Newport Billionaires Box Set

by Amy DeLuca

  “He did?” Cinda and Cam said simultaneously, wearing identical expressions of shock.

  “Then who’s that?” she asked, pointing at Janey.

  Alex gave a slight bow and a grin. “May I present my sister, Jane Wessex.”

  Cam whipped his gaze from Janey’s face to Alex’s then over to Cinda. “And who’s this?”

  “She’s the one,” Alex said.

  Now Cam smiled. “Oh. Nice.” He gave Cinda a friendly wave. “Great to finally meet you. Welcome to the nuthouse.”

  Their father was not smiling. “It is not nice. It’s the farthest thing from nice.”

  “What’s going on?” Mother asked, looking a bit dazed.

  Father turned to her. “Your son is attempting to ruin his life and our entire family along with him. He’s taken up with the floozy he was seeing the last time he was here in Newport.”

  “What floozy?” Mother asked.

  Cinda raised her hand. She stood and came over to stand beside Alex. “That would be me. I’m Cinda Brown.”

  Father went on, ignoring her entirely. “And now after five years have passed, she’s trying to foist her fatherless child on him.”

  “She’s not a floozy,” Alex growled, taking Cinda’s hand and pulling her closer to his side. “And AJ is not fatherless. I’m his father. If you’d even bother to take one look at him instead of making assumptions and accusations, it would be obvious to you.”

  “I’ve seen the child,” Father drawled. “It makes no difference. He is illegitimate. You still have deniability, and we can still arrange a good match for you. If not with Audrey, then someone else.”

  “A good match is someone you love and trust, someone you actually know,” Alex said.

  Father scowled. “After all the trouble I undertook to protect you from your ‘youthful indiscretion,’ I will not allow this trollop to ruin your life now when you’re so close to taking the throne.”

  “What are you talking about Henry?” Mother looked like she was about to faint from shock and confusion. “What did you do to ‘protect” Alex?”

  “I was also protecting you—and Cameron and Jane—the entire house of Wessex and our country. When your son was last here, he had a summer fling and fell victim to this woman’s wiles,” he explained. “He was determined to be reunited with her. I made an ‘arrangement’ with the girl’s stepmother to… impede his efforts.”

  “You paid my stepmother to lie to Alex?” Cinda said.

  “I simply told her a young man might call her, asking questions, and asked her to say ‘no’ to all of them. And yes, she was compensated for her cooperation. I assumed you’d benefit financially as well, which was no doubt your goal in striking up a relationship with my son in the first place.”

  “I had no idea how wealthy your family was, much less that Alex was a royal,” Cinda said. “Do you find it so hard to believe someone could love Alex for who he is inside?”

  Father scowled. “You knew the beach club was frequented by an exclusive clientele. I’m sure that’s why you took a job there.”

  Alex had heard enough. Disgusted, he turned to Cinda. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

  “Where are you going?” his mother wailed.

  “Home. To be with my family.”

  “Your family is here,” Father said.

  “Not anymore. Not if this is how we treat each other. Not if you refuse to accept the woman I love and our child. You can give the throne to Cameron.”

  His brother held both hands up in front of him in a defensive posture and shook his head rapidly, saying, “No, no, no, no thanks. Leave me out of this.”

  “You’ll be cut off without a cent,” his father warned, his face growing redder by the second. “You’ll lose access to the palace and all our other homes around the world.”

  “I don’t care. I’ll live here in the States, put that expensive Oxford degree I earned to some use and get a job.”

  Walking with Cinda toward the front doors, Alex called back over his shoulder to his brother and sister, “Janey, Cam, I’ll be talking to you.” Then he added, “Mother, I’m sure your only grandchild would be happy to meet you when you’re ready.”

  She sniffled and nodded, turning to her husband with a pleading look. “Do something to fix this.”

  Alex and Cinda were halfway through the front doors when his father’s voice rang out, echoing off the marble floors and walls of the entry hall.

  “Wait.” Then sounding a bit less imperious, he added, “Please.”

  Alex drew in a long breath and released it slowly before turning around. “Yes?”

  “Please come back inside.”

  “Is that okay with you?” Alex asked Cinda. “We can go. I’m dying to hear what you came to say. And I have something to ask you.”

  She nodded. “It’s okay. We can talk here.”

  When they were back inside the foyer, Father said, “I feel sure this can be worked out. It is imperative you remain as my heir.” Tossing a glance at Alex’s younger brother, he said, “Cameron is clearly not up to the task.”

  There was a flash of hurt in Cam’s eyes before his usual blasé expression snapped back into place. “That’s what I keep telling everyone.”

  “And…” Father continued. “If you’ll agree to stay and carry out the duties of the crown, I will consent to you choosing your own bride… whether it be this girl or someone else.”

  “There is no one else for me,” Alex stated flatly and felt Cinda squeeze his hand.

  His father grimaced. “Very well. We can talk about the rest of it later, paternity tests and such—”

  Alex interrupted. “No. We don’t need one.”

  “It’s fine.” Cinda patted his arm in a reassuring gesture. “I’m happy to do the test.”

  Father nodded, pleased with his small victory. “For now… can we all please get back to our guests and try to reclaim some semblance of dignity for our family? I can only imagine the gossip in there.”

  “You all go ahead,” Alex said. “I’m going to stay here and speak with Cinda privately first.”

  Twenty-Six

  The Long and Winding Road

  Once his family had gone back into the ballroom, Alex invited Cinda to sit on the stairs with him.

  The train of her blue gown spread over them like a waterfall.

  His sincere brown eyes searched hers as he took her hand and spoke softly. “Are you sure you’re okay? I feel terrible. I can’t apologize enough for my father. Mother’s mostly harmless. She didn’t know anything about us.”

  Cinda nodded. “I’m fine. I really didn’t mean to cause a scene. I just wanted to speak with you before you left the country. I hated the way we left things. And I was lying when I said I didn’t need you or want you. I need you and want you. I’m so sorry, Alex.”

  “I’m the one who’s sorry. None of this would have happened if I’d told you right up front about the arranged marriage. I was afraid it would spook you though. And of course, it did.”

  “But you called it off?”

  He nodded. “I did.”

  “And you called me the woman you love—in front of your family.”

  He smiled. “I did, and I do. The question is… do you?”

  “Do I what?”

  The smile widened. “I see you’re going to make me beg. Do you love me too? Enough to put up with all of…”

  He gestured around him at the mansion, at the ballroom down the hall. “… this? With a family that’s not exactly… normal for the next, oh, sixty years or so?”

  Cinda laughed. “Show me a family that is normal, and I’ll show you some hidden skeletons. I clean out a lot of closets, remember?”

  “Only if you want to. I do want to take care of you and AJ. But if you’d like to keep working, keep running your company, have your own bank accounts, I won’t interfere. I know you have a thing about relying on people.”

  She grinned at him. “You know… I’ve been learning lately
that some people are pretty darn reliable.”

  “In that case…”

  Alex shifted so he was kneeling on one knee a couple steps below her.

  Tears sprang to Cinda’s eyes, and her hand came up to cover her mouth before he’d even reached into the inside pocket of his tuxedo and pulled out the gorgeous sapphire and diamond ring.

  “Let’s try this again, shall we?” They both laughed, and he went on. “Cinda, you have given me the greatest gifts of my life—true love, a beautiful child, and a second chance. I want to spend the rest of my time here on earth trying to repay you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  “Oh Alex. Yes. Yes, I will marry you.”

  “And I want to have AJ’s surname legally changed to Wessex.”

  “Of course. He’s been practicing writing the letter S at school and getting really good at it.”

  Alex cradled her face in his hands and gave her a kiss worthy of the most romantic fairytale, and she had to admit, that at least in this one case, maybe love did conquer all.

  When he’d thoroughly ruined Kristal’s expert makeup application, Cinda gave Alex a regretful smile.

  “I hate to say this… but I have to go.”

  “What? So soon? It’s early. It’s not like you’re going to turn into a pumpkin or something.”

  She laughed. “Good one. But Kristal is watching AJ for me, and I promised them both I wouldn’t be long.”

  “I understand. I’ll have Patton drive you home. But I’d like to see you and AJ in the morning. Maybe we could go out for breakfast?”

  “Why don’t you come over and we’ll make breakfast together at home?”

  Alex leaned in for another brief, sweet kiss. “Together at home. I like the sound of that.”

  “Me too. You don’t happen to be a fan of Star Wars waffles, do you?”

  “I’m a fan of anything and everything you want to cook for me.”

  “Well now, Your Highness, in our house, men cook too,” she teased. “And not just canned goods. You should taste AJ’s famous worms and dirt pudding.”

  He beamed at her. “Sounds amazing. I cannot wait.”

  Alex held her hand as they descended the grand staircase. At the bottom, he gave her a winsome smile. “Are you sure you don’t have time for one dance? I feel like celebrating.”

  How was she supposed to resist this guy? “Okay. Just one. Then I really do have to go.”

  “Excellent. And I know exactly the song I want to dance to.”

  When they reached the ballroom, he left Cinda momentarily to speak to the conductor of the orchestra. Returning, he led her to the dance floor and took her in his arms.

  As the music started and they began to dance, Cinda tilted her head to the side, catching the opening notes of “The Long and Winding Road.”

  She smiled. “It has been, hasn’t it?”

  “It has,” he agreed. “But we’ve managed to find our way back to each other. I feel so lucky to have a second chance with you and continue the journey together.”

  Alex lifted her and twirled her around. When he’d set her down again, Cinda said, “I’m the lucky one.”

  “How so?”

  “Well, I’ve just literally had a handsome prince sweep me off my feet. And I get to spend the rest of my life with the first and only man I’ve ever loved.”

  The song ended, and she started to leave the dance floor, but Alex snagged her fingers and pulled her back to the center. “One more minute,” he whispered.

  The orchestra struck up a new song. “The Bridal Chorus.”

  “Oh no, Alex, what are you—”

  He raised his voice, and the band fell silent. “Excuse me everyone. If I could have your attention, please.”

  When the crowd chatter quieted, Alex said, “Thank you. And thank you all for being here tonight. You may have heard a rumor that this was to be an engagement party.”

  He paused, and you could have heard a pin drop.

  “It’s true.”

  Turning to look at Cinda, he said, “I’d like to present to you the woman who’s just agreed to make me the happiest man on earth… the future Mrs. Alexander Wessex and Princess of Aubernesse… Cinda Brown.”

  Applause and exclamations of delight erupted throughout the ballroom.

  Three women standing near the dessert table turned in unison, and their jaws dropped one, two, three. Then like a submarine cutting through the waters of the Atlantic, they began plowing through the crowd toward the couple.

  Alex lowered his head, speaking to Cinda in a low, private tone.

  “You’re stuck with me now, I’m afraid. I’d like for us to marry as soon as possible. And I want you and AJ to move in with me—here, or in Aubernesse, or anywhere you prefer. It’s up to you. This is the smallest of all the Wessex estates, so there’s plenty of room. You could even bring along your entire extended family if you like.”

  Watching Trudy, Traci, and their mother Julia making a beeline for them, Cinda couldn’t suppress a bubble of laughter.

  “You might want to reconsider that offer, Your Royal Highness. You haven’t met my stepmother and stepsisters yet.”

  Epilogue

  Sully

  One year later

  Sullivan Reece had never been to a gender reveal party.

  The training schedule and travel required for his career as a heavyweight boxer usually made it impossible to go to these sorts of neighborhood celebrations.

  Honestly, he’d never had a desire to attend such an event. But he happened to be home in Newport this weekend, and his neighbors, Alex and Cinda Wessex had been nice enough to invite him.

  Besides, it would be good for his daughters, Skyla and Claire, to get to know the other neighborhood kids.

  He assumed there’d be lots of them there—the invitations must have gone out to everyone on Bellevue Avenue because he’d only met the royal couple and their five-year-old son once or twice, and he’d gotten one.

  “We need to get a move on, girls,” Sully called out. “The party’s already started. Did you pick out some clothes yet?”

  He walked through the second floor of the enormous Newport mansion, searching for his rambunctious young daughters and still feeling like a stranger in his own home, though he’d bought it more than a year ago.

  For one thing, an interior decorator recommended by his realtor had furnished the place, and it looked more like a magazine spread than an actual home.

  For another, he hadn’t spent much time there. Neither had his girls.

  But his ex-wife had informed him that was about to change. She’d called last week, demanding he pick them up a few days early, as she’d planned a “long girls’ weekend” out of town. He’d arrived at her Manhattan apartment to find Skyla’s and Claire’s bags packed.

  All their belongings, not just enough to get them through the weekend.

  Never a very involved mother, Anouk said their equitable joint custody arrangement had become “too much” for her and that she needed an extended break. Then she informed him he’d be responsible for the full-time care of their four-year-old and five-year-old daughters over the next three months—the entire summer.

  In fact, she’d already had her lawyer draw up the papers to that effect.

  Sully wasn’t unhappy but he was a bit shell-shocked. He’d brought the girls home with him to Newport, unpacked all their small assorted pink, sparkly things, and put them into the dresser drawers and oversized closets in their rooms.

  Where apparently they were going to remain.

  While each of his daughters owned enough miniature designer clothing to fill a Park Avenue boutique, at the moment they were both still wearing their pajamas. At four p.m.

  “Claire! Skyla! I’m not kidding now, munchkins. I need you to listen to me and get dressed.”

  He heard nothing in response but giggles. Fans of hide and seek, the girls were in their glory in the massive house. The hiding spots were limitless.

  Hi
s patience was not.

  If they were going to be full-time residents on this street, Sully wanted to make a good impression on the neighbors. Strolling into their party an hour late wasn’t going to get the job done.

  “We’ll play hide and seek another time, okay? Right now, Daddy needs you to listen.”

  Following the giggles, he strode toward the floor-to-ceiling draperies in one of the guest rooms and whipped back one side and then the other. “Gotcha!”

  Nothing. Sully had always known his little girls were smart as whips. He was learning they were also sneaky and pretty darn fast.

  Even with his athleticism and finely tuned reflexes, he had a hard time keeping up with them. They darted around like water bugs and ducked and weaved better than some of his professional sparring partners.

  Hearing a happy shriek from somewhere in the hallway, he reversed direction and charged from the guest room—just in time to see the backs of two naturally curly brunette heads disappear into the elevator—their favorite new toy.

  He ran for the doors, reaching them just as they closed.

  “Girls.” Sully heaved a sigh and checked the lighted panel above the elevator to see where it was headed.

  The third floor light blinked on. They’d gone upstairs where there were even more guest rooms to hide in.

  Great.

  Slapping his palm against the wall in frustration, he spun and headed for the stairs, sprinting up them two at a time, hoping to catch the little rascals as they emerged from the elevator.

  Unfortunately, he was a minute too late. They were hiding again, and this time there was no tell-tale giggling to clue him as to which direction they’d gone.

  Instead of raising his voice, Sully took a different tact. He lowered it, speaking as softly and sweetly as he could manage as he crept from door to door in the long hallway.

  “Okay my princesses, you’ve had your fun. We’ve really got to get you dressed now. You don’t want to miss the party, do you? There’s bound to be lots of fun games, and other kids to play with, and probably a whole lotta fancy cupcakes and stuff. They might even have a pony over there…”