions from staff.
“Humph,” Hildie said. “Well, if they’re upsetting you, it just won’t do. Zachary won’t allow it.”
Taken off guard by the woman’s suggestion that Zachary would somehow be able to control or even influence her family, she shook her head. “Excuse me? Zachary won’t allow it? My family doesn’t operate by everyone else’s rules.”
“Neither does Zachary Logan,” Hildie said flatly. “But I imagine since he got you out of France in no time flat, you got a taste of what he’s capable of. If not, you’ll see soon enough. Go ahead and eat. Zachary tells me you need to go to the store. It takes about a half hour to drive to town and I suspect you’ll tire quickly.”
“I’m really not that fragile,” Tina insisted, moving to the table where Hildie had placed her breakfast.
“Uh-huh,” Hildie said. “That’s what a lot of moms-to-be say. Then all of a sudden they’re passing out or crying because they haven’t had enough rest.”
Offended, Tina lifted her chin. “I wasn’t crying because I hadn’t had enough—”
“With all due respect, Miss Highlyness,” Hildie interjected. “Please eat your breakfast. We’re wasting daylight.”
Thirty minutes later, Tina joined Hildie in a black Ford truck. Tina was clean, but her face was stripped clean of cosmetics except for lip gloss and a little powder. Her hair was still damp as Hildie barreled down the road.
Tina gripped the door with one hand and the edge of her seat with the other. “Are we in a hurry?” she asked.
Hildie shrugged and turned the country radio station to a higher decibel. “Not really. I just don’t like to waste time getting where I want to go.”
Tina swallowed over a knot of panic in her throat. “How far to the store?”
Hildie waved her hand and guided the steering wheel with her knee. “Not long,” she said and cackled. “You can be sure I’ll get there in no time.”
If we don’t meet our maker first, she thought and continued her death grip. Hildie gave a running commentary on the history of the area and talked about her niece, Eve, apparently her pride and joy.
When Hildie pulled into a parking lot and screeched to a stop, Tina breathed a sigh of relief.
“Here we are,” Hildie said and winked at her. “They have a maternity department here.”
Tina walked into the store and felt as if she’d stepped into a foreign country. The truth was that her assistant often shopped for her. Tina rarely visited retail stores. She was too busy.
She felt Hildie studying her. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Don’t they have what you want?”
“They seem to have everything. I just don’t know where to start. I’m overwhelmed,” she said.
Hildie laughed. “Okay, let’s start with the basics, then. Underwear,” she said and led her to the intimates department.
Tina chose several pairs of stretchy panties and a couple bras.
“You’ll get bigger there, too,” Hildie warned.
Feeling self-conscious, Tina shrugged. “I’ll deal with that later. I’d like to get a couple of skirts and a few tops.”
“The maternity department is over—”
“I’m not quite ready for that,” Tina said. “I’ll just buy a size larger than usual.”
“If you’re sure,” Hildie said.
“I’m not that big yet,” Tina whispered. “I’m not that far along in my pregnancy. I’m not ready for everyone to know—”
“Your Highlyness, if Zach noticed your baby bump in that newspaper, then everyone knows,” Hildie said dryly.
“Everyone doesn’t know at first sight, though. I could just use a little breathing room,” Tina said.
Hildie studied her for a long moment. “I can understand that. Let’s find you a nice little skirt or two.”
Less than fifteen minutes later, they left the store with toiletries, underwear, two skirts, three tops and a dress.
“You won’t be able to hide it much longer, dear,” Hildie said.
Tina’s stomach knotted. “I know. I’m just buying a little time.”
“Are you ashamed?” Hildie asked.
“Well, you have to admit it’s not the optimal situation,” Tina said, gazing out the window as they whizzed past the barren landscape.
“Are you ashamed of Zach?”
Tina whipped her head around to look at Hildie. “No. I’m embarrassed because I should have been more careful, more responsible. It’s not as if I were a teenager.”
“From what Zachary told me, you were busy being an adult when you were a teenager. No time for impulsiveness or getting into trouble.”
“That still doesn’t excuse—”
“Pardon me, Your Highlyness, but nobody’s perfect. Even princesses aren’t perfect. You’re just lucky Zachary was the man who got carried away with you. He’s a good man,” she said. “And it’s time he got past…” Hildie’s voice trailed off and she sighed.
“Got past what?” Tina asked.
Hildie frowned. “It’s not my place to say.”
Tina blinked, shocked that Hildie would consider any subject outside propriety. After all, Zach’s housekeeper had freely given her opinions on underwear, pregnancy and marriage. What subject could possibly be so forbidden with Zach?
Glancing at Hildie’s implacable expression, she felt a strange sense of forboding. What did she really know about Zachary Logan? Had she made a mistake by coming here?
For the next two days, Tina didn’t see Zach. Although she appreciated the opportunity for extra rest and quiet time, she felt frustrated about the lack of opportunity to get to know him better. After all, wasn’t that part of the reason she’d come to his ranch?
Donning tennis shoes her sister had included in a package she’d sent her, along with a loose pair of jeans and blouse, she decided to go for a walk. The heat and humidity were already intense, even at nine thirty. Tina wished she’d risen early but knew she was still adjusting to the change in time zones. Pregnancy exacerbated her jet lag, but she felt herself getting stronger.
Spotting a barn with a fenced pasture and a couple of horses, she walked toward it. When she was a teenager, Tina had loved horseback riding. Unfor
tunately she’d had little time for it once she’d left for college.
She walked into the cool barn and peeked into the stalls. Two quarter horses roomed next to each other, then a gorgeous palomino and black gelding. She wandered toward the pasture and saw a tall, slim, dark-haired woman talking to a colt. The young horse’s ears twitched.
Curious, Tina continued to watch in silence.
The woman must have felt her presence, however, because she turned to look at her. “Hello, I’m working with Samson right now. There’s no other riding.”
Surprised and impressed at the woman’s assertiveness, Tina shook her head. “I wasn’t planning to ride,” she said. “I’m a guest of Mr. Logan’s and I was just taking a walk. Pardon me, I didn’t mean to intrude.”
The woman nodded. “No problem. You can watch if you like. This colt of Zach’s is a little ornery, so I’m working with him.”
Tina watched as the woman led the colt in a series of walking and stopping around the corral. Constantly cooing, she put a saddle on the colt. He gave a half-beat of a pause then allowed her to lead him again around the corral.
She gave the young horse an apple and praised him effusively then returned him to his stall, which was waiting with fresh oats and water.
Finally, she turned to Tina. “I’m Eve, Hildie’s niece,” she said.
Tina nodded and extended her hand. “I’m Tina. Hildie has talked about you. She’s so proud of you,” she said.
Eve nodded, giving a self-conscious smile as she shook Tina’s hand. “Hildie’s wonderful, but she’s a little over the top sometimes.”
“In your case, it’s over the top in a good way,” Tina said.
“Ah,” Eve said. “You’ve obviously spent enough time with her to understand her.”
“It didn’t take long. She definitely speaks her mind,” Tina said.
Eve laughed. “That’s an understatement. How do you know Zach?”
“Mutual friends,” she said. “I met him several months ago. I could have sworn Hildie told me that you worked for an international hotel chain as a regional manager.”
“That’s right,” Eve said. “This is my fun time. My day off. I used to do more training and Zach made me promise that I would always come back in case he had any problems. Samson here is a problem.”
“How did he wrangle that agreement out of you?”
“Paid for all my education that wasn’t covered by scholarships,” she said then shrugged. “But I don’t mind. I really do enjoy my time with horses. They’re lots more fun than corporate meetings.” She glanced over her back at the stalls. “I should have asked after I finished with Samson. Do you ride? Would you like to ride today? Candy’s a nice ride—”
“No, that’s okay,” Tina said. “I ride, but it’s been a while….”
“She’s not riding,” Zach said from the other end of the barn.
Her heart jumping in her chest, Tina whipped her head around to stare at him. He wore jeans, a T-shirt, a hat, a pair of boots and a frown.
“I wasn’t planning on riding,” Tina said defensively. “I was just exploring.”
“Just don’t get into trouble,” he said.
Tina frowned. “What kind of trouble? I’m just walking around your ranch. I can’t stay cooped up in the house forever.”
“I guess not,” he said as he moved toward her. “Hildie told me you went for a walk.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Tina murmured.
“And a good morning to you,” Eve said. “Samson’s making progress.”
Zach nodded. “Good to know,” he said. “I hope he hasn’t been too much of a pain in the butt.”
“No more than his owner,” Eve said.
Zach shot her a withering glance. “Anyone ever tell you that you look like your aunt?”
“Bite me,” Eve said and turned her back to him.
“How’s the job going?” he asked.
“It’s going,” she said. “I don’t love it. I don’t hate it.”
“Just haven’t found what you’re looking for,” he said.
“It pays well,” she said over her shoulder. “That’s good enough for me. And, hey, don’t be so hard on your visitor. She’s polite, which is more than you can say about yourself.” She stomped out of the barn.
Feeling Zach’s gaze on her, Tina wondered about the relationship between Zach and Eve. Antagonistic, yet vaguely caring.
“Don’t even think about riding a horse,” he said.
“I didn’t,” she said. “In more than a fictional sense,” she added, seeing a flash of alarm on his face. “When I walked into the barn, I remembered how much I enjoyed riding. How much I missed it, but now isn’t the time to—”
“Exactly,” he said in a crisp tone. “Now is not the time to start this particular hobby again. It’s too dangerous for you and the baby.”
She saw a darkness deepen in his eyes and wondered where that originated. She thought about what Hildie had said to her. She thought about how much she didn’t know about him.
Lifting her chin, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Part of the reason I came here was because you and I should get to know each other because you’re the father of my child. We need to start that process. I’m not going to be here forever.”
“You’re not,” he said, lifting a dark brow. “Is there somewhere you’d rather be?” he asked.
The south of France, a small town in Italy, a Greek island. Somewhere she could rest, somewhere she wouldn’t have to answer to her brother, somewhere she could plan her and her baby’s future. Somewhere she could disappear for a while. At the moment, Zach’s ranch was perfect. That would change as soon as the paparazzi showed up.
“I haven’t had time to make plans,” she said. “I need to figure out what’s best for my child and for me.”
“Is it not best for your child to have access to his or her father?” he challenged.
“In most circumstances, that would be best,” she conceded. “But the longer I stay here, the more I realize I don’t know that much about you.”
He lifted his lips in a dangerous grin. “Are you afraid I’m a bad influence?”
Her heart fluttered at the bad boy expression on his face, but she refused to give in to his charm. “As you Americans would say, the jury is out. I need to know more. You haven’t been around much.” She couldn’t resist a wicked urge to goad. “Do I frighten you?”
Flames lit his eyes and he held her gaze as he moved closer to her. “Frighten?” he echoed in a low, deliberate voice.
She felt a twist of fear wrench through her, but she refused to give in to it. She gave the shrug that had been bred into her through generations of royals. “What else should I think?”
Stepping closer, close enough to lower his mouth to hers, he continued to hold her gaze as he gave a husky laugh. “I was giving you some space,” he said. “If you’re sure you’re ready to take me on, I’m here, Princess.”
Her stomach dipped at the sensual attraction echoing from him to her and back again. She cleared her throat. “Perhaps after you’re finished for the day,” she suggested.
“Dinner,” he said. “I’ll have Hildie fix something for us. We can have dinner in my suite so we won’t be interrupted.”
Her heart fluttered. “I’m not sure that would be a good idea,” she said, feeling a strong urge to back track, but trying to hold firm.
“Do you need a chaperone?” he challenged.
She stifled her protests. “Of course not,” she said. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Chapter Six
Zach sat across from Tina in what she assumed was the outer room of his bedroom suite. Although the door was closed, she couldn’t help feeling curious about what his bedroom looked like. She wondered if she could learn more about him by seeing more of his most personal space.
This room appeared to offer a combination of business and pleasure. They sat at a small dark wood table by one of the large bay windows. The view fe
atured rolling hills of land that stretched as far as the eye could see. It occurred to Tina, that in a way, Zach could survey his kingdom from this window every day.
On the other side of the room sat a large desk with a flat-screen monitor, computer and other electronic equipment. In the center of the room, a plush brown leather sofa sat across from a flat wide-screen TV mounted on the wall.
“Missing the palace?” Zach asked as he stabbed a bite of steak.
“Not really,” she said.
He lifted an eyebrow in doubt. “You sure about that? I wondered if this place might seem a little rustic in comparison.”
“Well, it’s not full of French antiques and the floors aren’t marble, but it’s far from rustic. You need to remember that I lived in Texas while I went to college. My first two years, I stayed in a dormitory. Not exactly the lap of luxury.”
“True enough,” he said.
“Plus, I’ve traveled all over the world and have stayed in places without air conditioning or with limited heat and water.” She frowned. “I’m not a total sissy.”
He paused, surprise glinting in his eyes, then he gave a low laugh. “Okay,” he conceded. “No sissies in this room.”
Mollified, she relaxed slightly and picked at her food. “I have enjoyed the quiet,” she said. “And the lack of paparazzi has been wonderful, although I’m sure that won’t last when they find out where I am.”
“They already know,” he said. “I’ve closed the gates and put a couple of men with rifles at the edge of my property.”
“Really? I had no idea.”
“No need for you to know. You’re recovering and—” He shrugged. “Gestating. Those Europeans back off when they’ve got a rifle pointed in their direction.”
“I’m not really that fragile,” she protested.
“Hey, you just said it was great to get a break from the paparazzi.”
“True,” she said and took a bite. The steak was delicious, but her appetite had been iffy lately. She took a sip of water to wash the bite down and studied the hard planes of Zach’s face. There was so much she didn’t know about him.
