Just then the doorbell rang. She put the glass down. Tonight was Renee's turn to pay. "That's the pizza! Can you get the door while I go find my pocketbook for the tip?"
"It's my turn to pay," Kristin insisted.
Renee stopped. Perhaps she'd bought last night. Kristin raced into the kitchen.
Renee walked to the door, swung it open and stared into deep brown eyes. Wow. This was the prince that made her friend's heart stir. If he’d seriously asked Kristin to marry him, then she needed to say yes. Now. Renee crossed her arms. "Nice to meet you, Your Highness."
"I'm looking for Kristin Wells." He took a small step closer, trying not to be obvious as he peered in.
Renee held the door wider and said, "I'm hoping she says yes."
Antonio Aussa, the older brother of her celebrity crush, raised his eyebrows, but followed her inside.
A moment later, Kristin walked out and stared at Prince Antonio.
"You didn't tell me that the prince was..." Renee began but realized neither one of them were listening.
"What?" Kristin asked and blinked though she never turned away from staring at Antonio.
"...coming." Renee finished and wondered how it would be to meet this man's younger, sexier brother. If only. For this one summer, she was free and it would be nice to see someone like Marco before she settled into the suburbs and raised children for a man her parents would go golfing with.
Kristin asked, "Your Highness, what are you doing here?"
Why hadn't her best friend dragged her almost fiancé into her bedroom? If their roles were switched, and it was Marco at the door, Renee would have, just for fun.
Her future required settling down to please her parents, if she wanted to be included in their circle, just as surely as her brother would marry a perfectly acceptable country club girl.
Antonio went toward her friend. "Kristin, I hope I'm not intruding."
Right, if her friend didn't want to take him to her room, it was Renee's turn to leave. She eyed her bedroom door. "I'll give you a few minutes and head to my room."
Renee closed the door behind her. What would the prince think of their simple apartment? The same boring cream paint was on all of the walls. She’d framed movie pictures for art but the décor was definitely teacher on a budget. Her phone dinged—the pizza was delayed, according to the app. Trying to give Kristin and the prince privacy in the small apartment, she turned her attention to Greg and sent him a text. He might not notice her, but perhaps one of his friends might be good enough to take home for the holidays or something. 'Greg, saw you at your car engine. Everything okay?'
'Yeah, I'm just changing the oil.' He texted back. 'I saw you and Kristin have a guy over.'
'Kristin has the guy, else I'd not be texting you at the moment.'
'Hope he's good enough for her.'
The zap of jealousy shouldn't exist. This was why she needed to keep her distance from Greg. 'I hope Kristin likes this one. She deserves to be happy. If you need anything, text.'
'Thanks.'
She’d covered plastic bins that she used as a dresser with scarves and now peered into the small mirror on top to fix her hair. Brown eyes stared back, the beginnings of fine lines at the corners.
Renee wasn't getting any younger, as her mother would say. And that voice echoed in her mind. One day she'd find her suburban husband who fixed her car and not think about Greg or anyone else.
She checked on the pizza and the driver was on their small street. She went toward the door and overheard Antonio tell her friend, "I was hoping you might accompany me. I'll give you a tour, take you to my favorite restaurant to get dinner. Show you my country."
Without a second thought, Renee twisted the knob and opened her door. Kristin would need her friend at her side.
"Can I come?" Renee's voice echoed through the apartment. Both of them stared at her in surprise.
Kristin called over his shoulder. "Renee, I thought you were giving us some privacy?"
Renee waved her phone in the air, reminding Kristin that they’d ordered pizza. But just in case Kristin didn’t want to divulge their plans, she gestured to the counter. "I was looking for my headphones."
Her phone beeped, a sixty second warning to go get the pizza, which would also give Kristin more time alone. Renee walked into the foyer area and grabbed her purse. "Your Highness, my friend Kristin gets scared of good things happening in her life. Her parents taught her to always look for security first. It robs her of spontaneity sometimes."
Kristin placed her hand on her chest. "No I don't."
Antonio stroked his chin. "Kristin, if it would make you happy, you and your friend, Renee, are welcome to join me in my private jet."
Yes! Renee opened the front door and backed out of the apartment. "Okay. Can we get ten minutes to pack? I’ll be right back…"
She closed the door on Antonio’s confused face and met the delivery guy at the curb. The pizza wasn't necessary anymore. She tipped anyhow and held the box in her hand.
Now what? Greg. She raced downstairs and knocked on Greg's door. He opened it without his shirt on. His slim figure would make whoever he married happy, but she had no time to gawk. She offered him the pizza. "We can't eat this and I thought you might be hungry."
"Really? Let me pay you for it."
"No. I have to go. We're leaving for a few days. Can you watch our door and check the mail?"
"No problem." Greg balanced the box on one palm. "Glad we're friends, Renee."
Friends. Right.
She rushed up the stairs and back inside the apartment. Antonio said, "Remember, the royal palace has everything you might possibly need."
Renee gave the thumbs up sign. "I'll be back in ten. I've never ridden in a private jet to Europe."
What would she pack? She was about to meet her celebrity crush. She found her bag and slipped in all her sexy underwear. Just in case. If Marco couldn’t be tempted, then she'd see the countryside, take pictures and do something completely unplanned: she wouldn’t think about her parents, or their expectations. This summer, she'd stay in a palace, encourage Kristin to be happy and build up a store of memories to keep her warm on a far off cold night as she lay next to some anonymous man like Greg.
Princes of Avce
Forbidden Crown
Forbidden Prince
Forbidden Royal
Forbidden Duke
Forbidden Earl
Forbidden Duke Preview
Donna Smith closed her eyes, took a deep breath and wished for a different life. Losing her job after everything else that had gone wrong? She opened her eyes. Here she still sat at her library desk, in her black chair, her desktop computer tuned to the news as she waited for the next axe to fall and this time on her neck.
Scandals, murders and rumor filled the page but the fourth story caught her eye. Royal Wedding of Lucio Aussa and Amy Fields—Guest List to Include the Queen of England. None of the Aussa princes had married royalty and Donna tried to imagine herself sharing a table while drinking tea with the Royal Family. What would they be like?
“Your turn, Donna.” Beth tapped her computer and drew Donna’s attention back to the dreaded now. “Good luck.”
As soon as she walked in that back office, the city commissioner was going to tell her she was out of a job. Unlike Beth, who had thirty years as a librarian, this would be the end for Donna. She stood, picked up her battered black Kate Spade bag and smiled at her friend. “Thanks, Beth.”
Beth winked and returned her attention to her own computer. The library still looked the same, except for the missing patrons. Once the employees were out, movers were scheduled to come, pack, and move the books to other libraries around the county.
Donna, nerves tight, opened the door to the small conference room and tried not to stare at the balding older man with the unnaturally bright smile. Her insides shook as she closed the door and took the seat opposite him. He adjusted his glasses and read a manila folder that had all her personal information i
n it. Once he was done, he focused on her. “Donna Smith, you’ve worked for this library for ten years as a full time librarian, and four as a part-time employee before that.”
“Yes, sir.” She didn’t blink. This library had been her salvation as a young girl forced to live with her grandmother who resided in an elderly community. At sixteen, she’d been thrilled to work in the office and she’d gone to college for a degree in library science. Books had always given her an escape and knowledge. Beth had bent the rules to give her the full time position when it became available, though she’d been a year away from her degree.
The commissioner’s even breaths rattled her insides.
He put her personnel file down and folded his arms in front of him. “So, the city will offer you a full pension if you leave quietly and let us close down this branch without media attention.”
Her stomach knotted. Did he know that she’d drafted a letter to her senator and the Miami Herald?
A full pension? She was only thirty, not that she expected to ever see a dime. The government was going to run out of money long before her turn for retirement came up. She hugged her waist. “Does the pension start when I’m sixty-five?”
“It will start immediately.” He sat back in his chair. “But only if you sign this non-disclosure agreement on why we are closing this particular library.”
They’d stated economic options—very vague but she and Beth suspected it had to do with the new mall proposition by Commissioner Kelly.
Her lips parted and she wasn’t sure what to think. She’d been prepared to start a job search after a week of mourning, but now it seemed she’d have a few dollars for the rest of her life. She nodded, willing to ignore her petition for the chance at security. She picked up a pen and stared at the stack of papers to his right. “It’s not much of a choice.”
He pushed them toward her, not bothering to smile. “We’ll need you to sign your retirement documents too. If you go back on this agreement, all money will be forfeit.”
Her wedding had been cancelled, she was out of a job, and oh, how she missed her grandmother, but hopefully this was a new start. Donna signed the first page and flipped to the next. “I’m sure whatever is built here will provide economic improvement.”
“Good girl.” He took the stack of papers back from her and double-checked her signatures.
She crossed her arms and the weight of what was happening hit her like a hurricane. “I’m not a girl and I’m not feeling like a retiree. I’m thirty, not sixty-five.”
He tucked the contracts into the folder, put it to the side and leaned forward. “Most women your age-”
No lecture. Not today. She stood, knocking her chair back a few inches. If she was retired with her small pension, she could move—go anywhere. It had been two months since her fiancé broke her heart and six months since her grandma had died. She stared down at the commissioner. “Stop. I’ve signed everything, so we’re good.”
He nodded and picked up the next folder. “Please send in Mark Walker. You can pack up your things and go home.”
“Yes, sir.” She rushed out the door.
Beth remained at her desk. Donna walked over to Mark, hunched over his computer by the reference section, and gestured toward the office. Then she returned to her desk, packed her few personal items and realized this was the last time she’d see the stupid yellow smiley face sticker on her monitor. Tears threatened to form in her eyes. She’d spent half of her life, right here, in this seat in the library.
This was worse than her engagement ending.
Beth placed her hand on Donna’s arm. “So?”
“So, I’m retired too.” Donna heard the surreal tone in her voice. Beth, though twice her age, had been friend and mentor since Donna was sixteen and she had no secrets from the woman. “It doesn’t seem real.”
Beth picked up her pocketbook and pointed to the door. “At least they are paying you off with a monthly check for the rest of your life. This is in many ways a blessing.”
Donna packed her favorite blue pen with a white flower on it. “It still feels like I lost my job.”
She’d been sixteen when her parents had died and she’d moved to Miami. Walking into this library a stranger, she’d checked out with Pride and Prejudice from Beth’s recommendation and given the librarian a solemn promise that she’d return to talk to her about the book once she finished. It had given her purpose.
Beth leaned closer, her eye on the office door. “What are you going to do now?”
Fair question. Donna had no idea. She continued to pack a few more items in her full bag and avoided Beth’s gaze. “Now that my wedding is cancelled and I don’t have a job?”
Beth patted her arm like they were family which was good because Donna had no one else, not really. Beth pushed Donna’s hair out of her face and smiled at her. “So you’re free. For the first time, what are you going to do?”
Donna met her gaze and saw kindness. She then finished with her drawer and closed it. The sound echoed through the library as Donna repeated, “Free. I’ve never been that. What would you do if you were me?”
Beth laughed and threw her hands in the air like the answer was obvious. “Travel the world, experience things. Donna, you’ve been grounded for years. It’s time for you to fly and see where you land.”
Mark had finished his discussion with the commissioner and walked right to the door without a word for either of the women. The commissioner followed, leaving with an awkward wave.
Out of routine, she and Beth checked the library as they did every night before closing and turned off the lights to all the rooms. Donna admitted, “I do have a list on my phone of things I’d like to see.”
Every so often she took notes on things she’d read about that would be nice to visit.
Donna turned off the last light. This felt like the end, but she hooked her arm through Beth’s.
“Then go for it,” Beth said. “You don’t have to be anywhere anymore.”
True, but at thirty-one that felt more like a punishment. Being alone with her thoughts always made her miserable and now that work was gone, she’d have to face herself. She smiled at Beth. “Let’s get out of here.”
In the parking lot, they headed to Beth’s five-year-old Camry that was fully paid for as it had been her week to carpool. Perhaps in other parts of the country five o’clock was dark but in Miami the sun still shone like afternoon. “Can I see your list?”
The chill in the January air didn’t matter. In fact, Donna thought it was right that winter would be here soon. She shivered and reached into her bag, digging her phone from the side pocket. She opened the notes app and handed it to her friend.
Beth laughed as she scanned the list and read a few out loud, “Kiss a stranger… meet the Queen of England… go up the Eiffel Tower…Eat anything that looks good… This is easy to fix. Let’s look up airline flights on our phones.”
“It seems so silly.” Donna got in the passenger side as Beth slid behind the wheel.
Before leaving the parking lot, Beth held up her own phone to show Donna the cost of airfare. “Donna, I know you have money socked away and now is the time. You can fly to Avce and crash the Royal Wedding, then take the train over to Italy for lasagna and check Venice off your list.”
Tempted, Donna shook her head before the idea took root. “No.” She’d created that stupid list to pass the time, it had never been a goal.
Beth continued, “Harry left after you bought your honeymoon. You have travel funds. This ticket is the cheapest,” she tried to hand over the phone, “but you’d have to leave tonight.”
Donna didn’t take the cell phone. How could she explain her resistance without sounding bitter and grumpy? She’d planned on licking her wounds in her condo forever, not coming out except to check on Beth. For valid reasons, there was a part of her that hated change.
Beth drove down the side street then onto the bright lights of Collins Avenue where the oceanfront was jam-packe
d with billionaire tax-haven condominiums, her phone on the console between them.
Donna eyed the open app and hugged her waist as the palm trees passed by. What if she did take a few months to travel? She’d come back to her condo, refreshed, and find something to do with her life. Perhaps the time away might give her perspective on what she actually wanted.
“You are thinking about it, I can tell.” Beth stopped at a red light.
Donna sighed and shook her head. “That only gives me hours to pack.” She knew exactly where her suitcase was, shoved in the back of the closet.
Beth laughed and clicked something on her screen. “I’ll drive you to the airport. Pack light. You can kiss a European when you get there and let your hair down.”
“I don’t know.” Her brown hair in a bun suddenly felt tight when it was loose and messy from a day of work. And what was so terrifying? That if she left, she’d come back the same person? However, it would be nice to actually see more of the world she’d read about in books—escaped to during the hardest times. Miami wasn’t everything.
Beth made a tsk sound with her throat and pointed at one of the shopping malls across the street from the beach, near the Intracoastal. “Look, there’s Harry.”
Donna followed her friend’s pointed gesture to see Harry with his new girlfriend coming out of the jewelry store.
Beth sped up, but Harry’s hand on his new girlfriend’s back was burned in Donna’s mind. She quickly told her friend, “Okay, I’m going. Let me have your phone.”
She reached into her bag and brought out her wallet. If Harry could move on, she could too. Perhaps this trip would open her eyes to the beauty of the world rather than the pain. What if, why, and that eternal question of “what do I want to do with my life” might be answered. Getting away sounded perfect.
Donna typed in her credit information.
“Yes!” Beth cheered. “But keep in touch. Email me from anywhere, text any time. I want to hear when you’re happy again. You’re the closest thing I have to a daughter.”
Good. The ticket was bought. Donna leaned back. When had she last been happy? High school? College graduation? Even that had been marked with sadness that her parents weren’t alive to see her accomplishment though her grandparents had been great to her. It had been so long that she wondered if the emotion was a childish illusion that couldn’t exist.
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