One of his hands cupped the back of my head, holding me in place as he deepened the kiss and pressed his hips closer. I wanted him. I wanted it all and never wanted him to stop. His kiss promised passion and security—the very things I had longed for my entire life. It was a perfect moment.
Nothing could spoil it.
13
Daniel
As usual when I arose in the morning, I opened my door to find the copy of the local paper tucked neatly on a tray next to a cup of coffee. I picked them up and brought them inside. I could get used to this type of luxury, but I doubted it was on the table for longterm. So I would enjoy it while it lasted.
I stepped out onto the balcony, my coffee in one hand and the paper in the other. As I took that first aromatic sip, ready to sigh with blissful appreciation, I shook out the paper and nearly choked.
There on the front page was a picture of Amand, his lips locked to mine. Oh sure, only the back of my head was visible, but it was unmistakably Amand. The headline blazed, “Who is Prince Amand’s Gypsy Boyfriend?”
I scanned the article in horror and looked inside the front page to find more pictures on page two. Holy crap, there was even one of the two of us dancing inside the restaurant. True, it was grainy—had to have been taken with someone’s crappy cell phone—but there was no mistaking Amand or me and the happiness on our faces.
Shit. I needed to take a shower and get downstairs. As much as I would have liked to use the excuse of sleeping late to avoid breakfast in the royal dining room, that wouldn’t be fair to Amand. He was no doubt down there bearing the brunt of…what? Was this a scandal? Did they even know about Amand’s sexual orientation?
I dressed in a hurry in cargo pants and my boots, pulling on an open work shirt over a comfortably worn t-shirt. I would no doubt be a decided contrast next to Amand, but these were my work clothes, and I needed to get work done.
As I entered the dining room several sets of eyes turned my way. To my chagrin, I saw the entire family was present, including the King and Queen and even Uncle Bernat. The latter looked slightly amused, and I realized there was a copy of the paper at Amand’s elbow...at everyone’s elbow.
“Good morning,” I greeted them, ducking my head before going to serve myself from the buffet laid out on the sideboard. As I sat next to the Queen, I offered a smile, but found both her and her husband somewhat poker-faced.
“I apologize,” I offered quietly, “if I have caused any embarrassment.”
Amand, who was seated across from me, looked relatively sanguine as he sipped his coffee. “There’s no need to apologize. I don’t get out much, Daniel, so it’s natural that the social rags would make a big deal about it.”
He was trying to make me more comfortable, but I didn’t see the same degree of nonchalance among the rest of the family. Except maybe Bernat, who still had a small smile on his face.
“Well, I, for one, say it’s a pleasure to see Amand out and about again. It has been a long time.”
Amand inclined his head, but seemed to stiffen ever so slightly at his uncle’s remark. I glanced briefly at the two of them and then quickly away. Every once in a while I sensed tension there that I didn’t understand.
The Crown Prince dabbed his mouth with his napkin. “So what are your plans for today, Daniel? You will likely have to contend with some degree of notoriety.”
“If no one has any objection, I would like to begin work on a book about my travels in Calonia. I already have a wealth of photos to get me started.”
Amand smiled. “I have read some of Daniel’s work. It is really quite good.”
“No doubt your sales will be excellent, too,” Ricard said with a slightly snide undertone, “Especially if you capitalize on the free publicity.”
He tapped the paper next to him.
I refused to let Ricard’s attitude upset me, but I did have to wonder what had happened to my friend and former roommate.
“You know me well, Ricard,” I responded. “I am a natural marketer. I have to be. Any self-employed author has to seize opportunities when they present themselves. I will do everything to ethically market my book and make it a success.”
I held Ricard’s gaze until he backed down with a roll of his eyes. It had always been that way when we butted heads.
The Crown Prince turned the conversation to an upcoming arrival of a trade delegation, and I was able to eat in relative peace, no longer the focus of every gaze. As the conversation floated around me, I began to relax. While I might have wished to keep what was between Amand and me private, I had been naïve to think it might be possible.
As everyone started to excuse themselves from the table, I did as well. I needed to get my gear together and head into the city. If I was going to write a book, I would need to conduct a lot of interviews and get more pictures of the people who talked to me.
“Daniel. Wait.” Amand spoke from behind me. I turned to find him close enough I smelled his cologne and felt his body heat. “I know you need to work, but I would prefer you not try to evade our security detail.”
Instant visions sprang to mind of me trying to interview the locals while the men in black flanked me. “Amand, you must be joking.”
“I assure you, I am not. I promised to look after your safety, and you agreed.”
He looked so cool and haughty in his navy suit and patterned tie. I wanted to ruffle his feathers. Maybe if I leaned in to kiss him. Something must have shown in my face.
“Daniel,” he said, his voice husky.
“I can’t talk to the locals and get the kind of candid interviews I need if I have to go around with a royal guard. Surely, you must see that.”
“And how can I be sure you are safe without them? Yesterday, I had no idea where you were, or if you were all right.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and held his gaze. I could not give in on this, not if I was to get my work done.
Amand took a deep breath. “All right. But you must agree to check in regularly and keep a tracker with you.”
I wasn’t so sure I liked the idea of people being able to track my every movement, but it was a concession. I had the feeling Amand didn’t make them often.
“I can do that. Where do I need to pick it up?”
Amand smiled. “It’s in your backpack.”
He leaned in before I reacted to that news and kissed me quickly on the lips. How could I be angry when my hormones were now firing on all cylinders? Before I did much more than blink, he smiled wolfishly and walked down the hallway toward his study.
As I worked my way through the city, I forgot about the tracker, though I did remember to text Amand periodically throughout the day. I interviewed several people, got more pictures of local sites—known and unknown—and leads on additional interviews. While I drank coffee at a café on the edge of town late in the day, I set a firm time to visit Cousin Georg and his wife. The invitation included dinner. He promised to introduce me to traditional foods of the common people of Calonia.
All of that was a lot more my style than being wined and dined by a royal prince. Yet I was anxious to get back to the palace, to see Amand and tell him about my amazing day. Just as he looked to me to understand his music, I knew that he would understand the drive to capture what I experienced through the lens of my camera.
It was getting close to sunset. I dropped money on the table to cover my bill and stepped out to the edge of the sidewalk. If I had been on the other side of town at my favorite café, it would have been easy to simply walk back to the palace. From here, I needed a ride.
I stuck out my thumb. It had worked for Ricard and me before, so surely it was as safe to hitchhike right here in the capital city. No one stopped immediately, so I began the trek back by foot. About halfway, I heard a vehicle approach and turned with my thumb stuck out. The car was a new model, dark with tinted windows, but nothing expensive or flashy. In some ways, it reminded me of unmarked police cars from home. They might not have the police depar
tment decaling on them, but anyone could tell by looking at them that they were cop cars.
The vehicle came to a stop just ahead of me, and I began a slow jog toward it, thinking it strange that no one had either gotten out or rolled down a window to ask if I wanted a ride. I had reached the rear quarter panel when the back doors on both sides suddenly opened. Two men emerged wearing lightweight jackets even in the heat of the early evening.
I stopped. This felt wrong.
“Get in the car, Mr. Leifsson.”
While they were dressed a bit like the men in black, I knew they weren’t from the palace. Without replying, I ducked quickly between two buildings, stepped off the sidewalk, and took off. Behind one of the buildings, I found a short staircase leading to a cellar door.
Please be open, I repeated silently over and over as I jumped nimbly down the short flight and tried the door handle. It gave instantly, and I slipped inside, quickly shutting it behind me and standing off to one side where I could see and not be seen.
As I waited, I tried to calm my breathing. When several minutes passed, and I saw nothing, I cautiously made my way out. I wasn’t taking any more chances. Screw saving money. I called a cab.
As soon as the cabbie dropped me in front of the palace, I went straight inside with barely a greeting for the footman at the door. Still carrying my backpack, I made a beeline for Amand’s study, sure he would still be there since dinner was served much later in the evening. The footman outside his study hastened to open the door for me.
As soon as I entered the room, Amand was on his feet. “What’s wrong?”
My heart was pounding. Now that the danger was over, reaction set in. I set my backpack on the floor and leaned against the wall next to the door.
“I think someone just tried to kidnap me.”
14
Amand
“Damn it. I knew better than to let you go without security.” I strode across the room, taking in Daniel’s somewhat pale face. “Were you hurt?”
He shook his head. “No. I got away. They didn’t follow.”
“I need to get the Crown Prince and Ricard in here along with security. Maybe Uncle Bernat as well since I suspect this is tied in with our trade negotiations.”
I stroked his jawline, the scruff of his beard rasping against my fingertips. “Are you okay?”
Daniel blew out a heavy breath. “I could use a drink.”
“Have a seat on the couch. I’ll get you some brandy.”
As soon as I handed him the glass, I picked up the house phone and started the ball rolling. In a few minutes, the door to my study opened. Constantin and Uncle Bernat were first to arrive, followed by my head of security. Naturally, everyone had to wait on Ricard, who surprisingly after his behavior at breakfast, took a seat on the couch next to Daniel. I supposed it might have been an effort to prevent me from doing so.
I studied Daniel with narrowed eyes. He had regained some of his normal color. “So now that everyone is here, Daniel, why don’t you tell us exactly what happened?”
While he recounted it, my security chief listened carefully, interjecting a question every now and then. As Daniel described the men and the lightweight jackets they wore despite the heat of summer, my anger surfaced, mingled with fear for his safety.
“Damn it. They had to have been armed. I should never have allowed you to talk me into letting you out of here with only a tracker. A fine lot of good that would have been when we found it and your dead body.”
“Amand…” the Crown Prince began, but I was too furious and worried to hold back.
“The real question would be why they didn’t shoot you on the spot.”
“Nephew, I’m sure you have no need to remind him what a dangerous situation he managed to escape today. Are you truly all right, Daniel?”
His smile at Uncle Bernat was brief. “Yes. Thank you for your concern.”
Bernat smiled as though pleased he now had the floor. “Perhaps our neighbors are attempting some strong arm tactics in order to force a more favorable trade deal,” he suggested.
I tossed the idea around for a moment. “That is certainly one possibility. Thank you, Uncle.”
In truth, I thought it hardly likely that our ally, whose economy would benefit greatly from being able to access our port would do anything of the sort. However, Bernat had spurred another possibility. Movarino sought access to the port so they would no longer have to bring goods and services in overland, making them vulnerable to manipulation by their northern neighbor. That country had long been controlled by European mafia types. No doubt, losing Movarino’s subservience would be a blow.
“I believe the Crown Prince will agree with me that we need a full scale investigation into this.”
I decided not to tip my hand about who I believed might truly be behind the kidnapping attempt…maybe also the blackmailing of Ricard. More than anything, though, I needed to make sure that Daniel would be safe. I could not afford to risk the future of our country, nor was I willing anymore to let fate take its course when it came to Daniel Leifsson.
“There is only one way that I see to insure Daniel’s safety.”
The Crown Prince waved his hand, urging me to continue. I took a deep breath.
“We will make Daniel such a high profile target he would be too costly to threaten anymore.”
“What do you suggest?” Constantin asked.
I turned my gaze on Daniel, who watched me with a wary look in his eye. “Daniel and I will become engaged.”
“Oh, bloody hell!” Ricard burst out. “This is so over the top, Amand. Have you lost your mind? And Daniel? How could you even think of tying yourself to such a paragon of princely virtue?”
“Amand,” the Crown Prince said in more measured tones, “Are you sure this is the best way to position this? Not everyone will be comfortable with a public relationship such as yours.”
“It violates no laws.” Now that I had made the decision, I had no intention of changing my mind or giving up Daniel just to quiet any potential objections. “As you yourself have often said, since you have married and produced children, I am no longer constrained to do so. I may seek a relationship where I will.”
Daniel had not said a word, something that had not gone unnoticed by me as I continued to speak.
“We need to hold a press conference to make the announcement of the engagement.”
“Don’t you think Mama and Papa should be brought in on this?” the Crown Prince asked.
As we worked out the details, I noticed that Daniel had little to say. Mama and Papa, more resigned than surprised, gave their blessing. The press conference moved forward. Despite the short notice, all the major players from the European news outlets managed to have a representative present. It wasn’t often the royal family called a last minute press conference, especially in the evening.
Daniel had changed into a charcoal-gray suit. I wasn’t sure where it had come from. Perhaps Ricard had loaned it to him. They were of a similar size. Bolstering Daniel’s wardrobe would have to be one of the first things we did.
As I looked out at the assembled journalists, I said, “Now that Daniel will become a member of the royal family, all security precautions for his safety will be taken as if he were a prince of the realm.”
Once the press conference was over with, the family gathered in my study to offer a toast to the two of us. If Ricard’s salut wasn’t quite so sincere, I chose to ignore it for now. I desperately wanted to get Daniel alone.
Normally relaxed and loquacious, he had been beyond quiet since he had first entered my study just after sunset. I saw nothing that should upset him. I had taken steps to insure his safety, and at the same time, he would never need to worry about money or family again.
Frustrated that he seemed so unenthusiastic, I finally snapped, “Is there something bothering you, Daniel?”
He glared at me. “Yes, as a matter of fact. I resent that fact that you so high-handedly pushed forward, announci
ng a relationship between us that scarcely exists, yet you expect me to accept it as if it were nothing more than a day in the park.”
“It seems to have several advantages for you.”
“For me.” He looked as if he would add something else, but stopped. “I need time to think about this, Amand. I don’t believe it is as simple as you attempt to make it. Excuse me.”
I watched him leave the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. I had not counted on a reaction like this. I had expected Daniel to see the necessity for such an arrangement, not be furious because I had made him my fiancé.
15
Daniel
The steps upstairs to my suite had never seemed so long. With the door shut behind me. I sagged against it. Why would Amand make such a decision, such an announcement without talking to me privately first?
Last night, we had begun to communicate, to find shared interests and ideas. And his kiss—that had been beyond hot.
Now I was struggling. I didn’t want to pretend to be engaged. I wanted us to be able to develop a relationship normally, to be able to explore and discover whether we were truly suited to each other.
Marriage was a serious step. Marriage to a prince even more so. I wasn’t sure Amand was on the same page. On the one hand was the example of his parents and his elder brother. On the other was Ricard’s hopping from relationship to relationship and bed to bed. Amand was an unknown quantity. I wanted to think he was more serious-minded, but I didn’t know. His proposal of a fake engagement, for I didn’t see that it could be anything else, didn’t inspire my confidence.
I stripped off the suit Ricard had sent down for me, hanging it back up before I stripped completely and pulled on a pair of sleep pants. I wasn’t in the mood for anyone’s company. After pouring a glass of brandy from the decanter in the wet bar, I took the snifter out onto the balcony.
The Prince’s Passion: A Fake Engagement Royalty Romance Page 9