by Leddy Harper
I took a deep breath, unsure if I had time to go into it, but I couldn’t very well leave him without an explanation. “All my life, my brother was supposed to sit on the throne after our father. But then he died a couple of months ago, which led to a public uproar over who came next. Naturally, it should have been my uncle, but he isn’t exactly liked by many of the people.”
“Why wouldn’t it have been you?”
“That’s an excellent question, Ryan. It’s because Ilunabarra has never amended their law—we’ve never had a reason to before now. Women aren’t allowed to serve in the military, which means we aren’t qualified to lead the military since we don’t have experience. And you can’t be the ruler of a country without being in charge of every aspect—military included.”
He never dropped eye contact, letting me know that I had his undivided attention.
“A couple of weeks ago, we had a royal hearing, which is where my uncle officially removed himself from the line of succession. He has three daughters—Libby being one of them—none of which could assume the throne because, as we just learned, they are females, and females aren’t allowed. Everything after that was a circus. Family member after family member was removed from the list for one reason or another. Honestly, I believe it was all orchestrated by my parents to keep the crown in their bloodline. I can’t prove it, but I wouldn’t be the least bit shocked if they ever admitted to it.”
“That’s just crazy.” He shook his head as though he couldn’t believe what I was telling him.
“So, I’m pretty sure you would have come across my identity rather quickly if you had searched my name.”
“Now I wish I had,” he teased with a short, huffed chuckle.
We were quiet for a moment, which offered the perfect opportunity to excuse myself. But then he said something that would soon change my whole world.
“I almost died in this pool when I was a kid.” He stared at the water, like he’d gone back to that moment in his mind. “It was the first or second day we were here. My friend’s mom wanted us to wait for her, but we were too excited to swim, so we came down without her. The pool was empty except for one other kid, so we pretty much had free rein.”
Tingles drifted down my spine—not out of fear, but a memory that fought to come to me. Chills covered my arms, and my breathing grew slightly labored. However, I couldn’t find it in me to speak up. All I could do was sit there and listen to him recount a memory that, unexplainably, we both shared.
“My friend, Joey, had tugged on my leg, pulling me underwater. I knew how to swim, and it wasn’t like we were in the deep end or anything. But for some reason, I panicked and couldn’t find my way back up. I remember freaking out that I couldn’t breathe, and then out of nowhere, I’m being dragged to the side. Not by Joey. Not by any adult. But by the other kid who was there. Later on, after the moment was over, my buddy started teasing me, saying I was saved by a girl.”
The lump in my throat continued to grow larger and larger as his story went on. I fought to speak around it, but I was sure that the war within me was apparent when I asked, “The other kid in the pool was a girl?”
“Yeah, but she wasn’t there long. She saved me, and then, like, a few minutes later, some guy came in and told her she had to get out. I don’t remember much about her; I just remember being teased relentlessly for being saved by ‘a little girl,’ as Joey called it. He also gave me a hard time for almost drowning in the shallow end.”
When Ryan had shown up this morning on the balcony, I thought it was highly unlikely that we’d meet on a pier, and less than two months later, be in the same place at the same time without it being planned. Now I began to understand that it was planned—just not by either of us. And that there was a really good chance that the first time we met wasn’t on a pier. It wasn’t even in America.
But in a pool, right here in Ilunabarra.
When we were kids.
I so badly wanted to say something, except I couldn’t. I was so shocked I couldn’t speak. All I could do was sit there and stare at him, wondering how this could be possible. It couldn’t, but somehow, it was.
“Psst…” Libby harshly whispered from the service door. “Mo!”
The snapping of her fingers finally caught my attention.
She waved me to her while constantly looking over her shoulder, as if expecting someone to come up behind her. “We have to go. You’ve been gone long enough.”
Except, I couldn’t move.
Just then, the main door swung open. Patrick, one of my security guards, stood in the doorway with his large arms crossed over his broad chest. Most people found Patrick intimidating. I, however, found him to be annoying. That man had a way of finding me anytime I tried to get a moment to myself.
I glanced back at the service door, not surprised to find it closed, Libby nowhere to be found. At least she wouldn’t have to answer to anyone. Lucky girl. Unfortunately, I would, though, and that started with Patrick.
“You have a roomful of people who came to celebrate with you. It’s time you return to your obligations. Say goodnight to your…friend.” Patrick’s voice was deep and gritty, especially when he spoke in low tones. It could be rather frightening, even to me.
With a heavy huff, I offered Ryan a sympathetic smile and pulled myself to my feet.
It was unexplainable, but even though he knew who I was, he still looked at me like he had in the coffee shop. And because of that, I became determined to see him again before his week ended. I wasn’t sure how I’d manage, but I would do everything in my power to spend more time with him.
There had to be a reason we’d accidentally run into each other three times in our life.
And I wasn’t convinced it was a coincidence, either.
“I know why you want to go, but I think there is something you should know first.”
I glared at Patrick, annoyed with the way he always seemed to be in my business. “I want to go because it’s my family’s chateau. You have never questioned me any other time I’ve gone there, so don’t bother doing so now.”
“Please listen, Princess.” He’d always called me Princess, yet there were times when it sounded rather condescending, almost like it was meant as an insult. “I’ve been in charge of your security ever since you were a wee little thing.”
“I know, Patrick. I don’t have a single memory that doesn’t include you. There’s no need to point that out, okay?” My attitude could use a little adjusting, but I didn’t care. Ever since he’d found me with Ryan last night, I’d been thinking of ways to see him again, and I wasn’t about to let anyone get in my way. Not even security.
“All I’m trying to get at is that I care about you deeply. I don’t want to see you get hurt. Not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. So if I believe there is a chance of that happening, I will step in. And I would hope that you wouldn’t take what I have to say lightly, because as we’ve just established, I care a great deal about your well-being.”
“Then say what you need to say so I can get to the chateau.”
“I know you’re going there to see that lad you were hiding away with last night. Ryan Astor is his name. I can only assume that you met him on your trip to America and have kept in contact with him since.”
As much as I wanted to disprove his theories, I decided against it. He wouldn’t believe me anyway. Heck, I barely believed it, and I knew the truth firsthand. So I bit my tongue and let him continue with his ridiculousness.
“Listen, I don’t, for one second, think that you’re the type who would get involved with a married man, which leads me to believe that he’s been lying to you.”
I felt a little dizzy, but I didn’t have the wherewithal to sit. “What do you mean, married man? Who’s married? Ryan?” It wasn’t that I did or didn’t doubt what Patrick was saying was true. In the few times Ryan and I had seen each other, we hadn’t talked about much, especially his personal life. So really, it could be true.
“Yes, Princess. Ryan Astor is married. He is actually here with his wife and child.”
This just kept getting worse and worse by the second.
Wife.
Child.
And they were here. On the island. With him. Yet he was alone yesterday morning when he came to me on the balcony. And while we had very little interaction at the gala last night, it appeared that he had been alone then, too.
“How do you know this?” I questioned, hoping this was nothing more than a scare tactic devised by the security team to keep me away from a “commoner.” A foreign commoner, at that.
“It’s all right there in the chateau’s record of registration. His reservation is for three—two adults and a child. The names of the adults are listed as Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Astor.” He spoke with such confidence that I found it hard to doubt what he was telling me.
I had to see it for myself, so I went to the chateau, praying the entire time that this was all some big misunderstanding. Until last night, I’d refused to acknowledge any romantic desire for Ryan. It would’ve been a waste, considering I never thought I’d see him again. But then I did, and everything changed. I couldn’t ignore the fact that we had met briefly as children, then many years later, met again on a pier in a different country. And within months, we ran into each other again, all without a single moment of it being planned.
Believing in fate had its way of spurring a crush with or without intent.
My mind was consumed with what-ifs all the way to the chateau. I wanted to believe that I’d walk in and all my fears would dissolve, but that wasn’t what happened. My heart thudded against my ribs, harsher and harsher with every step. And by the time I made it to the dining room, I was on the verge of heart failure.
As people recognized me, they stopped and gawked until a stillness fell upon the room. It didn’t take long to find Ryan; he sat at a table along the wall. I could’ve easily become lost in the sweet way he cut up food for the child next to him, had it not been proof enough that Patrick wasn’t lying. But then, everyone else became a blur and faded into the background when a beautiful woman with long, wavy dark hair approached his table.
She smiled at Ryan.
And then kissed the top of the little girl’s head.
It was like I’d been beaten in the chest with a baton.
Five years ago, I would’ve approached him without a care in the world who bear witness. But I couldn’t do that now. I had an image to uphold, so I spun on my heel and put one foot in front of the other. I didn’t owe him the opportunity to explain, just as he didn’t owe me an explanation. He would be gone in less than a week; there was no need to get twisted up in something so temporary.
Despite how safe he felt.
I made eye contact with Patrick, letting him know that I was ready to leave. There was no reason to stay. Echoing footfalls resounded behind me, though I ignored them. My heart wanted them to belong to Ryan, chasing after me, but I knew better. They belonged to my security, following behind me on my way to the waiting car outside.
Chapter 6
Ryan
I’d hung around the chateau all day, hoping to get a glimpse of Moira.
Except she never showed her face.
I assumed she must’ve been busy with royal duties and whatnot, but a part of me had hoped she would’ve made a little time to see me. It was wishful thinking on my part, though. She was way out of my league. I was a fool to think that the princess—and future queen—of an entire country would want to spend time with an unknown photographer from the States.
Amara had complained about staying at the chateau for dinner, so Mandy and I decided to take her out to eat somewhere nearby. But as we stepped outside, ready to take a walk down the street, a young woman approached us. Or, should I say, me.
She looked me straight in the eye and said, “You’re a jackass.”
I stopped dead in my tracks and glanced around, wondering if maybe she’d been talking to someone else and I only thought she was looking at me. But nope. The only people on the chateau’s front stoop were the three of us and this crazy woman.
“Excuse me?” I asked with caution, worried what else she might say.
“You heard me.” Then she paused and turned her attention to Mandy and Amara. “Pardon my French. I didn’t mean to use such foul language around small ears.”
“I’m sorry, but do I know you?” Something about her seemed familiar, though I couldn’t place her. It wasn’t every day that I had a random stranger approach me out of nowhere and call me a jackass.
“I’m Moira’s cousin.”
The lightbulb above my head could’ve lit a large room. “Libby, right?”
Mandy turned her narrowed eyes to me and whispered, “Who’s Libby?”
“Princess Elizabeth.” We were talking about her like she wasn’t standing in front of us.
“Oh! The one who got you a tux last night?”
There was so much going on it was like I couldn’t focus on one particular thing.
“So…you’re a princess?” Leave it to Amara to zero in on that. “Like, a real-life princess? Where’s your crown?”
During this exchange, Libby’s eyes bounced between the three of us.
“And Moira is the one from the gala last night, right?” Mandy looked to me for clarification.
But before I could respond, Libby piped up. “Wait…so you know who Moira is?”
“I believe so. Am I not supposed to?”
This whole thing had turned into a three-ring circus. Mandy had waited up for me last night, dying to hear the details of the gala and royal family. The look on her face when I told her the entire story was priceless. But now, standing in front of Libby, I began to question whether or not I was supposed to have said anything about Moira.
Libby reared her head back and glared at me, then at Mandy. “Aren’t you two married?”
Mandy and I laughed in unison. “Nope.”
“But your room is registered to…”
“My sister,” Mandy announced. “To make a long and complicated story short, my sister is Ryan’s estranged wife. I’m only on this trip to help with Amara.”
My daughter stared at Libby with stars in her eyes, unfazed by our conversation.
“So you two aren’t…together?” Libby pointed between Mandy and me.
Again, we synchronized our responses. “Nope.”
As if this entire exchange wasn’t weird enough, she smacked my shoulder and called me a jackass again. “Moira has spent the entire day believing you’re married, and that you’re here with your wife and child.”
“Why would she think that?” I glanced at everyone around, as if Mandy or Amara would somehow know the answer to my question. They didn’t.
But lucky for me, Libby did. “Because she came here this morning and saw the three of you together for breakfast. That, coupled with your registration information, didn’t leave her with too many guesses—none of which were very favorable for you.”
“Why didn’t she say anything?”
“That’s a good question—one you should really ask her yourself.”
“How am I supposed to do that?”
Libby smiled. “It’s a good thing I have connections.”
I was torn between going with Libby and having dinner with Mandy and Amara. Thankfully, Mandy helped me make that decision when she winked and said, “Go, Ryan. Clear up this mess. I’ll take Amara to get something to eat, and when you get back, you can tell us how it went.”
She’d never know how appreciative I was.
Within minutes, I was next to Libby in the back of a black car with extremely dark tint. It all happened so fast, but as we approached the giant gates that surrounded what could only be described as a mansion, I became sick to my stomach.
I had no idea what I was doing here. Sure, the plan was to clear the air with Moira, but I had no clue why. We’d had a total of two an
d a half conversations. Realistically, I didn’t owe her any explanation, yet for reasons unclear to me, I felt compelled to tell her everything.
“Let me do all the talking,” Libby warned as the car came to a stop on the side of the mansion. “And whatever you do, act like you’re with me. Do you understand?”
“Uh, yeah. I think.”
She flippantly rolled her eyes and exited the car.
I followed her around the stone building to a side entrance. I thought the outside was breathtaking, but it didn’t compare to the opulence on the inside. I’d never seen anything quite like it. In all honesty, I was afraid to breathe, worried I’d somehow contaminate the royal air.
As promised, I allowed Libby to do all the talking. She clearly knew who to talk to, because she bypassed the ones who appeared to be security, and instead, asked the more staff-looking people where she’d find Moira. Once she had the answer she was looking for, she led me to the back, which opened up to a private beach.
Moira stood halfway between the house and the shore, facing the ocean with her feet in the sand, her dress billowing in the wind behind her. Libby paused at the edge of the brick path that ran from the house to the beach and smiled at me. “Go get her.”
“I’m confused.” I glanced at Moira and then met Libby’s stare once again. “Why are you doing this? What’s in it for you?”
“She’s my cousin and has been my best friend since we were in diapers. Seeing her act so morose today has been really hard, and if bringing you here will help her in some way, then I’m willing to try it. Moira is my priority.”
I understood that, and I respected it. Granted, I had no idea how this conversation would go, and it could very well be the last I ever had with her. Which meant I had nothing to lose—I had to tell her everything. At most, we’d spend the rest of the week together. At worst, I’d bid her goodnight and never see her again. Either way, she deserved to know that I hadn’t purposely deceived her.
As I got closer, I noticed that she had her eyes closed. The way the low-hanging sun hit her porcelain skin made it look like she was glowing. My fingers twitched with the desire to capture this on camera. Seeing her like that, so peaceful and serene, had to have been the most beautiful thing I’d ever laid my eyes on.