“I love it more than I thought I would,” I admit. “I’ve never been afraid of hard work. But I had no idea that owning a business would be this hard. I’m grateful for Gretchen because, even though her taste in men sucks, she’s on point when it comes to her job. I can depend on her. And I’m hoping it works out with the new girls so I can take a couple of days off each week. I’m taking this weekend off, and I don’t remember the last time I was this excited.”
“Is that what you were dancing about when I scared the life out of you at the door?”
I chuckle. “Yes.”
“It seems I have good timing for a change, then,” he says, studying me over his wine glass. “I have some work to do remotely, but I’d like to spend those two days with you if you’ll let me.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
“Unless, of course, you have other plans.”
“I was going to paint my bathroom and read a book. Maybe take a nap. Obviously, things that can’t be rescheduled or juggled.”
His lips tip up in a charming grin. “Obviously. If I promise to learn to wield a paintbrush, will you allow me to join you?”
I mentally readjust my plans and grasp onto a new idea. “Actually, I’d like to pick you up in the morning.”
He raises a brow. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll find out tomorrow.”
“So mysterious,” he says, slowly shaking his head back and forth, but the humor in his dark eyes is clear. “I’m yours, anytime.”
“Eight in the morning,” I decide on the spot. “I’d like to sleep in a bit.”
“That’s sleeping in?”
“I’m usually up at four to open the café at six. So, this will be a treat.”
“Eight it is, then. Give me a hint.”
“No way.”
“A tiny clue.”
I laugh and reach for his empty plate to take it to the sink. “I had a child, Callum. You can try to talk me into it, but it won’t work.”
“Mums are so strict.”
“The good ones are.”
“Indeed.” I turn to find him watching me. “Did you know your mum, Aspen?”
“Oh, yeah, and she was not a good one,” I reply before I can catch myself. I speak about my biological family even less than I do about Emma and Greg. “But that’s a boring story.”
He just sits and waits. I don’t know what it is about this man, but I find myself wanting to confide in him. It’s the strangest feeling, and one I don’t think I’ve had before.
“She moved to Nashville to make it big in music. When that didn’t work out, she became a junkie. I have no idea who my father is. When I lived with her, I was pretty much on my own anyway. She died when I was five. After that, I bounced around in foster care. I met Greg when I was fourteen, married him the day after I turned seventeen and had Emma later that same year. And, honestly, I wouldn’t change any of it.”
“Indeed,” he murmurs. He’s all polish. All slick sophistication.
And I’m just white trash from Tennessee.
What in the hell are we doing?
“Don’t even say it,” he says, surprising me yet again.
“What was I going to say?”
“That this can’t possibly work, whatever this is, because of how different we are.”
“Well, would I be wrong if I did?” I ask and lean back against my countertop. Callum stands and slowly walks to me, his gaze never leaving mine. “You’re a prince, and I’m—”
“If you say anything other than incredible and the most beautiful, intriguing woman I’ve ever met, I’ll take you over my knee, Aspen Calhoun.”
I smile as he saunters closer.
“I can be both intriguing and from the wrong side of the tracks, Callum.”
“I can’t change your past. I’m also not ashamed of it. I’m here because I want to be with you as much as I can. I’ve wanted that for a long time. But there are some things you need to know.”
“I’m all ears.”
“My family is openminded and wonderful. The media is not. If you’re connected to me, every little detail about your life will be uncovered and examined under a microscope with a lens of disdain, prejudice, and snobbery.”
“Did you just say snobbery?”
“They will talk about your late husband and the accident that killed both him and your daughter. They’ll talk about your childhood. They’ll infiltrate your life so completely, you’ll feel like a prisoner at times.”
“You’re really doing a great job of selling yourself here, Your Highness.”
His jaw tightens. “You think that your past, where you come from, would make me not want to associate with you. But what you need to think about is my past and where I come from. It isn’t always beautiful homes and fancy cars. It’s work. It’s media. And it isn’t private. Never that.
“So what you need to decide between now and tomorrow morning is…do you want to continue this with me? Your history doesn’t dissuade me in the least. But mine might discourage you, and I’d rather know that now than after I’ve finished falling in love with you.”
I bite my lip, soaking in every word he said. This isn’t to be taken lightly. This isn’t something to be viewed through the rose-colored glasses Gretchen wears.
Callum’s right, I need to think about this.
Because I’m falling in love with him, too, no matter how much I’ve tried to convince myself differently.
He leans in and presses his lips to my forehead.
“Thank you for dinner.”
“You don’t have to go.”
He sighs, then kisses me again.
“I do. But I hope I’ll see you at eight tomorrow. I’ll tell security to expect you.”
And with that, he turns and walks out of my house. I follow to watch through the window. David meets him at the car, and they drive away.
Was David standing out in the rain the entire time? Why didn’t I think to ask?
Because it’s not normal to have a bodyguard with you everywhere you go.
I keep myself busy with cleaning the kitchen. When that’s done, I decide to go ahead and paint that bathroom. No time like the present, right?
I didn’t sleep in.
In fact, I didn’t sleep much at all.
Because Callum was right. I had to do some serious thinking about what he said. I’ve seen the media coverage of the royal family. Last year, when Ellie married Liam, the press tore him to shreds because of his military past. They interviewed family that he hadn’t seen in years. All my life, the royals were front and center in the tabloids.
And now, because I met a prince absolutely by chance, I could be on the precipice of that same fate.
How in the hell did this even happen?
Oh, yeah, because I thought they might like some scones for breakfast.
I gather my handbag and sunglasses and check the time.
I have to pick Callum up in fifteen minutes.
And, yes, I’m still going.
At about four this morning, I’d almost talked myself out of it. I wanted to keep Greg and Emma’s memories safely tucked away, my past forgotten, and move on with my quiet, peaceful life in Montana.
But then I considered never speaking to or seeing Callum again, and the pit in my stomach was unbearable. No, I don’t look forward to my past being slung in my face, but I’m not ashamed of it either. I’ll stand right up to anyone who wants to say anything shitty about my husband and kid.
And my piece of shit mother wasn’t my fault.
I’m a good citizen, with a thriving business in a community I adore. If anyone wants to say anything bad about that, well, let them. I’ve never been one to give a rat’s ass what anyone thinks of me.
Cunningham Falls is quiet this morning, now that the tourists are all gone, and we’re back to being a sleepy little town. I roll past Drips, satisfied when I see a short line of regulars at the counter through the window.
When I reach the gate to
Sebastian’s home, I’m immediately let in and shown where to park.
“His Highness would like for you to meet him at his quarters in the boathouse,” a security guard tells me. “I’ll be happy to escort you.”
“Thank you.”
I follow him down the path that leads past the main house, the former guest house that’s now the headquarters for security, to the boathouse, where I visited before when Ellie was staying here.
The security guard keys in a code to the door, opens it, and then nods for me to go in.
“Thanks again,” I say before climbing the steps to the apartment above. I knock on the door, and almost immediately, Callum opens it. “Good morning.”
“You came,” he says, his face full of surprise.
“You didn’t think I would.” It’s not a question.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you hadn’t. Come in.”
He steps back, allowing me to walk into the apartment. I love this space with its open floorplan and expansive views of the lake.
“I almost didn’t come. For a couple of hours during the night, I thought of sending you a thanks, but no thanks text.”
“What changed your mind?” he asks.
“Frankly, I don’t care what people say or think about me, Callum. I’ve had mud slung my way for most of my life. It’s not easy to be the poor kid or the pregnant teenager. People talk. As long as you and I are on the same page, that’s really all that matters. The rest is just noise.”
He frames my face in his hands and plants the newest kiss of the century on me. It’s full of relief, joy, and lust.
And when he pulls back to look down at me, his brown eyes are full of gratitude.
“Are you hungry?” I ask.
“Starving.”
“I’m taking you out for breakfast.”
“Not what I was going for, but that’ll work just fine.”
I smirk and gesture for him to follow me, but he holds his hands out at his sides.
“Am I dressed appropriately?”
Jeans, T-shirt, Nikes. He looks good enough to eat with a spoon.
“You might want to grab a sweater, but yes. Today is a casual day.”
“Brilliant.” He tugs a hoodie off a chair and raises a brow when he sees my grin. “What?”
“Royals wear hoodies?”
“And knickers,” he confirms with a teasing smile. “Most of the time, at least.”
“I definitely won’t fit in. I don’t wear underwear.” I turn to walk down the stairs and hear him mutter, “She’s trying to bloody kill me.”
Once in the car, I drive us right over to Ed’s Diner for breakfast. David agreed to let us drive separately from him, but he’s following closely behind. He’s going to be a discreet shadow today, which is perfectly fine with me.
“Good girl. You’re not taking us to your own business.”
“No way. They have it covered there, and I want greasy food for breakfast. Ed’s is the best. Have you been?”
“I don’t think so,” Callum says as we get out of the car and walk into the diner. We’re shown to a red vinyl booth by the windows and given menus. When we’re all alone, Callum grins. “This place is fun.”
An Elvis song plays on the jukebox. The whole place has an old fashioned Americana feel to it that I just love.
“And Ed himself is manning the griddle back there,” I say, gesturing to the kitchen behind the long counter. There’s a narrow window Ed passes orders through where he can keep an eye on the dining room. “He’s a big, burly teddy bear.”
I scan the menu and then set it aside when I make up my mind. After we’ve ordered, Callum reaches across the table to take my hand.
So it begins. Being seen in public together, clearly not just as friends.
“Someone might take a photo of us,” I say quietly.
“You came this morning, love,” he reminds me. “I took that to mean you’re okay with this.”
“I am. I’m just reminding you, in case you need to make a phone call to the palace and alert them to all the things that are about to be talked about.”
“My family knows I’m seeing you, or that I want to see you. It’s one of the things I spoke to them about when I was home last week.”
I stare at him in surprise. “You did?”
“Yes. Not to get permission, of course, but to make them aware. Out of courtesy. And that would be the case no matter whom I have in my life, Aspen.”
“I understand that. Wow, and here I thought you’d just disappeared again.”
“I’m a bloody moron.”
I laugh and pat his arm with my free hand. “Nah, you just have to work on your communication skills.”
Breakfast is delicious, and before long, we’re on our way to our next stop.
“Basically,” I say as I drive down Main Street, “I’m taking you to some of the places that made me fall in love with Cunningham Falls. Ed’s was the first place I ate when I arrived, and I loved it. We have one pit stop to make before we can resume our tour.”
“I’m all yours for the day. Thank you for this.”
“You’re welcome.” I park in front of Brooke’s Blooms. “Come on.”
I take him inside and buy thirteen sunflowers. I asked Brooke to make sure she had them on hand for me last week.
“These are lovely,” Brooke says as she wraps them in brown paper. “If you need anything else, just give me a shout.”
“Thanks, Brooke. Have a great day.”
“Darling, you shouldn’t have,” Callum says as we get back into my car.
“Funny. I didn’t. I have to deliver these.”
His eyes narrow on me, but he doesn’t reply as I drive past Sebastian’s house to my special piece of shoreline. I park, take the flowers, and gesture for Callum to follow me.
We walk down to the beach, and I squat as I pull the flowers out of the wrapping and toss one onto the water.
“Today would have been Emma’s thirteenth birthday,” I murmur as I toss another flower. “So, I brought her thirteen sunflowers. They were her favorite, and they’re happy blooms. They remind me of her.”
“May I?” Callum holds out his hand for a stalk, and I set it in his palm. He kisses the petals and then sets it on the water. “Happy Birthday, darling girl.”
“She would have liked you,” I say. “And maybe I should have come here alone earlier this morning, but I didn’t have the flowers yet, and—”
“Thank you for allowing me to join you,” he says and rubs circles on my back as I toss the final few stems onto the lake. “You should honor Emma on her birthday.”
“Thank you.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I come to this spot when I want to do something special for them. They would have liked it here.”
“What’s not to like?”
“Exactly, it’s a beautiful spot.” I push up from my squat and feel Callum take my hand, linking our fingers. “Happy Birthday, baby girl.”
We’re quiet for a long moment. The water is still this morning, and the air is cool, full of autumn.
Just as I’m about to suggest that we go, an eagle soars over the water, then loops around to fly over us. It lets out a loud cry before changing course and heading down the length of the lake.
“Well, it seems she’s thinking of you today as well, sweetheart.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and lean my head against his arm, feeling the strength of his biceps under my cheek.
“I have so much to show you today. But maybe we can stay here, like this, for just a few more minutes.”
“We’ll stay as long as you like.”
Chapter 9
~Callum~
She’s lovely.
I don’t know that I’ve thought of a woman that way before. Sexy? Yes. Interesting? Sure. Other adjectives might have come to mind when describing other women I’ve had in my bed.
But I didn’t want any of them in my life. My world is complicated enough with j
ust me in it, Adding another person didn’t seem responsible or appropriate.
Until Aspen.
Now, when I watch the way her green eyes light up when she smiles, or hear the sound of that infectious laugh, or feel her skin against mine, all I can think is: She’s so lovely.
I’m quite taken with her. My mum would say I fancy her.
And I do.
But it’s much more than that. My respect for her as a woman and business owner has deepened. My appreciation for how she lives her life has strengthened.
And the ferocity with which I crave her has consumed me.
Hearing her speak about her daughter this morning touched me. No one should experience the pain of burying a child. I can’t imagine the horror she endured.
And yet, here she is, moving on with her life, and doing it beautifully.
“Do you like ice cream?” she asks as she parks beside a curb.
“Of course.” No. I’m not an ice cream fan at all, but if this is what she wants, she’ll have it. I’ll give her anything her heart desires at the snap of my fingers.
“Good. Because we’re going into Sweet Scoops.” She grins and then turns to get out of the car. I join her, walking into the small ice cream parlor. We’re the only ones in here this afternoon. The weather has been moody all day, vacillating between pleasant and torrential rain.
“Hi, Aspen,” the woman behind the counter says with a smile. “I didn’t see you at the chamber of commerce meeting last week.”
“Hey, Lydia. I know, I had a hell of a week. I’ll make the next one. This is Callum.”
Shrewd eyes turn to me. Of course, she recognized me the minute we walked in, but the thing about Cunningham Falls is that no one seems to acknowledge the royals’ presence.
“Hello, Lydia,” I say with a nod.
“Nice to meet you,” Lydia replies. “What can I get you two?”
“I’ll have a scoop of the huckleberry, of course,” Aspen says, then turns to me expectantly.
“The same, please.”
“Two hucks, coming up,” Lydia says and gets to work scooping the ice cream into cups. She passes them over, along with plastic spoons, and we go to sit at a table to enjoy the treat.
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