His Royal Request: Royals of Lochland Book I
Page 1
His Royal Request
Royals of Lochland Book I
Brittney Mulliner
Contents
Also By Brittney Mulliner
1. Charlie
2. Aiden
3. Charlie
4. Aiden
5. Charlie
6. Aiden
7. Charlie
8. Aiden
9. Charlie
10. Aiden
11. Charlie
12. Aiden
13. Charlie
14. Aiden
15. Charlie
16. Aiden
17. Charlie
18. Aiden
19. Charlie
20. Aiden
21. Charlie
22. Aiden
23. Charlie
24. Aiden
About the Author
Coming Soon
His Royal Regret
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Copyright © 2019 Brittney Mulliner
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-1081727352
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.
Also By Brittney Mulliner
ROMANCE
Utah Fury Hockey
Puck Drop (Reese and Chloe)
Match Penalty (Erik and Madeline)
Line Change (Noah and Colby)
Attaching Zone (Wyatt and Kendall)
Buzzer Beater (Colin and Lucy)
Open Net (Olli and Emma)
Full Strength (Grant and Addison)
Drop Pass (Nikolay and Elena) Coming Soon!
Royals of Lochland
His Royal Request
His Royal Regret
YOUNG ADULT
Forgive and Never Forget Series
Begin Again
Live Again
Love Again (Coming Soon)
Charmed Series
Finding My Charming
Finding My Truth (Coming Soon)
Standalones
The Invisibles
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Mom, Thank you for traveling to Ireland even though they don’t value Diet Coke and ice like you do.
Dad, We would have been stuck in Dublin if you weren’t willing to brave the Irish roads. The laughs we had will never be forgotten.
Tré, One day I’ll learn to enjoy staying in one place and not trying to see an entire country in one week. In the mean time, thanks for enduring my adventures.
Thank you to the amazing, kind people we met in Ireland. My heart found its home.
1
Charlie
The smell of mouthwatering fried fish and Guinness was overwhelming. The chatter around me was barely understandable. I knew they were speaking English, but I understood only a few words. I felt like I had a huge sign hanging over me telling everyone I don’t belong.
I expected to feel more. A connection, maybe?
“Can I get ye another, darlin’?” The kind-faced older man with a wiry, white beard smiled at me. He’d left me alone except to refill my drink, but I’d begun to think he was curious about the girl that was clearly out of her element from the number of times I’d caught him glancing my direction. It seemed everyone in the pub knew each other or talked like they did. Despite my effort to blend in, I was sticking out among the Limerick natives.
“No, thank you.” I smiled at him and returned my attention to my plate. I’d ordered the fish and chips mostly because it was one of the only options I recognized, and it turned out to be a great choice. It was the most delicious fish I’d ever had. If I’d known this existed years ago, I never would have eaten the lackluster version from back home. Indiana wasn’t exactly known for this dish. Back home it came either from the frozen food section or was dripping in grease. Nothing extraordinary.
“You let me know if you need anything. I can call ye a cab if ye need.”
“Thanks.” I nodded and peeked up at him.
He stared into my eyes for a long moment before nodding once and walking away. It felt like he recognized something in me. Maybe he saw the same lost, scared girl I did every time I looked in the mirror.
I hadn’t always been this unsure of myself. It took me graduating from college and realizing I had no plans or prospects for the future sinking in to get to this point.
My entire life I’d known each step to take to reach the next goal. I knew where I was and how to get to what I wanted. Up until college ended. I’d earned a degree in a field I’d probably never use. There weren’t many international relations positions in the suburbs of Indianapolis. It was something I should have realized four years sooner, but I was at Purdue. That had been the vision since I was five, and I hadn’t thought much further past that.
Now I was twenty-two with no idea what my next step was.
The front door of the pub swung open and what looked like an entire soccer team walked in. The men were still in uniform, covered in grass and mud stains. They took over the entire back half of the room, but their presence loomed larger. They were boisterous and demanding from the second they entered. Trays of beer were quickly filled and brought out to them. The older man who had just talked to me smiled at the group. He didn’t seem a bit put off by their lively interruption to the calm afternoon.
“Lads, how was the match? Did you show up the city, boys?” His eyes twinkled when the team cheered in response.
“You’ve got to come to the next one, Roger. It was brilliant.” One of the men called out and the rest of his team held up their pints.
“Very good.”
I slowly savored my food while watching the team settle in and relive the highlights of the game for Roger. Their animation and joking were captivating. Each of them seemed larger than life, holding nothing back even though they were in public.
I’d never seen men like this, with the exception of rowdy frat parties, in public. These guys weren’t out of control though. Just spirited.
The door opened again, and a single man walked in. He slid onto a stool at the end of the bar furthest from the door, a few spots away from me.
I turned back to my plate, reminding myself not to stare. It was one thing to watch the soccer players when I was the only one around, but I didn’t want this new guy to catch me.
Roger walked by, smiling at me, on his way to the new customer. “What’ll it be?”
“Just a pint.”
I turned at his voice. He didn’t have an Irish accent, at least not one that sounded like the of the patrons around us. He spoke with a lilt, but nothing as pronounced as Roger’s. I almost asked him where he was from, but chickened out.
Roger poured a glass and slid it over. “Let me know if you need anything else, sir.”
The voices from the corner turned into dull background noise while I stared across the bar to the mirror across from me. What was I doing here?
I was being reckless. Completely irresponsible.
I should be back home applying for jobs. I hadn’t taken out student loans to travel through Europe. I needed to get a job and start building my own life. Normal me would be all over that. She’d have a color-coded list of open positions ranked by how qualified I was and how interested I’d be in the career.
Instead, I was three thousand miles from home. In a pub. Alone.
Dad and Liza, my step-mom, had been supportive of me coming here. Liza even paid for my airplane tickets as my graduation present. Dad said I needed to get out and see more of the world, that it was what my mom would have wanted, but being here didn’t feel right. I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting, maybe a feeling like I belonged, but it was missing.
I could go back to the hotel and call the airline to exchange my ticket. By tomorrow night I’d be back home, but it would mean admitting defeat. Telling my parents that I couldn’t make it on my own.
A couple walked past me and paused. “Could we squeeze in? Sorry -- no more open tables.”
I looked around and realized there was an open seat next to me then the man then a seat next to him. If one of us moved the couple could sit together.
“Oh sure.” I picked up my plate but the man with the unusual accent was already sliding next to me.
“Thank you.” The couple took their seats and I shared an awkward smile with the man who was suddenly too close to me.
I hadn’t paid much attention to him when he walked in, but up close I realized he was closer to my age than I thought. He wore a light blue shirt, unbuttoned at the collar and khaki pants with a blue blazer hanging off the back of his stool. He carried himself with an air that made him seem older, more refined, but he had a hint of the wild with the way his hair curled long at his nape and his untrimmed beard.
He turned and gave me a nod and a small smile. I tried not to stare, but his crystal blue eyes paired with his honey-blond hair was so striking. To call him handsome would be a great disservice.
Perfect, I’m wallowing next to a guy that looks like he could play a superhero in the next blockbuster. Well, a superhero with a fairly long beard and hair in need of a trim. Maybe this was his alter ego so he didn’t get recognized. I smiled to myself and looked down at my fish and chips, self-conscious. I was still hungry, but I couldn’t eat and risk drooling over this guy.
“Where’re you from?”
I blinked and peeked out of the corner of my eye to see him watching me. Oh no. My mouth went dry and panic set it.
“I umm...the US.”
I glanced over to see him smiling. “I figured that part. Where in the US?”
“Indiana.” I tried to sound confident but I hadn’t been this nervous to talk to a guy in a long time. Or ever.
“I’ve visited Notre Dame. It’s a very pretty area.”
I nodded and swallowed, buying time to find my voice. “Yeah it’s nice, but nothing compared to here.”
He smiled, just slightly but it was enough to reveal a dimple. Seriously? That was my kryptonite. Was this man real?
“Is it your first time?” he asked.
“In Ireland?” Or talking to someone as beautiful as you?
He nodded.
“Yeah.”
“How long are you here for?”
I shrugged. “I don’t have an exact plan. My mother was from here, so I want to spend at least a few days seeing the sights but then I was planning on traveling to England then through Europe.”
“By yourself?”
Crap. No. I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone that. My stepmom made it clear I wasn’t supposed to let strangers know I was traveling alone. That’s how people got kidnapped. I didn't want to end up like that girl in the movie that gets taken. My dad wasn’t a super ninja-spy-agent. I would for sure die. At twenty-two, I should be able to past this fear, but it was my first time traveling alone and being out of the US.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just surprised you’d take that on all by yourself.”
I cleared my throat and nodded. “It was only supposed to be Ireland, but I had some money saved up so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity.”
That sounded better than letting him know I had zero opportunities at home. I was here with a purpose. Ha.
He smiled. “That’s very brave of you. I don’t know many people that would travel on their own.”
“Carpe Diem, I guess.”
He nodded. “Do you have Lochland on your list of places to see?”
I shook my head. I’d heard great things about the smaller island country just north of Ireland, and next to Scotland, but didn’t have it on my itinerary.
“If you think Ireland is beautiful, then you’re missing out on something by not visiting. It can be a day trip from here.”
“Maybe next time.” I’d budgeted for Ireland, England, and France. More if I could make it work, but those three were at the top of my wishlist.
He smiled. “Good idea.”
There was a lag in the conversation that would have been the perfect time to leave, but I couldn’t get the attention of Roger to get my check.
I glanced over and he was smiling at me, watching me. I felt the need to say something, even though I was really ready to run. “So where are you from?”
His smile grew and I realized he had dimples on both cheeks. Perfect. “Lochland.”
I cringed. “Sorry.”
He shrugged. “I don’t take it too personally.”
“What are you doing here?” If he was going to pry then I could too.
“I had some business today in Limerick and I’ve got meetings in Galway tomorrow.”
“That’s where I’m heading.” I’d flown into the Shannon airport and decided to stay the night. Tomorrow I’d go to the city where my grandparents had called home.
“Are you stopping at the Cliffs of Moher on the way?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t really plan anything other than seeing Galway.”
“Is your family from there?”
“Yeah, my mother’s family was. She passed away before I could ask her about her family or living here so I decided to see for myself.”
“I’m so sorry.”
I smiled, hoping he’d move on quickly.
“Well, I feel that I would be failing you if I didn’t encourage you to see the cliffs before you get to Galway. There’s nothing like looking down and realizing you’re at the edge of not only a country but a continent.” He paused and smiled coyly. “They are on the way after all.”
I bit my lip. I wanted to see the cliffs. They were iconic and I’d added it to my wishlist before I came, but I couldn’t make it work logistically since I didn't have a car. I was taking a bus to Galway in the morning. I’d been so focused on my end goal that I hadn’t considered detours. It wasn’t like I could rent a car. First, I didn't know how to drive a stick shift and the woman at the car rental agency at the airport said it was rare to find an automatic transmission. Second, I didn’t feel comfortable driving on the wrong, I mean left, side of the road.
“I’d love to. Seeing them is on my bucket list, but I don’t think I can make it happen,” I said.
A phone ringing cut me off. I looked at the counter between us and read “Mum” before he picked up the phone. “I’m so sorry. I’ve got to take this.”
I nodded and he stood up, moving a few feet away.
“Hi Mum, is everything alright?”
I felt bad I was eavesdropping, but he was still within earshot. If he needed privacy, he would have gone outside, right?
“No, don’t worry. I have a second.” There was a pause. “Of course. I’ll make sure it gets done.” Another moment of silence. “I’ll be sure to call him and check-in. I didn’t know he was still in the hospital. Is there anything I can do? Is his wife okay?” His tone became soft, and my heart clenched at how sweet he was being. “I’ll have the helicopter sent over so she can be with him without having to drive.”
I gasped but remained still. This guy had access to a helicopter? And he was willing to send it off to help someone?
“Of course, I’ll get it taken care of. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll be home in a few days.” He chuckled and I had to bite my lip to keep my smile contained. It was such a genuine sound, so unconstrained. “I love you too. Tell Dad hi for me.”
He hung u
p and slid back onto his stool. “I’m sorry about that.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine. Is everything okay?”
His eyes held mine for a moment. “Yes, my great uncle is ill and my mum was giving me an update.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you.”
I scanned the room, a bit nervous. “So, you have a helicopter?”
He hesitated. “You heard that?”
I nodded and he gave a small smile as if he was embarrassed. “It’s my company’s but I have first priority overusing it.”
“Oh.” Right, of course. That was perfectly normal. Right? “What company do you work for?”
“LochEnergy.”
It sounded vaguely familiar. Maybe we’d talked about it in school.
“So, you’re heading back to Lochland soon?” I asked even though I’d just heard him say it.
“Yes, I have some obligations this weekend I need to be there for.” His eyes held mine and he seemed to be thinking. “I know we just met and you have no reason to trust me, but if you’d like I can take you to the Cliffs tomorrow and then drop you off in Galway.”
Everything I’d ever learned about stranger danger and not getting kidnapped in a foreign country ran through my mind, but something was telling me to trust this man. His eyes held nothing back and I could see the sincerity. I had absolutely zero reason to trust him, but my gut said to try.
My parents would kill me. If I didn't wind up dead on my own.