After unthawing with a half pot of coffee, I got after my morning chores, eager to keep my body busy and my mind distracted. I’d just finished checking the pH levels in the pool when the sharp rap of heels echoed inside the pool house.
“Mrs. Hutchinson.” I nearly tripped into the pool when I saw her standing there, after she’d made it quite clear I shouldn’t expect to see her again until the spring. “What are you doing here?”
Those eyes of hers that could probably detect a speck of dust from twenty feet inspected the room. Mine did the same, but nothing was out of place, not so much as one towel.
“I came to check in after learning of Prince Edward being here.” She nodded in seeming approval as her inspection ended. “It sounds as if he’s left as of this morning though.”
“Yeah. That’s what I heard too.” I tucked the testing supply bin back into the cupboard where it was kept.
“Anything especially exciting happen while he was here?”
“Nope. I mean, he had a few get-togethers, but nothing I would classify as especially exciting.” My voice was too high, but lucky for me, Mrs. Hutchinson didn’t know me well enough to identify my tones. If I’d been chatting with Anne or Mom, I wouldn’t have been fooling either of them.
“Well, it sounds like you composed yourself quite well.” Mrs. Hutchinson couldn’t resist straightening the stack of towels situated beside the pool. “Prince Edward said as much.”
I took a breath. “That was nice of him.”
“Anyway, I don’t normally check in during the winter months, but it isn’t normal the Prince of Norland makes himself comfortable here either.” She gave a pleased nod at the towels after she’d finished with them. “I wanted to check in personally to make sure everything was shipshape and see if there was anything extra you needed. I understand his three companions are here for the foreseeable future.” Her expression gave away how she felt about them being here.
“I can’t think of anything I need.”
She blinked, giving me a moment to change my mind, before clasping her hands together. “Again, thank you for your hard work and professionalism in such unusual circumstances. The Royal Family appreciates it.”
My teeth ground together. I could tell she was being serious, but if she knew the extent of my “professionalism” included asking the prince to take my virginity on the floor of his shower, she’d probably bury me in some unmarked grave down by the lake. Considering it her patriotic duty.
“Of course,” I said, working up a smile.
As she started to leave, she snapped her fingers. “Ah, yes. Now that Edward’s left again, would you please see to his room? It doesn’t sound like he will be back, so you can close it up for the season.”
I exhaled when I felt my ribs squeezing in. “I can do that.”
Mrs. Hutchinson gave another satisfied nod before clacking out of the pool house. I lingered for a while, deciding I’d save Edward’s room for another day.
A day when I felt less like I’d lost the very thing I’d been looking for all along.
Chapter 14
It was only a date.
I didn’t know why I felt so uneasy over such a simple thing. As promised, Theo was taking me out on an official date, and I was going to enjoy myself. I’d put him off long enough, stalling in hopes someone would return, waiting in case he came back.
But he wasn’t coming back.
I’d probably never see Edward again, so I had to live my life as such. The sooner I got back to some semblance of normalcy, the quicker the ache of missing him would fade.
He was gone.
I was here. Time to move on.
A set of headlights sped up the driveway at seven thirty.
“I’m leaving!” My voice echoed through the grand foyer as I slid into my wool coat.
“Have fun!” Frederick’s voice streamed from down the hall where the billiard room was.
“But not too much!” Andrew shouted right after.
“Be home by midnight!” James snickered.
I shook my head, grabbing my clutch, and headed out the front doors. Theo’s car was a bright yellow two-seater that screamed fast. Idling at the bottom of the stairs, the engine seemed to groan in annoyance that it was still. I hated that the picture of Edward in his car flashed to mind right then, my mind automatically contrasting the differences between Theo and Edward’s cars.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Theo seemed to unfold from behind the driver’s seat as he went to open the passenger door for me. He was dressed in a sharp suit, was clean-shaven, and had on a smile that would twist a lesser girl’s stomach. Or . . . a girl who wasn’t still foolishly pining over some other guy she had no right to long for.
“Hey, yourself.” I nearly smashed my nose into his when he leaned in for a quick kiss.
Great start to the night. Now I couldn’t be trusted with something as basic as a chaste peck where Theo was concerned.
Edward had messed me up good.
No, I’d messed myself up good.
“I wasn’t sure this night was ever going to happen. You know how to keep a man waiting, I’ll say that,” he said.
“It wasn’t intentional, I promise.” I climbed into the passenger seat. “I’ve just been extra busy.”
“I thought I’d shot myself in the foot the night I left you alone in the future king of Norland’s bed.” Theo crouched beside me. “But then you finally texted me back with a yes to this date thing I’ve been trying to get you out on forever.”
“It was good of you to be so patient. I promise it had nothing to do with you and all to do with me.” I had to look out the windshield, too afraid he’d be able to read my thoughts if he saw my eyes.
“Ouch. Not you, it’s me.” Theo’s face drew up. “I haven’t had a girl say that to me since middle school.”
I reached for my seatbelt. “You know what I mean.”
“Don’t worry.” His eyes seemed to twinkle before he winked. “I’ll let you make it up to me later.”
Theo made sure to tuck in the hem of my dress before closing my door. After dropping into the driver’s seat, he punched the car into gear, a gleam in his eye when he glanced at me. “In case I forget to tell you later, I had a really amazing time tonight.”
Crossing my ankles, I returned a smile. “Me too.”
Theo checked to make sure I was buckled before he zipped down the driveway, through the gate, and down the two-lane road that led to the highway.
Or I thought we were heading to the highway. Instead, he stayed on the two-lane road winding around the north end of the lake.
“I didn’t know there were any restaurants in this direction that were still open this time of year.” I stared out the window at the dark lake, knowing soon it would begin to freeze.
“There’s not.” Theo maneuvered his car into a sharp bend, going sixty with no problem. I might have clutched the armrest so hard I left a sweaty imprint of my hand on it.
“Then why are we going this direction? I thought you said we were going to dinner.”
Another tight corner. Sixty-five. It was probably better if I closed my eyes, held on, and said some silent prayers.
“It’s a surprise,” he answered.
“Oh,” I said, my stomach dropping. “Fun.”
In case my tone didn’t give it away, I wasn’t big on surprises. Especially coming from a guy who drove like he was Evil Knievel’s offspring.
“I heard Edward took off.”
My lungs reacted to hearing his name. Nodding, I took a breath. “Yeah.”
“Any idea where he went?”
I aimed my stare out my window. “None.”
“Know why he took off so suddenly?” Theo whipped around one last corner, before mercifully slowing his racecar when the road narrowed to a single lane.
“Nope.”
“It’s probably for the best. The future king of Norland should have more important things to do than hide out in his family’s summer home.”
I shifted in the sleek leather seat. “I guess.”
“Edward’s a decent guy and all, but sometimes I just want to punch him in the face.” Theo’s palm twisted around the steering wheel.
“Why’s that?”
One of his shoulders lifted beneath his suit jacket. “I don’t know. I guess it was the way I’d find him looking at you.” His shoulder rose again. “A guy shouldn’t look at another guy’s girl the way he did you.”
My fingers tightened around my purse. “I’m not ‘your girl.’”
Whatever sharpness had come through in my voice wasn’t picked up on by Theo. He only grinned as though I was teasing him. “Okay, I get it. You’re a modern woman, so don’t claim ownership, don’t introduce you as my girlfriend.” Theo’s eyes flickered at me from the corners. “Don’t open doors, pick up the tab, or offer my arm when it’s icy outside.”
When I gave an exaggerated sigh, he laughed.
“I’m a modern woman, yes, but I still like to be treated like a lady. If that helps clear up any confusion.”
Theo turned up a driveway. “So you want to have your cake and eat it too?”
My mouth lifted at the corner. “Basically.”
“Of course you do.” Theo grunted. “Good thing I like a challenge.”
My eyes narrowed as the driveway came to an end. “Where are we?”
He tipped his chin at the window. “My place.”
My lungs petrified for half a breath. “You said we were going to dinner.”
“And we are going to dinner.” He parked in front of the rather impressive lake house, then swung open his door.
“Inside your place?” I lingered in my seat a few more seconds before swinging open the door.
“Glad we got that cleared up.” Theo held out his hand for me, helping me out of my seat.
“I really thought we were going to a restaurant.” I worked to hold my smile as he led me to the front door.
“I’ve been wanting to get you over to my side of the lake for a while, and there’s no better view in the nicest restaurant in the capital than the one you’ll have from my bedroom window.”
I stopped moving. “Your bedroom window?”
He gave me another one of those laughs as though he thought I was teasing him. What about my voice or expression or posture read “I’m messing with you”?
“It’s more of a suite, which happens to lead to a covered balcony, where I’ve arranged for dinner to be served.” After unlocking the front door, he swung it open for me.
“Inside your bedroom,” I stated, in case I was missing something, as I moved past the door.
“We’re clearing all sorts of things up tonight.” Theo locked the door behind us, his hand falling to my back as he led me through the house.
It was a nice place. Not as large or extravagant as Valmont, but definitely one of the larger mansions that lined the lake.
“What do you think?” Theo’s hand pressed deeper into my back.
“It’s nice.” My voice echoed throughout vast rooms, which exaggerated the nervous note in it.
“Well, it’s no Valmont.”
My head shook. “It isn’t.”
I felt my eyes grow when I heard my words. This time, Theo didn’t take me for teasing, his forehead lined and jaw rigid.
“What I meant is it has a more homey feel to it, a lived-in touch.”
The hard planes of his face relaxed before he led the way up the stairs. “It should. This is pretty much my home year-round. I’m gone a week here and a week there for business trips, but I’m able to do most of my job from in front of my laptop.”
“Lucky you.”
Theo slid closer. “Some days.”
He stopped outside a door on the second floor, pushing it open and motioning me inside first. I took a moment to admire the scene before stepping inside. He’d been right about his room being more like a suite. There was a sitting area, office space, a bathroom off of that, and tucked in the back was a bed.
I ignored that area.
Beyond all that, I could make out the balcony, where a table had been set up with a couple of chairs, several candles glowing in the center. Theo followed, letting me lead. I didn’t miss the sound of his door closing behind us, the faint click of a lock setting.
I carved as direct a path as possible to the balcony. “Your room’s nice.”
“It’s where I lay my head.” He caught up to me, that smile slanted in a way that made my stomach fold. “And do other things.”
I whipped open the slider leading to the balcony with more force than I intended. Calm down and enjoy the night. Forget about Edward Royston for an hour, or a minute, or . . . even a second.
My eyebrows lifted after I inspected the spread laid out on the candlelit table. “You cooked?”
Theo’s chest moved. “I paid.”
His blunt honesty made me laugh.
“Can I take your coat?” He moved behind me, sliding the jacket from my back once I unfastened the buttons. A low whistle of approval followed. “I’m feeling even luckier.”
Exhaling, I started to relax. He was Theo. Good guy. Easy to like. Eager to please. I could let down the defensive act; he wasn’t going to rip my heart out of my chest with his bare hands.
Besides. Someone else had beaten him to it.
After doing a spin, I smoothed my hands down my burgundy velvet dress, which hugged curves better than Theo’s car. “You mean this old thing?”
“I was more referring to the woman wearing the dress when I suggested my luck was improving, but the dress isn’t too shabby either.” Theo’s eyes followed the shape of my body, lingering on the aforementioned curves. “Hungry?”
He drifted behind one of the chairs, pulling it out for me. My stomach grumbled at the mention of food, my appetite seeming to return now that I’d been distracted from my thoughts of a certain someone I would give no more thought to tonight.
“Famished,” I answered, settling into the chair.
Theo’s hand brushed down my neck before he wandered to his seat. “Good.”
While I admired the dinner spread, Theo pulled a bottle of champagne from a bucket of ice and popped the cork with the kind of ease that suggested he’d done it a thousand times.
“Champagne?” He tipped the mouth of the bottle above my flute.
“A little, please.”
Theo splashed some champagne into the glass, his grin curving before he kept pouring until the golden liquid was nearly brimming to the top.
“We’re celebrating,” he explained when I gave him a look.
“Celebrating what?”
He poured himself a glass, though his was only filled halfway. “To our first date.” He lifted his glass toward me. “To all the firsts.”
When I clinked my glass to his, he took a sip, the flames from the candles reflecting in his eyes.
“It’s weird this is our first date. I feel like I’ve known you—”
“Forever?” he suggested.
Taking a sip of my champagne, I considered that. “Not forever, but more like a fifth- or sixth-date level of knowledge.”
He gave a satisfied nod, unfolding his napkin into his lap. “Good to know. I feel the same exact way. Definitely at that sixth-date level.”
From his tone, there was something hidden in his words.
“How did you manage to get someone out here to prepare a dinner like this?” I dipped my spoon into my soup bowl and gave it a little taste. “And time it perfectly to our arrival?”
Theo drew a line across his lips. “A guy can’t give away his trade secrets. I’ll just let you keep on assuming I’m amazing and possibly in possession of superpowers and I’ll keep my insider knowledge to myself.”
I took another bite of the soup. “Fair enough.”
Theo cut into his filet, his eyes dropping to my neck. “You’re not wearing the necklace I got you.”
My hand floated to my neck. “I meant to put it on. But I for
got.”
Theo finished chewing the bite he’d taken, eyes smiling at me. “Okay, fine. I’ll get you another. Consider your message received.”
My head tipped. “Me not wearing a necklace isn’t sending any message other than I forgot to put it on.”
“Sure.” His chest puffed. “I assume emeralds are acceptable?”
“Theo, I’m serious.”
His hand covered his chest. “And believe me, you are doing a serious job of looking serious.”
Sighing, I reached for my champagne. “Don’t even think about getting me any more jewelry.”
“Why not?”
“Because giving a diamond necklace to a girl you’ve shared a handful of conversations with is a good way to scare her off. Or lead her to believe there are expectations tied to that sparkly solitaire.” I set my glass down, blinking at him through the candlelight. “And you wouldn’t want me to get the wrong impression, would you?”
His dimples set. “We wouldn’t want that.”
I fought my smile as I cut into my own filet. He might have been relentless and a fast mover, but I admired that Theo knew what he wanted. There seemed to be little confusion in his life, and it was a quality I wished I could siphon off a fraction of.
“You said you were thinking about law school, right?” He topped off my champagne while I finished my bite.
“Med school,” I corrected.
“That’s right,” he said, snapping his fingers. “You must have been one of those genius kids, right?”
I shifted when I caught him staring at my chest. When he realized he’d been caught, he offered a boyish smile and a shrug.
“I worked hard and did my homework, but I don’t have the genius gene or anything.” I tugged at the neckline of my dress, adjusting it slightly higher.
“Have you gotten any closer to a decision?” He pointed his fork at me. “I could see you being a doctor. Which, by the way, you want to play doctor with me?” His arms stretched out at his sides. “Anytime. Anywhere. Just make sure to revive me when you’re finished.”
“I have been wanting to practice an appendectomy if you’re in a volunteering mood.” I kept a straight face as I waited for his answer.
Glass Castle Prince Page 14
