Spring Romance: NINE Happily Ever Afters

by Tessa Bailey

  I follow Maya back downstairs, covered in dust. We’re a mess, but it was so worth it. I’ve got the clock in one hand and the phone in the other. Maya’s got an armful of candlesticks. We’ll need some help for the mantel, which is too heavy and unwieldy for us. Maya opens a door out to the hallway and immediately drops into a low curtsy. “Your Highness.”

  It’s the royal hottie himself. His crisp white button-down shirt is open at the throat, exposing tanned chest. Dark gray pants with black leather shoes complete his GQ outfit.

  “Maya!” he exclaims. “I almost didn’t recognize you. Have you been sweeping out the chimneys? I’m pretty sure that’s not in your job description.” Even his accent is sexy, proper English with a hint of French lilt to it. He smiles, his aquamarine eyes sparkling playfully. He is breathtaking. I wish I were immune.

  Maya blushes. “No, sir. I’ve been in the attic.”

  Phillip glances at me and then back to Maya. “It’s a nightmare up there. Next time tell me what you need and I’ll have it brought down for you. Hold on.” He leans close to her and then carefully picks a long cobweb out of her hair, crumpling it in his hand.

  Maya looks suitably freaked that something weird was in her hair. “What was it?”

  “Just a cobweb.”

  She holds herself very still. “Any spiders?”

  Phillip inspects her hair. “Let me see.” He makes a big show of looking all over her head. “Ah. Don’t move a muscle.”

  Maya squeaks.

  Phillip laughs. “Kidding!”

  Maya laughs too. “Oh, you!”

  He looks over at me, still smiling, and my stomach dips. “Hello.”

  “Hi,” I manage because when he’s not being an arrogant jerk, he’s hot as fuck.

  He turns back to Maya. “Is this a new maid, or have I not been paying attention?”

  I must have more dust and dirt on me than I realized if he doesn’t recognize me. Though I did change my clothes to old ratty sweats, put my Rays cap on, and traded my contacts for glasses. I knew this would be dirty work and I wanted to cover up as much as possible.

  Maya shakes her head. “Sir, this is our honored guest, the queen’s friend Miss Ruby Evans. She’s an interior designer and is putting some magic into the royal fantasy suite.” She turns to me. “Right? Magic?”

  I smile. “Yes. That’s right. It’s in my job description per Queen Anna.”

  Phillip’s eyes narrow as he gives me a once-over. “We met earlier.” He frowns. “You look different.”

  “Would this help?” I hang my tongue out and pant. “Remember me now? The one who panted after you, desperate for a date you’d never give me at any price?”

  Maya gasps.

  Red creeps up Phillip’s neck. “Yes. I mean no. Good day.” He turns to go.

  I stifle a laugh. “We could use a hand getting a fireplace mantel down from the attic.”

  He stills and turns back to me, which I give him a lot of credit for, considering his neck is still red.

  I incline my head toward the attic. “It’s leaning against the wall when you first go up. I left a pink Post-it on it. The mantel is white, shaped like a crown at the top with the royal crest. Could you have someone bring it to the fantasy suite?”

  And then he surprises me by striding straight to the attic door and heading upstairs to get it himself. What a prince! Ha-ha.

  Then I realize he’s going to ruin his expensive white dress shirt with the dusty mantel. I set the clock and phone on the floor and holler through the open attic door. “Phillip, wait! You’re going to ruin your white shirt. It looks custom-made. You should change or get someone else to help with the mantel.”

  “No problem,” he says, rapidly unbuttoning the shirt. “Wait right there.”

  I suck in air. I expected him to change not strip. But do I call a halt to the increasingly spectacular reveal? Uh, no. He must have a personal trainer. It’s tanned chiseled muscle as far as my ogling eyes can see, from defined pecs to what I swear is an eight-pack with a deep V at the waist. My mouth goes dry as he descends the stairs, his blue-green eyes locked on mine. By the time he’s standing two steps above me, my body hums with lust, my pulse thrumming through my veins, and I’m flushed hot from head to toe. He smells intoxicating, like fresh soap, hints of ocean, and sexy man. No, arrogant man. Stay strong.

  He quickly undoes the cuffs, pulls the shirt off, and places it in my hand. “Thank you for your concern, Ruby.”

  “Yes,” I croak. “You’re welcome. Any time.”

  He arches a brow, a sexy smirk on his lips. The bottom lip is fuller than the top, and I’m fixated on it.

  He turns and goes upstairs and, oh my God, the back view is incredible—powerful rounded shoulders, muscular back, tight ass. I tell myself there’s no harm in looking, even at a rude arrogant playboy prince, as long as he doesn’t know I’m looking.

  He glances over his shoulder at me. Busted!

  My cheeks flame, and I rush out the attic door, his shirt clutched in my hand.

  “Ma’am?” Maya asks with some alarm. “Is that His Highness’s shirt?”

  I clear my throat. My cheeks are still hot. Embarrassment? Lust? Maybe both. “Yes.”

  “Perhaps we should call for another shirt for him?”

  I glance down at the dusty clock and phone I need to carry and his white shirt, which I’m trying to keep safe. “He knows where to find us. I’ll…” What will I do? We’re both too dirty to carry the shirt or wear it. I look around the hallway and spot a bronze bust at the end perched on a marble pedestal. “I’ll just set this over on that bust for him and we’ll be back in business.”

  “But, ma’am, that’s the bust of a former king. One of his revered ancestors.”

  “Then it will suit him.”

  I walk briskly down the hall and set the shirt over the bust, which, by the way, is completely dust-free. Problem solved.

  Chapter Three

  Phillip

  This mantel has seen better days, which is why it was in the attic in the first place. I admit I normally wouldn’t act as moving man, but I was thrown off by Ruby, who was unrecognizable from before. Her hair was tied back and covered by a dusty Rays cap, smudges of dirt on her tortoiseshell glasses hid the bright green of her eyes, and her body was swallowed up by a baggy gray tracksuit. She surprised me looking like that, and then reminding me of our earlier encounter. I admit I took my shirt off just to give her something else to remember me by.

  I know, I know, that was bad form after Anna declared Ruby off-limits, but it’s not like I’m going to do anything. It shouldn’t be too difficult to keep my distance. Ruby’s only here for a week, and I’m leaving very soon. First for a tour with Global Sun Water, a nonprofit I’ve been involved with for years, and then my travels continue as the new UN Ambassador for Clean Water. I volunteered for the UN position, citing my work with Global Sun Water bringing solar water-pump technology to impoverished communities. Despite my sometimes salacious press, the UN accepted me. The truth is, good or bad, everything I do gets attention in the press, which will subtly put pressure on foreign governments to make clean water a priority. I’ve committed to the UN position for a year, but they hope I will continue for longer.

  Guess what, ladies, I’m not just a pretty face. I want to help with clean water efforts, and I also want to improve my public image for the sake of my family. I’ve sworn to my grieving mother to keep the scandal to a minimum and stop tarnishing the family name during this critical transitional time for Villroy’s monarchy after my father’s passing. My mother is in such a deep state of grief she’s shut herself off from palace life, only coming out when she absolutely has to. But she keeps tabs on things. I’m not saying I’m taking a vow of chastity, just that I’ll be more discreet.

  As I approach the master suite, I can hear Ruby and Maya’s conversation floating out to the hall. “Prince Phillip is usually very nice,” Maya says.

  Why, thank you, Maya. She’s only three
years younger than me. We practically grew up together since her mother worked at the palace too.

  “Nice looking maybe,” Ruby replies. Maybe? “I’m telling you he was incredibly rude to me before.”

  I speed up. I need to defend my honor and put things right. Also, I don’t want Ruby to tell Maya the details of our encounter, which the servants will have a field day with.

  Ruby’s voice rises. “I mean, I didn’t ask him for a date and he acted like I was going after him. Do I look like a desperate woman?”

  “No, ma’am,” Maya replies solemnly. I can hear the smile in her voice. She has a good sense of humor, though she will always remain professional.

  I step into the living room of the master suite and set the mantel against the hearth. They’re in the bedroom.

  Maya goes on. “Maybe it’s because of Queen Anna’s—”

  “I’m afraid we got off on the wrong foot,” I say, appearing in front of them. If Ruby doesn’t already know about the auction, I’d prefer to keep it that way. No sense giving her more ammunition against me after our earlier embarrassing encounter. I’m hoping she’ll be gone before the auction happens. Besides, I won’t be participating in it, and I think that will disappoint her. Not because she wants to bid on me, that’s for my sister-in-law’s wealthy clients. Ruby will be disappointed that I let her friend, the queen, down.

  They freeze, both of them staring at my bare chest. I get that reaction a lot. Good to know my workouts are still massively effective.

  I hold my hand out to Ruby. “I’ll take my shirt.”

  “It’s out.” She points toward the door. “Out there.”

  Maya drops her eyes to my shoes. “It’s on the bust of King Carl the first, in the hallway where we were previously, Your Highness.” That’s my great-great-great-great-grandfather, who reestablished the Rourke family as rulers two centuries ago, wresting control of Villroy from the British, who’d wrested it from the French, who’d taken control from us, the original Viking-Irish tribe. He is, in a word, a legend. And now he’s wearing my shirt. Sacrilege, using my revered ancestor as a laundry hamper.

  I rub my temple. “Maya—”

  “I’ll have it brought round.” She rushes to the phone, probably to call the servants’ quarters.

  Ruby bites her lip. “I was just trying to keep the shirt pristine.”

  I incline my head toward the living room. Maya’s back is to us, but I’d like even more privacy.

  She points toward the other room. “You want me to—”

  “Yes.”

  I head to the living room and take a seat on the plush blue sofa in front of the hearth. Ruby appears in the room, looking concerned. We definitely got off on the wrong foot. I pat the cushion next to me. “Please have a seat.”

  She shakes her head. “I’m way too dirty for that sofa, and I won’t be stripping, unlike some exhibitionists I’ve only just met.”

  I smile. “I admit I was trying to distract you from your first impression of me. I was worked up about something else, and I took it out on you. I’m sure you must think I was terribly rude. Can we start over?” I offer my hand. “Hello, I’m Phillip. Welcome to Villroy.”

  She smiles a little and closes the distance between us, standing in front of me. “Hello, Phillip. I’m Ruby and quite happy to be here doing this job for my good friend Anna.” She tucks her much smaller hand in mine and I clasp it. My nerve endings flare to life at the touch, surprising me.

  Our gazes collide in a moment of shared recognition. Attraction. Chemistry. It’s arcing between us like electricity. I give her a brief handshake and drop my hand from hers.

  She takes a step back.

  “So,” she says at the same time as I say, “Ruby.”

  “You go,” we say at the same time and laugh.

  She raises a palm. “Prince trumps commoner. Please, what were you going to say?”

  “I don’t think in those terms. I know the circumstances of my birth were dumb luck. Some people are born into royalty; some born into poverty. I’m simply a lucky man.”

  She wags a finger at me. “Not as arrogant as I first thought.”

  I put a hand to my heart. “You wound me.” I lean forward. “Though I suppose I deserve it.”

  She waves that away. “No worries on this front. I’m not looking for a relationship or even a date. In fact, I’m pretty much turned off by your entire species. I might try the softer side. At least women I can understand.”

  I’m speechless.

  She barks out a laugh. “Kidding! Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Whatever floats your boat, right?”

  “Oh. Ha-ha. Yes.”

  She shakes her head, smiling. “So let’s be friends. Is that where you were going with this?”

  I take her in, still looking very much the dirty urchin. She even has smudges of dirt on her nose and cheek. Her petite curves are completely hidden by the baggy gray tracksuit. There should not be a single ounce of temptation in the picture she makes, yet I know we cannot be friends. I felt that chemistry. I need to keep my distance.

  “I’m glad we cleared up our earlier misunderstanding,” I say formally. “I assured Anna I would make amends.”

  Her face falls, her gaze dropping to the floor. “Ah. Yeah, sure.” She lifts her chin, her earlier open friendly expression now closed. “All cleared up.”

  I ignore the dull ache in my chest. “Good.”

  Albert, one of our oldest servants, with thinning white hair, steps into the room. “Your Highness, I’ve brought you your shirt.”

  I stand and take the shirt he holds out to me with a knobby hand. “Thank you, Albert.” I put the shirt on, quickly buttoning it.

  He bows his head and takes his leave.

  Ruby turns and heads back to the bedroom without another word.

  Maya’s voice carries loud and clear. “I told you he was nice, ma’am.” She must’ve been eavesdropping, like all of the servants.

  “Enough about him,” Ruby says sharply. “Now let’s get to work.”

  I walk out the door, my limbs heavy. I did what I had to do. No reason for regrets.

  * * *

  Ruby

  The next day I get the artists, Clara and Jeanne, settled in to do their work. Then Maya and I head out to catch the next ferry to Nantes, France, on a shopping expedition. I’m not sure what I’m looking for, exactly; I’ll know it when I see it. Something that would complement the existing decor, bringing a pop to it or an extra layer of regalness. We shall see.

  “Maybe Prince Phillip could help us, ma’am,” Maya says as we head downstairs. “He was helpful yesterday with the mantel. If we find a large item, we might need him to carry it.”

  Gah. Phillip. He totally gave me the brush-off yesterday. Apparently, I’m not worthy of his friendship. Add haughty to his list of sins, which I reviewed last night when I found myself replaying our shirtless encounter. No amount of sexy good looks can make up for being a playboy prince who is full of himself, arrogant, and haughty. I’ve removed rude from the list after his apology. Still…let’s add a few more sins for good measure. He’s too formal, cocky, and shallow. Oh, yes, he knows he’s good looking. He’s all about the looks the way he stripped down in front of me. Definitely not my type. I am officially unfollowing the royal hottie.

  I look over at Maya. “By that logic, we could get any man with big shoulders to go with us. Forget it. Men hate shopping.”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am. It was not my intention to overstep.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She’s quiet, and I follow her gaze to where Phillip is standing, waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs. My breath quickens, my heart hammering. I will myself to calm the frick down. His dark brown hair is rumpled a bit like he ran his fingers through it, and he’s got sexy scruff on his jaw. He’s wearing a gray button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing corded muscular forearms, along with black pants, a thick leather belt, and loafers. He look
s casual, like a regular guy I might meet in real life, not this alternate reality I’ve stepped into for my short visit to the palace. Two badass-looking men stand behind him dressed all in black—blazer, T-shirt, and pants. His security detail. I can tell by the wireless earpieces they wear and their stone-cold serious expressions.

  “Good morning, Maya and Ruby,” Phillip says warmly. As if there was no haughty brush-off yesterday.

  Maya dips her head and curtsies. “Good morning, Your Highness.”

  “Good morning, Phillip.” I can’t bring myself to say Your Highness. It feels too much like he’s above me, and he’s not. “I’m surprised you want to go shopping with us.”

  “Shopping?” He turns to Maya in mock surprise. “You told me I was to receive an award.”

  Maya blushes and shakes her head. I suspect she has a crush on him. Even I know a prince wouldn’t date his maid. That only happens in the movies.

  “No?” he asks in a teasing tone. “I’m not to receive the award for best karaoke?”

  Maya laughs.

  “What about best example of drunk dancing ever seen in the island’s history?” He winks at me, and I shake my head, fighting a smile. He’s teasing Maya, and she’s loving all the attention.

  “You are a fine dancer, sir,” Maya says with a laugh.

  He inclines his head. “Thank you. Good to know I’ve at least got that to fall back on. And today I’ll play your moving man, shopping assistant, or interpreter, as the case may be.”

  Maya beams at him and turns to me. “He speaks French.”

  “That could be helpful,” I say, playing it cool. I’m not a blushing maid so easily taken in by a little flirty charm. “I mean, the other stuff is great too. So, okay, let’s go.”

  We head through a side exit of the palace, where a couple of black Mercedes with tinted windows are waiting. Phillip holds the car door open to the backseat. I’m not sure if it’s me or Maya he’s expecting to sit there. Where do the guards sit?

  “You go, ma’am,” Maya says. “I’ll take the front seat.”