by Dakota Rebel
Table of Contents
Title Page
King Daddy
Copyright
Wanna hang with the cool kids?
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
About the Author
King Daddy
By Dakota Rebel
Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC
www.supernovaindie.com
Powered by Your Imagination
King Daddy
by
Dakota Rebel
Percy
If I’d have known that my father added a clause to the by-laws of the country’s monarchy, I’d have insisted they produce a different heir before he died. But now I’m stuck finding a wife, in less than a week, in order to become King of Gorgonia.
My mother is begging me to just pick some earl’s daughter and be done with it, but if I’m going to enter into the travesty of matrimony, it’s going to be with a woman of my own choosing. And with any luck, the least appropriate one I can find.
After spending just ten minutes with Cora…I can’t imagine a less qualified queen to have at my side.
Cora
Had I realized the doofus I’d met at the party was about to become king of the country, I may have been a little less charming. How could I have known that he’d send someone to ‘fetch’ me, then propose in the least romantic way possible? I should have barfed on his shoes or something.
The trouble is, he’s actually very sweet. And funny. And…if I’m being totally honest, he’s hot as hell.
Do I really want to tie myself to a strange man for the rest of my life? Even in exchange for being a queen? Even worse, do I want to risk not finding out if there could be a happily ever after with my king?
Copyright
© 2019, Dakota Rebel
King Daddy
Cover Art by Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC
Published by: Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC
Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.
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Chapter One
~ Percy Shire ~
“Mother, this is completely ridiculous.” I slammed the papers she’d given me down onto my desk before whirling around to glare at her. “Father had no right to insist I be married to inherit the crown.”
“Oh, calm down.” My mother waved off my anger with a manicured hand. “He feared that you’d stay shut up in the house for the rest of your life with your books and your nonsense and never get yourself a wife if left to your own devices.”
“And if I refuse?” I challenged.
“Then the monarchy transfers to your cousin, George.” She shrugged. “Which, if that’s what you want…”
“Stop it,” I snapped. “It would serve you right. Both of you. Father is probably laughing his fool head off up there.” I stared at the floor. “Or wherever he is now.”
“Percy, that’s not funny.”
“I’m not laughing.” I blew out a sigh. “So, if I read that correctly, I have one week to find a woman, woo her, and marry her, before my coronation on Saturday, or our family loses everything?”
“That’s about the gist of it.” She mirrored my exhale. “Darling, we never thought your father would be gone so soon. Had he realized you would have to take the throne at twenty-six, he probably would have changed it.”
“Well, maybe if he didn’t eat bacon cheeseburgers for breakfast, he wouldn’t have dropped dead of a heart attack at fifty-seven. Damn it, mother. What am I gonna do?”
She walked over to me and took my face in her hands. “My darling, boy. You’re going to go out there to that party tonight, and you’re going to find some earl’s daughter. You’re going to dance with her. Flirt with her. Then, if you find her even remotely tolerable, you’re going to marry her.”
“That sounds like the worst plan I’ve ever heard in my life.” I pulled out of her grasp and stalked toward the door. “But I don’t see what choice I have. I can’t believe you two did this to me.”
“We thought we had years,” she said sadly.
The sound of the tears in her voice made me stop and turn back to her. I was being an asshole. She’d just lost her husband and I was screaming at her.
“Mother, I’m sorry. I know you’re grieving and it’s unfair of me to attack you like this. It was just such a shock. I miss him, too.” I hugged her and she relaxed into my arms, her head resting on my shoulder.
“I know,” she said. “And I’m sorry as well. But I need you to do this. For you, if not for me. This palace is the only thing you’ve ever known. You were born to lead this country into the future. Gorgonia needs you, Percy. I need you.”
And that was how I found myself dancing with every simpering, obnoxious belle of the ball an hour later. It was my ‘coming out’ party, as it were, to announce me as the future king. Apparently, no one else was aware of the clause requiring I marry, because while the women were annoying, they didn’t seem to be queuing up to get their hands on me. Thank goodness for small favors.
When the band took a break, I slipped out onto the balcony for some air. There was a woman outside, leaning against the banister staring down into the lawn. I could see a tattoo on her shoulder, the little red monster from Looney Toons, whose name I couldn’t remember. Why did George come to mind?
“Nice ink,” I said, resting my elbows on the railing next to her.
“Thanks,” she answered. “I’ll give you fifty dollars if you can tell me his name.”
“George,” I guessed, taking my best shot.
“It’s Gossamer, you uncultured swine.” She turned to look at me, a smile lighting up her face. “Too bad about the fifty bucks.”
“Just my luck,” I agreed. “Are you having fun tonight?”
“Not even a little.” She turned around and rested her ass against the railing, crossing her arms across her chest. “My host family dragged me along tonight. I’m not real big on dressing up and parading about like a show poodle. How about you? Is this your sort of gig?”
“It’s a necessary evil.” I shrugged. “You’re very pretty.”
Why the hell did I say that? She was smiling, so I didn’t think apologizing was appropriate, but I wasn’t sure where to go now.
“Thanks.” She looked me up and down from toes to hairline. “You’re very pretty, too. Soft.” She took my hand in hers and turned it over, running a finger over my palm. “You have girl hands.”
“Alright.” I pulled away from her. “You’ve made your point.”
“Hey, you started it, stud. Nice ink. You’re pretty. You have a shit game.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder and laughed. “I’ve had toddlers hit on me with more grace.”
“I’m not hitting on you,” I said defensively. “I was trying to make conversation. The pretty thing just slipped out. I swear. I didn’t mean to find you attractive.”
Way to dig yourself deeper, Percy. This was a fucking disaster. And yet, she wa
s still standing there. She obviously had no idea who I was, which was a massive plus for me. Could she be the nightmare…I mean, the queen, I needed to find?
“Well, okay then.” She nodded as if making her mind up about something. “It was lovely not quite meeting you. Maybe we could do it again sometime.”
“Wait, what’s your name?”
“Oh no, that’ll cost you.” She took my hand in hers again and kissed the back of it. “Maybe next time.”
Then she was gone. I was so busy staring at her ass shift beneath the skin-tight red gown, that I forgot to follow her inside. When the blood returned flow from my lower half to my brain, I ran back into the party, hoping to find her again.
People kept stopping me to shake my hand and congratulate me as I tried to make my way across the floor my head whipping back and forth looking for a pop of red in a sea of white and black formalwear. I got all the way to the foyer, but I hadn’t seen her anywhere.
“Sir?” Donovan, the head of my security detail walked up to me. “Can I help you find something?”
“Someone,” I corrected. “There was a brunette on the balcony with me. Red dress, killer smile. Said she was here with her host family. Ring any bells?”
“No sir,” he said. “But I’m sure one of my guys would recognize the description.”
“Listen up.” He spoke into the microphone hidden in his lapel. “Looking for a brunette in a red dress.” He paused, his gaze locked on me as he apparently listened to the reply. He shook his head at me. “How long ago? Alright, well run the plates and get her six.”
“She’s gone?” I guessed.
“Yes sir, but we’ll find her. Do you want us to bring her back here?”
“Not tonight,” I said. “But first thing tomorrow, please. Don’t scare her. She’s not in trouble or anything. I just need to talk to her.”
“As you wish, sir.” Donovan moved into the crowd and vanished. How a man that large and imposing could disappear like a fucking ghost amazed me.
I hoped he’d listened to me. I didn’t want this woman terrified. She seemed very much the sort of person who would bolt at the first sign of trouble. But I had to find her. I couldn’t explain it, but something told me that this woman was going to be the queen of Gorgonia.
Chapter Two
~ Cora Jones~
“Get it together!” I snapped at myself in the mirror. I brushed the knots out of my hair and with every yank it was as if I were trying to pull thoughts of that cute, doofus from last night out of my head with it. “He wasn’t that cute.” Lies. Damn lies.
He was hot. Like, insanely hot. Yet, he came across so naïve. It was adorable really. Not that I had much experience with men. Okay, I had zero experience with men. But I could still talk a better game than he had.
I had to get downstairs before the car came to take me to school. I was here on a two-week exchange program from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I’d arrived the day before, and within hours of landing my host family, Mikal and Carol Michener, had dragged me to some royal ball for a prince who was about to become a king. Good for him. Good for them. But squeezing myself into their daughter’s dress and prancing around a palace for hours on a Sunday night had not been my ideal recipe for jet lag. I was tired and mouthy and had given the cute stranger a little bit more than I think he’d been expecting.
He was just being nice, and I’d practically bit his head off. It was good that the Micheners hadn’t insisted on introducing me to the royal family. It wouldn’t have been a very nice way to pay back their hospitality by offending a prince or something.
A car honked downstairs and I sighed. I was still in a towel and my hair was a mess. I ran over to the window and stuck my head out.
“Sorry, give me five more minutes!” I called down, not even trying to look toward the car. I hoped they heard me.
Well, I wouldn’t be getting dolled up for my first day of class after all. I snagged a pair of leggings from my suitcase, which I hadn’t had a chance to unpack, and grabbed the sweater I’d been wearing when I arrived. After shoving my feet into a pair of sneakers, I hooked my bag on my shoulder and thundered down the stairs.
“Bye!” I called out, not even sure if anyone was home.
When I reached the driveway, my heart flipped a little. I hadn’t really looked when I shouted down to the car, but I was pretty sure that most car services didn’t drop exchange students off at school in a Rolls Royce.
“I think there’s been some mistake,” I said, stopping short in front of the impossibly huge human holding the door open for me.
“No mistake, Miss Jones. Please get in the car.”
I took a step back, shaking my head.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist,” he said. He didn’t move, not even a twitch of muscle. But his voice was firm enough that I got the picture. If I didn’t get in the car, I was going to be picked up and thrown into it.
“And if I run away screaming bloody murder?” I challenged, unable to help myself.
“I wouldn’t recommend it,” he said, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I promise you, you’re perfectly safe.”
“Exactly what a kidnapper would say.” I crossed my arms. “Where are you taking me?”
“His royal highness has requested your presence at the palace for breakfast, ma’am.”
“Why?”
“This would be easier if you’d get in the car.”
I could tell he was dying to blow out a sigh, but his buttoned-up demeanor wouldn’t let him.
“Suck it!” I took another step back toward the house. “I have class.”
“Class has been canceled,” he said.
“That’s terrifying,” I said, my heart beginning to pound in my chest. “Do you have any idea how scary that sounded?”
“Not what I was going for, ma’am,” he said. That exasperated sigh finally came loose. “Classes actually have been canceled.”
“I wasn’t notified of that.” As I said it, my phone chirped. Keeping him in my peripheral I pulled the cell out of my pocket and saw the alert on the lock screen. Classes canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. “Who the hell are you?”
“My name is Donovan Westen. I’m head of palace security. I really need you to get in the car now, the prince is waiting.”
“Let me see some identification.”
“It could be fake,” he said, one eyebrow lifting.
“You’re a very scary man,” I said. “I was just about to get in the car, too. Then you went and ruined it with your smartass, kidnapping remarks.”
“Look, lady.” All politeness was gone, and I realized my adorable attempts at banter had overstepped his hospitality. “The prince wants you at the palace ten minutes ago. I can’t imagine who would choose to spend any amount of time in your presence, but I guess taste is not a prerequisite of kingdom.”
“Hey!” I glared at my would-be person snatcher. “I’m a fucking delight. Of course, he wants to see me.” I had no idea why this guy wanted to see me, actually. But it must have been pretty important for his security to stand here putting up with my nonsense for this long.
“Please, just get in the car.”
“Fine.” I brushed past him and climbed into the backseat. He closed the door for me, a little harder than was necessary really, but I chose not to comment when he got in the front seat. Instead I leaned forward to introduce myself to the driver. “Hi. I’m Cora. It’s lovely to meet you.”
“You as well, ma’am,” the driver said. “Please sit back and buckle your seat belt.”
“Just drive,” Donovan muttered. He pulled out his phone and in a minute spoke quietly. “Your highness, we’ll be there in ten minutes. No, no trouble. Just a small delay.”
“How much does he pay you to lie to him?” I asked.
“Not enough,” Donovan shot back.
“Do you know why the prince wants to see me?”
“No.”
“Do I need to know
anything when I get there? Like am I supposed to curtsey or something?”
“No.”
“Do you like dogs?” I honestly don’t know why I do this to people. It’s as if I’m on some subconscious mission to annoy the hell out of everyone around me. I think it’s funny, but most people don’t agree.
“No. Wait, what?”
“Just checking to see if you’re paying attention to me.”
“I’m not,” he assured me.
I met his gaze in the rearview mirror and winked at him. He rolled his eyes back at me. I was pretty sure in that moment that Donovan and I became best friends.
Chapter Three
~ Cora ~
The palace seemed different in the light of day. More like a fortress than a home. Cold and uninviting. Last night, when I’d come with my host family, everything had been lit up by soft lighting, there was security and valets and all sorts of staff everywhere, it had felt almost alive. Today, we pulled up in front of the door and Donovan let me out of the car, then escorted me into an empty hallway.
It wasn’t exactly Buckingham Palace, but it was still really impressive. The black and white tile floor looked like a massive chess board, and I couldn’t help wondering if the royal family ever played a game with real people.
“Please come with me,” Donovan said, pulling me back to the moment. He’d gotten to the other side of the hall while I’d been looking around. He opened a door and motioned for me to enter.
When I did, he shut the door behind me without coming in. The room looked like the office of a fancy CEO. It was massive, with plush white carpet and a gigantic mahogany desk that seemed to take up half the space. Books lined the walls and I couldn’t help walking over to peruse the titles.
Greek mythology. A history of Calculus. The complete first edition of Dungeons and Dragons, including the Monstrous Compendium. Who was this guy?
“I’m sorry if I kept you waiting,” a man said as a door on the other end of the office opened. “I got stuck on a phone call.”