Reluctantly Royal

by Nichole Chase

  “No, I’m fine.” I’d said it too quickly. Why hadn’t I just let her send someone else? “It would just make her frustrated to have a bunch of new people around.”

  “I get it.” She frowned. “I think I’ve started to get used to having so many people around. Which is scary.”

  “You’re just glad you don’t have to bend over to pick up anything you’ve dropped.” I opened one eye to look at her.

  “Oh, you’re so funny. You try to bend over with a basketball stuck in your stomach. See how easy it is.”

  “Not really my thing.” I closed my eyes and was caught unsuspecting by the giant pillow that landed on my head. “I deserved that.”

  “No kidding.”

  “Sorry, pregnant lady.” I shot her my best smile.

  “You’re lucky you’re cute.” She rolled her eyes. “Seriously though, Cathy said your mom sent someone to help out. If you aren’t comfortable going over there, or think that it will upset Meredith, then leave it alone. I didn’t mean to make things difficult. I just wanted to help.”

  “I know.” I looked at her. “But she’s stuck with me now.”

  “Heh.” Sam narrowed her eyes.

  “Don’t ‘heh’ me.” Hehs from Sam were dangerous. It meant she was working something out in her head.

  “Is it bad over there?” She frowned.

  I shrugged. It really wasn’t my place to say and I didn’t want to upset my highly hormonal sister-in-law. The truth was that Meredith and Marty needed somewhere else to live, preferably back in England where she had been building them a life. But for now, I’d just have to try to be a wall between them and the worst of it.

  “That bad, huh?” She frowned. “It must be if your mom sent someone to take charge.”

  “Oh, that’ll go over well.” I snorted. Meredith was not going to let someone come in and just run rampant. “Good luck with that.”

  “She’s stubborn, huh?”

  “As stubborn as you.” I wasn’t surprised when she laughed.

  “That’s rough. You’ll have your work cut out for you.” She paused, and I could see her rub her belly out of the corner of my eye. “How is Marty?”

  “He’s coping.” The thought of him in that big house with his grandfather made me ill. “Is she bringing him to the speech?”

  “I don’t think so.” She frowned. “Not really a great place for a little one.”

  “Good.” I stood up. “I thought I might go take him fishing.”

  “Fishing?” She looked at me with surprised eyes. “You’re going to go take a little boy fishing. Heh.”

  “Stop it. I told him I’d take him. His great-grandfather used to take him all the time.” Plus it would get him out of the house with his grandfather. Not that I was going to tell Sam that. She might show up with the cavalry if she thought there was a little one in danger. I was sure that Meredith had left him with someone who would watch out for him, but still. It would make me feel better if I was there. I could leave as soon as she got back and still feel like I had done my duty.

  It would also alleviate my guilt at not being there for Meredith while she made a difficult public appearance.

  I would leave as soon as she got there. I wouldn’t hang around hoping for another kiss, like a lovesick schoolboy. Nope. Not going to happen. I’d hang out with Marty and then come home. So what if it was a two-hour drive? It didn’t matter in the long run. What else was I going to do today? Plus it would mean that I could avoid the media.

  I stood up. “I’m going to go change.”

  “Okay.” Sam held her hand out to me and I helped pull her to her feet. She wobbled for a minute and I steadied her with an arm around her shoulders. Leaning down, I kissed her on her head.

  “What was that for?” She looked up at me with a smile.

  “Just because.” I looked down at her for a minute. Alex had been extremely lucky when he found her. Or had she found him? The only thing that mattered was that they were happy.

  “Well, don’t think I’m going to name the baby after you just because you helped me stand up.” She laughed.

  “Oh, I know I’m at the bottom of the list.” I winked at her. To be fair, I was pretty sure I wasn’t on the list. They hadn’t told anyone if they were having a boy or girl and had kept their name choices to themselves. If I was a betting man, I’d put money on her father’s name and my father’s name for a boy. Or I would if anyone would actually bet me. They all assumed I already knew the answer.

  After changing, I called for my car, and headed toward Thysmer Manor. My ever-present bodyguard, Charles, was in a car behind me. It seemed silly, but being able to drive in a car by myself was one of the things I refused to give up. There was no uncomfortable need to make small talk. Though Charles wasn’t exactly the type for long, drawn-out conversation. It was one of the reasons I’d chosen to keep him around.

  I timed it just right and saw Meredith pass me on her way to town. I barely caught a glimpse of her red hair in the back of a black sedan. She didn’t see me, which was perfect. It probably would have upset her, or made her worry, which was the opposite of what I wanted to accomplish.

  I pulled up in front of the house and parked off to the side so that I wouldn’t be blocking anyone else. The front door was thrown open and Marty came running out, followed by a woman with an armful of toys.

  “Max!” The little guy stopped just before he got to me and I could tell he was trying to decide whether to hug me or play it cool.

  I held out my fist instead. “What’s up?”

  He bumped my fist with his tiny one and smiled at me. “I was building a fort in the front room, but saw your car coming up the drive.”

  I looked over at the woman standing in the doorway. She bobbed her head quickly before marching down to where Max was standing.

  “You can’t just run out like that, Marty.” She knelt down and looked him in the eyes. “It’s dangerous.”

  “But it’s Max!” The little guy turned around and bumped his shoulder into my hip.

  “Yes, but other people drive that type of car.” Her voice was patient and it became apparent why Meredith felt confident leaving Marty in her care. There was an undercurrent of love in her words.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He frowned. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again, Ms. Katie.”

  “Thank you.” She stood up and smiled at me. “You just missed Lady Meredith. She’s on her way to the township.”

  “I passed her on my way here. I’m actually here to see Master Marty.” I smiled down at the boy and put my hand on his shoulder.

  “Oh, she must have forgotten to tell me that you were coming.” The nanny looked confused.

  “Well, I hadn’t really planned on it.” I hoped I didn’t look guilty. “I just decided to go fishing and remembered that Marty liked to fish. So I thought I’d come see if he wanted to throw the rod a little. If that’s okay?”

  “Yeah!” Marty pumped his fist. “Can I?”

  “You’re going to stay here at Thysmer?” Katie looked from Marty to me.

  “Absolutely. I brought all of my stuff with me.” I walked over and opened the back of my SUV. “But only if you’re comfortable with it.”

  “I think that’ll be fine.” She smiled. “He wasn’t happy being cooped up all day anyway.”

  Sometimes being a prince had its perks. “Thank you, Katie.”

  She blushed a little and bobbed her head again. “Come along, Marty. Let’s get you changed.”

  “I’ll meet you inside.” I winked at Marty and turned back to the equipment. I’d raided Alex’s stash, because it had been forever since I had been fishing. He and Sam used to go from time to time, but never came back with any fish. Either they sucked at it or were doing something else out there by the lake.

  I juggled the tackle box and two poles into the house and stopped in the foyer. I could hear Marty talking excitedly upstairs, but wasn’t sure where to wait. I didn’t want to just make myself at home. That seemed
rude. I looked around the opening and noticed that the drawing from the night before was gone. I couldn’t help but wonder what she had done with it. It certainly hadn’t been my best work. Just a quick pencil sketch.

  Marty raced down the stairs in a pair of fishing boots, jeans, and long-sleeved T-shirt. Katie followed behind him making shushing sounds. His grin was infectious.

  “Ready?” I asked.

  “Gotta get my stuff out of the shed in the back.” He took off down the hallway.

  “Are you sure you can handle him? He’s a handful.” Katie looked up at me with a small smile.

  “Yeah. It’ll be fine.” I shrugged. “Besides, we won’t be far from the house. You’ll hear my screams for help.”

  “I’ll keep an ear open while I clean up the fort in the living room.” She laughed. “He’s a good kid.”

  I followed Marty’s path to the back of the house and then the sounds of him rummaging through a shed near an old barn.

  “Did you find your stuff?” I leaned my poles against the metal wall in case I needed to climb in there and help him.

  “Yeah.” He grunted as he pulled on something. “But it’s stuck.”

  “Here, let me try.” I reached over his head and pulled the rod in question up and out of the offending metal stand.

  “Thanks.” He rummaged along the floor and came up with a well-worn tackle box. “This was my great granddad’s.”

  His face clouded up and I felt my heart tighten.

  “Do you think it’s okay if I use it?” He looked up at me with shimmery eyes and I panicked. I hadn’t meant to make him upset.

  “Hey, I think he would be glad to know it was getting use.” I knelt down and picked up a twig and rolled it around between my fingers. “When my dad died, there were lots of things that made me think of him. His favorite TV show, a pair of binoculars we used when we’d go birding. At first it was hard to see those things, but then I realized they were little pieces of him still left behind.”

  “My heart hurts.” A tear ran down his cheek.

  “I know, buddy.” I reached out and pulled him into a hug. “It’ll get better though.”

  He sniffled against my shoulder and I let him have a moment. It felt so strange to be holding such a small person, but right, too. There was this odd tug on my own heart, the desire to make him feel better, but I knew the only thing that would help would be time. So instead I held him and offered my support the only way I knew how.

  “I think he’d want me to use it.” He leaned back and rubbed his nose along his sleeve.

  “I think you’re right.” I stood up and grabbed the tackle box and held it out to him. “Ready to go catch some fish?”

  “Yeah.” He grabbed his pole in one hand and the tackle box in the other. We made our way out to a small pier that jutted out into the pond.

  “Nice place.” I set my box down and looked around.

  Thick trees circled the pond, providing lots of shaded areas for the fish to hide. Wildflowers were scattered around, hogging the areas where the sunlight filtered through the branches.

  “Great Granddad loved it. He said it was the best part.” Marty opened the tackle box and looked through the different lures.

  “Here, let me help with that.” The last thing I wanted was him to stab himself with a hook.

  I searched through the lures, not sure which ones were appropriate for this type of water. The last time I had gone fishing I had used a worm and hadn’t really cared about catching any fish. I’d been busy taking pictures for a project.

  “No, not that one.” Marty’s little hand darted into the box and pulled up a different lure. “This one.”

  “Okay.” I took the one he handed me and went about attaching it to the line of his pole. I fumbled a bit, but eventually got the piece attached. I looked up triumphantly and noticed Marty was giggling. “What?”

  “You’re not really good at that, are you?” He pointed at the pole I was holding.

  “What?” I frowned at the lure. Sure it was a little crooked, but that wasn’t a big deal. Was it?

  “Here.” Marty took the pole from me and I watched in amazement as his little fingers fixed my mess. “Great Granddad showed me how to do this when we moved here.”

  “Huh.” I looked at the lure and then at Marty. “I guess you’re right. I’m not very good at it.”

  “Nope.” Marty stood up and grabbed my pole. “But that’s okay. Everyone has their own talent.”

  “True enough.” I stood up and took the pole he offered me.

  I hadn’t really thought about the actual fishing until I was out on the dock with Marty, but I had more fun than I had thought I would. The kid was quickly becoming one of my favorite people. He said the craziest things that made me laugh and would then turn around and say something that was so profound I wondered if he understood it himself. I couldn’t help but wonder if all kids were like that or just Marty.

  “Dinner is ready!” Katie walked toward the pier and stopped on the edge. “You two better come on in! The bugs are big enough to carry you away.”

  “Whoops.” I looked down at Marty. “I didn’t think about bug spray.”

  “I’m okay.” He smashed a mosquito on his cheek, leaving a bloody trail, and I cringed.

  “I hope your mom’s not back yet. She’ll kill me.” I wiped at his cheek with my thumb but he wiggled out of my grasp.

  “Nah.” He started picking up the mess we had made on the dock. “She likes you.”

  “Oh yeah?” I looked away from him so he wouldn’t see my smile.

  “Yeah. She never likes guys, so it’s weird.” He looked at me with narrowed eyes. “Do you like her?”

  “Sure. You’re mom’s cool.” I shrugged.

  “But do you like-like her? Like the older kids at school?” He handed me his rod and I juggled it into my other hand, because his little fingers closed around mine.

  I looked down at his little hand and back into his big eyes. “Um.”

  He just looked at me, not offering me an out, and I felt like pulling at my shirt collar.

  “Your food is getting cold!” Katie called from closer to the house.

  “We better hurry.” I pulled him with me as I started up the dock.

  “Yeah, Ms. Katie is serious about dinner. She doesn’t like it when I’m late.” His little legs picked up the pace.

  We dropped off his fishing gear in the old shed and headed back into the house. Marty pushed the door open for me, laughing as I fought with the two poles in my hand.

  “What are you doing here?” Meredith stood in front of the door with her arms crossed.

  We both froze like two kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Well, one kid and one adult.

  “Just came to do a little fishing.” I leaned the poles against the wall next to the door.

  Marty threw himself at his mom and hugged her around her hips. “We had so much fun!”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” She looked down at her son and smiled. “Go get washed up.”

  “Can Max stay?” He looked up at his mom with big eyes. “Please?”

  “Sure.” She smiled again. “Now get. I want to smell soap when you come back.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He smiled at me over his shoulder as he ran toward a bathroom.

  When I looked back at Meredith she was not smiling. In fact, she looked irate.

  I cleared my throat and looked down at my watch. “It’s technically been a full day.”

  “You know what I meant.” She tapped her foot and I had to keep from smiling. I didn’t think she realized that she was still in mom mode. The amusing part was that I found it just as attractive as when she was being alluring in a dark hallway.

  “It was either this, or I had to go with the family to your township.” I let my hands hang at my sides. My fingers itched to pull her against me, to see if last night’s kiss had been a fluke.

  “Don’t think I didn’t notice that you sent your family to check
up on me.” She glared at me.

  “Whoa. That had nothing to do with me.” I lifted my hands like I was going to ward off an angry bear. “They wanted to show their solidarity with you.”

  “Your mother has already sent someone to help out. I don’t need to be babysat.”

  “You’ve got it all wrong, Meredith.” I took a step forward. “We really do only want to help.”

  “Then why are you here?” She threw her hands in the air. “You said you’d give me a day but here you are! I can’t think when you’re here.” Her eyes widened a little at that last sentence. She hadn’t meant to tell me that.

  “I thought I’d be gone by the time you got back.” I took another step closer. “I promised Marty I’d go fishing with him and since I knew you’d be gone, I thought I’d help by keeping him distracted. I was just trying to help.”

  “I—I have too much going on for this.” She waved her hands between us. “Whatever this is. If there is something. I don’t know. And coming back to see you with Marty . . . he’s so vulnerable right now. It’s just . . .”

  It wasn’t just Marty that was vulnerable. Meredith felt exposed and it scared her. Fuck, it scared me.

  “I should have asked if it was okay to hang out with Marty.” I took another step closer to her, but she didn’t move. “I’m sorry.”

  “I just—”

  “It’s okay.” I reached out and touched her hair. I just needed to touch some part of her. “I should have known better.”

  “You should have.” She looked up at me with deep blue eyes. There were circles under her eyes, but they didn’t detract from her beauty. Instead they just emphasized everything else that was so perfect. Her mascara was smudged a bit in the corners as if she had been fighting tears, and I let my thumb wipe it away.

  “I want to help you.” I said the words quietly. “And I’m trying the only way I know how.”

  “Why?” She frowned. “Why now? Why here?”

  “Because you need it.”

  “I’m not good for you.” She bit her lip. “Last night—”

  “It can wait.” I shook my head. “You have enough on your plate right now.”

  “I don’t just kiss people.” She frowned. “That sounded wrong. I mean I don’t go around kissing people all the time.”