Happily Ever After: A Romance Collection

by Amelia Wilde

  I wrap my arms over her shoulder and lean down, hugging her to me. For several moments we stay that way, and I know the only way out of this is the hardest way possible.

  “How did you leave it with Rowan today?”

  She sits up, and her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “He’s picking me up after lunch. We’re going to the track, and he’s going to show me his race car.”

  I’m about to answer her when my phone buzzes with a text. I look over at it, and I see it’s from Cal. Rowan is taking Ava to the track. Let’s go with them?

  A lump is lodged at the base of my throat. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, glancing up at my sister. “Maybe we can put it off just a little longer? Hide from the truth and steal a few more hours?”

  “Do you think we can?” She’s blinking back tears.

  “It’s going to hurt like hell sooner or later.” I take her hand, and a shiver moves through her body. I’m trembling on the inside as well. “Maybe we can delay the pain just a little bit longer.”

  16

  Snake

  Zelda

  In a roar as loud as a jet engine, Rowan’s red Formula 1 car soars past us on the practice track outside of town. It moves so fast, it’s hard to believe, and Ava’s on the edge of her seat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Cal’s watching his phone’s timer.

  “One minute eight,” he says, touching the face. “He’s so fucking fast. Too bad he can never hit those speeds on the course.”

  “It seems dangerous,” Ava says, looking nervously up at him.

  Cal’s right beside me, an arm draped around my waist, smiling so big. “Nah, Ro’s an incredible racer. He’s been doing it for years.” Sitting a little straighter, he hands Ava his binoculars. “Watch as he comes through that set of curves. He’ll ease off a little on the first one then let it rip as he pulls into the straight. It’s how he’s able to clock such a great time. He’s fearless.”

  I can’t help a grin watching the enthusiasm in his eyes. “You’re really proud of him,” I say, kissing his cheek.

  He leans back and gives me a smug grin. “It’s not very sexy, I know. I should be more brooding and competitive. Loki.”

  Snorting a laugh, I press my face against his shoulder. “I think it’s very endearing.”

  Rowan’s car flies past in another blast of noise and blaze of red, and Cal stands. “Come, let’s walk down. It’s his last lap. We can meet him at the finish line.”

  Ava’s on her feet at once, and we follow him along the silver bleachers to the steps leading down to the tarmac.

  “It’s too bad he doesn’t compete anymore,” he continues.

  We’re holding hands, and Ava strolls beside us. It’s a sunny day, and she’s wearing a white halter dress that ripples in the breeze. She topped it off with a wide-brimmed straw hat, and I swear she looks like she just stepped out of Vogue magazine. I look like I’m headed to a racetrack in cropped khaki cargo pants and a thin sleeveless tank. Cal’s more my speed in jeans and a thin V-neck sweater.

  “Why doesn’t he compete anymore?” she asks, placing a hand on the top of her hat.

  We step out onto the track, and the wind gusts around us. The sound of Rowan’s car echoes from the other side of the track.

  “Too dangerous,” Cal says. “When these guys crash… well, not much is left.”

  Ava’s eyes go round, and her cheeks go completely pale.

  “But don’t worry!” he hastily adds. “Rowan’s done this so long, the chances of him having an accident alone on the track are slim to none.”

  She does a little nervous nod and looks back out to where a streak of red races toward us at blinding speed.

  “I’ve seen some of those wrecks,” I whisper in Cal’s ear. “They’re pretty scary.”

  “You’d be surprised how far they’ve come with safety on these things. From the suit he wears down to the cockpit design. They’ve got it to where drivers can be out of the vehicle in five seconds.”

  “Five? Out of that tiny thing?”

  “Yeah, it’s pretty impressive. They call it a ‘survival cell,’ and no fuel, oil, or water lines run through it. No more sitting, trapped in a fiery inferno, like Niki Lauda.”

  My heart lurches. “The guy in that Ron Howard movie?”

  He exhales a laugh and pulls my head to his lips, giving me a kiss. “Yes, the Ron Howard movie.”

  I struggle to push the image out of my head. I can’t even think of Rowan burned beyond recognition. Ava’s up ahead waiting with the pit crew as Rowan coasts in to a stop. He slides out quickly, removing the helmet and giving her a smile. She’s less enthusiastic than when we arrived, and I can’t say I blame her.

  “I’m sure your mother’s glad he doesn’t compete anymore,” I whisper.

  Cal’s arm moves from around my shoulders to holding my waist, and despite the horrible “what ifs,” I can’t help a smile as I watch Rowan lean back against the car and pull Ava to him, kissing her lips. A deep, accented voice from behind us makes me jump out of Cal’s embrace.

  “Yes,” Reggie says, irritation clear in his tone. “Her majesty is very glad he’s not racing anymore. Although, the crown prince seems to have a mind of his own these days.”

  “Reggie!” My voice is too high, and I know he knows I know we’re busted. I could die. “What are you doing here?”

  Cal’s eyes move from his uncle to me and back again. “Hello, Reg, what are you doing here?” He reaches out and takes my hand again, and Reggie’s eyes move to the connection between us.

  I can’t pull my hand away without hurting Cal, but now it’s impossible to hide what’s happening. Ava’s blissfully ignorant of her audience, and when I glance back, she and Rowan are smiling at each other. He leans forward and says something in her ear, and she shakes her head. They’re so clearly new lovers with the way they touch each other, and while I’m dying standing here knowing Reggie’s watching them, deep down, I’m so happy to see her so blissed out.

  “I actually came for Zelda,” he says, giving me a pointed look. “I received a call from the executor of your uncle’s estate, and I wonder if you might ride back with me to the hotel so we can discuss what he said.”

  “Why didn’t he call me?” I say, trying to escape what’s coming.

  He gives me a pointed glare. “Probably because he couldn’t reach you.”

  “We were planning to go for dinner, Reg,” Cal interrupts. “Can’t whatever it is wait?”

  “Is that so?” he says, still watching my expression.

  My heart is beating so fast, it hurts. “Yes,” I say softly. “We were.”

  “Then perhaps I can drop her at the restaurant. This shouldn’t take long. Where are you going?”

  Cal pauses, and I can tell he’s searching for an argument.

  “It’s okay,” I say giving him a confident smile. It is so, so fake. “I’ll meet you at the restaurant.”

  “The Brasserie at Columbus,” he says, glancing at his uncle. “I’ll be there in ten.”

  “We’re right behind you,” Reggie says, taking my arm.

  Cal steps forward and kisses my cheek. “See you in a bit.”

  “Tell Rowan his race was thrilling.”

  He does a little smile, and we part, me headed to face the consequences, him completely ignorant.

  We walk quickly through the breezeway under the metal bleachers out to the parking area where Reggie’s town car waits. The driver holds the door as we climb in, and it isn’t until the doors are shut and we’re driving away with the security glass firmly in place that he turns to me.

  At first he doesn’t speak, he only studies my expression. I swallow the knot in my throat. I don’t have a leg to stand on, and I know it.

  “It appears your sister has won the heart of the crown prince,” he finally says. “While you were off playing with his brother.”

  “I tried, Reggie.” My voice is too soft, too weak. “I really did.”

  “I set it all
up. I gave you multiple opportunities. Then you sneaked away in the night after you twisted your ankle? You were supposed to have breakfast with the future king!”

  After I’d just spent the night with his brother. “He wasn’t interested in me.”

  “He never had a chance to know.”

  With a sigh, I look out the window at the passing trees and flowers. “Can’t we change the plan? Ava’s not a member of the nobility or anything. Can’t she be the one to help you out?”

  Reggie’s eyes narrow. “The plan wasn’t for him to fall in love with a beautiful orphaned girl from America. That’s romantic enough to enchant the nation!” His voice rises a bit, and I flinch. “The plan was for him to fall for you, a phony heiress he thinks would secure Monagasco’s economic future. It would show he’s too inexperienced, too shallow to be our leader. He was to be led around by his cock and duped by someone like you!”

  My chin drops, and embarrassment burns in my cheeks. Why did I ever agree to this job?

  “That’s not Rowan at all. He’s none of those things,” I say quietly. “He’s very serious about his position. Every time we’re together, he’s reading something or taking a phone call. He’s very fit to be king.”

  “Even when he’s planning to race the Grand Prix next week?”

  “What?” My eyes widen. “Why would he do that? It’s too dangerous!”

  “Because despite what you think, Rowan is irresponsible. Apparently, he thinks national security is less important than the pursuit of his hobbies.”

  He turns his phone to me. On the screen is the headline, CROWN PRINCE TO RACE IN GRAND PRIX. My jaw drops. I can’t believe what Reggie is saying.

  “He wouldn’t…”

  “It seems he already has. Even better, he’s done it with the race only days away.”

  “How does that change—”

  “No one has time to prevent him or talk him out of it.”

  I think about what Cal said, all the safety precautions. I can only believe Rowan has weighed the odds and decided it’s safe. I know Rowan… sort of. At least, I’ve been around him, and I’ve talked to him about his country. I still believe in him.

  Reggie is frowning at me, and the bigger question is what now? I’m not foolish enough to think Reggie will continue bankrolling our presence here, and I’m also smart enough to know ten thousand dollars will last maybe three days in this pricey little kingdom. I’ve still got to get us home.

  “So is it over? You’re done with Ava and me?”

  Reggie’s lips press into a line, and he crosses an ankle over his knee. “In a word? No. You two have become unexpectedly useful.”

  “How so?” The last thing I want is to be pulled into another plot against Rowan—or Cal.

  Now that I’ve seen how close they are, I know anything that hurts Rowan, Cal will take as a personal injury as well. I sort-of love him for that. It’s so much how I feel about Ava. At the same time, that puts me in a very bad place with the man for whom I’ve developed such strong feelings.

  “The two of you have both princes by the balls, to use a tacky expression. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and keep me in the loop on the crown prince. As long as you do that, I’ll keep your account filled.”

  This new plan makes me feel even slimier than the first. I hate it, and I don’t want to do it. “You’re wrong. I didn’t even know Rowan was going to race the Grand Prix.”

  “They have a security breach at Occitan. It’s possible not even his brother knew what he did today.”

  “If there’s already a breach, you don’t need me.”

  “Au contraire, Miss Wilder. I don’t know the rat. I don’t know who he or she works for. You’ll stay right where you are and answer any questions I have.”

  The car pulls to a stop, and glancing out the window, I see we’re at the Brasserie where I’m meeting the other three for dinner.

  “Or what?” My voice it a bit sharper than I feel inside, which is really sort of trapped and miserable.

  Reggie’s eyes flash in response. “Or I’ll expose you for the lying little cunt you are.”

  My stomach plunges, but I swallow back my tears. He couldn’t have been crueler if he’d slapped me across the face. Still, as much as I hate him, as much as he’s a miserable old fuck, he’s right. I lied.

  I lied in a big, awful way, and when Cal finds out what I’ve done, my beautiful dream will be over. The most I can hope for now is damage control. I’ve got to find out what this snake is after and do my best to derail his plans.

  17

  Relevance

  Rowan

  As we wait for a table at the Brasserie, Cal is distracted watching for Zelda to appear. I want to be empathetic, but I can’t really think about anything but Ava.

  When she ran up to the car this afternoon on the track, I felt for the first time like I had everything I wanted. The American conglomerate I’ve been working with emailed me this morning to give us the green light. We’ll start building clean-energy electric storage facilities by fall—funneling both a new stream of revenue and a new source of jobs into the nation.

  Standing on the track, I had my new deal, my favorite pastime, and my beautiful girl all together. The only thing remaining is announcing my decision from this morning.

  With the economic pressure leveling off, I want to celebrate. Reaching for Ava, I pull her against my chest at the bar as we wait for Zee to join us. She lifts the enormous hat off her head and smooths her hair back, smiling up at me. I can only smile back. I don’t give a shit if I’m wrapped around her delicate little finger.

  “I want to take you back to Occitan and spend the rest of the day at the beach.” I don’t mention clothing optional.

  “I would love that. I didn’t get to see it the other night.” Her green eyes sparkle, and my hold on her waist tightens. She turns to my brother. “Cal, where is Zee?”

  My brother is distracted as he answers her. “She caught a ride with Reggie. Something about needing to discuss her uncle’s estate.”

  Ava stiffens in my arms. “She what?”

  Her voice is worried, and I can’t help wondering why she’s disturbed by Zelda’s being with Reggie. Personally, I’m still mildly furious at my uncle’s return. My mother tries to smooth it over, reminding me how I grew up with him and how at one point in time, my father trusted him.

  She doesn’t know the conspiracy I overheard all those years ago. I don’t have proof of Reggie’s involvement, but I’m keeping him in my sights. The only thing holding me back from kicking him out again is the fact he brought Ava to me. She gives me the ability to tolerate his presence.

  “Hmm,” Cal’s brow lowers, and he’s looking at his damn phone again. “That’s getting it in under the wire.”

  “I swear, MacCallam, if you could detach from social media for five minutes—”

  “You wouldn’t know what the hell you were up to,” he finishes, turning the oversized titanium phone to me. “I guess this means I’m captain of your pit crew.”

  CROWN PRINCE TO RACE IN GRAND PRIX is blasted big as the screen. Ava does a little gasp. My jaw tightens and fury burns in my chest. “How the fuck did they get that already?”

  Ava’s voice is soft in my ear, and I don’t miss the tremor there. “I thought you couldn’t race anymore?”

  I made the decision this morning in the high of learning our tech deal had gone through. The entry forms come every year like clockwork, and for the last six years, I’ve simply thrown them away. Not this year. I held them until today, the absolute last day to throw my hat in the ring.

  “I only decided this morning.”

  The muscle in my brother’s jaw moves. “We’ve got to find that fucking rat at Occitan. In the meantime, are you serious about this?”

  “I was this morning. Obviously, I haven’t discussed it with anyone.”

  “But you returned the forms.”

  “I want a place in qualifications.”

  Cal laughs and
braces my shoulder. “Mother is going to have a shit fit, and I can’t wait. You’re bound to win it this time.”

  “We’ll see.” I’m smiling, though. He’s right, and it is so good. “I’ve clocked my best times these last two practice sessions.”

  “I was there.” His response boosts my mood. I’m lucky to have him on my team.

  When I look back at Ava, she’s watching me, her green eyes round with worry. I pull her close and give her a reassuring grin. “Don’t worry, gorgeous, I’ll be okay.”

  My hand slides over the curve of her ass to her lower back, and I lean forward to kiss her lips briefly. Cal’s ordering champagne, and I notice a throat clearing somewhat obviously behind us.

  Glancing up, I meet olive drab. “Felicity!” Stepping forward, I shake her hand firmly. “Good to see you, old chap!”

  “Rowan!” She laughs loudly, moving her eyes and head over her shoulder. “You do always have the queerist greetings.”

  Frowning, I look behind her to see, of all people, Lara Westingroot. Straightening, I move Ava to the side from where she was pretty much sitting on my lap. I’m not hiding her—I still hold her hand, lacing our fingers. I’m only more formal now.

  “Miss Westingroot, how are you?” I do a slight nod.

  “Rowan.” Lara moves in too close and touches my hand. “You should know we don’t have to be so formal now.”

  My shoulders tense as Ava leaves me to stand beside Cal at the bar. Shit.

  “Are you in good health?” I ask.

  Lara laughs and blinks up at me. Is she attempting to flirt? “As good as can be expected with this latest news.”

  “Damn tabloids,” I grumble. “I hadn’t told anyone when they smeared it all over the Internet.”

  “At least she’s very beautiful.” Lara glances at Ava in an obviously appraising manner. “For a commoner, of course. But honestly, another American? Surely you could find a conquest from among our own ranks.”