by Amy DeLuca
One thing was for sure—she wasn’t ready yet. She needed more time to prepare—and gather the courage.
Scanning the parking lot, Alex said, “Don’t take a cab. My driver will be happy to take you home.”
“I still can’t believe you have a chauffeur,” Cinda said playfully. “If I’d known back then how rich you were, I never would have gotten involved with you.”
He grinned. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.”
There it was again, the implication that today was not the end of their reunion but a new beginning.
Looking up at his handsome face, she doubted she could ever get used to all the amazing things a life with him would entail. But she wanted the opportunity to find out.
Yes, she had to admit it. Despite her fears, despite the risk, despite her longstanding policy of never allowing herself to count on a man… she wanted Alex in her life. And in AJ’s life.
Over the past two days, she’d been struck again and again by the power of her feelings for Alex.
It felt like the five-year separation hadn’t happened at all, love rushing right back in to fill the hollow spots in her heart like a tide coming in and covering the contours of the rocky Newport shoreline.
He hadn’t said he still loved her, hadn’t made any promises. It was too soon for all that. But her heart soared with hope, rivaling the private plane flight they’d shared from the island.
As they waited on the sidewalk, Alex kept a supporting arm around her. She felt him looking at her nearly non-stop.
She had zero makeup on and had let her hair dry naturally, lacking any styling tools or products at the beach house. In other words, she was a complete mess.
Embarrassed, she glanced up and met his eyes. “Why are you staring at me? You’re making me self-conscious.”
“I just can’t get over the fact that you’re really here, that yesterday actually happened. I love hurricanes by the way,” Alex said, squeezing her more tightly. “Big, big fan.”
Cinda laughed. “That one had its charm, I guess. At least we won’t easily forget the experience.”
“I won’t forget a minute of it. These past two days have been some of the best in my life.”
“Really?” She wrinkled her nose in disbelief. “Even without power?”
“I don’t need electric shavers and coffeemakers to be happy.”
His carefree demeanor dropped suddenly, his eyes focusing on hers with weighty intent. “All I need is you. I hope you feel the same.”
Cinda was struck by a dizzying sense of unreality. Between the bizarre circumstances of their reunion and the muscle relaxant, the storm, and the magical rainbow that had signaled its end, their time on the island together had felt like a dream. And now Alex was declaring himself to her in an airport parking lot.
“This feels almost too good to be true, you and me here together. Feeling your arms around me. You’re not going to vanish on me again, are you?”
“Never. I promise.”
Alex punctuated his answer with a sweet kiss that reached down to Cinda’s very soul. It felt like a promise—that he would be there for her, that she could count on him, that they could be a real family.
“I do have to fly home on Sunday to take care of some state business,” he said. “But I’ll come right back. I want to see you as much as possible. And I want a chance to meet—”
He was interrupted by the sound of a child’s excited voice.
“Mommy! Mommy, we came to get you.”
Recognizing it instantly, Cinda whirled around.
Oh no.
AJ and Kristal were in the mostly deserted parking lot, standing beside the new Mercedes G Wagon Hunter had insisted on buying for Kristal. The rambunctious four-year-old was trying to squirm out of her grip and get to Cinda.
What were they doing there? Had Kristal misunderstood her text and taken it as an invitation to come to the airport?
Sweat popped out at the roots of Cinda’s hair, and her stomach fell to the dusty gray pavement.
Well, it was too late now. Her child was eager to greet her, and she wasn’t going to let him see how much his unexpected presence was complicating her life.
Conscious of Alex’s watchful gaze, she stepped off the curb and started making her way toward her son, who’d succeeded in escaping Kristal.
“AJ,” she cried, holding out her arms to him. “Oh my goodness, little bear, I’m so happy to see you. I thought you’d be in school.”
He flew at her, grabbing her around the knees and squeezing hard. “Kris-thal said you were coming home on a airplane, and I wanted to pick you up at the airport, and she said it would be okay to miss school for one day and surprise you.”
“He begged,” Kristal added. “It’s his superpower.”
“Of course it’s okay.” Moving slowly to accommodate her tender ankle, Cinda dropped to her knees and wrapped AJ in her arms, burying her nose in his sweet-smelling blond curls. “What a great surprise. Mommy missed you so much.”
Drawing back, she said, “Look at you—I think you’ve gotten taller since I saw you two days ago.”
He nodded vigorously. “I have. And Kris-thal and me made even more slime, and I’m not scared of storms anymore.”
“Wow. You really have grown up then.”
Cinda saw Alex move in her peripheral vision. He’d followed her across the parking lot, probably trying to make sure she didn’t fall on her face.
Had he gotten a look at AJ yet? Her stomach and head swam simultaneously. If he hadn’t yet, it was only a matter of minutes.
Kristal stepped forward and introduced herself, extending her hand over Cinda’s head.
“Hi Alex. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“You too. You’ve heard of me then?”
Kristal rolled her eyes. “For years.” Darting a glance at Cinda, she raised a sardonic brow. “Looks like you two managed to find some common ground. I was so happy when I got Cinda’s text that you were flying home together.”
Based on her giddy tone, Kristal had obviously seen them kiss and assumed they were a couple again.
Cinda wondered if AJ had noticed it too. He’d never seen her so much as hold hands with a man. What must be going through his mind? If he learned Alex was a real live prince, he’d start planning the wedding right then and there.
She’d hoped for a little more time to plan how to introduce them, how to explain things to her son—and to Alex. But it was too late for that.
Here they both were. Cinda’s heart did a crazy flip, anticipating the monumental moment.
Rising to her feet, she turned to see Alex. The look on his face nearly stopped her heart. He stared at AJ, his jaw slack, his brown eyes wide, a whirlwind of thoughts behind them.
He knows.
She grappled for her son’s small hand, swallowed hard, and forced herself to speak without stuttering. “AJ, buddy, there’s someone I’d like for you to meet.”
Before she could say any more, AJ dropped her hand and stepped forward. He looked Alex straight in the eye, his little face very serious.
“You’re the man who made my mommy work all day and night.”
Alex got down on one knee, putting the two of them at eye level with each other. Cinda went breathless observing them, their profiles so similar it made her heart ache.
She’d never expected to witness this moment. Now that it was happening, it was nearly impossible to hold the tears at bay. She didn’t want to alarm AJ though, so she fought them.
Alex extended a hand toward his mini-me son, matching his somber expression.
“Sorry about that. I’m Alexander Wessex. You can call me Alex.”
AJ’s eyes popped, and he turned to his mother with a big smile then faced Alex again, taking his offered hand and pumping his arm a couple of times.
“We have the same name. I’m Alexander Joseph Brown. You can call me AJ.”
Well, if Alex hadn’t figured it out by looking at the child, there c
ould be no more doubt in his mind now. She’d named AJ after him. Her son’s middle name, Joseph, was in honor of her father.
Alex looked up at Cinda in astonishment. His gaze went back to AJ, returned to her, tears glistening in his eyes.
A mixture of joy and absolute terror filled her heart, warring until she was afraid the combatants would break through its battered walls.
Sounding like he was choking back tears, Alex returned his full attention to AJ. “That is… that’s a very fine name. I’m pleased to meet you, AJ.”
“Are you a pilot?”
AJ was clearly excited by the prospect. Her son loved anything that flew. Planes were his absolute favorite.
“I am,” Alex said. “Would you like to fly in my plane sometime?”
AJ nodded, his wispy brows raised high and a grin on his face.
“I could even teach you to fly if you’d like,” Alex offered.
At that, Cinda walked over and interrupted. They were getting ahead of themselves. It would be a long time before she’d feel comfortable enough to let her son board a plane with Alex.
Planes flew overseas, to places like Aubernesse where Alex and his family had complete and total jurisdiction and she had no rights whatsoever.
She and Alex needed to talk—a lot—and figure out where their relationship stood before getting AJ involved. At the moment she was too discombobulated to string two sentences together.
“We’ll have to see about that.” She took AJ’s hand. “Hey—who wants some ice cream?”
“Me!” AJ began hopping with enthusiasm. “Can we get some right now?”
“Sure. Let’s go. Say goodbye to the pilot now.”
“Can he come with us to get ice cream?” AJ begged.
“Not today, buddy. Another time maybe. Alex, it was nice… seeing you.”
She turned to walk away with her son, but Alex snagged her sleeve. “Could I speak with you for a moment?”
Nerves bubbled to the top of Cinda’s stomach. He wasn’t going to let her escape so easily.
Turning to Kristal, she said, “Would you mind taking AJ to the car? I’ll be right there.”
She bent down to speak to AJ. “Mommy needs to speak to Alex for one minute, and I’ll be right there, okay?”
AJ sounded distressed. “I want to have ice cream with the pilot.”
“It’s okay, buddy.” She faked a lightness she didn’t feel. “We’ll go get ice cream together this afternoon—just you and me.”
Kristal placed a supportive hand on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze then led AJ away as he dragged his feet and wailed, “But I want to go on the plaaaane.”
If there was one hard and fast rule of parenthood, it was that your child was guaranteed to throw a tantrum at the worst possible place and time.
When he was out of earshot, Cinda girded herself and turned back to Alex. His face was flushed a dark red. His eyes looked almost crazed.
He was not taking this well. He was beyond surprised. He was furious.
“How old is he?” he demanded in a deadly quiet voice.
Cinda didn’t answer. She looked down at her feet, willing herself to keep breathing.
Wrapping his fingers around her upper arm, Alex turned her to face him again. “Cinda… how old is your son?”
Her gaze flickered up to his then down again. She licked her lips, and she could feel herself trembling all over.
“He’s four. And a half.”
“Four and a half,” Alex repeated in a papery voice. He looked shell-shocked.
“He’s yours, Alex,” Cinda said quietly, admitting the obvious. “I’m sure you’ve figured that out already.”
He nodded over and over again, breathing as if he’d completed a half-marathon. Finally, he spoke, his voice a gaunt whisper.
“I have a son.”
“Yes. You do. We do. I know he’s yours because I’ve never been with anyone else. I didn’t tell you earlier because—”
Alex cut her off, his voice stronger now. The words snapped like a whip. “I have a son I knew nothing about.”
Before she could respond, a shiny black Rolls Royce pulled up to the curb. The car stopped, and a man got out. He was heavyset and balding with thick gray eyebrows.
Coming around the back of the car, he approached Alex, wearing a wide, oblivious smile. “So good to see you safe and sound, Your Highness. Your parents have been worried sick.”
“Still in one piece,” Alex assured him.
His smile was unbearably tight, his voice formal. “Patton, may I introduce Cinda Brown? We’re old friends. We were stranded on the island together.”
Patton smiled warmly and offered his hand. “So nice to meet you, Miss Brown. Glad you made it through safely as well. That was some storm, huh?”
She made her tone as polite and unaffected as possible in spite of the conspicuous tension in the air. “It was. We’re lucky it wasn’t worse.”
Glancing back to Alex, the man said, “The mansion is fine. And you’ll be happy to hear that your fiancée and her parents finally made it in. They had some delays, but I picked them up at T.F. Green this morning and drove them to the mansion.”
Beside Cinda, Alex froze.
So did her heart, turning to pure ice and shattering an instant later. Then it flash-broiled as the driver’s words sank in.
It was a struggle to breathe, much less speak, but after a few seconds she managed to shift her focus to Alex.
His face said it all.
“What is he talking about Alex? What fiancée?”
She wasn’t even sure why she’d asked the question. His answer didn’t matter. What mattered was that he’d once again failed to be up front with her. Just as he had five years earlier, he’d chosen to omit information that was vitally important.
“It’s not what you think it is.”
“I’m pretty sure I know what the word fiancée means,” she bit out. “I may be a fool but I’m not stupid.”
What had the past few days even been about? Why had he kissed her and said all those tender things about being so happy she was back in his life? Was he expecting her to be his mistress or something?
“Patton, would you excuse us please?” Alex said.
The chauffer stepped back around the car and slid into the driver’s seat, shutting the door firmly behind him.
Alex stepped toward Cinda, reaching out. She recoiled from his touch, stumbling backward.
“It’s not what it seems,” he said. “It’s an arranged marriage. I don’t even really know the woman.”
“But you have agreed to marry her.” Her heart thrashed in her chest as she awaited confirmation.
“Yes, but—”
“My son is waiting for me.”
Cinda turned her back to Alex and marched away toward the SUV where Kristal and AJ waited with the engine running. Well, “limped away” was more accurate, but the attitude was the same.
She’d known better than to allow herself to entertain the idea of relying on someone. This was no more than what she’d expected.
Through the vehicle’s rolled-up windows, she could hear her son crying. Cinda felt like falling apart herself, but she would not—would not—allow herself to do it.
Not until she was alone.
Alex jogged after her. “Cinda, wait. I can explain.”
She didn’t turn around, just kept up her hobbled pace. “We were together in that house for two days. Two days. You had plenty of time to explain, and you didn’t even mention the fact that you’re engaged to be married?”
“I’m not though,” Alex said. “I mean, yes, for all practical purposes I am engaged. But it won’t become official until the ball tomorrow night. I didn’t mention it because I needed some time to take care of things, to speak with my family. And to Audrey.”
Audrey. It was even worse now that she had a name. This was real. It was happening. Any fantasies Cinda might have concocted about a reconciliation with Alex evaporated in that moment.<
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Whether AJ spotted her and recognized her distress, or he was just still in the throes of his tantrum, he cried even louder. Which didn’t help Alex’s case. At all.
“Please, Cinda, listen to me,” Alex pleaded.
She whirled to face him, placing a staying hand on his chest. “No, you listen to me. Hurting me is one thing—hurting my child is something totally different. And I’m not going to give you the chance to do it. We don’t need your weak explanations, or your omitted information, or for you to ‘take care’ of us. We’ve done just fine on our own.”
“I know. I can see that,” he said. “But you don’t have to do it on your own. Not anymore. I want to help. I want to be there—for both of you. I want to be part of your lives.”
“How? Your life isn’t your own. You belong to your ‘subjects,’ to your family. To your fiancée. We’re from totally different worlds. I have a child to protect. You’ve got a duty to uphold. You’ve got a country to serve. You’ve got Audrey. There’s no place for AJ and me in that.”
“That’s not true. He’s my son. He’s heir to the principality of Aubernesse,” Alex said.
“He’s a four-year old boy,” Cinda practically shouted. “He doesn’t know you at all. I won’t let you take my son away from me, from all he’s ever known and loved.”
Alex blinked, apparently taken aback. His tone sounded wounded. “I would never do that. All I want is to be there for him—for both of you.”
“You’ve just made that impossible. Goodbye Alex. Have a nice life. I hope you live happily ever after with your princess.”
Alex’s expression and tone hardened. “You can’t possibly expect me to abandon my child now that I know about him. I won’t do it, Cinda. Don’t ask it of me.”
“I’m not asking anything of you. I’m telling you—it’s over.”
She resumed her slow trek to the SUV, frustrated by the injury that hindered her.
Alex followed her all the way to the parked vehicle. “You think this is over?” he demanded in an incredulous tone. “Far from it. I will not spend the rest of my life being ‘the pilot’ to my child when I have the chance to be ‘Daddy.’”
“Had the chance,” Cinda corrected as she yanked open the front passenger door and slid inside. “Don’t follow me. Don’t call me.”