by Rachel Hauck
“How refreshing. You get to stay in your pain and shame.”
“Regina, don’t try sarcastic trickery with me.” He raised his torch to her face. “And don’t try to tell me tales of God’s grace and goodness or how I can return to a relationship with him. Can we go? I’m cold and hungry.”
“You do realize this prison you’re in is self-imposed?”
Blimey. “God disciplines a man, or the man disciplines himself. I chose the latter.”
“Too bad,”—she started around him—“because God would’ve been kinder, more generous, and definitely more loving.”
“Never mind,” he said. How did she sneak into his heart and find all of his secrets? “What’s going on with your glow?”
Regina pushed away from the tree and stepped through a bit of brush and brambles, stirring a dewy scent from the earth’s floor. “Gone. I can’t see it anymore.”
“I’m sorry, Regina. Maybe if I hadn’t stopped to talk. . .”
“You really do love playing the martyr, don’t you? Taking the blame for everything isn’t going to make God or your dad or your girls love you any more. Or less.” She ducked past him, the scent of her hair blending with the raw fragrance of forest.
Her pointed words blew hard against his carefully constructed emotional barriers and shook his resolve to view the world his way.
A low, threatening thunder rumbled above the treetops and the dewy, cold breeze kicked up, tugging weak leaves from their limbs. Lightning flickered from the east to west.
“Was that it?” Regina turned back. “Lightning? The glow was lightning?”
“Couldn’t have been. Because I saw the lightning.” Tanner reached for her arm, and when she looked at him, his heart sank further into love.
“Tanner, I just want you to know—”
“I love you, Regina. I have to say it. I love you madly.”
“Love me?” The wind swooped down from the treetops and swirled between them.
“I’m sorry the timing is all wrong. But I love you. If I don’t tell you now my heart will burst. I don’t care if you return my feelings.”
Her soft laugh drummed against his pulsing heart. “I think I love you back. It’s just happening so fast. Everything is happening so fast.”
The wind shifted again, bringing the first drops of rain. “Regina,”—Tanner brushed her wild, beautiful red tresses out of her eyes and pulled her into his arms—“Just hearing you feel the same is enough for now. Ah, you’re shivering. The wind is a bit chilled.”
“It’s not the wind, Tanner.” She giggled and trembled as she brushed her hands over his chest. “You make me nervous.”
“Because I love you?” He raised her chin. “And want to kiss you?”
“Yes, and I’m scared to death. Falling in love and becoming a princess all in one fell swoop.”
He smoothed his hands over her hair and down her back. “Then we’ll wait. Take things at thirty miles per hour.”
“But it’s a dark and stormy night. The wind is blustery, we’re about to get soaked, and all I can think about is that scene in Sweet Home Alabama where Melanie kisses Jake in the rain . . .” She roped her arms around his neck. “Tanner Burkhardt, if you don’t kiss me . . .”
“While you’re thinking of Melanie and Jake? Whoever they are . . .”
She rose up on her toes and pressed her forehead to his. “I’m not thinking of anyone but you on this stormy, romantic night. Can’t you feel my heart beating?”
“Not for the horse race going on in my own chest.” He fell against the tree, drawing her to him. “I do love you, Regina. Most ardently.”
“I love you back, Tanner. Most ardently.”
His lowered his lips to hers, brushing over them with a light, feathery touch. She smiled, her breath warm on his face. “Tickles.”
“Yeah, tickles . . .” Tanner circled his arms tighter as she wound her fingers into his hair, making her his with the passion of his kiss, a fire igniting in his heart, burning away every hindrance to love.
She was melting, floating, drowning in the taste of him. Warm, masculine, sweet. Her senses tingled with awakening love, breaking free from fear. And she was never going back.
This moment was worth the wait. “I love you,” she whispered as his kiss faded.
“I love you too.” Tanner raised his head for a quick breath, then kissed her cheek, her nose, her forehead.
She nestled against his chest, inhaling the scent of the rain, filling her entire being with the pure pleasure of the moment.
“That was fun.” She rose up and tipped his head toward hers, kissing him, her lips already at home on his.
Tanner’s embrace locked her against him so she couldn’t tell if she stood on her own strength or his.
As their kiss lingered, another splatter of rain soaked through the back of her dress and the cold wind whistled about her legs. Nevertheless she was warmed by the fire of his touch.
When he lifted his head, Tanner picked her up and whirled her around, laughing, nuzzling her neck. Reggie joined his joy just as the heavens broke open, rain pouring from the clouds.
“We’re getting drenched.” Tanner set her down and held the sides of her head, brushing back her wet hair. “I love you, Regina, and we’ll take this as fast or as slow as you want.”
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again and again. “I can do this anytime I want?”
“Anytime you want. It is my pleasure to serve the Princess of Hessenberg.” He stepped back, hand to his chest, and took a sweeping bow, making her laugh as the rain fell faster.
“I love you, Tanner. I never thought I’d fall in love so fast, but I do. I really do.”
He kissed her, whispering in her ear. “I loved you the moment I saw you.” Then he cupped her hand in his and together they darted out of the woods, running across the lawn, screaming and shouting.
At the palace, the kitchen door stood open with Jarvis’s silhouette in the door frame.
“Your Majesty.” He stood aside as Reggie ran into the warmth and the sweet cinnamon fragrance of the kitchen. “You’ll catch your death . . .”
Serena waited with two towels. “I’ve a fire in the parlor. Chef made tea and cakes.”
“Can we have hot chocolate?” Reggie took the towel her lady’s maid offered, holding it to her chest. “I love hot chocolate on a cold fall night.”
“Certainly,” Jarvis said, giving Tanner a look. What were you doing out there with her?
“I saw a light, Jarvis,” Reggie answered the man’s expression, defending her man. Her man. She had a man. “In the forest, but I don’t know, maybe it was nothing. Tanner said he didn’t see anything.” She laughed. Ha, ha, I’m so weird, right?
In truth, she wondered if Jarvis would ask about what had to be her goofy expression and why she couldn’t stop smiling.
“Probably lightning, Your Majesty,” he said, shifting his glance between Reggie and Tanner.
“You know, that’s what I said. Lightning.”
Tanner remained quiet, drying his hair, wiping down his arms. “Regina, you should get out of those wet clothes.”
“What about you? You’re soaked. Let’s go sit by the fire.”
Tanner cut a side glance toward Jarvis. “It’s late. I think I’ll head on to my flat. Work comes early.”
“Right. Okay.” Her heart plummeted faster than she could catch it. “I’ll see you out.”
Reggie walked with him to the main foyer, her hand brushing his, sending crazy sensations all through her. She wanted to curl up with him by the fire and talk about life, and kissing, life and more kissing. Her heart was alive. Her eyes were opened. The whole world glowed with a glow she’d never noticed before. She wanted to love more, give more, serve more . . .
Tanner paused at the door and gave her a curt bow. “We are being watched,” he whispered.
“Why can’t we just tell him?” Reggie motioned toward the corner from where Jarvis probably hover
ed.
“Do you really want to tell him?” His smile was intimate, only for her. “I like this between us for now.”
“I’m in love. I want to shout it from the palace rooftops.”
He sighed, pressing his hand over his middle. “Me too, but maybe we should keep this between us until we finish this business with the entail and Seamus, and I get through my negotiations with Trude and the girls.”
“What?” His words stung, piercing her joy. “That was me a few days ago. Now you want to back off?”
“That’s not what I said. I just don’t want a horde of people knowing. I like keeping our feelings to ourselves. You’ve got enough controversy ahead of you without adding a romance with the opportunistic Minister of Culture.”
“Opportunistic? That’s what they’ll call you?” She folded her arms, but really she wanted to sit and cry. “Are you?”
“Blimey, Regina, no.” He tugged open the door. “I love you, and nothing is going to change that fact. But if we want a chance at this relationship, I think we best keep it quiet for now.”
Her disappointment clouded her reasoning, but she understood, even felt the sincerity of his heart. Nonetheless, it ticked her off. “So now I can’t kiss you whenever I want?” She reached for his collar, releasing the heady scent of his wet skin.
“When we’re alone, kiss me all you want.” He swallowed his passion. “This might be close to impossible to keep quiet, Regina, but don’t you want to give us a chance to know each other without the press or the staff looking in?”
“I suppose so.” She stepped toward him, brushing her hand over his chest. “Will you always be the reasonable one?”
“Trust me, this does not feel reasonable to me.” He traced his finger along the base of her chin. “But I’ve watched enough—”
“Miss, miss,”—Reggie jumped away from Tanner’s warm touch, turning to see Serena coming toward her with hand extended, holding Reggie’s phone—“you’ve received several calls while I fixed the fire, so I answered this one.”
“Thank you, Serena.” Reggie took her phone. “Hello?”
“Reg, it’s me, Al. How are you?”
“Al, hey, I’m fine.” The sound of his voice made her weepy for home. “So, what’s going on?” She sat on the bottom step of the wide, gilded staircase. “Did we get the Duesenberg?”
Tanner leaned against the door, arms folded, waiting and watching.
“No, no, Reg.” His guttural laugh buzzed in her belly. “We didn’t get the Duesenberg.”
“Really? Rats. He said no? Why?”
“Reg, I told him no. And by the way, I sent the Vet home with Urban.”
“You what?” She jerked to her feet, stumbling down the bottom step.
“I wanted to tell you all of this in person, but I saw on the news you took some kind of oath . . . So you’re the Princess of Hessenberg? I’m proud, Reg, right proud.”
“Al, forget the news. Why’d you send the Corvette home? What’s going on?”
“I’m closing the shop, Reg.”
“Closing the shop? No, no, no.” She paced the wide width of the foyer. “You can’t just close the shop. I’m part owner and, Al, I want the shop open.”
“Reg, sweet girl, look around. You’re living in a palace. You’re a royal princess.”
“Temporary, Al.” She flung her arm out to her side, a creeping fear slinking up her legs and into her heart, warping her reasoning. “Temporary.”
“How can you be a temporary princess?”
“Because I’ll be back in a month. Six weeks tops. Don’t think I left you high and dry. Listen, you call Urban and tell him to bring back the Vet. Gee, Al, what were you thinking? Urban will ruin that beautiful car.”
“Reg, listen. I know this is a bit of a shock, and not what we planned when we threw in together to open this place, but—”
“Al, you can’t close the shop.” Reggie pressed her hand to her throbbing forehead. “You can’t.” Everything can’t change at once. It can’t.
“Al Jr. and his wife are moving to Texas in a few weeks, and Miriam wants to help them drive out.”
“That’s great, Al. Good for AJ and Lily. Give them my love. Wally and Rafe can watch the shop. You know Rafe’s dying to be in charge. You go on to Texas. Shoot, I might just make it back home by then anyway. ‘And in for Al Love, Reggie Beswick. Ding.’ ” Reggie tapped an invisible boxing bell.
“Reggie—”
“Al, forget it. I know what you’re doing, giving me an out, but I went into business with you fair and square. I’m not letting you give up our dream.”
“Don’t look now, Reg, but the dream has changed.”
“I’m coming home. You stay put.” She raced up the stairs two at a time, barely aware of Tanner’s heavy footsteps resounding behind her. “See you tomorrow, Al. See you tomorrow.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Despite the cordial press conference, Friday morning dawned with mixed headlines.
Yee Haw, We Got Us a Redneck Royal
Minister of Culture Burkhardt a Derelict Dad
Governor Fitzsimmons: “Hessenberg Needs True Leaders”
American Regina Beswick Takes Oath of the Throne. Hessenberg on Her Way to Independence
Tanner slammed his office door and dropped to his chair, slapping down the papers, muttering to himself.
Gone fifteen minutes and he felt her absence. He missed her. He’d have climbed on Royal Air Force One himself if she’d so much as nodded in his direction.
But she waved good-bye without a hint of anything more. Without a good-bye kiss. Or a confirmation of love. He’d raised heaven and earth to clear her departure with the King’s Office and get her on a royal jet by 10:00 a.m., with a security detail.
All overtures of love had died an excruciating death, rendering their first kiss in the rain to the dark recesses of his mind.
Tanner reminded her right up to when the pilot fired the jet’s engine that she had to return to sign the entail. On 22 October Nathaniel would no longer be king. Henry Montgomery would no longer be Hessenberg’s prime minister. It would be up to Regina to pick a leader to form a government . . .
She’d assured him she’d return in time but doubt lingered where hope once lived. The look in her eyes when she told him Al was closing the shop . . . fear mixed with sorrow.
At this point, Tanner had half a mind to suggest Seamus run things. Let the old blowhard have the duchy. It’d give Tanner a good excuse to immigrate to America. Take Bella and Britta with him. Raise a couple of Southern girls.
Blast but he’d wanted to kiss Regina good-bye. But they never had a moment alone. At this very moment she was winging her way to America with Clarence, and their last exchange was terse and tense, filled with details of her trip home.
He’d slept not a wink last night. Not a wink. Missing her before she even took off. Did she regret their kisses? Had he taken advantage? The whole thing nearly brought him to his knees. But he’d made a promise to the Lord and he was bound to keep it.
I’ll not bother you if you’ll not bother me.
The light rap on his door did not wait for an answer. Seamus entered with a pompous grin.
“Good day to you, my boy.” He pointed to the stack of newspapers. “You’ve seen the headlines.”
“I have. What’s the big idea bringing me into this, Seamus?”
“Discredit you, of course.” He tapped his unlit pipe against his palm, releasing the subtle whiff of burnt tobacco. “Make the people wonder who advises the princess.”
“You’re not going to get rid of her that easily. And be advised, you can hurt me all you want, but don’t you dare bring my girls into this.”
“My boy, my boy, I am a statesman. Did you not read the article? I left Trude and the girls out by name. I merely wanted to tinge your character in the public’s eye. I hear the princess fled the country this morning. Winging her way home, is she?”
“She needed to see a friend.” So Seamu
s tossed Tanner’s name in the media mud. It was long overdue, well deserved. Nevertheless . . . “You need to tread lightly here, Seamus. Whether or not you like it, I have sway with the princess.”
“Just as I thought I had sway with you.” His gaze darkened. “I believed you to be my ally.”
“I am your ally, but not against Regina.”
“Tanner, I’ll not back down. My lawyers are working hard to convince the court to take our case and rule in our favor. Hessenberg will be a self-governing state sans a monarchy.”
“You need to know I support the princess.” Tanner sighed, his patience thin and brittle. “Seamus, why are you doing this?”
The governor patted his wide gut. “Because I’ve been around long enough to recognize opportunity when it comes knocking. Have you seen our new ad? Ran it on the morning show, getting people awake and ready to become a true democracy. In the twenty-first century, no country intentionally forms a monarchy. We’ve been given a window to loosen the bonds of our ancestors and become a modern country.”
“So I can expect more controversy? More negative press?”
“You can expect a well-planned offensive.”
With those words hanging in the air, Dad entered Tanner’s office, glancing between Tanner and the governor.
“Archbishop, good to see you.” Seamus offered his hand.
“Governor, good to see you. I just came by to see—”
“Well, I’m off. Tanner, you know where to find me if you need me.”
Yes, he knew where to find him. In the mire. Tanner slipped behind his desk, taking a seat. “How can I help you, Dad?”
“I saw the headlines.”
Tanner shuffled through the papers. “Seamus is launching an offensive to build political favor for his agenda.”
“He leaked your story to the press?” Dad took the seat next to Tanner’s desk. “I thought more of the man.”
“It took thirty years, but he finally showed his true colors.”
“What do you make of it?”
“What can I make of it? It’s out there. I’m grateful he left off Trude’s name and the girls’.”
“I heard from Trude’s father she’s marrying again and moving to America.”
