by Any Hahn
She felt her face flush a brilliant red. “Stop that. Don't say things you don't mean."
"But I do mean it, Chloe. I wouldn't lie about something this important. You're beautiful. And that's not an opinion. It's the honest truth."
Chloe stared into his blue eyes and lost her heart and soul all over again. How did he do it? How did he make her feel like a princess? How did he make her feel as if she were the most important person in his world?
"I betcha you say that to all the girls,” she whispered.
He inched closer. “I betcha I don't,” he whispered back as his hands grasped hers gently. His fingers curled around the small circumference of each wrist, and the slow caress of his fingertips caused goose bumps to pop up and down her arms.
"I'm planning on watching the dates you've had with these prospective princesses,” she murmured softly, her eyes never leaving his. His eyes were magnetic; they lured her in. She could stare into the blue depths all day long.
"Why?"
"Just to see for myself if you say the same things to all the girls you're attracted to."
His body brushed up against hers. “I can assure you that I do not. You get special treatment from me. Only you."
Her heart thump-thumped with pleasure at his words. “I don't know if I can believe you."
"Then watch for yourself.” His arm snaked about her middle, and he drew her slowly up against his solid form. “I wouldn't lie to you. I promise I'll never lie to you."
She shivered in his arms, despite the heat of the morning sun rising behind her in the Arizona sky. She could feel the warmth of it against her back; she saw its light in the sapphire blue of his eyes. Chloe touched the palms of her hands to his bare forearms, making small circles with the tips of her fingers on his sun-kissed skin.
"Why are we here?” she asked.
"To get away."
His quiet whisper tickled her ear. She giggled and pressed her body into his. “I like that. I like that very much."
"I thought you would."
"But won't they go ballistic when they find we're not around, especially you?"
His lips traced the line of her jaw. She trembled in his strong arms and closed her eyes. It was time. It was time she told him she didn't just want him sexually. It was time to tell him how she really felt. She loved him. She loved him with all her heart.
"Max, I want to tell you something. I realized something. I think I'm—"
He silenced her with a kiss. “Shhh. It can wait."
"But I want to tell you. I need to tell you."
The corners of his eyes crinkled. “And I've got something to ask of you."
Her heart soared. “What?"
"Not until we reach the top.” He gestured towards the mountain peak.
She groaned. “I don't want to go another inch. I don't think I can."
"Of course you can. I have a surprise for you at the top."
Chloe imagined a sparkling diamond ring, a symbol of his commitment to her and only to her. That was what she wanted. She wanted what every woman wanted—love and marriage and all the bells and whistles that came with it.
But it couldn't possibly be a ring. Why would it be a ring? They hadn't talked love yet. And then there was the wacky, crazy, annoying show they were both committed to. No, she was really daydreaming now.
"Maximilian, what are you talking about?"
He chuckled. “I don't think you've ever called me that. I can't remember the last time anyone actually called me that. I sort of like it."
"Well, I'd call you by your complete name, but I can't remember it,” Chloe told him. “It must've been horrible for you."
"How so?"
"As a little boy. Trying to remember that ridiculously long name."
"It was. That's why I decided eons ago I wanted to be called Max."
"How old were you?"
"Five. I stood up to my mother and father and announced I didn't want to be called Maximilian or Alexander or anything else. I was Max."
She smiled at the vision of Max as a little boy with huge blue eyes and curly black hair. “It suits you."
"Thanks.” He offered his hand. “Come on. It's not that far. You'll love it at the top. Trust me."
She took his hand, and warmth spiraled through her as his skin touched hers. A simple touch and she melted. She had found her soul mate—she was positive of it. She wished she could stop time. She never wanted the morning to end. She wanted to stay in the desert with him forever and ever and ever. She never wanted to go back to the mansion or to the women who believed he was their property.
"So, can you explain the origins of your name?” she asked as they resumed their climb.
"You mean the entire ridiculous thing: Prince Maximilian Alexander Henry Tarleton Radborne?” She nodded. He sighed. “Family names. Every Radborne male has the name Alexander. My brother's name is Rafferty Alexander William Tarleton Radborne."
"Does your brother go by Rafferty?"
Max burst into laughter. “He loathes his name. He hates it. I have to admit I'm happy I didn't get his name. He refuses to respond if we call him that. He goes by Rafe.” A mischievous smile curved his lips. “Of course, my sister and I love to call him by his full name just to piss him off."
Chloe joined in his laughter. “Sisters and brothers are so mean to each other."
"You too?"
She nodded, jumping over a small hole. “Yeah. My sisters and I have a love/hate relationship. Mostly love, but a little hate thrown in there."
"What's your middle name? I'm sure you don't have fifty names like I do. It's very American to only have a first name, a middle name and a last name. I think royalty could learn a thing or two from Americans."
Chloe wrinkled her nose. She detested her second name, and she wasn't a big fan of her first name either. “You don't really want to hear it."
"I do."
She shook her head. “No. I think I'll take that one to my grave."
"Ah, come on, I shared my atrocious name with you."
"It's not exactly a secret, Max."
He shrugged. “Even so."
"Okay, okay. I'll tell you, but you have to promise you'll never tell anyone. Not even Jules knows it."
"It can't be that bad."
She stopped, dropped his hand, and narrowed her eyes. “I'm serious."
Max held up his arms and surrendered. “I promise."
"And you can't laugh."
His eyes rounded. “I promise. Honestly, I cross my heart. I won't tell a soul, and I won't laugh."
"I know you're lying."
"I'm most definitely not. That last thing I want to do is make you mad at me."
His sparkling blue eyes gave him away. He might not tell, but he'd certainly laugh.
She shook her head and placed her hands on her hips. “No. I don't think I'll tell you."
"Ah, come on."
"No."
"I wouldn't do anything to betray your trust. It means a lot to me."
"It's just a name."
"Well, if it's just a name, you shouldn't have any trouble telling me."
She gave up. It was impossible to resist him. He was so darn cute standing in front of her, his blue eyes begging her to reveal her horrid little secret.
"Bertrine. I'm named after both my grandmas.” She pointed accusingly at him. “And don't you dare laugh. You promised!"
"Bertrine?” he repeated. His voice shook with laughter. She had to give him credit. He was doing a very good job at holding it in. “Bertrine?"
"Yes,” she snapped irritably. “See. I knew I shouldn't have told you."
"Chloe Bertrine Tanner."
She grimaced. “Oh, please don't repeat it. It sounds horrible."
"Chloe Bertrine Tanner."
"Stop it!"
"It's not so bad."
"It's horrible, and you know it."
"Do your grandmas know how much you hate their names?"
"No. I never wanted to hurt t
heir feelings. They're both gone now, and I miss them dreadfully. They were wonderful ladies; they couldn't help having less than attractive names."
"Okay, I have to agree with you about the Bertrine. But I rather like Chloe."
"I guess it's not so bad. You get used to it. Supposedly it's making a big comeback."
Max reached for her hand. “Shall we continue? We're going to miss the sunrise.” He looked over her shoulder at the distant horizon. “Actually, I think we already did."
She happily took his hand again. She could care less about the sunrise. She was just enjoying being with him—that was all that mattered to her.
"I suppose you'll continue the name tradition with your sons?"
"It's expected. At least Alexander."
"That's a nice name,” she commented as they rounded the last curve in the path. They were finally at the top. Scottsdale, Phoenix, and an array of other suburbs stretched out below them. A fine example of urban sprawl, but the view of the desert was still lovely. Early morning sunlight streamed across the rocky terrain of the purple-hued McDowells.
He turned to face her. “I never really thought about children until recently.” The heat of his gaze seared her insides.
Her heart stopped beating. “Oh?” she squeaked.
"Not until I met you. Now that's all I can think of."
She swallowed hard. Her heart started beating again, wildly slamming against her ribcage. “Really?"
"Yes.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Do you ever think about children, Chloe?"
She had never given much thought to having children. She had a slew of nieces and nephews. She adored each one and never forgot to send a card and gift on birthdays. But to have a child of her very own? No, she'd never dwelled on it much. But now she could see her children, Max's and hers, playing and dancing before her eyes. They'd have Max's blue eyes and his fantastic smile, with those irresistible dimples. Oh, what little princes and princesses they would be! They would be the little darlings of the media. Watching out for them, protecting them, loving them would be a full-time job.
The domestic thoughts startled her. Had she really changed so much in the past few weeks? She'd never thought about settling down and starting a family before. Her career had always been most important to her. She'd pushed everything else aside, especially after having her heart broken a few too many times. Her high-school boyfriend Greg had only been the start of many disastrous relationships, each one leaving her more battered and bitter than before.
And now Max stood before her in the haze of an Arizona sunrise, promising her the world in his blue-blue eyes. And she wanted to believe. She wanted so badly to believe the fairy tale could be reality. But did she dare to? Not a moment before, she had been more than willing to confess her love for Max, but now she wasn't so sure. Suddenly she was frightened. She was frightened of giving her heart to him and having it abused and shattered again.
"Chloe?"
She focused on his handsome face. His smile was warm and tender, his blue eyes soft and loving. She loved him. She did. And she was about to risk everything for that love.
"Chloe? Are you okay?” He reached for her, and she stepped into his embrace. “Darling?"
She squeezed her eyes shut and leaned against him, wrapping her arms about him and holding him close. “What are we doing, Max?"
"What do you mean?"
"This. Everything. I don't know. I only know it breaks my heart to see you with those other women."
"But I don't care for them as I do for you. You know that. You have to know that."
She nodded. She knew. But it didn't change their situation. Nothing would.
Except her confession. “I have something to tell you."
"Will you help me with something first?"
"All right."
"I wanted a moment alone with you this morning because we're changing the show a bit."
"What do you mean? What changes are you talking about?"
"You have to promise me you won't get mad."
A warning alarm sounded in her head. This couldn't be good. It certainly didn't sound good. “Okay, what is it?"
"I thought it would be a great twist to the show if you'd help me choose where I'm going to take the final four contestants."
She stared at him in complete and total shock. What? What was he talking about? Wasn't it horrible enough she had to live night and day in the same mansion as all his prospective brides? Wasn't it tortuous enough for her to watch him court those beauties and act as though each one could possibly be his princess, the queen of his country, and the mother of his precious heirs?
"Excuse me? Could you repeat that?” Chloe gripped the soft fabric of his shirt.
He grinned, that adorable, lopsided, amazing grin. “I think you heard me. Isn't it a fabulous idea? Toni and the producers loved it. It gives you more camera exposure and adds a new dimension to the show. Most of all, it gives us a chance to be together."
"But we won't be alone. The cameras will be with us all the time."
"Does that matter?"
She gaped at him. “Of course it does! I don't want our relationship unfolding in front of the crew and in front of the entire world!"
Max's grin vanished. “I thought you'd be pleased I found a way for us to be together."
Chloe disentangled herself from him and walked a few paces away. She needed some breathing space. She needed to set herself apart from the magnetic Prince Max.
Hot anger flowed through her. She had been about to express her love for him. About to open her heart to him; about to risk everything for the love she felt for him. She'd been so positive he felt the same. How could his expressive blue eyes lie to her? Did he truly only care about the blasted show? Was that all she meant to him? A ratings booster?
His hand touched her shoulder as a tear slid down her cheek. She pulled away from him and walked the rest of the way up the mountain until she was standing at its very peak. The view below was breathtaking, but she couldn't appreciate its stunning uniqueness because of the overwhelming pain pounding inside her bruised heart.
Max came up behind her. She felt his presence, and she wanted to turn into his arms. She wished he would sweep her off her feet and carry her away to their happily-ever-after. But she knew that wasn't going to happen. Not now. Not ever.
"What did I do? I thought I was helping."
"How? How can you possibly think that?” she asked quietly. She hugged herself and wished she'd refused his invitation. She wished she'd just stayed in bed, buried her feelings, and went on as if nothing existed between them.
"It's a way for us to be together."
Chloe continued to stare down at the Valley of the Sun. She didn't want to face him. She couldn't face him. He'd see the devastation in her eyes. He'd see how much she hurt, and she couldn't have him see her that way. She just couldn't.
"I'm not interested.” She tried to keep her voice steady, but she heard the tremble in her words. She knew he did as well. “Tell them I'm not going to do it."
"I thought you'd be happy."
Was he that dense?
"I thought you'd be thrilled to spend time with me."
How could he not see? How could he not understand? Spending time like that with him would be worse than what she was going through now. Choosing places to take the Courting His Royal Highness contestants on his dates? Was he crazy?
"Please talk to me."
"I'm not doing it, Max."
Silence filled the small space between them.
"Chloe?” he pleaded softly.
"I want to go back down. Now.” She took a couple deep breaths before turning around to face him. “I'm not doing this."
Max looked away from her, focusing on something unknown over her shoulder. “That's not possible."
"Why?"
"Because they've already written it into the show. You'll be getting the new information today."
She was flabbergasted. “But I haven't given m
y consent."
"It doesn't matter, Chloe. This is how it works. You signed on and they can do anything they want. Reality shows are like that."
"And I suppose you're the expert?"
"No. I'm not. But I know what we signed. Do you?"
She had to admit she hadn't read the contract very thoroughly. She'd been so overjoyed to have an actual job in the entertainment business, she'd signed rather quickly on the dotted line.
Well, now she'd learned her lesson. She'd never do that again. If only she'd known she was signing over her heart. She wondered if the contract stated anything about that—relationships on set, or something. It probably did. She wouldn't be surprised.
"It was my idea."
"Why didn't you talk to me?” she asked. The warm rays of the morning sun couldn't chase away the chills in her body. “Why?"
His eye gazed into hers, and she saw the pain in the blue depths. She knew he hadn't meant to hurt her. He'd only wanted to give them more time together, to explore the feelings between them. But how could they do that in front of the camera lens? She didn't want that; how could he? And in the end, they couldn't be together anyway. He had to pick one of remaining girls to be his bride.
"I'm sorry. I thought I was doing something good for us."
"Us?” She laughed, a cold and bitter laugh. “There is no us."
"I don't believe that."
"You have to."
"I don't."
Chloe tore her gaze from his. She knew she'd lose all hope of keeping her composure if she continued to look into his eyes. “You can't have everything, Maximilian,” she whispered sadly. “You can't have me."
"I can!” he exploded.
Chloe jumped as he grabbed her roughly by the arms and drew her hard against him. “Let me go!” she cried.
"No. I'm not going to let you out of my arms until we've had a chance to clear the air."
"Clear the air? What are you talking about?"
"You and me. I don't give a damn about this show. Not now. Not after meeting you. You have to believe me."
She struggled against him, unwilling to look into his intense eyes, unwilling to yield to him. “Let me go!"
"No! Not until you understand. Not until I've explained. I was going to wait until the end, but I see that's not possible. You have to know now. I see that now. I can't play with your emotions."