Man...Mercenary...Monarch (Royally Wed)

by Joan Elliott Pickart

  Laura looked at Jeremiah for another long moment, then turned and left the room.

  In the kitchen, Laura saw that John had placed the plate of cinnamon rolls in the center of the small table.

  “Coffee?” he said, holding up the pot.

  “Well…yes, all right,” Laura said, sitting down in one of the chairs. “Thank you.”

  John carried two mugs to the table, then retraced his steps to deposit a spoon, a quart of milk and a five-pound bag of sugar in front of Laura.

  “There,” he said, sitting down opposite her. “Here,” he added, handing her a napkin from a stack near his elbow. “Help yourself to Betty’s cinnamon rolls. They’re the best in the world, and I should know, because I’ve sampled my share around the globe.”

  Laura pulled one of the rolls free, took a bite, then set it on the napkin. John polished off a roll and reached for another.

  “Mmm,” Laura said. “You’re right. They’re delicious.” She paused. “You’ve done a great deal of traveling in your life, haven’t you?”

  John nodded, then took a sip of the hot coffee.

  “Do you think it will be difficult,” Laura said, “for you to stay in one place to raise Jeremiah?”

  John shrugged.

  “Have you given any thought at all to the incredible fact that you’re Prince James Wyndham of Wynborough?”

  John shook his head.

  “Gosh, John,” Laura said, frowning, “don’t talk so much. You’re hardly giving me a chance to say anything. You were the one who said you wished to speak with me. So…speak, for heaven’s sake.”

  “Yeah, well, the subject matter isn’t my future plans for Jeremiah, nor this crazy business about me being a prince,” he said. “What’s on my mind is the present, this very moment.”

  “And?” Laura said, raising her eyebrows.

  John sighed. “Laura, I need help with Jeremiah. It’s not fair to him for me to be practicing being a father, especially since I’m screwing everything up and he’s paying the price for what I don’t know.”

  “But you said you wanted to learn the ropes of fatherhood alone, John.”

  “I was wrong, okay? I admit that,” he said, volume on high. “I didn’t know that being a father was so damn complicated.”

  “You don’t have to yell,” Laura yelled.

  John raised both hands. “I’m sorry. Laura, look, I’m afraid I’ll harm Jeremiah in some way, because of my lack of knowledge. I can’t allow that to happen. I need to be taught what to do for him, not just wing it. Please. I’m asking for your help.”

  Funny little fingers of warmth tiptoed around Laura’s heart as she stared at John.

  Oh, my stars, she thought, how very difficult it must be for John to do this. His masculine pride and self-esteem must be in shreds, but he was putting Jeremiah’s needs first. John Colton was such an incredible man, a wonderful father, a—

  “Laura?”

  “Oh. Well, what did you have in mind?”

  “You’re staying on The Rocking C, aren’t you?” he said.

  “For now,” she said, nodding. “Until the princesses tell me otherwise. Truth be known, I’m not certain that I’ll still have a job with the royal family, because the princesses are married, scattered here and there. They may no longer need a social secretary.”

  “So, you’re at the ranch until you get other orders, or whatever.” John dragged one hand through his hair. “Maybe you could spend the days here, in the cabin with me and Jeremiah.

  “I could learn what to do for him by watching you, taking instructions from you. Jeremiah deserves better than how I’m handling him on my own. Will you do it?”

  No! Laura’s mind yelled. Merciful saints, no.

  Spend hours and hours tending to a baby who had already claimed her heart? A baby she would eventually have to walk away from, never to see again?

  Spend hours and hours with a man who evoked desire within her with a mere look, smile, the sound of his voice, the rumble of his laughter?

  A magnificent man she had spent the most glorious night of her life with, the memories of which refused to stay put away where they belonged? A dangerous man, who might very well cause her to fall in love with him before she was forced to leave him?

  No, absolutely not.

  She’d have to be certifiably insane to agree to John’s request.

  “Laura?” John said quietly.

  “Yes,” she said, looking directly into his eyes. “I’ll…I’ll help you with Jeremiah, John.”

  Oh, her poor parents, she thought rather hysterically. Their youngest daughter was a fruitcake. She was crazy, completely nuts. She was setting herself up for potential heartache and—

  Laura jerked in surprise as John reached around the bulky bag of sugar and covered her hand with his on top of the table.

  “Thank you,” he said, meeting her gaze. “My son thanks you, too, although he doesn’t realize it. You’re a very special woman, Laura. I meant what I said in that note I wrote you. I sincerely hope you find your rainbow of happiness, because you deserve to have it.”

  Do not cry, Laura Bishop, she ordered herself frantically. She could feel the achy sensation in her throat, the stinging at the back of her eyes.

  She could deal with John much easier when he was grumpy and hollering his head off. But when he was sweet, tender, borderline romantic and sentimental? Her bones were dissolving and she was a breath away from bursting into tears. The man just didn’t play fair.

  Ah, man, John thought, what had he done? Laura looked as though she was about to cry. What had he said to upset her like this?

  He sure was on a crummy roll. He couldn’t take proper care of his own baby son, and now he’d said, or done, something to bring this special, rare and wonderful woman close to tears.

  “Hey,” he said, releasing Laura’s hand and getting to his feet. “Laura?”

  He came around the table, drew her up and into his embrace, and held her close.

  “Talk to me,” he said. “I’ve obviously done something wrong.”

  “No.” Laura sniffled. “No, you didn’t.”

  “You’re speaking to my shirt. Look at me.”

  Laura lifted her head slowly to meet his gaze. He nearly groaned aloud when he saw the tears shimmering in her lovely, big green eyes.

  “Ah, Laura, I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t know what I did, but I’m sorry for…whatever it was.”

  “No, no, please don’t apologize, because you’ll make me feel even more foolish than I already do. It’s just that what you said about my finding my rainbow…It was so-o-o sweet.”

  “Ah-h-h,” he said, smiling at her. “Those tears are the one hundred percent feminine kind that men won’t live long enough to understand. Right?”

  “Yes, that’s right,” she said, managing to produce a small smile.

  John’s smile faded as he became acutely aware of the heat beginning to coil low in his body where Laura was nestled so enticingly against him.

  Let her go, Colton, he ordered himself. Drop your arms, take a step backward and, damn it, let her go

  He didn’t move.

  He couldn’t move. Hell, he could hardly breathe, and his heart was beating so wildly, he could hear the echo of it in his ears.

  He hadn’t intended to touch Laura, to hold her, but now that he was…Ah, hell.

  John lowered his head and claimed Laura’s lips in a searing kiss.

  The kiss was fire, igniting the glowing embers of desire still within them into licking flames of passion that consumed them instantly. Their tongues met, tasting of sweet cinnamon rolls and coffee, stroking, dueling, dancing.

  Memories of their lovemaking swept over them in a rush, heightening their passion even more.

  John raised his head a fraction of an inch to draw a rough breath, then claimed Laura’s lips again. She leaned into him, returning the kiss in total abandon.

  Colton, John’s mind roared, get a grip.

  He broke
the kiss, raised his hands to Laura’s shoulders and eased her away from his aroused body.

  “No,” he said, his voice raspy.

  Laura blinked, shook her head slightly, and took a deep, wobbly breath.

  “No?” she said.

  John stepped backward and Laura sank onto her chair, her trembling legs refusing to hold her for another second.

  “I didn’t mean for that to happen,” John said, “and it won’t be repeated. I asked you to help me with Jeremiah. I don’t want you to think that request means I intend to hustle you into bed. I won’t touch you again, Laura.”

  But she wanted to be hustled into John’s bed, Laura thought frantically. She wanted to make exquisite love with him for hours and hours, soar to that wondrous place with him, feel so womanly, and special, and beautiful.

  I won’t touch you again, Laura.

  John’s words beat against Laura’s heart and mind, and a chill swept through her, causing her to shiver.

  Despite the intensity of the kisses they’d just shared, John didn’t want her, desire her, as she did him. He was making that very clear. And it hurt. Dear heaven, how it hurt.

  Grow up, Laura, she admonished herself. John was worldly and sophisticated enough to have shoved the memories of their night together into some dusty corner of his mind, far, far away from his heart. Well, she could—would—do the same. Somehow.

  “Yes, fine,” she said, shifting in her chair to pick up her coffee mug. “I’m just the baby-sitter, the person who will teach you how to care for your son.”

  “Yeah,” John said, sitting down opposite her.

  That was the way it had to be, he told himself. No doubt about it. He knew that. He didn’t have room in his life for anyone but Jeremiah. Damn it, he knew that.

  Besides, he had absolutely no experience where serious, long-term relationships were concerned. He’d always been on the move, involving himself with women who understood he wouldn’t be around forever.

  He didn’t even know if he was capable of making a lifelong commitment to a woman. He just wasn’t in Laura’s league. She was a hearth-and-home, till-death-do-us-part kind of lady who deserved better than him. He knew that.

  Then why did he feel so empty? So alone?

  “Could you stay here in the cabin now?” he said, staring into his mug. “I need to go up to the house and do a load of wash. Jeremiah soaked his bed, big time.”

  “Yes, I’m free now,” Laura said quietly.

  “Good. That’s good. Thanks.”

  John got to his feet and strode from the room. A few minutes later, Laura heard the front door close behind him. She plunked her elbow on the table, rested her chin in her hand and sighed.

  “Laura Bishop,” she said dismally, “if you fall in love with that man, if John and Jeremiah become your rainbow wish, I’ll never speak to you again.”

  Chapter Six

  John sat in the butter-soft leather chair behind the desk in the den in the ranch house, the telephone receiver cradled between his head and shoulder.

  “So that’s it, Mom,” he said. “That brings you up to speed on what’s going on.”

  “Well, you certainly are full of news, John,” Cissy Colton said. “Your father and I will want pictures of Jeremiah. I’m sure there’s a camera round there someplace.” She paused. “A grandson. I admit it’s all a bit shocking, but oh, my, I’m so thrilled. I can hardly wait to get my hands on that baby.”

  John chuckled. “I could use your experienced hands, that’s for sure. So far, I haven’t done a bang-up job of being a father.”

  “Give it time. You’ll get the hang of it. Besides, you said that Laura Bishop is helping you out.”

  “Yes,” John said quietly. “Yes, she is. She’s a natural-born mother, just senses, knows, what Jeremiah needs. Laura is a very special woman, very…” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, Laura is pitching in for now.”

  “I see,” Cissy said. “How nice for you that she’s such a special woman.”

  “Don’t make a big deal out of it, Mom. I just meant that Jeremiah will benefit from Laura’s expertise.”

  “Yes, of course. John, we need to discuss what you’ve learned about your true identity.”

  “No,” he said gruffly. “I’m not thinking about that right now. I have parents…you and Dad. I’m John Colton. End of story.”

  “You’re also Prince James Wyndham of Wynborough,” Cissy said. “My gracious, that’s a lot to take in all at once, isn’t it? My son, a prince.”

  “Mom, all I’m dealing with at the present time is Jeremiah.”

  “I understand your attitude, John. Becoming an instant father is rather daunting. But will you please think about something else. For me?”

  “What is it?”

  “My darling, all these years your biological parents thought you were dead, that you were killed by whoever kidnapped you as an infant.

  “Oh, John, can’t you understand what those people must be feeling? Their son is alive. Can’t you imagine the joy, the sense of a miracle having taken place, that must be consuming them?”

  “I…”

  “John, you will always be my son. Nothing will ever change that in my heart. But there is another set of parents who need to see you in order to be able to truly believe that you’re alive and well.

  “The pain and loss they have suffered all these years is over. Their son is alive, John. Don’t make them wait too long to meet you. Please.”

  John sighed and ran the fingertips of one hand over his forehead where a headache was beginning to throb.

  “I didn’t think about all that,” he said. “I simply decided I had enough on my plate because of Jeremiah.”

  “I realize that,” Cissy said, “but there are others involved in this besides just you.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” John said, smiling. “I hear you talking, ma’am.”

  “Good. I know you’ll do the right thing, John, and soon.”

  John rolled his eyes heavenward. “Yes, Mother.”

  “Fine. Kiss Jeremiah for me, and I’ll talk to you in a few days. And, John? Your father and I love you very much. And we agree your having two sets of parents should be a bonus, not a burden, for you.”

  “Oh, yeah? What about the fact that I’m a prince, for crying out loud?”

  “Well, you were never content being a rancher. Who knows? You just might enjoy being a prince.”

  “Ah, hell,” John said, shaking his head.

  “Don’t swear. I don’t want to hear that kind of language coming from Jeremiah. Well, I must go. Owning a bed-and-breakfast doesn’t make for idle hours.

  “Your father and I will come to the ranch to see you and your son as soon as we can make arrangements for someone to step in for us here for a bit. Goodbye for now.”

  “’Bye, Mom. Tell Dad I said hello.”

  John replaced the telephone receiver, then leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, puffing out his cheeks.

  Man, oh, man, he thought, his life was suddenly so complicated, so filled with…with people.

  For as long as he could remember he’d been a loner, standing just on the edge, the outsider looking in.

  Yes, he loved his brother, Mitch, and his parents, Cissy and Robert. He truly did. But he’d never fit in, couldn’t comprehend, nor embrace, their devotion to the land, the hours and hours of labor that never produced a sense of completion.

  As a government agent, a mercenary of sorts, he’d found a sense of purpose, a discipline he took to as naturally as breathing. Each assignment he was given had a beginning and an end. He did what needed to be done, then it was over. Finished. Done.

  And he did it alone.

  His family had accepted him as he was, never pushed, never pressured him. Whenever he returned home to The Rocking C, he was welcomed with open arms and loving hearts. Whether it had been two months or two years since he had been home, the love showered on him was unconditional, warm and rea
l.

  But now?

  Hell, he was surrounded by people, all of whom wanted, needed, something from him.

  There was another set of parents who, he now realized from what his mother had said, were eager to see him, to get to know him, to be able to lay to rest the years of pain and heartache caused by believing that he was dead.

  There were sisters, too, the Royal Princesses of Wynborough, who wished to meet the brother they had never known. How did a man sit down and have a conversation with a bunch of highfalutin’ princesses, for cripe sake?

  There was Jeremiah, his son, an innocent, helpless baby, who had no one but him, John Colton, to raise him, to provide a home for him, a sense of belonging.

  He wanted for Jeremiah what he’d never been able to obtain for himself…a sense of belonging, roots, inner peace and contentment with who he was and where he lived.

  And there was Laura.

  John jerked forward in the chair.

  No. Whoa. Wait a minute. Laura wasn’t in this picture. Yes, okay, she was very special and he…he cared for her. Their night together meant a great deal to him. But while all the other new people in his life were permanent fixtures, wouldn’t disappear, Laura would soon be gone. She was here temporarily, waiting to find out what plans the Wyndhams had for her.

  He and Jeremiah would be alone again, just the two of them, staring at the sea of new faces belonging to people declaring themselves to be the family he hadn’t even known existed.

  John raked both hands through his hair.

  What a dreary scenario he was painting in his mind. Laura was the one person he felt really connected to, the one he could talk to, holding nothing back.

  But Laura would be gone.

  He’d never again see her smile, hear her laughter, watch her beautiful green eyes become smoky with desire for him. Him.

  He wouldn’t be able to hold her in his arms, pull her close, drink in the taste and aroma of her.

  Soon, at any moment, he supposed, Laura could receive word that she was to return to Wynborough and resume her duties there. Or she might be informed that her services were no longer needed and she’d explore new avenues for her future.

  Her future. She wanted to find her rainbow of happiness, to be a wife and mother. That was her secret wish that she’d shared with him during the magical night they’d spent together.