by Selena Kitt
He didn’t speak.
I continued, “They were unfairly tried and convicted of something they didn’t do.”
“What happened?”
I took a deep breath. Let it out. “My brother died. It wasn’t anything they did, or anything they didn’t do. It was a terrible, horrific accident. My brother and I weren’t abused or neglected. But the district attorney, who I later learned was up for re-election, decided to go after my mom and dad as a way of improving his public image. I mean, it was a child cruelty case. Who wouldn’t respect him for that, right? Unfortunately, he was going after two innocent people. Didn’t matter. He was able to convince the jury they were guilty, after my parents refused a plea deal. My dad was sentenced to life plus fifty. My mom to life.”
Silence.
Just as I was about to ask Tevin if he wanted to take me home, he pulled me into his arms.
“I’m sorry, Daryl. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you, or for them.”
I sank into his warm, gentle embrace. “They’ve lost everything. And I’ve lost them, and respect and trust in the system. And friends. All my friends except for Sasha. Our courts and judges aren’t out to find out the truth. The whole system is just a big racket. Lawyers and judges rake in the cash while innocent people suffer.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t designed to be that way,” he said as he stroked my hair.
“Of course not. But that’s what it has become, if you ask me.”
“Have they tried to appeal?”
“They’ve tried and failed.” Anxious to see his face, to try to convince myself that he was sympathetic, I tipped my head back to look up at him.
His eyes were kind as he shook his head. “So you lost a brother and both parents, all within…?”
“A year and a half. In eighteen months my life went from perfectly normal to hellishly awful. But I’m not telling you because I want your pity.” I pushed myself upright, out of his embrace. I wanted him to see I wasn’t trying to play on his sympathy.
“Of course not.”
“I’m telling you this now because I’m worried.”
“About?”
“The press. If you’re a prince—who doesn’t seem to be hounded by paparazzi like the British royals are—won’t the press have a field day when word gets out about my family?”
“As you pointed out, I’m not hounded by American press. I’ve been living here for eleven months and haven’t had a single photograph published anywhere, not even on the internet.”
“Okay, so you’re not concerned?” My mood lifted slightly. Was it too much to hope that we had gotten all of our skeletons out of the closet now and could maybe move forward? That all the obstacles had been cleared away, and we could relax and let things develop naturally?
“As far as the U.S. goes, no. My country is so small and inconsequential that I’m no more a celebrity here than you are. But in my homeland it’s different.”
My temporarily elevated mood fizzled. “I see. Then maybe I shouldn’t go to meet your family?”
“Oh no, I want you to. Nothing has changed. I’m still falling in love with you. But for your sake, I should keep you out of the spotlight for as long as I can.”
“But what would that accomplish?” Already, I could see things were unraveling. It was so unfair. If only Tevin was just Tevin, a guy with a lot of money, instead of a future king. Tevin didn’t have a problem with my parents. He liked me. He was falling in love with me. And I was falling in love with him. The two of us had something special. Something that might have worked.
But he wasn’t Tevin. This man, this prince, had a much more complicated life. With family. Obligations. Responsibilities.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“If things…well, if we were ever wanting to…” the words became lodged in my throat.
“Marry?” he finished for me. It seemed he had no problem saying that word; it was me who had the problem.
“Yes, that. I would imagine the ceremony would be public, and my background would be scrutinized. I mean, I would be the future mother of royal sons, a queen, right?”
“You’re right. You would be queen.”
Queen. Me. That was insane.
I continued, “What country would accept the daughter of two convicted murderers—killers of their own child—as a queen?”
“I’m going to make some calls to some people.”
“Calls?” I echoed, wondering what he was thinking, what he was planning.
“My family employs an entire staff of attorneys—“
Attorneys? Was he going to help my parents? Could he find a way to get their conviction overturned? “No, you can’t.” Nobody had ever offered to do anything so generous. Tears gathered. A sob caught in my throat. I clapped my hand over my mouth.
“Yes, I can. I’ll have them look into your parents’ case and see what they can do.” He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me square in the eyes. “Daryl, I told you I’m falling in love with you. I want to help you. It isn’t fair that you and your parents are suffering because of one man’s ambitions.”
“But—“
“But what? I’m not going to let anything keep me from what I want. I want you. I want you to come to my homeland and meet my family.”
“But that’s so generous.”
“No, it’s selfish. I want to clear their name if it means you won’t be afraid to be with me. But I want you to be happy, too. To have your family back. Because even though I haven’t seen mine in almost a year, I know they’re there for me if I need them. All I have to do is get on a plane and I can see them or talk to them whenever I want. And every now and then I want that. I need that. Because everyone needs people sometimes, right?”
“Right.”
He wrapped his arms around me, and I closed my eyes and settled into his embrace. Oh, to feel so safe and protected. I hadn’t felt this way since the day my parents had been arrested, since I was sixteen years old and my life had been ripped to shreds, my innocence stolen and faith in humankind devastated. Were there still a few good people out there? People who cared for more than satisfying their own selfish wants and ambitions? Had I been lucky enough to find just that kind of man and somehow been fortunate enough to have him fall in love with me?
I didn’t dare hope. I was too terrified.
“Now that we’ve both cleared the air, what do you think? Will you come to Mordova with me?”
“When?” I dragged the pad of my thumb along my lower lashes.
“I have an event I must attend. I’m leaving…in three days.”
“Three days?” My head started spinning again. Three days? That was what? Monday? Tuesday? “But what about the press? My parents—“
“We’ll keep things very quiet. Don’t worry. Nobody but my immediate family will know you’re accompanying me.”
Could I do this? Could I jump on a plane and fly to a foreign land? “I don’t have a passport. That’s a problem.”
“You don’t technically need one, since you’ll be flying in my family’s private jet, and accompanying me through customs. But I’m sure you’d feel better having one anyway. There are services that allow you to obtain a passport in twenty-four hours. I can help you with that.”
I shifted, sitting upright again. It was so hard to think when I was cozy in his arms, breathing in the spicy-sweet scent of his skin, the steady thump of his heartbeat pounding in my ear. “I…I have to talk to Marguerite. I don’t have any vacation time accumulated yet. I’m too new. And this is all so quick.”
“I’ve already spoken to her, so she knows what I was planning.”
“Planning? Were you so certain I would say yes?” Was he so certain he wanted me to go?
“No, I wasn’t sure you would agree to go, but I talked to her anyway. I wanted to make sure it would be okay before I asked you.”
“How thoughtful,” I joked, my lips curling into a semi-smile.
He mirrored my expressi
on. His half smile was devastating. “I’m trying. Really.”
“I can tell.”
He studied me, his gaze drilling into mine. “You aren’t looking very excited about the trip.”
“I think I’m just overwhelmed. Give me some time to absorb everything.”
“Fair enough. I’ll drop it for now.” He kicked his ankle up on his knee again, and pulled me against him. “How about we set all of the serious stuff aside and just enjoy the rest of the evening?”
“I like that idea.”
“Good. Because I had some special plans for tonight.”
Special plans? My heart did a little stuttering jump. We’d had two dates so far. Two. On the first one we’d flown to an isolated romantic getaway in northern Michigan. And during the second one we’d spent a romantic evening on a gorgeous boat. He hadn’t called those plans special.
What did he have in mind for us tonight?
Chapter 9
“What is this?” I couldn’t help laughing as the limo turned into the empty grassy field that served as a parking lot for the Renaissance festival between ten A.M. and six P.M..
“It’s the Renaissance festival.”
“I see that. But…” As our car rolled past the sign that listed the hours, I pointed. “We’re too late. The festival’s closed.”
“It’s closed to the general public. It isn’t closed to us.”
Would I ever get used to the idea that I was dating a man who could make almost anything happen?
Our vehicle pulled up to the front gate, and a man dressed in Renaissance garb hurried up to the car and opened the door for us. “Welcome, My Lady,” he said as he extended a hand to me.
I glanced at Tevin before accepting the man’s help out. “Great pleasures await,” the man added, speaking with an English accent. “This way, My Lord.” He made a sweeping gesture with his arm.
Tevin offered me his arm, which I accepted with a giggle and a, “Thanks,” and off we went, into the world of Renaissance Europe. The minute we passed through the gate, we were greeted by the festival’s queen and king, both dressed in gorgeous bejeweled garb. Each one held a goblet. The queen handed hers to me; and the king handed his to Tevin. “Welcome!” the king said before launching into a rehearsed speech about kings and knights and battles as he led us down a narrow cobblestone path cutting between wood structures that somewhat resembled genuine Tudor shops. Tevin and I exchanged glances as we listened and sipped the spicy wine from the goblets until we stopped in front of a small structure with a castle-like façade. “Your dinner awaits,” the king announced. He and the queen bowed their heads, and we entered the castle.
A page, stationed at the entrance, escorted us to the lone table in the center of the open space. The instant we sat, a group of musicians strolled into the room and took their places in the room’s corner. Soon we were listening to soft music like nothing I’d ever heard before.
“What do you think?” Tevin asked as he reached across the table to take my hand in his. “Is it too silly?”
It was. Kind of. But I liked it. “Silly? No. Not at all.”
“Good. Andr—I mean Andy—suggested it.”
“I have to say, this is definitely unique.”
A pair of men dressed in Renaissance uniforms entered the room, followed by a second pair. Each carried a tray of food. They paraded up to us in time to the music, setting platters of food on our table before bowing and retreating. I couldn’t help giggling a little. It was a bit much. But I had to give Tevin credit for taking a chance and trying something different.
I checked out the spread. There was fruit, cheese, a bottle of wine, as well as platters of at least three different meats and roasted potatoes and vegetables. I lifted my plate to serve myself, but Tevin gently pulled the plate from my hand.
“What would you like?” he asked.
“It all looks so good. I’ll try a little taste of everything.”
His eyes sparkled, and my breath hitched. “My mother is going to love you.”
I felt my cheeks burning as I stuttered a, “Thank you,” and accepted my plate. I waited until he’d served himself before I lifted my fork.
I started with a vegetable. Delicious. The meat was even better.
“Well?” he asked, brows raised.
“This food is excellent, different than anything I’ve tasted before.”
“It’s all traditional Mordovian food.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes. I thought I would give you a little taste of my country, to see if you liked it.”
“I do.”
“I was hoping you would. There’s so much more—“
“I thought we weren’t going to talk about this tonight,” I interrupted with a smile.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m sorry. I just can’t stop thinking about how much I would enjoy showing you my country. It’s beautiful. The people are friendly. I think you would like it.”
“I’m sure I would. But I’m not ready to tell you I want to hop on a plane in a few days.”
“You don’t have long.”
“I realize that.”
“Will you at least let me help you get your passport? That way you’ll have it if you decide to come.”
“I suppose I could do that much,” I acquiesced as I lifted some more of the delectable meat to my mouth. “That way, even if I don’t go this time, maybe I can go the next.”
“Oh. Yes.” His expression darkened.
A little quiver of concern raced through me. “What is it?”
“Well, I don’t know exactly when I’ll be returning to the States.”
“Oh. But you said you were returning home for some kind of event. I assumed that meant you would come back when you were done.”
“That depends upon whether I can convince my family that there is a very good reason for me to come back, a reason that overrides my duties in my homeland.”
“Oh.” When he put it that way, it made me think he probably wouldn’t be coming back. I glanced in his eyes, catching a glimpse of some emotion I couldn’t quite name. It wasn’t desperation. No. He wasn’t desperate. But he was…conflicted maybe. “You’re not ready to go home yet?”
“Not really. But I can’t stay away much longer. I belong in Mordova with my family. I’m needed there. I sold my shares of the company I started her. So I’m not needed here.”
Not needed. Boy, did that hurt. But it was the truth, wasn’t it? Who needed him? Not his employees. He didn’t have any anymore. Not his boss. He didn’t have one of those. He didn’t have a wife. Or, technically, a girlfriend. I didn’t need him.
No, I didn’t.
But the thought of never seeing him again made my insides ache. It hurt worse than when I thought I was going to have to watch him date other women. At least then I was expecting to see him regularly. This was different. It was so…final.
Never was a long time.
Never was forever.
He set down his fork and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for putting so much pressure on you. I promised I wouldn’t push it tonight, that we would enjoy the evening.” After giving his head a little nod, he said, “I won’t say another word about the trip.”
“No, it’s okay. Earlier, when you asked me to go with you, you didn’t tell me you might not be coming back. That puts a different spin on things. I understand now why you don’t want to let it go.”
His eyes locked on mine. “Do you?”
“Yes. Yes, I do.”
“So what are you thinking?” he asked, his voice soft.
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
He stood, circled around the table and squatted down beside me, putting his eyes level with mine. “I’m sorry for pressuring you. We haven’t known each other long. We don’t know each other well.” He shook his head. “On top of that, I lied to you. And you’ve had so many terrible tragedies in your life, heartbreaks, and disappointments. And now I’m asking you to just close your eyes and trust me.
It isn’t fair of me to do that.”
“No, you’re right. Maybe it isn’t fair of you.”
“But I can’t help myself.” He shoved his fingers through his hair. “This is so new and exciting. People tell me it could all fizzle out down the road. My brother. My parents. But for some reason I don’t think it will. I think it’s real, what I feel for you. And I think you know it’s real too. I’ve never felt this way about a woman before. I feel like I can be me when I’m with you. I can let you see me at my worst and you won’t hate me for it.”
His words, and the emotion I heard behind them, touched me so deeply my eyes started burning. Never had a man said anything like this to me before. It made me want to believe him. I wanted him to be the smart, kind, gentle man that I saw here now, squatting on the dusty wood floor, looking up into my eyes. It made me want to believe he couldn’t hurt me, couldn’t disappoint me, couldn’t tear my heart into shreds and leave me to try to pick up the pieces.
Oh God. What if he did that? What if I did start to trust him, have faith in him, and he failed? And I was thousands of miles away from home? Away from Sasha. She was all I had in this world. Sasha and my job. If I went to Mordova, I would be losing both. I would be giving up everything.
“I can’t tell you yes. Not yet,” I admitted.
“That’s okay.” He blinked, and in his eyes I read disappointment. “I—“
Horns tooted as a parade of performers came bustling into the room.
“Oh, damn,” Tevin muttered as jugglers with knives, sword swallowers, and acrobats, all dressed in period garb tossed and swallowed and flipped. It was like a medieval circus. He stood, dragged his chair up next to mine, and sat. After taking his seat he reached for me, took my hand in his and together we watched the funny, exciting, thrilling performance. By the time it was done, I felt a little bit like royalty. The players had all focused their performance on us. I also felt a little breathless, probably because I’d held my breath during much of the performances as the jugglers and acrobats did things that terrified me.
Or maybe because I was about to close my eyes and take a huge leap of faith.
When the performance was over, our host and hostess, the king and queen of the festival returned, offered up one final toast to us and then escorted us to the front gate and our waiting limo. As we walked through the quiet fairgrounds, I couldn’t help noticing the chill in the air. Dark clouds had gathered, cutting off the weak light of dusk and the warmth that came with it. In the car, I cozied up to Tevin’s side for warmth, but also because I felt drawn to him, as if an invisible energy, a force of some kind, was pulling me closer, closer. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder.