Spring Romance: NINE Happily Ever Afters

by Tessa Bailey

  “To put it mildly.”

  Someone claps me on the back. It’s a grinning Adrian. I knew it had to be family; otherwise, the guards wouldn’t let anyone touch me. I hadn’t used security earlier when my trousers were ripped by grabbing man-hungry hands, and I probably should have.

  “You beat them all!” he crows. He won the pool. Nothing thrills him more than winning.

  I narrow my eyes at him. “Where did you go? Were you driving up the bidding somehow?”

  He winks. “Who, me?”

  “Adrian!”

  “Relax, it’s all for a good cause.” He probably boosted the woman with the black hair’s bid.

  I shove his shoulder. “You should chip in personally, too.”

  “I will. We all plan to.” He looks from me to Ruby and back to me. “Phillip, you sly dog, you were the anonymous bidder, weren’t you?”

  Heat creeps up my neck. It’s one thing for Ruby to know, a whole other thing for my teasing brothers to know. “It was anonymous.”

  He grins. “Phillip, Phillip, Phillip, I had no idea you were such a romantic.” He turns to Ruby. “What do you think? Is he worth fifty thousand euros for one lousy date?”

  “Lousy!” I protest.

  Ruby smiles mischievously. “Only one way to find out.” Then she hugs me around the middle. I loop an arm over her shoulders and pull her close.

  Adrian shakes his head. “Guess we do have a tradition of Rourkes falling for Americans. First our uncle abdicated for an American, and then Gabriel threatened to do the same. What is it about you Americans?”

  Now the heat from my neck is all the way up to the tips of my ears, my heart pumping hard. I can’t deny I’m into her, despite trying to keep my distance. Adrian just put it out there like a big red flag.

  Ruby takes it in stride. “I guess us Americans are just plain awesome.”

  He chuckles. “You are.” He heads to the bar and is quickly surrounded by women eager to get close to him.

  I turn to Ruby. “I suppose I should join the party. Stick to my side.”

  “Ooh, I feel like one of your security guards, except I’m the don’t touch him, ladies, he’s mine kind of tough.” She laughs. “I did win you.”

  I can’t help but smile. Maybe it was okay that Adrian put it out there. Maybe we’re on the same page. “That kind of toughness is exactly what I need.” I take her hand, entwining our fingers together, and head to the bar.

  The women immediately form a crowd around me. “Where are you going on your date?” the woman with black hair who bid on me asks.

  “Paris,” I say.

  Ruby squeaks.

  “Damn, I should’ve went higher,” the black-haired woman says. “Adrian only gave me twenty-five grand.”

  Holy shit. That means she was willing to put up twenty-five grand of her personal funds. The total is more than double Lucas, and all I had to do was take a walk fully clothed. I am the man.

  “He’s mine now,” Ruby says, wrapping an arm around my waist and leaning against my side. “I was the anonymous bidder.”

  “Why were you anonymous?” the woman asks. “You were in the room.”

  Ruby turns to me.

  “She’s shy.” I can’t think of anything better. I probably should’ve told Ruby not to share that she won me, though the mystery of an anonymous bidder would’ve been hard to avoid as a topic of conversation.

  “Actually,” Ruby says, “the truth is, I was a little embarrassed of the huge crush I have on him.”

  My head swivels toward hers, but she keeps her gaze fixed on the curious women.

  She goes on. “We talked just a few minutes ago and he was so gracious I don’t feel embarrassed anymore. I mean, I’ve followed him online for years—”

  “Me too!” the woman says.

  More women gather close to share in their mutual stalking of me.

  “He’s my screensaver,” one woman says. “You know the picture of him on the beach at St. Bart’s?”

  I inwardly cringe. The women carry on as if I’m not standing there.

  “Which one? Red trunks? Black?”

  “Black. Wet and snug.”

  “Mmm-hmm, fi-i-i-ne.”

  “Oh, that’s a good one!”

  “You can make out the outline…”

  They snicker and stare at my crotch. I pull Ruby in front of me and wrap my arms around her waist. She rests a hand on my forearm and gives me a small squeeze.

  “What did you ladies think of Lucas?” Ruby asks, turning the conversation. “Think he would’ve taken off more if we’d kept our distance?” She’s clever, including herself in the riot to get them talking. She sat in the back the whole time.

  The women immediately chime in their opinions on his stripping possibility and what that might reveal. It’s much raunchier than the talk about me.

  I lean down and kiss Ruby’s cheek, feeling her smile as her cheek curves. She feels right in my arms, and I’m more comfortable than I thought I’d be in this bizarre situation. I should’ve seen the signs—the chemistry, my need to be near her, my uncharacteristic jealousy. I’m falling for her, even though it’s a dead end. I can’t seem to stop it, the slow roll into a crash. She’s irresistible.

  Chapter Eight

  Ruby

  I’m hyper, flushed and excited, totally thrown by the turn of events. First, that Phillip wanted me enough to bid sky-high to go on a date with me. And, second, by the fact that Adrian shared that Phillip is falling for me and Phillip seemed to agree. All of these feelings are pouring out of me—affection, warmth, deep like, no, it’s worse than that. We’ve been at the bar for an hour now, mingling with the ladies and his brothers, and every time he turns and smiles at me, my stomach actually gets butterflies. There’s fluttering up there and more fun going on down below. I want him so bad.

  Anna grabs my hand and tugs me along with her. “This is my song! Dance floor, ladies! You too, guys!”

  I laugh and join her. It’s Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” Just her kind of upbeat fun song. Everyone joins us, except for the guards and Gabriel. Phillip moves in by my side. He’s a good dancer. I’ve seen pictures of him dancing at clubs. I square off with him, and he dances close, his hands moving in the air around my body. It’s electric, the heat simmering between us.

  I lift my hands over my head and let go, moving my body sensuously, feeling sexy for the first time since the horrible breakup breakdown. I’m back from the dead and ready to throw myself at life, at him.

  Slow down. It’s a dance, it’s one date, it’s one week.

  He slips an arm around my waist, drawing me close, his leg wedging between mine as we grind. Oh, fuck, yes. His aquamarine eyes are intent on mine, heated and sure.

  “Hello?” Anna says, appearing next to us. “You two want to take this upstairs?”

  Phillip immediately pulls away. I glare at Anna.

  She sends me a significant look. It’s a reminder. Don’t think you can fix the manwhore. He’ll only hurt you. I look away, in denial, because right now I feel awesome with Phillip.

  Anna gestures in a big get over here move to Gabriel, who’s watching her from the side of the dance floor. “Your Majesty, get your cute butt over here!”

  Phillip and I exchange an amused look. Anna informed me earlier she’s not supposed to swear in public now that she’s queen. Normally she’d say ass.

  I glance over at Gabriel. A smile plays over his lips, his gaze warm on Anna, but he doesn’t budge.

  She dances over to him and, a moment later, he’s dancing a waltz with her, completely wrong for this song, but Anna doesn’t seem to mind.

  I go back to dancing with Phillip. Other women have crowded around him now that there’s space. His gaze returns to me again and again, and I can’t find it in me to be jealous. He wants me as much as I want him.

  The song changes to a slow one. Phillip and I immediately lock gazes. He crosses to me, takes my hand, and pulls me close, his other a
rm banding around my waist. He doesn’t ask if I want to dance with him. He doesn’t need to.

  I glance around the dance floor. His brothers are all paired off. Some of the women do twirling dances with each other, laughing. Some of them head back to the bar.

  He’s moving us, subtly, slowly shifting us to the edge of the crowd. All of my nerve endings light up in anticipation. He probably wants to bail, go somewhere private with me, but then he stops a small distance from the group and continues our dance.

  “Are we going upstairs after this?” I blurt.

  “No.”

  “Oh.” I’m confused. He arranged for our date and he’s been affectionate with me tonight.

  His voice is a husky rumble in my ear. “Ruby, I like you a lot, but I’m leaving in a week, so are you. I won’t be returning for a very long time. And the truth is, I don’t do relationships. I find you tempting, so damn tempting, but I want to do right by you. I want to be better than my reputation.”

  My throat gets tight, and I swallow hard. Even turning me down, he does it for noble reasons. I know I shouldn’t give him a pass on his well-deserved reputation, but it’s really hard not to when he’s being so honest and forthright. He’s not taking advantage, he’s protecting my feelings. “Maybe I wasn’t looking for a relationship.”

  He draws me close. “You’d regret it. I know that much about you.”

  I can’t let it go. “Maybe I just wanted a little fun for the short time I have here. Once I get home, I’ll be busy with my new business. I really want to hit the ground running so I can afford my own place. I’ve been living with my parents since I lost my job. Soon I’ll have a baby sister, and my parents need my room.”

  He pulls back to meet my eyes. “A baby sister? That’s quite an age gap.”

  “I know. She’s a miracle. We’re all so excited, and I don’t want to miss out on a thing. She’s the sister I’ve always wanted.” I take a deep breath. “So maybe just for tonight—”

  “Our paths likely won’t cross again, and I don’t want to hurt you.”

  My voice comes out small. “So just one date?”

  He looks over my shoulder. “We can spend time together during your stay. As friends.”

  I can’t keep the frustration from my voice. “You’ve been more than friendly tonight.”

  “I can’t seem to help myself, but I know the right thing to do.” He puts some space between us, finally meeting my eyes. “I want to be a good memory for you.”

  I let out an exaggerated sigh. “You really are a prince.”

  He laughs and pulls me into a hug. “I suppose so.” He pulls back and holds me by the shoulders. “Still want to go on that date with me?”

  I force a smile, my eyes hot. “Paris? Duh. Of course I want to go to Paris.”

  He resumes the dance. “Good.”

  “So do I get a goodnight kiss on this date?”

  He hesitates. “Sure.”

  “Second base?”

  He pulls back enough to look at me. “Oh, Ruby, you’re on a slippery slope, I’m afraid.”

  “Don’t be scared. I’ll be gentle.”

  He smirks. “That’s my line.”

  We dance in silence, our bodies close, heated, drawn together despite the line he’s drawn. I don’t think I can resist the temptation that is Phillip. He’s turned into my dream prince, and I don’t want to miss out. The fact that I leave in a week makes it urgent that I have him while I still can.

  I go up on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, “What if I told you, no matter what, there would only be good memories. That I would treasure our time together and know it for what it was, a temporary thing.”

  He stills, and hope soars within me. And then he drops his arms from me and steps back. “It wouldn’t be that simple.”

  “Why not? We could agree ahead of time.”

  We stare at each other, the short distance between us feeling like a giant chasm that can never be crossed.

  Lucas appears at my side. “Hey, big spender, I heard it was you who won Phillip. How about a dance? Or are you two still dancing?” He looks at Phillip standing a distance away.

  “Go ahead,” Phillip says and heads to the bar.

  I go cold.

  Lucas takes my hand and leads me in a waltz. He’s a good dancer and leaves a polite distance. Yet I can’t enjoy myself, can’t take my eyes off Phillip at the bar. The women have gathered around him and he’s chatting with them. How can he deny us? What if what we have—our intense attraction, our warm friendship—is not so easy to find again? What if it’s unique and this is a chance of a lifetime? Am I really just going to let him go? Would that be the smart thing to do, or a foolish mistake?

  “He likes you,” Lucas says as if he could read my mind. Or maybe I’m just that obvious with my longing looks at his brother.

  “I like him too.”

  “His ex wrecked him,” he says. “Serious baggage.” Is that why Phillip said it wouldn’t be that simple? Because he has real feelings for me, and he’s the one who doesn’t want to get hurt?

  “I get that. I’ve been through similar.”

  He whistles out a long breath. “That could be bad. Two people with serious baggage. Sounds like a minefield.”

  “What if it’s worth the risk?”

  “Sometimes it is. Sometimes it’s brutal.”

  “You know this from personal experience?”

  He steps away and does a courtly bow. “Thank you for the dance.” He goes to ask another woman to dance, who’s been standing on the sidelines.

  I let out a breath. Now I’m not sure what to do. Go to Phillip? Ignore him? But then he’s striding toward me, his guards flanking him, and I know there’s no real decision to be made. I must be with him.

  * * *

  Phillip

  I tried to resist for Ruby’s benefit, okay, for mine too, but I was fighting the inevitable. Whatever this is, I can’t keep away for the short time I’ve been granted with her. The moment Lucas abandoned her on the dance floor, I went to her. Now I’m leading her through the east wing and up to the flat rooftop garden accessible only to the royal family. It’s my favorite spot in the palace.

  “Oh, wow, look at the view!” she exclaims, rushing toward the far end, where the crashing waves along the beach are visible in the distance.

  “You can see the whole island from up here on a clear night.” I look up just as a cloud passes over the moon, dimming the light. “It’s a little cloudy but still good.”

  She goes to the edges of the space, looking all around, before turning to me. “So what do you do up here?”

  “Usually we party.”

  A couple of servants appear through the door, William and John. I requested they bring a few items. William is holding a chilled bottle of the same sauvignon blanc Ruby had earlier and two glasses. John has a couple of plush throw blankets to ward off the chill of a late September night.

  I maneuver one of the chaise lounges in front of the ocean view and accept the blankets. John brings a matching chaise lounge next to mine and then a small wooden table, where William sets the wine and glasses.

  I gesture for Ruby to take a seat. She looks delighted as she sinks into the cushioned seat. I settle one of the blankets over her lap.

  “Thank you!” she exclaims. “This is perfect!”

  I take the seat next to her and stretch the blanket out over my legs. William opens the wine and pours a glass for both of us.

  “Will there be anything else, Your Highness?” he asks.

  “This is good, thank you.”

  They both bow and take their leave.

  Ruby takes a sip of her wine. “Ahh. This is the life.”

  “I love it up here. So peaceful. Do you want me to put the floor lights on?”

  “No. The stars and moon are just right. So tell me what we’re going to do on our date.”

  “I thought we’d take the jet to Paris…” I trail off, alarmed at her coughing fit. “Are you okay?”


  She leans close, her eyes watering. “It went down the wrong pipe when I gasped. We’re taking a private jet to Paris?”

  “Did you think us poor?”

  “I didn’t think much about it. A private jet?”

  “Yes. Anna’s fundraiser wasn’t because we didn’t have the funds. It was cleverly designed to involve the people who will later become future clients of the spa. She’s hoping they’ll spread the word about it.”

  She smiles. “She’s a smart cookie, isn’t she?”

  “Yes. A natural entrepreneur, and my brother is behind her, using his own considerable power and connections to smooth the way.”

  She takes a sip of wine and sighs. “I love that she’s queen and has all of you. She had a rough childhood and, well, I know she’s always wanted family.”

  “She’ll probably have her own family with Gabriel soon. They’re getting started on the heir right away.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful! She’ll be the best mom.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Okay, so after we jet off to Paris, then we…”

  “Dine at L’Ambroisie and then—”

  “Wait, tell me about the restaurant.”

  “The chef is a family friend, he’s been around forever, and it’s a three-star Michelin restaurant. For foodies, that’s the ultimate. You pass through the seventeenth-century arcades of Places des Vosges to enter the restaurant. You’ll love that.” At her puzzled look, I backtrack to what might’ve been unfamiliar to her. “Places des Vosges is like a park, a residential square of open space surrounded by redbrick apartment buildings with shops and restaurants below. The street level of the buildings has these large arches, they’re called arcades. Anyway, you loved the historic shopping mall at Nantes so much, I thought you’d really like it. And then once you’re inside, the interior is an elegant Viennese style.”

  “Describe it.”

  I try to picture it in my mind’s eye. “White wood paneling, gold-trimmed mirrors, silk tapestries, crystal chandeliers, round tables with white tablecloths, red and purple velvet chairs, marble patterned floors. I’m sure I’m not doing it justice. You’ll have to see it in person.”