They started up the steep switchbacks. A low rumbling behind him stopped them both in their tracks. They turned slowly and groaned together at the thick, dark clouds rolling in.
“When did that get there?” Emily asked, peering up at the oncoming storm.
“You know how it is. They come fast, with no warning.” Three successive flashes of lightning accentuated his words as the wind picked up.
“We’re gonna have to find shelter.” Emily turned in a full circle—there wasn’t even a tree in sight.
The clouds moved closer, and Rhett wasn’t sure which direction to go. Did they run back to the woods, or did they head up over the ridge? “There’s a cave on the other side.”
“Oh! Oh! You’re right. Let’s go!” Emily took off running.
He laughed. Decision made, he followed her, trying to beat the weather. As they reached the rocky ridge, the rain hit. They had no warning drops, just a sudden downpour. The ground turned dangerously slick, and Emily slipped, catching herself with her hands.
Rhett reached forward, lifting and steadying her. They scrambled up the remaining rock, clinging to each other as they tried to keep their balance. Then they slipped over the other side and around the path. Rhett took the lead and slid through a crack between the rocks. Emily followed. The air was immediately cold on their wet skin. The sky was darker, and the cave was almost without light.
Rhett reached inside and turned on his flashlight, shining it ahead into the space.
Emily turned in a circle. “I don’t think we’ve ever been in here.”
“Nope, I’m certain we haven’t. I just discovered it a few years ago.”
“Then this is nice.”
“Oh? And why’s that?”
“New beginnings. You know, where do we start from here.”
“I like that.”
She shivered, and he reached into his backpack. “In the meantime, here’s a sweatshirt. I think we might be in here for a while.”
She pulled it on while he checked his phone. It wouldn’t connect. “Oh, that’s not good.”
“What?” Emily stood at his side immediately.
“My phone won’t connect. The security detail is gonna go nuts.”
“They know where we are.”
“Of course, but the storm, and then I go off the grid.”
“Oh, I see.”
He moved to the opening of the cave, the rain still pouring down and rushing in a river outside the entrance. “Still no bars.”
“That flooding out there doesn’t look too good either.”
“No, it doesn’t.” There would be rescue teams, helicopters, and all his security detail on high alert right now. If things got too bad, they’d call in Luke Valdez, the Torren prince over high security.
All this commotion would draw the attention of the press, and the last thing he wanted was country-wide speculation about another relationship with the ever-interesting Emily Harrington, heiress to her own American wealth. She was the stuff of legends where his country was concerned.
None of that could be helped now. “Looks like we might be here for a while. Should we explore?”
“Sure. At least there aren’t any animal smells.”
“True. I think we’re too high up on the bald part of the mountain to attract many animals besides goats.”
They circled the walls of their new shelter but found that it was just a small opening in the rocks, more like a room, with no further exits or openings.
“Let’s sit near the opening and watch the storm roll through.” Emily’s face lit with interest.
“I love that about you.” Was that too much? he wondered. Perhaps. But something about this cave felt intimate, freeing. He moved closer to the opening. “Shall we sit?”
She scooted near him so that their bodies could share warmth, and they watched the rain start to come down sideways as the wind whipped across the top of the mountain.
“Wow, I’m glad the opening hits at an angle. We’d be drenched.”
Thunder shook their cave and Emily flinched. “Sorry. I usually love storms.”
“But this one is a little too close?”
“Maybe that’s it. But we’re obviously protected in here. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Tell me about Lily.”
The grateful smile she gave him made him want to see that expression aimed at him again, and often.
“She’s an incredible human.”
“Sounds like her mother.”
Her blush belied the hand she waved to brush off his compliment. “She really is. Smart, creative. If I tell her no, she tries to find a way to make everyone happy and still get a yes. She’s kind and so funny. You should have heard her the other day at dinner. She had my parents rolling. Tears.”
Rhett listened to Emily talk and knew her passion had shifted. She was still a sharp businesswoman, and an epic water skier, but she was a mother first. And something about that made him so inexplicably proud of her, he wanted to squeeze her. But instead he just shifted so that he could put his arm around her shoulders. Without thinking, he placed a kiss on the top of her head. “She’s lucky to have a mom like you.”
“Well, I don’t know about that. I definitely didn’t choose well in the father department.”
He stiffened. “Jackson.”
“Yeah, he really just ended up being a jerk. Plain and simple.”
“You couldn’t have known that going in. His actions are not a reflection on you. None of us guys liked him, but that was just jealousy. We were losing our Emily to some American upstart.”
“Never mind that I’m technically American as well.”
“Well, not to us. To us, you’re just you. But anyway, I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, haven’t been, all this time.” He squeezed her shoulder, as if the gesture could wipe out years of neglect. “When I think of how this must have gone down…” He swallowed a rather sharp lump. “I just feel bad. Sorry, Em.”
She leaned her head back against his arm. “He started out charming. He was so thoughtful, gave me things at just the right moments, helped me get through grad school. But as soon as we were married, he changed.” She closed her eyes. “Or maybe that’s who he always had been, but his true colors showed.”
“Tell me.”
“Well, almost right away, he lost his job. But he said he’d look around for the right one when he was ready. In the meantime, I made enough for all of us. Then the game consoles came out. And the beer. I tried to make it work, to please him, for too long.”
“And Lily?”
“When she was born, he promised to change, and for a short he was different—attentive, helpful, in love with his girls, he said. But shortly after, he was back to his old ways, but more bitter. He was happy to game all day and then blame me that he couldn’t get a job. He turned angry. I began to leave Lily with my parents instead of him while I went to work, and I did most things at their house instead of working from home. I was uncomfortable around him.”
Rhett just listened and felt more and more sick. “I’m sorry.”
“When I told him I was leaving, he threw a fit, started throwing things. And my dad, who unbeknownst to me was waiting outside, stormed in and probably stopped him from really hurting me. We left together, and I never went back. Dad handled kicking him out of my home and clearing out his things, then movers came and packed up my things. I stayed with my parents for a time and eventually bought our new place. When he turned threatening to me and even to Lily—showing up at odd times, drinking, throwing out verbal threats—the courts agreed to a restraining order. We haven’t heard a word from him for a couple years, and now this.” Her face clouded with worry. “I don’t know what to do with this new request to be in her life. The answer is no.”
“I think you are exactly right.”
“Thank you. I guess it’s just one more thing I’ll have to deal with when I get home. But anyway, me and Lily are super happy there, and my parents are close
by.”
“You’re really doing great, Em. And CEO too?”
She sighed and Rhett heard a wealth of fatigue in that quiet noise.
“I am, yes. Dad has been wanting to retire for about five years but was waiting until I was ready. I’m not technically ready, so he still steps in as a consultant for anything I need.” She stared out at the storm. An explosion of thunder shattered overhead, and she flinched. “But honestly, Rhett?” She turned to him, their faces inches apart. “I came on this trip ’cause I needed to get away. I don’t want to be the CEO. I’m doing it for Dad, but I’m afraid I’ll fail.”
Her eyes widened in such a tender vulnerability that his protective instincts kicked in even more. He ran a finger along her forehead, brushing hair out of her eyes. Then he let his finger trail down her cheek, just how he used to, enjoying the softness of her skin. Did he dare continue? She seemed to lean into him, just enough. So he cupped her face in his palm and ran a thumb along her mouth. “Wish I could have borne some of that for you.” He kissed her forehead. “I do know one thing about you, Emily.” He kissed her cheek then her nose.
She smiled. “What’s that?” Her whisper sounded sultry, promising.
He kissed her other cheek and gently lifted her chin. He resisted, searching the depths of her eyes, which he knew so well, hoping and waiting to know if she wanted to open up this door, one he’d so desperately yearned to open for all these years. Her eyes shone with confidence, hope, then she closed her lids and parted her mouth.
He waited no further, covering the softness of her lips with his own. The moment they touched, a decade’s worth of longing ignited at once in a manner he was totally not prepared for. He was alone in a cave with the woman he loved—loved! He pressed against her mouth, again and again, and she responded in kind, matching his growing intensity. He pulled her closer, shifting his body so they could be nearer, pulling, asking with every kiss. She melted into him, and when a tiny moan escaped her mouth, he almost pulled her down onto the cave floor, but another flash of lightning and an immediate crash of thunder reminded him where they were and that he had no idea where she wanted things to go. Best to take things slow, or at least slower than a steamy make out session the first time he caught her alone.
With one final nibble on her bottom lip, he pressed his forehead to hers. “You are even more fun than I remember.”
She giggled. “I’m out of practice.”
He shook his head. “That may be, but doesn’t mean anything to me. Seriously, Em, I may not recover.” He winked. “Ever.”
“Oh stop. You always were dramatic.”
“Dramatic? I have never been dramatic.”
She laughed and leaned back against him.
He ran his finger up and down her shoulder. “So, how do you feel about this, um, new development?”
Her body shook gently with silent amusement. “It’s a little early to ask something like that. Let’s just live in the moment and enjoy it for a sec.”
“So, it’s something to enjoy?”
She sighed.
“I just don’t want to miss a chance to communicate. I think that’s how I let us drift apart before.”
“That’s interesting. I thought it was because, all of a sudden, the crown was the most important thing in your life.”
“What?”
“Right—like when you said, ‘I have to put the crown first right now. You’re not royal. I don’t expect you to understand, but that’s where I’m at. If you can’t accept that, then we can’t be.’ ”
He whistled, astounded at his past self and her memory. “Did I say that?”
“You did, but I suppose it was merited. I was young. I wanted to be number one in your life.”
“As you deserved to be.” He leaned back against the cold stone of the cave and closed his eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you every day how much you meant to me.” He swallowed. “Honestly, I don’t even know if new-king-me understood how important you were.”
“New-king-you. As opposed to old-king-you?”
“Seasoned. Cured.”
“Mmm. Like a good beef.”
“Yes, or old wine. Better with age.”
“I hope that’s true, because the younger you was pretty great.”
“Give me a chance to prove it.” He leaned forward, twisting sideways to be able to look into her eyes.
She seemed wary as she searched his face, but her eyes changed, and he saw the trust he was looking for.
“I know I can be stubborn, focused completely on the most urgent task to the exclusion of all else, but right now, you are my most urgent task.”
She reached a hand up to the side of his face and pressed her lips to his once, slowly, agonizingly slowly, then pulled away. “No.” The hurt in her eyes about killed him.
“No?”
“We can’t.”
“What? Why not?”
She shook her head. “Do we have to get into this? There are so many reasons, I’m not sure where to begin. Can’t we just pretend everything’s okay for a little longer?”
“Um, no. I’m falling for you here. The more I kiss you, the greater pain I’m causing myself.”
“Fair enough—I suppose I’m doing the same thing. We can talk about it. But I’m not looking for counter-arguments. If you want to hear what’s going on in my head, I’ll tell you, but you have to just listen. Can you do that—just for today?”
He tried to argue, tried to shake his head, but he could tell she was serious, so he nodded.
He held his breath. This was the most open he’d ever expected her to be. He’d be daft not to grab hold of the moment and listen. Too bad he couldn’t take notes.
“Reason one: Lily. She has a great thing with my parents. And I don’t want to uproot her.”
He almost spoke, but he bit his tongue and resisted.
“Thank you for humoring me. Second thing: my work. And your crown. And the issues I care about, and your crown. Did I mention the crown? Because taking on a relationship with you—no matter how pleasant in private—also has a very public, very controlling, side, and I lose myself in it.”
He nodded, not sure what to say. She was right. Whoever became the queen of Aegira would just have to accept some of that. Most women he knew welcomed the opportunity.
“And then there’s the press. I’m a private person.”
Most women he knew also welcomed the attention. But Emily had her own press to handle and was famous in her own right. And she had a daughter she would want to keep out of the public eye.
Some of the reasons he himself had doubted their suitability came back to him, shrinking his hope that Emily could ever be in his life. “Thank you for sharing your concerns. They’re valid.”
A flash of hurt moved through her eyes, but before he could respond to it, she turned away and stood, stretching. “I’m getting stiff.”
He peered outside. The rain was a trickle, but the clouds were green and dark. “It still looks bad out there, but let’s see if I can get some bars. The team just needs one ping on my location.”
He stepped outside and welcomed the cool wind. He hoped it would bring some clarity, wash some sense into his clouded brain, but it just made him yearn to be close to Em again. And she’d said no. No. Without even a second’s thought. Hurt welled up inside him, and then his phone rang.
“Yes?”
“Your Highness! Are you well?” Bart, his man over security, sounded unreasonably anxious.
“Yes, we’re well. Do you have a ping on my location?”
“Got you. Wow, near the top of Nepo?”
“In a hole in the rock. If the lull holds, we’ll come out. But if the storm picks back up, I’ll be inside the cave—we’ll come out when we hear the chopper.”
“Excellent. And might I ask who else we are rescuing?”
“Emily.”
The silence spoke much louder than any words. “We should inform Kenworthy and the press team.”
�
��I don’t think we need to get PR involved.”
“When it’s Emily, PR must be involved.”
He suddenly felt tired. And he remembered more clearly why they’d allowed things to fizzle out between them. It had just been easier to let it die.
“Okay, hanging up.”
“As long as the weather holds, we’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Got it.” He hung up. When he turned, Emily was standing right behind him.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes, they found us. Should be here any minute.”
She watched him, waiting perhaps for him to say why he felt all pinched inside when just moments ago he had been happy and hopeful.
But he remained silent, and a great awkwardness settled over the both of them. Until she rested a hand on his arm.
He covered her hand with his own. They stood on the ridge, the wind whipping around them, when Emily said, “Quick, lets climb the ridge while we can. We didn’t make it to the top.” She raced past him and up the rocky incline. She was skipping the switchbacks, like they had as kids, but the way was treacherous in the rain.
He couldn’t blame her, though. Something about her open rebellion against the elements, against their safety, against even his own common sense, appealed to him—it called to him and made his heart excited and hopeful when moments before it had felt heavy and drab.
He raced after her, staying close behind, trying not to throw caution entirely to the wind that whipped around them.
The helicopter blades sounded in the distance.
Emily yelped. “Hurry, they’re coming!”
And suddenly he felt like he had when they were kids trying to outsmart his security detail and get away without anyone knowing where they went.
He raced after her, coming up behind and grabbing her hand as he ran at her side. “We can do this!”
They scrambled over sharp edges, falling rock slipping beneath their feet, until the very top of the ridge was in view.
The copter blades were directly behind them. Rhett knew if he turned around, he would see the frowning face of his head of security, so he didn’t turn.
They were both gasping for air, but they used their hands and feet to scramble the last ten feet, then five feet. Then, at last, they stood teetering on the very highest ridge of Nepo.
Once Upon a Royal Billionaire Page 5