Another thought nudged his conscience. They would give up everything for him. And they had once before. “Do you think they’re just saying that? You know, for the business and to be close to me still?”
“Seems so, if you don’t mind me saying.”
“Edward, when have I had a choice in what you say?” He chuckled, taking the sting out of the question.
“That’s true. Lucky for me.”
Alex leaned forward, patting him on the shoulder, saying, “No, lucky for me, friend, lucky for me.” He thanked whoever every day for placing Edward in his life.
Who would have thought an ex-cop with a bum knee would have dragged him out of a bar that night in college and saved him from untold scandal? He couldn’t convince his friends and they’d ended up being arrested. The incident, and the subsequent discovery of illegal activities at the nightclub, had made the papers for months. Guilt by association and jail time ensued.
In saving Alex’s neck and the Royale family reputation, Edward had made a friend for life. So had Alex.
“Maybe it’s time to expand into an uncharted market for Royale Enterprises. If we coincide this with the new development, we assure the client undivided attention and spotlight their build in our publicity campaign. Both companies win, free advertising for them while we cultivate more projects in the process. West Coast division needs a West Coast chief,” he mused. “Chadwick would love the opportunity.”
Edward laughed. “Perfect. Gets him out of your hair.”
“And gets him the prestige he wants.”
“He’ll be happier.”
“Yes and he will be less likely to defect to another company, taking all that knowledge and expertise he has with him. He’d sign that contract without a second thought. His loyalty to the company all these years should be rewarded. Charlie would think so, too. And the man deserves a bonus for all his hard work. An all-expense paid vacation with his family, I think. Royale Enterprises would benefit greatly by allowing him to head up his own division.” Alex spoke his thoughts out loud.
“And you get to stay put,” Edward ended with a hopeful note to his voice.
For the first time, Alex realized Edward would have to give up Dolly, too. It just wasn’t Alex losing what he cared about most.
“Family first, Edward, that’s what she said.”
“Miss Charlie? She’s a smart one.”
Edward was just as much family to him as Dolly was to Charlie. He pictured King’s employees. Their dedication and devotion were not just to a store, but to the Kings themselves. Charlie always said the employees were members of King’s family.
And Charlie was part of his family now.
Alex’s heart lurched.
He’d married in order to save his grandparents. His mission was to keep them and their hope alive. But, in finding Charlie, she’d been the one to rescue his secret hope of ever having a future filled with love and family.
He could have everything he ever longed for with Charlie. He couldn’t lose her now.
“We’re here, sir.”
Alex came out of his reverie with a start. Without thinking, he got out of the car. He made it a few steps and then halted, looking at the new window display.
“Sir, you all right?” Edward asked, now at his elbow.
“How could I have forgotten? I took a vow, Edward. I gave my word.” Love, honor, and cherish.
“And you always keep your word, sir.”
Moving closer, he felt his friend right by his side. There, behind the glass, stood the mannequins. Charlie, with Dolly and the stepsisters by her side, was in a makeshift bathroom, staring at something Charlie was holding. It was too small to see.
He read the title under the Charmings. A baby makes three?
“It can’t be.”
“That’s what she said,” Dolly exclaimed, having come up to him.
He gazed at her in stunned wonder. “Well, is she or isn’t she?”
The older woman tapped a finger against her lips. “Mums the word, Mr. R.” She pointed a thumb over her shoulder, saying, “But you’ll find your answer over there.”
He rushed past her. Finding the window drape still covering the second display, he turned back to find Dolly with Edward at her side. She then nodded to the redheaded stepsister at the entrance to King’s.
“Hit it, Francine,” Priscilla cried out.
The drape moved. He struggled to make out the images behind the fabric. Slowly, the material parted, revealing the scene.
Time seemed to slow. Blood rushed to his ears.
Right before his eyes, blue and pink linens littered the area. With only half his mind working, he noticed the white wooden crib, rocker, and matching furniture. Resting on top of a large blue pillow was a miniature jewel-encrusted crown and beside it, on the matching pink pillow, was a miniature diamond tiara.
“Congratulations, Alex, you’re going to be a daddy.” Charlie’s sweet voice came from his left.
Whirling around, he saw her standing just a few steps away.
Alex drank in the sight of her. He could never get enough of seeing her wide smile and sparkling eyes filled with love.
He found home.
His heart hitched in his chest.
And, he noted, she was carrying those strappy red shoes again. “What is it with you and the shoes?” he joked, turning the familiar question around on her.
She giggled. “If the shoe fits, isn’t that what you said the first time we met? I thought they came with the prince.”
“If you remember correctly, you had the shoes before
me.”
“Of course, how could I forget? You, Alexander Royale, were the icing on the cake.”
Sobering, he waved a hand to the second window display. “Charlie, you’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Of course, silly, I would never pull a prank like this. It’s true.” She bit her lip. “Alex, I don’t want King’s anymore. I’m going to hand it over to the employees. It’s their store, really. Their hard work and dedication has made it into what it is today. They can decide if they want to keep it going or not. If they sell the place, they’ll have a pretty profit for retirement or whatever else they wish to do with the money.”
“But, Charlie, this is your life.”
She shook her head. “It’s not. You were right. I was trying to hold onto my father. It’s not fair to try to keep a ghost alive. Not to him, and especially not to us. I can’t live someone else’s dream anymore. I have to live my own. You, Alex, well, you and the baby,” she touched her flat belly, “you’re now my life.”
She stole his breath away. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” he said softly, overcome with emotions. “I want to hold you in my arms forever.”
“I want that, too.”
“That’s a relief.”
“You have to have big arms,” she pointed out.
“For you?”
She shrugged. “Me, the baby, Dolly, Francine, Priscilla—”
“The shoes,” he teased.
“Just the red ones.”
“Your stepmother?” he asked with a hint of dismay.
“Not yet.” She sighed. “Eventually though. Can you handle that?”
He grinned. “Is that all you got?”
“More babies?”
“Definitely. Plus my grandparents and Edward. That’s a pretty good life, the way I see it.”
“The best. Not too shabby for a King and a Royale.”
He walked to her then. He brushed back a lock of her hair and cupped her cheek. “But you love what you do. You can’t give that up.”
“Oh, I didn’t say I was throwing in the towel on everything. I think with my dress designs, Dolly’s skills, and my sisters as my two new assistants, we can get our new company up and running soon. We can sell the line exclusively at King’s if it’s still open.”
“A King will still be a part of King’s Department Store. They’ll be lucky to have you.”
“I
thought of a name for the new business: Charmed, I’m Sure.”
“You are amazing.”
“Of course I am. Either here or in California. Bi-coastal or whatever you call it.”
He chuckled. “I don’t think that will be necessary. The deal is sealed. There’s no backing out now. And as top dog of Royale Enterprises, I think it’s high time I make an executive decision to open up a West Coast division. I know the perfect candidate to fill the chief position.”
“But your grandparents?”
“They’ll be too busy with their new great-grand—” he stopped himself. “Boy or girl?”
“I betcha it will be one of those two.”
“I thought you never bet on a sure thing?”
“Except when it comes to ice cream tasting.”
“Or cards,” he pointed out with a smile in his voice, recalling the all-aces, all-hearts deck.
“That, my love, was betting on you, not the cards,” she whispered huskily.
Warmth spread through him. She was going to have his baby. Another thought tugged at him. “Does this mean I still have to court you?”
“For a lifetime, husband.”
“My pleasure, wife.”
She dropped the shoes. Charlie threw her arms around him and kissed him. Alex held her close, returning her deep, lingering kiss.
He heard Edward, Dolly, and Charlie’s stepsisters clap and cheer.
In the back of his mind, Alex realized, the Charmings would be living happily ever after after all.
Now, if they could just marry off the stepsisters…
The End
This is the first book in the contemporary romantic comedy trilogy, Once Upon A Romance Series. Keep reading for an excerpt of Waking Sleeping Beauty, Book 2 in the series.
If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review.
About The Author
Laurie LeClair writes contemporary romance. Laurie’s habit of daydreaming has gotten her into a few scrapes and launched her to take up her dream of writing. Finally, she can put all those stories in her head to rest as she brings them to life on the page. Laurie considers herself a New Texan (New England born and raised and now living in Texas). Please connect with Laurie online at https://twitter.com/LeClairbooks and
https://facebook.com/laurieleclair.75
Other books by Laurie LeClair
Available now
Once Upon A Romance Series:
If The Shoe Fits – Book 1
Waking Sleeping Beauty – Book 2
Taming McGruff – Book 3
Coming Soon
The Heart Series:
Secrets Of The Heart – Book 1
Crimes Of The Heart – Book 2
Lies Of The Heart – Book 3
Here’s an excerpt from
Waking Sleeping Beauty,
Once Upon A Romance Series Book 2.
Available now.
Chapter 1
“Wake up, will ya!”
Francine King bolted upright in the tiny enclosure. She blinked several times, trying to recall where she was. Looking down at the layers of satin and lace dress with hundreds of tiny crystals sparkling under the lights, she landed back to earth with a dull thud. “Rico?”
“Of course, it’s me, silly. Who else would it be?”
She sighed with relief. “Sorry. I’m just jumpy.”
“And sleepy,” he muttered. “No rest for the new independent woman, now is there?”
“Did you get them?” She stood, sweeping layers of fabric in a neater array. “I’m decent. You can come in now.”
He shoved aside the curtain to the dressing room and produced the two-carat, tear-drop diamond earrings. “Viola.” He swung the sparkling pair under her nose. “Do I deliver or do I de-“ he stopped in midstream, his mouth hanging open. “Shut up!”
Heat crawled into her cheeks. Pressing her hands to her face, she asked, “Is that a good shut up or a bad shut up?”
“O-M-G! You look fab-u-loicous, girl.” His eyes nearly popped out of his head.
“I take that as good.” She smiled now, fingering the delicate lace bodice on the wedding dress. “It’s not too much. Or should I say too little?” she asked, splaying her hand over the deep V neckline.
“You have bubbies.”
Another sweep of heat seared her cheeks. “You sound like that’s a question, not a statement.” Looking down, she noted the miraculous way the dress pushed her together to create a definite cleavage.
“Come out, come out. Let me see more.”
Poking her head out of the dressing room, she looked down the aisle. “Is the coast clear?”
“Everyone’s gone for the night or we wouldn’t be here, you know that.”
“No one followed you? No guards? No manager? You know she doesn’t like me.”
He sighed heavily. “Now who does?”
A stab of hurt lanced through her. “Rico!”
Pursing his lips together, he murmured, “It’s true.”
This time she was the one to sigh. She marched out of the cubicle, down the hallway and into the display room. Her so-called new friend didn’t mince words and she’d be forever grateful for that. But the truth did hurt. She stepped up onto the pedestal and gazed unseeingly into her reflection in the full length mirror opposite her.
“Here, let me do the back up all the way,” he clucked, delicately handing over the precious jewelry. He tugged at the satin strings, pulling the wedding dress even tighter.
“I didn’t do anything,” she whispered, slipping on the earrings. “I’m not my mother. I’m not mean or vain or pushy—”
”Well…” He coughed a few times. “You can be pushy, but, like me, it’s for a good cause. You’re just trying to help out around the store.” He waved a hand. “Helping the salespeople with their customers. I swear some people don’t have a lick of common sense when dealing with the public.”
She forced herself to grin. “Not like us, right?” Being a hairdresser in King’s Department Store salon allowed Rico to judge the wisdom of his clients’ choices. He expressed his opinion on more than just hair and makeup and clothes. Nine times out of ten, he nailed it on the head.
And she, the stepdaughter to the late, great Charles King, enjoyed the breath of fresh air Rico brought to the legendary store. Taking a cue from him, she didn’t hold back on her suggestions for the brides who shopped there. After all, if anyone knew about weddings, she did. Francine lived and breathed weddings. She considered herself an amateur expert on the subject; she poured over bridal magazines and collected pictures in her three-ring wedding binder for decades now. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of her dream wedding.
Only there were a few things wrong with the picture.
Even after all these years, she still couldn’t decide on a dress. She couldn’t have a perfect wedding without the perfect wedding dress, now could she?
She’d never be able to afford her picturesque day now that her mother had cut off her trust fund. How long would it take to save for the lavish affair? Two years? Three? More?
And last, but not least, she faced another even larger dilemma.
It was just too bad she’d never dated anyone in her entire life.
No groom. Now that could be a big sticking point.
“Francie, don’t slouch.” He smacked her lightly on her bottom.
She sucked in a breath and twirled to him.
“It was just a pat,” he soothed. “Pay attention. Now turn around and behave.”
Folding her arms over her chest, she asked, “Me?”
“Look, face it. You’re not Miss Popularity around here. That award goes to Charlie.”
She should be offended, but she wasn’t. She smiled now. Her older stepsister was the heir apparent and had worked in the store for years, gaining the love and trust of the employees. Francie and her younger sister, Priscilla, had only joined King’s a few weeks ago when they’d abruptly walked out on their demanding, controlling mo
ther. Her smile faded quickly at the thought of the woman who’d she’d never really known, but she had listened to and blindly obeyed all these years.
“I know, Rico, it’s not that. They brand me with the same brush they use for my mother,” she choked out the last.
He shivered in revulsion. “No offense, but that woman gives me the willies. Just one look from her and she’d knock off her enemy. Thank God she’s greedy and sold off the store to your new brother-in-law.”
“At least Charlie and he saved the store from closing.”
“Ah, I hear it ain’t a sure thing.”
“What?!” Immersed in trying to stand on her own two feet, working long extra hours to just survive and keep a stern watch over her younger sister, Francie hadn’t the time to sit down with Charlie to discuss the store’s numbers.
“The holidays will either make or break the store.”
Her heart sank. Fear slithered in, cold and dark. What in the world would her family do if the store closed? This was her stepfather’s dream. Charlie had kept it going with her brilliant ad campaigns lately. And she and Priscilla were not adept at anything, not even being a salesperson. They’d only gotten their jobs at the store thanks to Charlie and being family.
“Quit frowning. Look, all done up.” He stood back. “Lovely.”
Jerked back to the moment, Francie came to attention. She fingered her blonde bob into place, then, not liking the look, pulled her hair up off her neck. “Better, don’t you think?”
“Much,” he agreed.
Suddenly, the lights flickered off and on and off and on again.
“Oh no, that’s the guards, the last warning for the employees.”
Rico jumped. “Oh my God, I’ve got to get the earrings back in the vault.”
“You took them from the vault?”
If The Shoe Fits Page 15