by Leanne Banks
The uniformed men exchanged glances. “His Majesty, Stefan Devereaux, insists you were taken against your will.”
“His Majesty is mistaken,” she said, lifting her chin. “I am here and this is where I wish to be.”
“Give me a minute,” one of the officers said.
The two men exchanged an extensive whispered conversation, then turned toward her. One pulled out a cell phone. “Clear it with His Majesty. I don’t want a diplomatic incident on my head,” the man said with a southern drawl.
“Clear it,” she echoed, unable to keep the indignation from her voice. “I’m an adult. I don’t have to clear this with any—”
“Tina, make the call or I’ll be here all night,” Zach said.
Giving a heavy sigh, she took the officer’s phone, stabbed out her brother’s personal cell number and waited. One ring. Two rings. He damn well better pick up, she thought.
“Stefan,” the male voice finally announced. Two seconds later, he swore. “What the hell are you doing, Valentina?”
“I’m visiting Texas by my own free will,” she said. “I sent both you and Rolfe a text message explaining my plans.”
“The paparazzi said you were carried out of a museum by a madman,” Stefan said.
“He was protecting me,” she said.
“Humph,” Stefan said, disbelief oozing through his voice. “Who is this Zachary Logan?”
She paused a half beat, then decided to break the news. “He’s the father of my baby.”
Silence followed. “So it’s true,” Stefan said, his voice turning hard. “Tina, how could you?”
She bit her lip at the disapproval in his voice. “The usual way,” she said.
Stefan let out a litany of oaths.
She narrowed her eyes and interjected. “I’m putting you on speaker phone for the armed officers so there won’t be a need for Zachary Logan to be detained.”
The litany abruptly stopped.
“So, Stefan, we now agree that there has been a terrible misunderstanding and I have not been kidnapped. Correct?”
“Correct,” he said in a clipped voice.
“And just for the benefit of the kind officers, please state your name,” she said.
“Tina,” he said, with a warning note in his voice.
“You’re the one who pushed the kidnapping charges,” she said.
Stefan cleared his throat. “Stefan Edward Henri Jacques the fifth.”
“Thank you, Stefan,” she said and he hung up. “Good luck,” she whispered, thinking of her sweet, but spoiled sisters.
Zach glanced down at her. “Ready to go?”
“You have no idea,” she said.
He slid his hand behind her back and steered her toward the private terminal. “I’ve heard of overprotective older brothers, but—”
“He’s terrified of losing me. My sisters are useless.” She felt a stab of guilt. “By choice. They would be terrific if they would think about anyone but themselves.”
“Isn’t that true of half the world?” he drawled.
“Yes,” she said, smiling. “I guess it is. I apologize about the near-arrest.”
“Something tells me that won’t be the last excitement I see as a result of having you around,” he said.
Tina winced. “I warned you.”
“Yeah,” he said. “You did. Let’s get out of here.”
Zach ushered her into the same SUV he’d driven all those months ago when he’d taken her to his apartment. She inhaled the scent, feeling a flood of sensual memories skitter through her.
She sank into the leather seat, feeling safe and for the first time in months, not judged. Closing her eyes, she tried to make sense of her most recent, most impulsive decision of her life.
“I don’t have any clothes,” she said.
“No problem,” he said. “You can sleep in one of my T-shirts and go shopping tomorrow or the next day.”
“Your T-shirt,” she echoed, finding the prospect incredibly sensual and forbidden.
“Yeah,” he said. “Unless her highness requires silk.”
She paused a half-beat and decided to push back a little. She suspected she’d been way too easy for him. That put her at a disadvantage. “Silk? I can skip a night.”
He gave a low laugh that rippled along her nerve endings. “Tell me something I don’t know,” he said. “You skipped every stitch of clothing the night you spent with me.”
“I’m surprised you remember,” she said. “It was just one night—”
He whipped his head around to meet her gaze. “I remember everything about that night, Tina. Everything.”
Just as Zach had said, ninety minutes later, he pulled down a long driveway lined with scrubby landscape. “Is this it?” she asked, preparing herself for a log cabin.
He nodded and she noticed the dirt and scrub were replaced by green grass and trees. “Is this your family home, or did you acquire it?”
“It’s been in my family for generations. Some of the staff live in the original homeplace. I had a new home built about six years ago,” he said.
A large white building with a wraparound front porch sat amidst tall trees and flowering shrubs. The waning sunlight glistened on the leaves. “It’s beautiful,” she said.
He glanced at her. “You sound surprised.”
“I didn’t know what to expect. A ranch can mean different things to different people.”
“Ah, so you were expecting something more primitive. I hope you’re not disappointed,” he joked.
“Not at all,” she said, looking forward to a shower.
“If I know Hildie, she’ll have a meal waiting for us when we walk in the door,” he said.
“Hildie?”
“Cook and housekeeper. She’s been working at the ranch since before my parents passed away,” he said.
“It’s nice to have that continuity. We have a few staff members and advisers who have been around a long time.”
“Are you worried about getting homesick? This is a lot different than Chantaine.”
“I’m counting on that,” she said with a sigh. More than anything, Tina craved an opportunity to hear herself think.
Zach pulled the SUV to a stop, then got out and stepped to the passenger door to open her door. He extended his hand and she took it, remembering the sensation of his calloused palms on various places of her body. Leading her up the steps, he opened the door and she stepped into a terra cotta tiled double-story foyer that featured a double staircase. A copper and crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling.
The foyer was warm and welcoming without being pretentious. She felt a sliver of tension ease from inside her. She took a short breath and inhaled the scent of a mouthwatering meal.
“Zach, is that you?” a woman called. Seconds later, a tall, sturdy woman with iron gray hair and a stern face entered the foyer. Her mouth softened slightly, but she still didn’t quite smile. “There you are. The phone’s been ringing off the hook. Some kook named Rolfe got all snippy with me, accusing you of kidnapping. I finally just hung up on the man.”
Tina cringed. She generally tried to avoid creating drama, but this time she hadn’t seen any other way around it.
“Yeah, well, I think we took care of that,” Zach said, shooting Tina a sideways glance. “This is Valentina Devereaux, Hildie.” He cleared his throat. “Princess Valentina Devereaux.”
Hildie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Princess?” she echoed. “You didn’t really kidnap a princess, did you?” She glanced at Tina. “I mean, I know it’s been awhile since you’ve been on a date, but—”
“Hildie,” Zach interjected. “Tina is pregnant with my child.”
Hildie’s jaw dropped. “When in tarnation did that happen?”
Tina felt her cheeks heat at Hildie’s suspicious expression. “It wasn’t planned, Miss—?”
“Just Hildie. Everybody calls me Hildie. And what do I call you? Your majesty? Your highlyness.”
“Tina
would be fine,” she said.
“Humph,” Hildie said and lifted an eyebrow at Zach. “You said you were bringing a guest, not a princess. She may not like beef stew.”
“I’m sure it’s wonderful,” Tina rushed to say. “I’ll try not to be any trouble. I’m just looking forward to the quiet.”
“Well, we’ve got a lot of that around here. Come on in. Dinner’s waiting,” Hildie said and walked down the hall.
“Oh, dear,” Tina said. “I believe I’ve already upset her.”
“Don’t worry,” Zach said, putting his hand on her lower back and guiding her farther into the house. “Hildie may look like she’s just taken a bite out of a green apple, but she’s got a heart of gold.”
Hildie served the hearty meal in the kitchen nook instead of the formal dining room. Zach was pleased to see Tina eat a healthy portion of the stew and corn bread, although he didn’t eat as much as usual. Although he’d been determined to bring Tina home, now that she was here, he was on edge. The ranch had become his cave, the place where he could hide and grieve. He hadn’t brought a woman to the ranch since his wife had died.
Hildie refilled the water glasses. “So when’s the wedding?”
Tina choked on a bite of her corn bread. “Oh no,” she said, taking a long drink of water. “No wedding. Zach and I barely know each other.”
“Well, you know each other well enough to get preg—”
“Hildie,” Zach interjected. “Tina just arrived here. She just made the decision to come to the ranch yesterday. Let her settle in.”
“Humph,” Hildie said. “It don’t make sense to me.”
Hildie left the room and Tina leaned toward him. “Is she always this opinionated?”
He nodded. “And she doesn’t hold back. Don’t worry. She’ll adjust. If she gets too pushy, just tell her to back off.”
Tina bit her lip. “I can’t fathom telling that woman to back off.”
“Pretend she’s your brother,” he said.
Her lips lifted in a smile and he felt something in his gut twist. The sensation took him by surprise. “If you’re done, I’ll show you around the house.”
“Thank you. That would be nice,” she said and followed him to her feet as he rose.
Zach led her through the den, formal areas and his office area downstairs, then took her upstairs. Proud of the home he’d designed and helped build several years ago, he couldn’t help wondering what Tina thought of it. She paused at the collection of family photographs in the upstairs hallway. “Is this your mother and father?” she asked. “And these other children? I think I remember you mentioning a brother.”
He nodded. “Yeah, those are my parents, and my brother and sister,” he said, pointing to another photograph. He felt a twinge of regret. His relationship with his brother and sister had suffered after the death of his wife. He’d shut everyone out.
Surprised at the onslaught of emotions he was experiencing, he cleared his throat. “Your room is down the hall,” he said and walked toward the largest of the guest rooms. His former wife had chosen the colors for this room. Shades of green and blue-green provided a soothing haven. His own blood pressure always seemed to drop a few notches when he stepped into this room.
“Oh, it’s lovely,” Tina said. “I love the colors.”
“Good,” he said with a nod. “There’s a connecting bath with plenty of towels. I’ll bring a couple of shirts for you. The remote for the TV should be on the nightstand. Anything else you need that you can think of?”
“Toothbrush and toothpaste,” she said.
“I’ll tell Hildie to bring you some. Anything else?” he asked, feeling his heart tug at the vulnerable expression on her face. Giving into an urge, he extended his hand to her arm and gently squeezed. “You’re safe here,” he said. “I’ll make sure of it.”
She took a deep breath and appeared to stiffen her spine. “Thank you. I’m afraid of how much I’m imposing.”
“You’re the mother of my child,” he said firmly. “This is no imposition. You’ve been taking care of everyone else. It’s damn time someone looked after you.”
She blinked. “I have royal doctors and assistants. I didn’t mean to give you the impression that I have to do everything on my own because I don’t.”
“Maybe,” he said. “But it’s pretty clear your family doesn’t put your health or your need to take a break first. Now that you’re pregnant, that needs to change. I can make sure that will happen.”
“What about the paparazzi? They always show up,” she said, her eyes darkening with fear.
“I have electric fences and gates. I don’t usually have to close those gates, but I can and I will. Plus there’s Hildie. She took on a brown bear one time. The bear turned tail and ran.”
Tina stared at him for a long moment, then laughed. “Oh, my goodness, I can easily visualize that.”
The sound of her laughter eased something inside him. He smiled. “I’m not stretching the truth. The only thing that scares Hildie is the dentist. I had to take her to fix a broken tooth. That’s how I found out you were pregnant.”
Tina lifted her hand to her throat. “At the dentist’s office?”
“I was in the waiting room killing time. I saw your photo in one of those gossip sheets.”
She winced. “The bump article,” she said. “I received an anonymous tip from someone that the article was going to be published and left Chantaine just before the story hit. I was hoping to avoid the first wave from the media while I figured out how to handle everything.”
“France wasn’t far enough,” he said.
“Nowhere is far enough,” she said woefully. “I’m afraid you don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into by bringing me to your home.”
“I’ve been through worse,” he said, his own personal tragedy never far from his mind.
She widened her eyes. “With the media?”
He shrugged. “With life,” he said. “Don’t worry about me. The media is the least of my concern. Get some rest. If you need anything, let Hildie or me know. I’ll let her take you into town so you can get what you need tomorrow.”
She still looked vulnerable. His hands ached to pull her against him, but he resisted the urge. She wasn’t exactly the same woman who had gone to bed with him months ago. Back then, he hadn’t known she was a princess. Back then, she hadn’t wanted him to know. She’d wanted one anonymous night just as he had. Now, everything was different. In a way, they were strangers more now than ever before.
She licked her lips and a flash of that dark night of need snapped through him. “Thank you for taking me away. For bringing me here.”
Zach gave into the urge to stroke her hair and cup her head. “I know you’re still wound tighter than a spring, but you’re safe here. Soon enough, you’ll realize you can relax. And no thanks are necessary. I wouldn’t have it any other way. ’Night Tina.”
She took a deep breath that seemed to tremble out of her when she exhaled. “Good night, Zach.”
Chapter Five
When Tina awakened the next morning, the sun slithered through the curtains covering the windows. She heard a vague vibrating sound, but couldn’t quite place it. Glancing at one side of the bed then the other, she squinted at the clock on the nightstand. 10:30 a.m.
Embarrassment rolled through her. Oh, my Lord. She’d slept for twelve hours. Everyone would think she was the clichéd princess, accustomed to rising late, when that couldn’t be further from the truth. The soft buzzing sound continued and she finally placed the noise. Her cell phone. Blinking, she pushed her hair from her face and slid out of bed. Where had she put the darn thing?
Following the sound, she finally found it beneath her discarded clothes from the night before. At the moment, she wore one of Zach’s T-shirts and the well-worn cotton felt delicious against her skin. She pulled out her cell phone and surveyed the recent calls. Her brother, her sister in Paris, her next youngest sister, her assistant, her brother, her
brother, and her sister in Paris.
Sighing, she mentally formed a strategy for each call and pushed speed dial for her brother.
“How long are you planning on staying there?” her brother demanded as he picked up the phone.
“I’m not going to have a long discussion. As I told you before, I’m here in Texas of my own free will. Not sure when I’ll return. I’m figuring things out.”
“Figuring things out?” her brother echoed. “And how are we supposed to deal with this? I’m shocked at your lack of consideration.”
“Consider it belated rebellion,” she said. “I’ll be in touch when I can give you more information.”
“But Tina, how are we to explain this to the press?”
“I don’t really care,” she said. “You have professionals on staff to take care of this. Let them do their job.”
“And what about your appearances?”
“Either cancel them or let my sisters step up. Take care, sweetie,” she said and disconnected the call.
She called her sister in Paris to reassure her that she hadn’t been abducted. Ericka was shocked that Tina was pregnant out of wedlock, but recovered enough to offer Tina any and every assistance.
“How could you do this to me? I’ve only been out of college for two years and just when I’m enjoying life in Florence, Stefan insists I move back to Chantaine?” her younger sister, Bridget, said when Tina called.
“That’s two more years than I had,” Tina said, more blunt than she’d ever been with her younger sister.
“But this is a terrible scandal,” Bridget said. “There will be questions every which way I turn. How will I answer them?”
“That’s what the palace PR is for. They will help you,” Tina said, feeling the urge to return to bed and pull the covers over her head.
“But Tina, how could you do this? Everyone was counting on you to be the normal one,” her sister huffed.
Tina sighed. “Maybe that’s why it happened. I just couldn’t be normal and dutiful anymore. I’m sorry. I—” Her voice broke and she swallowed over the lump in her throat. “You’ll do fine. Maybe better than me,” she said. “Love you. Bye for now.”