Veronica nodded and didn’t interject herself for once. She simply walked out of the room, which worried Gabe even more. A quiet Veronica was a dangerous Veronica.
Gabe rounded on Draven. “And for the record, a real man never takes what isn’t freely offered. To do so here in the United States and also in Rahmi will lead to your ass sitting in jail.”
Suri stood and stared daggers at the insolent young man. “I’ve been quiet up until now, Draven. But get this straight. You touch one more woman inappropriately or you throw one more tantrum and I will pull out of this treaty and simply overthrow you. Your people will probably thank me for it if this is any indication of how you treat them.”
Idris stood then, all six feet of intimidation, and looked down at Draven. “And Tahjad stands with Surman.”
“And so does Rahmi,” Gabe said, putting the final nail in the coffin. “So pull yourself together. We will reconvene in the morning. When we do, I expect you to act with proper manners befitting a king. If you don’t know how to comport yourself as such, then you have two options. One, leave right now and prepare to be overwhelmed in war. Or two, ask one of us or follow our lead. My father will happily tell you all you need to know, as will my brother or I. Suri herself has ruled for many years and has grown up surrounded with royal expectations. Idris is a new ruler, just like you are. You two would have a lot in common. Learn to rule properly or leave. Do I make myself clear?”
Draven clenched his jaw. He looked ready to argue. But he stayed quiet when Ahmed, Nabi, and Mo walked in to stand behind Gabe.
“Do I tell my brother we attack?” Mo asked.
“It’s been a while since I killed someone,” Ahmed, the former head of security and all-around terror-inspiring soldier said casually. Ahmed was something of a legend around the world. While Draven didn’t recognize this, his two guards did. They immediately backed down.
Draven’s jaw clenched. He looked around the room, and Gabe could tell he was weighing his options. He finally stood. “That will not be necessary. I will review the documents tonight and have my response in the morning. But you need to remember one important thing—I am king.”
Draven stomped out of the room. Everyone stood quietly until he was gone. Idris let out a breath and ran a hand over his shaved head. “What a prick.”
The group chuckled and Mo joined them around the table. “I’ll see if I can impart any wisdom to him at dinner tonight. It may be a good idea for you two to take dinner in your rooms or head into Keeneston to eat. Also, our drivers would be happy to escort you to any of the restaurants in Lexington. I have a feeling a one-on-one talk may be the way to go with Draven.”
“I’d like dinner in my room, please. There’s a football, or soccer as you call it, match on that I want to watch before I further tackle this treaty,” Idris told them.
“I wouldn’t mind going into Keeneston. I feel the need to get away for a bit. Maybe someone can accompany me in case I need any help with the language,” Suri suggested as she stood up.
“I’ll be happy to, cousin,” Gabe smiled and held out his arm for her to take.
Nash put his hand to the communication device in his ear and held up his hand. “I’ll go with you. It appears one of our guards overheard Draven taking stock of his weapons the extra guards have stashed in their hotel in Lexington. I don’t want to leave any of you unprotected until he calms down.”
“I’ll alert my guards,” Idris said with a sigh.
“My head of security will be with you as well,” Mo told him as Nash called for Nabi to assist Idris and his men.
“Well, talk of potential murder makes me hungry. Shall we?” Suri asked Gabe.
4
Suri had left her guards in Surman, so Nash and several Rahmi guards climbed into an SUV to follow Gabe and Suri into Keeneston. Gabe held open the door to his silver Corvette Z06 sports car. Suri grinned as she lowered herself onto the leather seat.
Gabe hurried around the low-slung car and slid in. Suri was running her hand over the car in awe. “Do you know how long it’s been since I was in anything besides a limousine?”
“Then let’s have some fun. Think security can keep up with us?” Gabe asked as he turned the car on. The large V8 engine roared to life.
Gabe pressed on the gas and the car responded immediately. In seconds, they’d left the SUV behind. Suri laughed with delight as Gabe expertly handled the narrow country roads heading into town. They flew past trees, pastures filled with horses and cows, acres of farms teeming with agriculture, and then into the small town of Keeneston.
Gabe pointed to a building with Southern Charms written on the awning. “Our friend, Paige Parker, owns that store. She’s famous for her hat making. Everyone who is anyone wears her creations for the Kentucky Derby.”
“Hmm, maybe I’ll reward myself for surviving this peace talk with a new hat. And where is this café I keep hearing about?” Suri asked as she took in the modest downtown of Keeneston filled with two- and three-storied historical buildings. They were freshly painted in light yellows, tans, blues, and whites. Their windows were perfectly trimmed and flowers filled pots attached to the lampposts.
“It’s right here,” Gabe said, pointing to the light yellow building with the white sign hanging over the purple door that read The Blossom Café. Light spilled from the large windows as people ate at some of the bistro tables on the sidewalk.
“Delightful,” Suri said, sniffing the air.
Gabe parked and helped Suri from the low seat as security pulled into the edge of town. The door to the courthouse opened and Sheriff Matt Walz and his deputy, Cody Gray, walked out. Gabe leaned over to Suri and dropped his voice as the two men approached.
“You can probably leave the tiara in the car.”
“Is it too much?” Suri asked, feeling the diamonds on her head self-consciously.
“Yeah. This really isn’t the diamond tiara kind of restaurant.”
Suri unpinned the tiara from her silver hair and handed it to Gabe who put it in the glove box as Suri straightened her silk outfit. Today she was in a sapphire blue pantsuit. Everything was loose, billowy, and entirely regal.
“Hey, Gabe. What’s up?” Matt asked as they stopped next to them.
Suri looked slightly scandalized at the overall casualness of the encounter. It was one thing when you were with family or other royals, but for a sheriff to not bother with a title . . .
“Great. This is my cousin, Suri. She’s visiting for the week. Suri, this is Matt Walz and Cody Gray,” Gabe introduced as he tried not to laugh at the shocked and slightly horrified expression on his cousin’s face.
“Ma’am,” they both said.
“Are you going to the café?” Cody asked Suri, who barely managed a nod. Cody held out his arm. “May I escort you?”
“Oh!” Suri said with surprise as she placed her hand on his arm. Gabe even saw a slight blush on her cheeks as Cody smiled down at her.
They chatted as they crossed the street. When they entered the café, everyone shouted their hellos even as they looked curiously at Suri.
“This is my cousin, Suri,” Gabe called out.
Ahhs, hellos, and welcomes were shouted out as Poppy Meadows headed over to them. “Whichever table you want, hon.” Poppy smiled and motioned to an empty table and an empty booth near it.
The idea of Suri sliding into a booth made Gabe smile, but he showed a little mercy on her. “The table is great. Thanks, Poppy.”
Poppy and her sister, Zinnia, were distant cousins of the Rose sisters. When the Roses became too old to run the café and the bed-and-breakfast, Miss Lily had somehow recruited the Meadow sisters, who were in their mid-twenties, to come run the small businesses for them. The girls came from Alabama, and now it seemed as if they’d always been a part of Keeneston.
The two took their seat as Matt and Cody joined a table full of Davies cousins. Gabe’s parents were best friends with the Davies family, which consisted of five brothers and one sister
near his parents’ age. Now Gabe, Zain, and Ariana were best friends with the many Davies cousins. They’d grown up together and Gabe considered them family. And he also blamed them for the constant marriage talk he endured. Sienna Ashton, whose parents Kenna and Will were his parents’ closest friends, married Ryan Parker. Ryan’s parents were Cole and Paige Davies Parker. These two were the gateway relationship that got everyone hooked.
“Who are all these people and why aren’t they calling you prince? They should be calling me ‘your highness,’” Suri whispered.
“These are my friends, Suri. They don’t even think of me like that. It’s nice to be part of a group who like you for you, not because they have to or because you have a title.”
Gabe looked up as Poppy brought two waters out and set them on the table. “How about two glasses of the Rose sisters’ iced tea?” The idea of Suri loosening up on the famous tea made Gabe smile.
“Sure thing,” Poppy said, hurrying away.
“Now, cousin, let me do all the ordering. You’ll thank me for it. I promise.” Gabe grinned as Suri looked skeptically at the menu.
He placed their order and forced Suri to take a couple of sips of the bourbon spiked iced tea before the entire town descended them on. Suri was only introduced as his cousin, but everyone would know she was royal. However, they didn’t once mention it or seem to care. Instead, she met his friends, some of their parents, and many more people from the town. With every person she met, Suri became more and more relaxed . . . that is, until dinner was placed in front of her.
“What is this?” Suri asked staring down at her plate.
“It’s called a hot brown. It’s a slice of Texas toast piled with turkey breast, bacon, and a slice of tomato. Then it’s all covered in a cheesy mornay sauce.”
Suri’s lip rose in a sneer.
“Just try it.” Gabe laughed as he took a bite of his.
Suri slowly cut a tiny piece and stared at it on the end of her fork. She slowly put it in her mouth as if it would leap off the fork and attack. Her eyes closed and Gabe heard the moan. She didn’t bother telling Gabe she liked it as she cut a large bite and quickly ate it.
“Oh, no.” Gabe whispered as the door opened and Nikki Canter, the head of the Keeneston Belles, walked in.
“What?” Suri asked.
“The woman who just walked in thinks she’s already a princess. Since I’m the only available prince in this area, she’s always hovering when I come to town.”
Suri’s eyes went wide when she saw Nikki. It was hard not to be shocked. Nikki had mahogany hair, eyelash extensions so long her eyelids were always only half open, and constantly expanding breast and butt implants.
“Gabe,” Nikki purred as she draped herself over his shoulders like a cat looking to disrupt its owner’s sleep. The Keeneston Belles had started off as a charitable organization for unmarried women. It had turned into a popularity-based, husband-hunting club. That was until Addison Rooney, the new town prosecutor, had come back and declared her intention to run for president later in the year. She’d whip them back into shape. But in the meantime, Nikki was playing nice to try to secure her reelection. Or land a prince. Whichever she could do first.
“Nikki,” Gabe said, trying to dislodge long pointy nails from his chest where she was bending over and rubbing him from behind.
“I thought I could come over later tonight. I heard you’re working hard, and I know the perfect way to relieve stress,” she whispered into his ear before biting his earlobe.
“Nikki, this is my cousin,” Gabe said as politely as he could as he worked on pulling off the succubus attached to his earlobe.
“The queen,” Suri said with chilling elitism. Nikki straightened. “And it’s protocol for you to bow, child.”
Nikki looked shocked as the entire café went quiet. They had assumed she was royalty, but an actual queen?
“On your knees or I’ll have you hanged.”
Gabe pursed his lips together to stop from laughing at the empty threat as Nikki fell to her knees begging forgiveness.
Suri looked at the air above Nikki’s head and with a wave of her hand dismissed her. “You may go. Your life is spared if you leave this establishment immediately.”
“Thank you, your majesty. By any chance do you have a son?”
“A hanging it is,” Suri ordered Poppy, who stood covering her laughter with her order pad.
Nikki bowed again. “No, no. It’s all right. I’ll see you later, Prince Gabe. A pleasure, your majesty.” Nikki hurried, backward, out the door.
The café was quiet as they watched Nikki teeter across the street in her heels to the courthouse parking and get into her car. All the while, Suri happily ate her hot brown before the entire café broke out into laughter. His cousin had just made lifelong friends.
“That was a pip!” Miss Lily chuckled as she took a seat at the table even though her attention was clearly on the table filled with Gabe’s friends.
“What’s so interesting, Miss Lily?” Gabe asked.
“What? Oh, um, nothing much. Just thought some of the girls were acting a little off at the birthday party. Have any of them been sick? I’ve heard of a stomach virus going around and want to keep away from anyone with it.”
Gabe shook his head. He didn’t know what was going on, but Miss Lily was not a very good liar. “Not that I know of.”
“Drat.”
“What was that?” Gabe asked.
“Good, I’m glad no one is sick. I can go talk to them without getting worried I’ll keel over from a cold.”
Gabe and Suri watched Miss Lily slowly head over to the table full of young people. Deacon jumped up from his seat and held it out for Miss Lily.
“I don’t know what that woman wanted, but it wasn’t to know about anyone getting sick,” Suri said, setting down her fork and knife. “That was delicious.”
“Come on. I’ll take you home so you can prep for tomorrow. I know that’s what I still have to do tonight.” Gabe paid and then pulled Suri’s chair out before escorting her from the café.
The drive back to his parents was quick as Nash and the rest of the guards followed behind them. As Gabe was helping Suri from the car, she reached up and patted his cheek affectionately.
“You’re doing well, Gabriel. I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks for the most exciting and original evening. I had fun.” She smiled as if fun were new to her.
Gabe waited until security escorted his cousin inside before he headed to Lexington. The thirty-minute drive was spent in deep thought on how best to negotiate the treaty. Gabe pulled into his private parking garage and rode the elevator to the penthouse. He stripped off his jacket and tie on his way to the bedroom.
Lexington wasn’t a big city and a good number of the buildings his penthouse overlooked were historic, just like the ones in Keeneston. One side of his penthouse overlooked the curved waterfall steps of Triangle Park and the other side looked over historic Main Street.
Gabe quickly changed out of his suit, grabbed his papers, and headed back down the elevator. He was finding he worked better at Billy’s Bar than he did in his apartment. It was just too quiet, and he was just too alone there. But at Billy’s, he could be alone in the midst of a crowd and that was a comfortable feeling.
5
This time the glass of Rock Hill Farm bourbon appeared before Gabe had even ordered it. He was starting to like this place more and more. It even made up for the group of drunken college students a few tables over.
“Still working on your international relations paper?” the woman with the green eyes asked.
“Yeah. It needs a lot of, um, editing.” Gabe sighed as he took a sip of the bourbon.
“I just turned in my final report on my internship today. Now I just wait to see if I can finally get my degree.”
“Come on, baby. We need some attention over here!” one of the drunken college boys yelled.
Her green eyes rolled in response.
“I
guess you’re ready to be done with school.” Gabe smiled at her instead of paying attention to the other table. He found he didn’t want to let the waitress go quite yet.
“Yeah. I’ve had to pay my way through college. I had to take a couple of semesters off to work full-time to save up here and there. But, I was able to get scholarships the past couple of years, and that helps. I turn twenty-seven in a couple days, and I’m finally going to have my master’s degree. It’s the best birthday gift I could get. I’m spending next week applying for school counseling jobs all over the country,” she said proudly.
Gabe thought for a second. He had been lucky. Any school would and did pay to have him attend solely to be able to claim a prince as an alumnus. But she’d apparently had it tough, yet she wasn’t complaining at all. Instead she was proud, as she should be, for her accomplishments. “Have you applied in Keeneston?”
She shook her head. “I’m not from around here. Where is it?”
“It’s a small town about thirty minutes away. I’m sure I could get you an interview at least,” Gabe told her as her eyes grew wide.
“Come on, babe. We’ve got something for you to take,” another man yelled as the others at the table laughed.
She rolled her green eyes again and let out a frustrated sound before turning her attention back to Gabe. “That’s so nice of you. You don’t even know me, but that would be great. I’ll be back in a second. Don’t forget you made that offer.” She then headed to the table full of drunken guys.
Gabe watched her go. She was wearing the same flat strappy sandals, a cutoff jean skirt, and a white tank top that was tight around her breasts and then flowed down so it moved when she walked. Her hair was pulled back with a clip, but that one springy curl had escaped again. She pushed it back as she stopped a couple of feet from the table and began to take the guys’ orders. Gabe looked away and back at the paperwork in front of him. It was time to get this treaty finalized.
* * *
He didn’t know how long he’d been working when he was jerked from his concentration by the sound of a glass breaking. The waitress was precariously balancing a tray full of shots as one of the drunk college guys tried to pull her into his lap. The bartender looked up but didn’t act. The waitress struggled to keep standing as the man’s hand started traveling down her back toward her ass.
Forever Concealed Page 3