Police Chief Ethan Parker looked very official despite the fact his wife Robin leaned against him. Dr. Amy Wheatley walked over and began a conversation, and Ethan laughed. Grayson Phillips, Dr. Amy’s husband, walked over from his silver Lexus and joined the group.
Travis was glad he didn’t have a woman leaning on him, although he had to admit that everyone looked very happy. Still, some men were cut out for happily ever after, and some weren’t. He’d tried and failed; he wasn’t ready to get tied down again.
Just when he was getting real restless, thinking about all the couples surrounding him, a buzz started in the crowd. A black Land Rover drove up, the tinted windows making it difficult to see who was sitting in the back seat. Judging from the snap of the cameras, there wasn’t any doubt—this was the prince of Belegovia and his entourage.
Paparazzi rushed forward, crowding against the thin barrier of rope strung up to make a walkway from the curb to the gazebo. Ethan Parker’s two patrol officers stood nearby, ready for crowd control, just in case any of the European photojournalists got too pushy.
A real pretty, real classy lady got out of the left side of the Land Rover’s back seat. She wore a dark suit and black pumps. A small man, a real spiffy-looking guy who looked like he might be a butler, got out of the front. Then the other back door opened and the man everyone had come to see stepped onto the concrete sidewalk of Ranger Springs, Texas. Dressed in a dark suit, red tie and shiny Italian shoes, he looked like a model for GQ.
Travis glanced over at Mrs. Jacks. She looked like she might faint at any minute. Maybe he ought to stand beside her, just in case. The woman had a serious case of royal fascination. He pushed his way through the crowd as Prince Alexi walked in front of his entourage toward the gazebo.
He was a good-looking man. Of course, he could have been Hank’s twin, so he was bound to be handsome as the devil. He didn’t have Hank’s laughing eyes and easygoing grin, though. This man looked tall, lean and powerful in every sense, as if he knew he’d been born to money and position. Which, of course, he had.
The prince stopped in front of the mayor and city leaders, shaking hands and speaking softly while the cameras continued to click away. The citizens of Ranger Springs had joined in with their disposable cameras, ancient 35 millimeters, and even a few Polaroids. The next-day photo service at the drugstore was going to be real busy tomorrow.
Travis glanced up at Hank and found him standing, grim-faced, beside a nervous Kerry Lynn. Nervous? Why in the world would she be nervous? Travis seriously doubted meeting a prince, even one as single and handsome as Alexi Ladislas, would cause concern from the feisty waitress. And why wasn’t Hank putting on his good ol’ boy charm? Something was seriously wrong here, but now wasn’t the time to ask.
Finally, the prince made his way up the steps to the gazebo. Hank stepped forward and shoved his hand at the visiting dignitary. The prince smiled and clasped it. Travis got the impression the two men were each trying to crush the other’s hand. Again, he couldn’t figure out why. They finally parted and Kerry Lynn stepped forward, extending her hand. Damn, she looked like she was going to cry. Instead of shaking her hand, the prince leaned forward and kissed first one cheek, then the other, in the European manner. He seemed to linger a little too long, though, and Kerry Lynn’s eyes got all misty.
Was the prince putting the moves on Kerry Lynn, right in front of Hank? And why was Kerry Lynn with Hank if he’d been off with another woman for four days? None of this made any sense.
The natty little man stood to one side, but the good-looking classy woman stepped forward. She stood straight and fairly tall. With brisk movements she extended her hand, first to Hank, then to Kerry. Hank looked tense enough to chew nails.
Something strange was happening inside that gazebo.
The mayor stepped up to the microphone and droned on about how happy everyone was to welcome visiting royalty. He then introduced Lady Gwendolyn Reed, public relations director for the monarchy of Belegovia.
The tall woman advanced up to the microphone. She looked real professional, but a little tense also.
“Good afternoon. Thank you for coming today to our impromptu trip to the heart of the Texas Hill Country.” Her accent was British upper class rather than European.
A murmur of excitement and approval swept through the crowd before she continued. “As you may know, Prince Alexi of Belegovia has been on a visit to your wonderful state. Unfortunately, he has suffered from laryngitis and a cold during the last few days. His doctor recommended he rest his voice and recuperate at the hotel in Austin. During this time, certain unprofessional journalists erroneously reported that the prince was not in his hotel room.”
Another murmur went through the crowd. Even Travis knew about the tabloid story that had stated that the prince was having a torrid affair with a Texas gold-digger. A grainy photo of Hank and Kerry Lynn, taken off some Internet Web site, had appeared with the story, along with more recent photos of Hank going into the Four Square Café, looking a bit shifty.
“In addition to visiting this lovely town, the prince would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight. It is my privilege to introduce His Highness, Prince Alexi of Belegovia.”
A round of applause and a few whistles went up from the crowd. The cameras started clicking again. Mrs. Jacks looked real pale. Travis put one hand under her elbow just in case she decided to pass out on the grass.
“Thank you,” the prince said, putting up his hands to stop the applause. He smiled, flashing white teeth and a winning grin. “I am very happy to be with you today,” he said, his voice still raspy. He placed a hand on his throat. “I hope you don’t have any trouble understanding me because I truly am hoarse.”
The crowd applauded. The prince smiled, then continued. “We are often plagued by rumors and false reports from certain disreputable journalists. As a member of the royal family, I have learned to tolerate this. However, the tabloids have now involved an innocent young woman, and this I will not tolerate.”
A huge cheer went up from the crowd of spectators. The professional photojournalists continued to click away. “I have just met a man who looks enough like me to be my twin, Mr. Hank McCauley. Also, I have learned that Miss Kerry Lynn Jacks, who is a friend of Mr. McCauley, has recently returned to town from a trip to visit relatives.”
Although his voice seemed to have lost the hoarseness he’d begun with, he seemed to have a sudden relapse. When he began speaking again, he sounded more gravelly. “As you can see, the resemblance between myself and Mr. McCauley has led to some unfortunate speculation from the media. I sincerely regret the inference that Miss Jacks is involved.”
Suddenly, everything made sense. Hank leaving the ranch. The prince getting laryngitis. The tabloid reports.
Another big cheer rang out. Prince Alexi had obviously won the hearts of the Texans watching. As Travis glanced at Kerry Lynn, he got the distinct impression he might have won her heart, too. When he looked at Hank, he saw a man hurting…and watching the pretty, classy English lady like she was tearing him apart.
Chapter Fourteen
Gwendolyn felt emotionally and physically drained as she walked from the gazebo to the Four Square Café for a small, private reception. She wasn’t sure who would attend, but she hoped a minimum amount of people would witness her pathetic attempt to hold herself together. Just a few hours until we board the jet for Belegovia, she told herself. I can keep it together that long.
Hank held the door open for Kerry and her as the bell tinkled merrily. His scent filled her with longing. She wanted to turn to him, bury her nose against his chest and feel his strong arms closing around her.
Well, perhaps she might not maintain her composure as long as he was watching her. He’d looked at her throughout the brief press event as though he expected her to confess everything to the reporters and spectators. And to what end? The truth would hurt all those affected, especially King Wilheim, and couldn’t serve any useful purp
ose.
Her feelings for Hank had nothing to do with the truth or the deception. Confessing that she cared far too much for the Texas cowboy wouldn’t change the circumstances of their lives. He was so firmly established here, so confident and well liked, and she was still hoping to find her way in the complicated world of family and career.
“Thank you,” she murmured as she slipped past Hank into the cheerful Café.
A punch bowl had been set up in the middle of the room, surrounded by assorted cookies and cakes, while coffee service and iced tea lined the walls. The chrome-and-gray Formica tables had been polished until they glowed, and shiny red vinyl booths lined the back walls on either side of a wide, open window to the kitchen.
The Ranger Springs dignitaries were all beaming. Unlike their more sophisticated counterparts in Austin, the civic leaders weren’t ashamed to be caught admiring the prince, basking in his presence. Gwendolyn smiled in spite of her personal pain. She found these Texans refreshing and very real, and wished she had more time to know them. Hank had said they were good people, and she had to agree.
“We need to talk,” Hank whispered in her ear as he walked up behind her.
“I can hardly leave the reception.”
“You can slip away for a few minutes,” he replied softly. “Kerry tells me there’s an apartment upstairs. Pretend you’re going to the ladies’ room and come up the steps in back of the kitchen.”
“Hank, I don’t think—”
“I’ll expect you in ten minutes. You owe me.”
“For pretending to be the prince?”
He looked at her blankly, then his expression hardened, his blue eyes frosty. “Yeah, that’s right. We never did decide on my fee, did we?”
“Whatever you think is fair,” she said tonelessly.
She’d promised to pay him for his time, and he’d gone way beyond the call of duty. She just hadn’t expected to pay with her heart.
“Be there or I’ll drag you somewhere private. We are gonna talk before you leave.”
Hank walked away, escorting Kerry Lynn to where her mother stood with a few other Ranger Springs citizens. From across the room, Gwendolyn watched Alexi charm them all. She looked at Kerry as the young woman turned to gaze at the prince.
Gwendolyn wondered if the truck-stop waitress and recent college graduate knew that her heart was in her eyes.
A young woman with glowing skin and honey-blond hair brought her a cup of punch. “I hope you’ve had a good visit to Texas,” she said in a very un-Texas accent. “I’m Robin Parker, wife of the chief of police. I also run the antique shop and bed and breakfast across the town square,” she said, nodding toward a building that sported a marquee similar to a movie theater.
“Thank you. The trip has been very educational,” Gwendolyn replied. In fact, she’d learned she could fall in love and have her heart broken by circumstances beyond her control in only five days. “I’ll never forget my visit to Texas.”
“That’s wonderful. We’re very glad you decided to visit Ranger Springs, even though the circumstances were unfortunate. Those tabloid reporters will print anything, won’t they?”
“They can be very creative.”
A few more people walked up and chatted, each one of them expressing their regret she and the prince had been brought to their town due to tabloid reporters and paparazzi. As quickly as possible, Gwendolyn excused herself and walked toward the back of the restaurant. She dreaded seeing Hank alone, but a part of her wanted to be with him one more time.
Checking to make sure she wasn’t followed, she slipped past the rest rooms and through a door marked Kitchen. The area was silent, filled with the smells of grease and disinfectant. In the back, the staircase awaited.
She paused, reminding herself she did owe Hank one more conversation. Belegovia also owed him a great debt. She had to face him, hear what he had to say and make whatever amends she could.
Still, her feet would not climb the stairs quickly or cheerfully.
“Hank?” she called out.
“In here.”
She followed the sound of his voice to a living room. Late-afternoon sunlight entered through two windows overlooking the town square. Hank sprawled on a nubby beige sofa, his expression unreadable.
Gwendolyn took the only other seat, a rocking chair, and drew in a deep breath. “We shouldn’t be gone from the reception for very long.”
“I know you’d rather fly out of here without talking about what happened between us, but I can’t let that happen.”
Gwendolyn shook her head, but he continued. “We haven’t known each other long, but we have something special. I think you can admit that.”
“Yes, but—”
“And I don’t understand how you can think that going back to Belegovia will change how we feel.”
She hadn’t thought about her feelings from that angle. Would she feel differently about Hank when she was in her small apartment at the royal palace?
“Perhaps our feelings won’t change, but what do you expect us to do? We live in two different worlds. We’re at two different points in our lives. You’re so settled, so together.” She shrugged. “I’m still trying to prove myself in my career. I can’t just run out on my goals.”
Hank rose off the couch in one fluid motion and stepped in front of her. “Darlin’, I think you just hit the nail on the head. You’re trying to prove yourself. To whom? Prince Alexi? I don’t think so, since it’s obvious he admires and respects you. The king? Maybe, but I’ve got to ask if maybe he’s more like another father to you. And that brings me to your own daddy. What are you trying to prove to him?”
“That’s…that’s silly. The king is not another father, and my father doesn’t even believe I should have a career.”
“Exactly. What better way to show him you’re worthy of his respect than to succeed? He’s bound to know that you’re doing a good job for the royal family in Belegovia. I’ll bet the tape from that little news conference you arranged on the spur of the moment gets picked up by CNN and the BBC by tomorrow morning.”
“Perhaps, but my father will probably say that a man could have done the job better, or he’ll remind me that even though I’m doing a good job, I could be an even better wife to one of his peers.”
“Then he’s a fool,” Hank said, kneeling beside her chair. “You’re a wonderful, competent woman. You’re not some commodity to be purchased by the guy with the biggest title.”
“Thank you,” she said softly. “I’m glad you understand what I’ve been trying to tell my father for ages.”
He reached for her hands. “Now I’m gonna tell you something, darlin’. You can’t live your life tryin’ to please your daddy or impress your family. I learned early on in my career that it doesn’t matter how many buckles you win or how much money you’ve stacked up in the bank if you’re not the kind of person that people admire. Wendy, you’ve already proved your worth time and again by the way people feel about you. You’re kind and sweet, caring and intelligent. You take care of people all the way through, from their feelings to their comfort. You give a lot to everyone and don’t expect a thing for yourself. All you want is the approval of someone who may never understand or admire your accomplishments.”
She shook her head. “I’m not some saint. I make lots of mistakes and I’m often petty. Just today I got angry at Alexi.”
“Yeah, and you kept me from punching his lights out,” Hank said with a grin. “I think that was pretty charitable of you, considering his actions, but I won’t go into that again.” His grin faded as he continued. “My point is that you deserve to go after what you want. I’m not braggin’, darlin’, but I think you want me.”
He’d never know how much she wanted him. Desperately. Completely. “We’re worlds apart.”
“We have more in common than we’d ever imagined. Most of all, we have the same values. And you like my ranch, I know you do. I’ve seen it in your eyes when you gaze at the wildflowers, swim i
n the pool or just watch the clouds float across the sky.
You’re great on horseback, even if you are used to those little saddles.”
“This isn’t all about me, Hank. You can’t possibly believe we know enough about each other in five days to turn our lives upside down.”
“Darlin’, I believe we know enough about each other to spend the rest of our lives together. I don’t give a damn how long it took.”
“Hank, no! You can’t be sure—”
“I’m sure. I just don’t understand why you won’t admit that you are, too.”
She jumped up from the rocker. “I don’t know!”
“Listen to your heart. Inside, you know we love each other.” He followed her across the room to the windows, placing his hands on her shoulders. “I know exactly how I feel. I love you, Gwendolyn.”
“I can’t fall in love with you. I barely know you. I’ve planned my career for years. I’ve known the importance of staying focused for as long as I can remember.”
“Then maybe you should change your focus to us.“
She spun around, her heart pounding, her head spinning. Hank had never appeared more handsome, more appealing than he did at this moment. His blue eyes blazed, his sun-streaked hair fell over his forehead, and the stubble covering his jaw made him look a little wild and dangerous.
She didn’t want sexy and dangerous. She wanted her career. She wanted her family to admit she’d done a great job. She wanted her father to admit he was wrong all along.
“I can’t,” she whispered.
“You’re afraid.”
Maybe. She’d never know, because she wasn’t going to take the risk. She wasn’t going to give up everything for the love of a cowboy she’d known for five days.
Instead, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. His mouth parted and he deepened the kiss. He put his heart and soul into kissing her, as if he could convince her that he was right. All she had to do was give in. Simply give up her life, her career, for a chance at happiness here in Texas.
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