by Peak, Renna
“Oh, don’t be so paranoid,” Sophia says. “We’re the only ones on this side of the restaurant. And I have a clear line of sight to the kitchen. I’ll warn you when Bernice is on her way back.” She leans across the table toward me. “It’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen. Not that it can’t get a bit stuffy sometimes. But I think you’d like it. Nick should bring you for a visit.”
I don’t even have to glance at Nick to guess how he feels about that idea. “I’m not sure—”
“Besides, a visit will ease our poor mother’s nerves.” Sophia gives Nick a pointed look. “Not to mention get Father and Andrew off of everyone else’s back. You know how they are, Nick.”
“Out of the question,” Nick says. “When you return you can tell everyone I’m alive and well, and that should be sufficient for now. And I’ll be sure to send something for Mother’s birthday—”
“It would be better if you brought it yourself,” Sophia says. “What’s a few days, just to make the family happy? Once they see you’re fine you can come back here.”
“I can take care of the horses while you’re gone,” I offer.
He looks at me as if I’ve betrayed him. I just shrug and go back to fiddling with my straw.
“Just a few days,” Sophia says again. “You know you should, Nick. Besides, a few days in Montovia might—” Her eyes shift to something over Nick’s shoulder and she cuts herself off. A moment later, Bernice shows up at the table with our burgers, two plates balanced on either arm.
After she’s set our meals in front of us, she lingers for a moment. Just a moment, but I can feel the sudden shift in energy at the table. Beside me, Nick has gone stiff, and even Sophia and Pax suddenly seem less relaxed. I glance up at Bernice, who’s looking from one of us to the next with a small frown on her pink lips.
“Have I seen you in here before?” she asks. “You look familiar.”
“No,” all four of us say quickly, almost in unison.
Bernice’s eyebrows go up. That seemed to have raised her suspicions even more.
“I could have sworn…” she says. Again, it’s unclear who she means. After a moment, though, she shakes her head. “Must be misremembering.”
She turns and walks away, and all four of us heave sighs of relief. Even me, the one person who has nothing to lose.
Except everything, I think. The minute Nick is recognized is the minute my life here shatters and my escape at the ranch ends. I’m still not convinced Nick won’t one day abandon the ranch and return to his real life as a prince—as wild as that still is to believe—but I want to put off that day for as long as possible. I’m more emotionally invested in this than I want to admit.
But the danger has passed for the moment. Sophia offers me a friendly smile as we both start to dig into our fries.
Our relief only last a moment. Suddenly Bernice is back at the table again, a grin stretching her pink lips. “I know where I’ve seen you before!”
Nicholas
This is exactly the reason I’ve mostly refused to leave the ranch since I purchased it.
I’m perhaps the luckiest of my siblings in that I’m hardly recognized outside of Montovia. I’ve had the occasional run-in with the media, but nothing like the scandals my brother Leopold found himself in nearly weekly before he married his wife Elle. My eldest brother is heir to the throne, and the entire world seems to be enthralled with his every move. William was much like me before he married Justine, who was already famous in her own right as the princess of Rosvalia. And of course, as the only female sibling, Sophia has found herself in the middle of her own scandals over the years, not the least of which was only a few months ago with her now husband.
I detest being the center of attention. And now that this woman has found out my identity, I’ll have no choice but to move somewhere—anywhere—else.
The waitress looks at my sister, grinning and nodding before she turns her attention back to me. “You bought the Crowley’s place, didn’t you? Never thought Jim and Wanda would sell, but I guess you just never know, do you?”
It’s almost palpable, the way the tension seems to instantly release from the four of us at the table.
Clara extends her arm in front of me to the woman. “I’m Clara. I’m helping Nick out on the ranch.”
Bernice takes her hand, giving it a hearty shake. “Good to meet you, Clara. I’m Bernice. Bernice Waters. My husband Walter’s folks’ own the stables out on the edge of town. If you ever need anything for your horses—boarding or whatever—you just let us know. We’ll be glad to help you out.”
“That’s so generous.” Clara smiles up at the woman. “We’ll definitely let you know—”
“We’re having a party at Walter’s folks’ place next weekend. You all should come out. It’s kind of an annual tradition here in Firebird Falls.” She turns her gaze to me. “I’m sure you all heard about it from Bill. I’ve seen you at the feed store, right?”
I grumble something to myself. Even if she hasn’t recognized any of us, I still have no intention of becoming familiar with the local townspeople. It’s too dangerous. Too—
“We’d love to.” Clara grins over at me. “Wouldn’t we, Nick?”
“Sounds like a blast, Nicky.” Pax smirks from across the table. “I imagine there’ll be dancing.” He smiles up at the waitress. “Won’t there?”
“Oh, sure.” The woman is still grinning from ear to ear—there’s something almost suspicious about how happy she is. “Dancing, food, lots of music. It’s just a way of getting the community together. We’re all so spread out around here.” She lifts a brow and looks down at me again. “And not everyone comes into town all that often.”
I sink into my seat, wishing the booth would open up and swallow me whole. This is about the last thing I need in my life—it’s far too public. Far too familiar. Far too…everything I don’t want at all.
“Well, you’re all welcome. The more the merrier, I always say.” She looks at each of us, her gaze finally falling on me. “Can I get you anything else?”
“I think we’re good.” Clara squeezes my arm. “Right, Nick?”
I give the woman a single nod, and she finally walks away.
The moment she’s out of earshot, the other three people at the table begin laughing.
“I fail to see what’s so funny.” I look over the food that’s been set in front of me, and while I’m not usually one to enjoy diner food, the hamburger and fries on my plate look quite a bit more appetizing than the usual fare that is served from my kitchen.
Pax shoves a handful of fries into his mouth before he speaks. “What’s funny is…” He chomps a bit, holding up a finger. “You.”
“I’m funny?” I shake my head, taking my own bite of food. Unlike the barbarian across from me, I finish chewing before I speak again. “I don’t believe that for a moment.”
My sister grins at me. “Really, Nick. Loosen up. You’re the one who chose to come live in a place like this.”
“A place like what? Are you criticizing the town? Because I don’t believe—”
“I’m not criticizing anything, Nick.” My sister’s brows draw together. “What’s gotten into you?” Sophia turns her gaze to Clara. “My brother has always had something of a stick up his ass, but this is unusual, even for him.”
“What’s unusual? That I don’t care to be recognized?” I shake my head at her. “That lifestyle may suit you…” I turn and look at her husband for a moment. “And you just fine.” I look back over at Sophia. “But I have never wanted to live that life. I came here for expressly that purpose.”
Sophia lifts a brow and takes a careful bite of her burger. “This may be the finest hamburger I’ve ever eaten.”
“Remind me to take you to the place by my mom’s down in Joshua Tree next time we’re there.” Pax is studying me with an expression I can’t recognize. It isn’t quite amusement, but it isn’t quite contempt, either. “You can come, too, Nicky. Unless you think so
meone’s going to put you on display.”
My sister bites her lip, but it does nothing to hide her grin. “Yes, Nick. What is it you’re so afraid of? That the people here might have a parade in your honor?”
I glare at the two of them, saying nothing as I eat my meal.
After a few moments, Clara turns to me. “Maybe they’re right. I mean, what’s the worst thing that would happen?”
I push my plate away from me, my appetite suddenly gone. “Have you ever seen what they do?”
Clara’s forehead wrinkles with confusion. “What who does?”
“The media. They would destroy everything I’ve built here.” I frown at her. “This is why I didn’t want you to know who I was. Why I didn’t want anyone to know—”
Sophia interrupts. “I’m here. Pax is here. I daresay we’re a tad more well known than you, Nicholas.” She shakes her head. “Even if we weren’t in these disguises, it isn’t as though we have a media detail following us at every moment of every day.”
“Well…” Pax lets out a long breath. “Maybe not every moment. But I sorta get Nick’s point.”
“Really?” Sophia turns to her husband. “We’ve grown up with the media reporting our every move.” She turns her gaze back to mine. “And of the five of us, Nick has managed to escape most of it. You stayed in the background. You let everyone else shine.” She tilts her head. “And you’ve managed to keep your affairs hidden from the public, haven’t you?”
My heart twists in my chest, and at the same time, my hands ball into fists at my sides. I know what my sister is getting at, and if she so much as mentions anything in front of Clara, I might have to strangle her.
“I…don’t have any interest in being in the spotlight either, Nick.” Clara places a hand over my fist. “If it helps you to know that.”
My head snaps to meet her gaze, and my mouth opens to respond, but then I think better of it. Of course she has no interest in being in the public eye—why would she? She left her life in New York to escape the pressure of her former lifestyle, exactly as I did.
“It’s part of our life, though.” Sophia looks between the two of us. “You can hide here, but only for so long. It’s only a matter of time before someone figures it out. And then what will you do? Run away again?”
“I…” I clench my jaw. I’m hesitant to admit that I haven’t thought it that far through. If I can just stay on my ranch, avoid leaving as much as possible… It might at least minimize the chances of my being found out.
“Think about it, Nick.” My sister takes a sip of her drink. “Maybe trying to escape from your real life isn’t the best option.”
“This is my real life—”
Sophia interrupts with a shake of her head. “There is nothing real about this, Nick. Nothing at all.”
Clara
Nick is quiet for the rest of the night. It’s clear he doesn’t want to hear the truth—not from his sister, not from me, not from anyone. But I won’t forget, not even for a moment, that this place is fragile. That it can’t last forever. Everything changed tonight when I learned the truth about Nick, and we can never go back to how things were before, no matter how hard we pretend.
When we get back to the house, Nick grabs some blankets and throws them on the couch.
“I’ll be sleeping here,” he tells me when I look at him questioningly. “Sophia and Pax will be sleeping in my room.” For a moment, I consider offering to let Nick stay in my room tonight, but I think better of it. We shared something special this afternoon, but everything’s become so complicated in these last few hours. So I say goodnight to everyone and duck into my room alone.
I curl up in bed with one of my new books about ranching, but try as I might, I can’t seem to concentrate on the pages. My mind keeps wandering back to our visitors across the hall. To everything I learned today. To everything I still don’t know. What other secrets is Nick keeping from me? Who is the other girl—or girls—Sophia referred to at dinner? How long before Nick realizes he has to go back to Montovia?
I thumb through the pages of my book, thinking. At least all these new questions have kept me distracted from the other thing at the back of my mind. A quick glance at the time shows it’s just past midnight, meaning it’s officially my wedding day.
I wonder if Adam still thinks I might show up. I told him a hundred different ways that it was over, but he never seemed to hear it. I was smart enough to leave my phone here at the house when we went into town, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I have a few new messages the next time I get service—if not from Adam, then from other friends and family.
Closing my book, I set it aside and lean back on the pillows. It would have been a beautiful wedding. My dress was tulle and lace, with a long veil that had embroidery along the edges. My bouquet was going to be pink peonies, and the centerpieces were designed to match. We’d rented a ballroom in a fancy hotel that Adam’s father co-owned, and we’d planned for the entire thing to be decorated like an enchanted garden with lots of greenery, pastel-colored flowers, white silk ribbons, and soft, twinkling lights. Our cake was going to be six tiers tall—we needed one that big for all the guests we invited—and each tier was a different flavor: chocolate raspberry, lemon and cream, almond, mocha fudge, orange blossom, and champagne.
It’s still my dream wedding. If only it had been my dream life.
I climb out of bed and walk over to the open window. This is my dream life. Or at least it was before I realized it was all an illusion. Maybe it’s time to stop believing that dreams can actually come true. Maybe the world just is how it is, and I need to grow up and accept that not everything will be perfect. Fantasies are for little girls, not grown women.
But even acknowledging that much makes me feel like someone has reached into my chest and ripped my heart out. It feels like giving up. Like watching the sun disappear behind clouds forever. I’ve made it this far on hope alone. What do I have left now that hope is gone?
It’s not until I feel wet drops fall on my hands that I realize I’m crying. And now that I’ve noticed it, the tears come even harder.
I sink down, sitting against the wall beneath the window, and bury my face in my hands. I cry until I have no more tears left in me, until I’m completely empty again. Normally letting the tears out makes me feel better, but not this time. The emptiness that’s left behind just makes me feel worse.
I need to get out of here.
Not away from the ranch—where else would I go?—but outside. In the fresh night air. Maybe a little time with Prince and Pom will leave me feeling less like a hollow shell.
I don’t bother getting properly dressed. I just grab a light jacket and pull it on over my tank top and slip my feet into some socks. My boots are downstairs by the door.
I sneak down the stairs as quietly as I can, taking special care when I pass the living room. From the couch I can hear the steady in-and-out of Nick’s breathing.
When I reach the porch, I step into my boots. Then I race across the yard to the stables. The horses stir slightly when I turn on the lights, and Pom sticks her head out of her stall, her ears flicking toward me.
“Hey, girl,” I say, starting to feel better already. I go over to her and give her neck a rub. “Sorry to bother you this late.”
I’m still murmuring to her when I hear the barn door open again behind me. I glance over my shoulder. Nick is standing there in nothing but his pajama bottoms and his boots, watching me. I should have known I couldn’t sneak out without him noticing.
“It’s a little late to be out here, don’t you think?” he asks.
“I couldn’t sleep.” I give Pom another scratch under the chin. “I would have just made myself some cocoa, but I didn’t want to disturb you.”
He moves slowly toward me, almost as if he might spook me like one of the horses. “Is this about our conversation earlier?”
“A little,” I tell him. “You sure this whole prince thing isn’t just some elaborate prank?”
“I’m afraid not,” he tells me. “I meant what I said earlier, Clara. I’m not going to abandon this ranch just because my sister showed up.”
“I know. I’m just…” I look up into Pom’s eyes. “I’m just emotional right now. Because of the whole wedding thing. This was supposed to be my last night as a single woman.”
He’s right next to me now. “You’ve been crying.”
I’m not sure how red and puffy my face is, but it must be pretty bad. “Don’t worry—I’m all dried up. You won’t have to deal with me bawling my eyes out in front of you.”
“That wasn’t my worry.”
I press my cheek against Pom’s so I don’t have to look at him. “Do you ever wonder if you made a mistake, coming out here? Giving up your old life?”
He hesitates a moment before answering. “Of course I wonder sometimes. Not often, but every now and then. It’s to be expected with any major life choice. But I don’t regret my decision, and I don’t foresee myself changing it anytime soon.” He pauses before adding, “Do you regret your decision? Is that what this is about?”
“I don’t regret it,” I say quickly. “But I’m still sad about it. I know that probably doesn’t make much sense, but…”
“No, it makes sense.”
I lift my head, finally meeting his eyes. “I know I probably sound fickle. I don’t mean to. And I don’t know why I expect you to understand—”
“Clara, I’m probably the only person in the world who understands perfectly.”
He’s right, of course. He and I have so much in common—well, with the obvious exception of his royal status and all that that entails. Who’d have thought some European prince would be the only person who understands me?
He looks so normal, standing here in the stable. Well, as normal as a very attractive, half-naked prince can look. The dim light shines on his bare skin, outlining the muscles of his chest. He really is a ridiculously attractive man, and I find myself swallowing, my mouth suddenly dry as my eyes roam over his body.