Romancing the Crown Series

by Romancing the Crown Series (13-in-1 bundle) (v1. 0) (lit)

  "That's wonderful."

  "I only wish—" Lucas clenched his jaw on the rest of his words, leaving the statement unfinished. When he turned to face Sam and Kate once more, all traces of his smile were gone. "My brother-in-law, Tyler Ramsey, is advising the police in the land search for Ursula Chambers and has kept us informed of their efforts. How is the search of the coast progressing?"

  Sam spoke, giving both the king and the prince an update on the measures that were in place to insure the fugitive didn't escape Montebello by water. Kate added a few details, wishing she could give them better news. When they were finished, there was a brief silence.

  To her relief, the king appeared satisfied with their efforts, giving them a few words of encouragement before going back to his family.

  Lucas remained where he was. He turned the full force of his piercing blue gaze first on Kate, then Sam. When he spoke, his voice echoed with the authority inherited through generations of royalty. "I want you to find her."

  "Lieutenant Mulvaney," he said, holding out his hand. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to thank you a week ago. I'm in your debt for your care of my son."

  Kate was surprised by the strength of his grip as she took his hand. For a royal playboy, he was in excellent shape. "I was only doing my duty, Your Highness. I was merely in the right place at the right time. I'm glad that your son is healthy."

  "Yes, his weight is almost up to normal, and he has a good appetite." Lucas glanced over his shoulder at the baby. "He's doing well, all things considered."

  "That's wonderful."

  "I only wish—" Lucas clenched his jaw on the rest of his words, leaving the statement unfinished. When he turned to face Sam and Kate once more, all traces of his smile were gone. "My brother-in-law, Tyler Ramsey, is advising the police in the land search for Ursula Chambers and has kept us informed of their efforts. How is the search of the coast progressing?"

  Sam spoke, giving both the king and the prince an update on the measures that were in place to insure the fugitive didn't escape Montebello by water. Kate added a few details, wishing she could give them better news. When they were finished, there was a brief silence.

  To her relief, the king appeared satisfied with their efforts, giving them a few words of encouragement before going back to his family.

  Lucas remained where he was. He turned the full force of his piercing blue gaze first on Kate, then Sam. When he spoke, his voice echoed with the authority inherited through generations of royalty. "I want you to find her."

  "We'll do our best, Your Highness," Sam began.

  "She killed my cousin," Lucas said. "And she killed the mother of my child. She wanted to use my son as a pawn in her twisted scheme to get rich. If not for Ursula Chambers, I could have seen the woman I loved hold the life we created."

  There was no mistaking the look of regret on the prince's face. As Kate listened to the poignant sounds of the royal

  family getting to know baby Luke, she saw Lucas's eyes grow misty.

  Whatever problems there might have been between Lucas and Jessica, whatever had kept them apart, Kate shouldn't project her experience on them. Theirs was a different story from hers and Sam's. And Lucas was obviously suffering.

  "Find Chambers," Lucas said. "Whatever it takes, whatever you need to do, I want you to get her."

  Sam dipped his chin once in acknowledgment. "Understood."

  "I can't bring Jessie back," Lucas said. "But the least I can do is give her justice."

  * * *

  Ursula sipped her soda, keeping her gaze on the big wrought-iron gates on the other side of the piazza. They swung open as a black car came through. A red-haired woman and a broad-shouldered, good-looking man were inside, some kind of Navy officers judging by their uniforms. Ursula felt a stab of envy. It should have been her in that chauffeured car. Instead of hanging around this tourist-infested sidewalk cafe, spying on the palace gates, she should have been riding through them in style like those Navy people.

  She batted impatiently at a bee that veered toward her soda. This was getting intolerable. An entire week had passed, and still the security at the airport and the ferries was as tight as ever. Didn't these Montebellans have anything better to do? Why were they persecuting her?

  That was the story of her life, though, wasn't it? She never got a break. She'd had to fight for everything she had, only to have success snatched away through no fault of hers.

  If that stupid kid had shown up with his boat when he was supposed to, she would have been free and clear by now. But no, he'd had to wreck his boat, the idiot. It was a good thing she'd been watching from the bluff and had seen the thing tip over or she might have wasted all night waiting for him.

  A stocky, bearded figure moved through the gates. Ursula scrutinized him until the man was close enough to be seen clearly. As soon as she recognized the dark hair and fleshy features, she hitched her purse over her shoulder and wove her way through the tables to the cobblestone square. It was about time. She'd been nursing that soda for an hour waiting for him to finish his shift or watch or whatever it is that palace guards called their work schedule.

  "Edwardo," she called.

  Edwardo Scarpa lifted his head and looked around.

  "Over here." Ursula paused near the entrance of a shadowed alley and beckoned him toward her with a flick of her fingers.

  He smoothed his hair, curling his lips into a smile as he moved closer. "Well, hello, lovely lady. What can I do for you?"

  He didn't recognize her, Ursula realized. It had been a smart move to trim her trademark blond hair to chin length and dye it black. The hat and sunglasses were serving her well, too, especially with men who didn't notice anything above her cleavage. And there had never been anything subtle about Edwardo. He'd been easy to manipulate before when she'd needed him. A bit of money, a bit of feminine coaxing and the man had been eager to accommodate her. She took off her sunglasses and tucked them into her shoulder bag. "Edwardo, it's me."

  He lost his smile, his jaw going slack. "You! What are you doing here?"

  "Waiting for you, lover." She smiled and stepped closer, sliding her palm up his chest. "Aren't you happy to see me?"

  He grasped her wrist and dragged her deeper into the alley until they were concealed from the square by the dangling ladder of a fire escape. He gave a quick look around before he spoke. "Don't you know that everyone's looking for you?"

  Did he take her for an idiot? Why else would she be disguised? She pushed her lips into a pout. "It's just a big misunderstanding."

  "You're wanted for murder. I heard the whole royal family wants your head."

  She placed her hand above her breasts, spreading her fingers in a way that would draw attention to her curves. "I know. It's horrible. That's why I have to get home. You can help me, can't you?"

  "What? Help you?"

  "I need to get out of Montebello. I'm sure that an important man like you could find me a boat."

  "No way. I'm not risking—"

  "Please, Edwardo." She slid her fingers up his chest again. This time she grasped his shirt to make sure he couldn't get rid of her so easily. "We have something very special between us. I've always felt it, haven't you?"

  He glanced over his shoulder, obviously nervous.

  Ursula dropped her other hand to his belt, slipping her fingers into the waistband of his pants. Without money to bribe him, she had only one option. "Let's go somewhere private where we can be more... comfortable, hmm?"

  For a moment he wavered, his eyes losing their focus. But then he frowned and shook his head. "I can't help you, Ursula. If anyone found out, I'd lose my job, maybe go to prison."

  "Nothing will happen to you. All I'm asking is that you find me a boat." She wiggled her fingers. "I'll make you glad you did."

  Roughly he yanked away from her touch. "No. I'm sorry. I can't help you."

  "You did before."

  "That was different."

  "You helped me get into the pala
ce. You were risking your job then, too." She narrowed her eyes. "You know, if anyone found out about the bribe I gave you, that could get you in a lot of trouble."

  "You wouldn't tell anyone. You're wanted for murder. I know you killed the king's nephew. You saw him that day."

  "And who was it that let me into Desmond's quarters, Edwardo?"

  "I didn't know you were going to kill him."

  "It doesn't matter what you thought. If I get arrested for murder, you'll be arrested as my accomplice."

  "You wouldn't—"

  "If I go down, you go down, Mr. Palace Guard Scarpa." She watched the realization of his predicament spread across his face. Good. She wouldn't have to seduce him, after all. Blackmailing him into helping her was better. Actually, it was even more exciting to exert control over a man this way. She preened, enjoying the sensation of power. "So tell me, Edwardo." She smiled and took his arm. "How soon will you get me that boat?"

  Chapter 7

  "Two fishing boats and a seventy-foot yacht," Sam said as he climbed to the sloop's deck from the cabin. "Sector C is getting busy."

  "Do we have enough personnel to track them?" Kate asked.

  "Yeah, no problem. We've got four vessels in the area. They'll keep us posted."

  She hovered beside the wheel, her hand lifting to the gold chain she wore around her neck. "With so much activity in that sector, we should send a spotter plane for backup."

  "Already done."

  "Sam, do you think this is working?"

  "What? You mean the search?"

  "Yes. Maybe we would have been better off trying to put together a conventional patrol. It's been nine days now."

  He noted the way she rubbed a fingertip over the tiny charm that hung from the chain. Even if he hadn't heard the tension in her voice, the gesture would have given it away. She often fiddled with her necklace when she was agitated. "We already ruled that out," he said. "We didn't have access to enough Navy vessels to provide the coverage we need, and we didn't want to scare Chambers into going underground. Give it a chance, Kate. Our strategy is sound."

  "Sure, but—"

  "But our visit to the palace made the mission more personal, right?"

  "Yes, it did. I wish we'd met the king in his offices instead of being part of that family celebration."

  "They're nice people for a bunch of blue bloods. I think it was beneficial to be reminded of why we're doing this."

  She dropped her hand and sighed. "I know what you mean. I can't forget the expression on Lucas's face."

  Neither could Sam. Even though Lucas was rich beyond most people's dreams and was destined to rule this prosperous, picturesque island, anyone could see the man wasn't happy.

  That was the problem with love, Sam thought. When you gave your heart to a woman, you were left completely vulnerable.

  He took the wheel from Kate and watched as she made her way toward the bow. She moved lithely, her body shifting effortlessly to compensate for the roll of the deck. It was a warm day, so she had dressed in loose, pleated shorts and a modestly cut tank top. Sam knew her garb was in keeping with their guise of vacationing tourists, that this was all in the line of duty, but he was having a hard time keeping his gaze off her legs.

  She'd always had fabulous legs, long, tanned and firm, but it seemed as if they were more appealing than ever. Maybe it was because of all the running she did. Or maybe it was because he was slowly going crazy being able to look but not touch.

  He wished he could still be annoyed, but the annoyance he'd felt a week ago at the indifference she displayed toward him had faded. The bruise to his ego had healed even faster than the bullet wound in his side. Too bad. That made the situation all the more difficult.

  It didn't seem to matter what she said or how many times she took refuge behind her duty, the old connection was there. And despite her resistance and the demands of their mission, that connection was strengthening with every day they spent together.

  She could go ahead and change her hair and change her attitude, but she was still his Kate.

  "Over there," she called, pointing toward the port side. "There's something dark near the shore."

  Sam took his binoculars out of the locker beside the wheel and focused on the area she had indicated. "I see it."

  "Was there anything reported in this sector today?"

  "A white cruiser moving southeast of our position."

  "Then that couldn't be it." She ducked under the boom and climbed to the cabin roof to get a better vantage point. "I can't tell whether it's a boat. If it is, it's a small one."

  "Perfect for getting in close enough to pick up a passenger."

  "We'd better take a look." Kate leaped down to the foredeck and was already moving to trim the spinnaker when Sam spun the wheel. The sloop responded quickly, the bow slicing through the waves as it swung toward shore.

  The coastline along this part of the island consisted of tumbled rocks at the base of towering cliffs. If a boat could navigate through the rocks, there were innumerable small coves where it could stay concealed.

  They lost sight of the object briefly as they tacked against the wind. Sam kept them on a course that would bring them past a low peninsula where waves crashed against jagged rocks. He was counting on the height of the cliffs to block the wind and provide calmer water closer to shore.

  He was right. The moment they cleared the peninsula, the wind dropped and the waves calmed to lazy swells.

  "Can you see it yet?" Sam called.

  Kate scanned the shore through her binoculars. "Yes. It's not a boat, it's some kind of dark area in the cliff."

  "Dark area?"

  "I think it's a cave, Sam. Right at the waterline."

  "A cave? How big?"

  "Large enough to hide a small boat."

  "Radio in our position. We'll take the dinghy and check it out."

  Ten minutes later, they had anchored the sloop in the cove and lowered the small wooden dinghy that served as the sloop's lifeboat. Sam handed Kate the sidearm he'd requisitioned, then took up the oars and stroked toward shore.

  She regarded the weapon with raised eyebrows. "You're trusting me with your gun?"

  "Why shouldn't I? You know how to use one, don't you?"

  "Of course."

  "My hands are full," he said, nodding toward where he gripped the oars. "If we run into trouble, I wouldn't be able to react as fast as you could."

  "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

  She was doing it again, he thought. She kept acting surprised when he didn't behave like some macho chauvinist. Did she really have such a low opinion of him? Or had something happened during the last five years to her to make her suspicious of men in general?

  Kate was a complex woman. He hadn't really thought that much about it when they'd been lovers. They'd both been content to keep things simple. Maybe it was just as well he had to keep his hands off her while they were on this mission. He was getting to know her in a whole different way....

  Who was he kidding? If he had the chance he would drop these oars and haul her into his arms right now. He'd reacquaint himself with every inch of those long, gorgeous legs she'd been flashing all day. He'd kiss her until she forgot the years that had passed.

  As if her thoughts paralleled his, her expression softened. She leaned closer, parting her lips as she sighed in pleasure. "Oh, Sam."

  He had already dropped the oars and was reaching forward before he realized she wasn't looking at him when she spoke. She was looking over his shoulder.

  He twisted on the seat to look behind him.

  They had reached the entrance of the cave. It arched overhead, high enough that he wouldn't be able to touch the roof if he stood and stretched out his arm. Carved by the sea out of the same pale rock as the cliff, its walls sloped gracefully to rounded pebbles at the waterline. Sunlight reflected from the water and from the sand beneath, illuminating the entire chamber with an otherworldly blue-green glow.

  "It's be
autiful," Kate murmured.

  "Yes." He faced her in time to watch a smile spread across her face. "Beautiful."

  "It's a wonder the place isn't marked on the tourist maps."

  "I'm glad it isn't."

  "I know what you mean. I'd hate to see it developed."

  Sam pulled lightly at the oars, guiding them through the opening. As they left the sunlight the air grew hushed, closing around them in a cool embrace. Water dripped from the oar blades, echoing hollowly from stone that had been smoothed by eons of tides.

  Kate craned her neck, looking around in silence for a while as they drifted over the mirror-smooth water. "It's as grand as the royal palace, but in a different way."

  "It's hard to believe that the destructive forces of the sea could create something as peaceful as this. It's like a natural cathedral."

  "What a perfect way to describe it. It's one of those places that makes a person want to whisper." She set the gun on the seat beside her. "I don't think I'll be needing this."

  "A few centuries ago you would have. I bet this was a favorite place for pirates to hide out."

  Her laughter tinkled through the cavern. "Pirates? Oh, Sam, you would have liked that, wouldn't you?"

  He stowed the oars, propping his forearms on his knees as he leaned toward her. He knew they should be getting back to the boat now that they could see the cave was empty, but it had been too long since he'd heard her laugh. Another few minutes wouldn't hurt. "How's that?"

  "I can picture you now, a sword in one hand, a spyglass in the other as you sail the seven seas to hunt down some notorious pirate captain."

  "What makes you think I would have been one of the good guys?"

  "Oh, come on. You always believed in doing the right thing. That's just the way you are. Noble, responsible Sam."

  "Sounds boring."

  "I doubt if you could describe your life as a SEAL as boring. I remember how eager you sounded to go on your first training mission to the South Pacific." She smiled. "Was it as much an adventure as you'd hoped?"

  "Not really. Aside from paddling around a mosquito-filled swamp with my team..." He paused, struck by what she had said. "You know about my first mission. So that means you must have read my letter, after all."