Courting His Royal Highness (21 page)

Eric’s eyes widened. He looked worried. “I’m not sure I like the sound of this, Max. It sounds like it has disaster written all over it. And more heartache for Miss Tanner. And possibly for you.”

“I don’t think so. She loves me. She only needs me to tell her I love her back. Then all this hurt and anger will melt away. I know it will. She’ll forgive me. She has to.”

“What are you scheming?”

“The proposal of a lifetime.” Max smiled. “I’m going to sweep her off her feet and carry her off into the sunset on a white horse, just like in the fairy tales.”

“And how are you going to pull that off?”

Max’s smile widened. “That’s what I’m going to tell you, dear friend. And I was hoping you could help me out.”

“I’m not agreeing to anything until I’ve been informed about this plan.”

“Very well.”

And Max told his friend all about the plan he’d discussed over the phone with Toni. And Eric had to admit it wasn’t such a bad idea—but its success depended on Chloe. It all depended on how much she loved Max, and on whether she would forgive him his secrets.

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Chloe was late for another meeting with the production team and Max. She didn’t know if she could take much more of this. The last couple of weeks had been excruciating. She was emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted. Keeping her feelings hidden from everyone was the most challenging and difficult thing she’d ever done. She was truly acting. She deserved an Emmy. Actually, she believed her acting to be Oscar-worthy.

But, thankfully, there was now only one week left of
Courting His Royal Highness
. Max had narrowed it down to the final two, Elizabeth from England and Ingrid from Norway. He would select his bride at the end of the week. Chloe was relieved. Only five more days, and it would be over. She would finally be rid of the thorn in her side: Max. And she wouldn’t have to be with him every day.

She was definitely looking forward to some peace and solitude. She’d miss him so very much, but she couldn’t do this much longer without having a breakdown. She was close to it now.

Only five more days. She could do it. And then she was taking a hiatus to Minnesota, where she would stay through the New Year. The producers had suggested she keep a low profile while the show aired on the EVE Network, and her family’s farm in rural Minnesota seemed the perfect escape. She planned on stopping in L.A. to pick up Domino—then home. She missed her family. She missed the farm.

She was even looking forward to the seclusion. Chloe had started to wonder if maybe she didn’t enjoy being in the spotlight as much as she’d originally thought. But she knew it was ignorant of her to make judgments based on this one experience. After all, she happened to be madly in love with her co-star. That affected things quite a bit, and it wouldn’t always happen. This was a unique situation.

Courting His Royal Highness
had debuted last week to rave reviews. It was the newest hit and the must-see show of the season. Americans were addicted, and the rest of the world had tuned in as well. EVE had purposely arranged it so
Courting His Royal Highness
would be seen all across Europe, and it was the headliner in Romalia every day.

Chloe had phoned Julia to ask what she thought, and her friend couldn’t stop raving about it. Julia kept saying how fabulous she looked and that Max was sooooo incredibly handsome. He took her breath away, and she hoped with all her heart things would work out between them. She didn’t believe Max would actually have to marry one of his choices if he wasn’t in love with her. The executives at EVE couldn’t possibly hold him to that. In Julia’s opinion, it would be beyond cruel.

Chloe, on the other hand, believed less and less in the possibility of a happy ending for Max and her. Max looked very happy with his choices and didn’t seem to be giving her a second thought, despite the fact she’d confessed her deepest secret to him. How could he forget what she’d said? People didn’t say “I love you” casually. At least
she
didn’t. Maybe Max did. She could count on one hand how many times she’d told a man she loved him.

As she descended off the last step and onto the cool tile of the spacious foyer, she was mortified to see Ingrid and Elizabeth coming in the front door. Both were dressed in designer workout outfits, one in pink and the other in purple, and both giggled like teenage girls.

Chloe froze. She didn’t want to talk to either of them. She wanted to scratch out their pretty eyes and claw out the gorgeous strands of their perfect hair. How could anyone compete with them? She’d always been happy with her looks, but they were
perfect
. Every woman who had vied for the coveted position as Max’s princess had been perfect.

Ingrid and Elizabeth were Max’s final choices. One would be his bride.

“Hello, Miss Tanner!” Ingrid cried. She waved and rushed over, blonde ponytail bouncing. “It’s so nice to see you.”

“You see me every day,” Chloe said through a forced smile and clenched teeth.

“Yes, but it’s usually in front of a dozen eyes.” Elizabeth giggled. “We’re so excited about this week. Do you know where Prince Max is taking us on our final dates?”

Chloe shook her head. She didn’t know at the moment, but she was about to find out. The meeting’s agenda focused on the preparations for the final week.

“You must know. You can tell us. We promise we won’t tell a soul.” Ingrid winked. She fit the stereotype of a Scandinavian woman: blonde, blue-eyed and long-legged. Her blue eyes were as mesmerizing and magnetic as those of the man she hoped to claim as her husband. They’d produce breathtaking children. Chloe’s heart ached.

“I can assure you I don’t know. Sometimes I’m as much in the dark as you.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened in surprise. “Truly? That doesn’t seem right.” She had auburn hair, possessed the greenest eyes Chloe had ever seen, and she had a smile like sunshine. That was the only way to explain it. Max had described it that way when he’d discussed the attributes of each contestant.

“I also wouldn’t tell you if I did know,” Chloe said softly. “I’d love to chat, but I have to run. I’m extremely late for a morning meeting.” She looked down at her watch for emphasis and hoped they’d let her hurry on by without further questioning. “Goodbye. Have a pleasant day. I’ll see you this evening.”

“Miss Tanner, do you think he’ll choose me?” Ingrid asked. Her eyes shone. “I like him so much.”

“What about me? I like him too, and there’s definite attraction between us,” Elizabeth interjected.

Ingrid glared at Elizabeth. “With me too.”

Chloe forced herself not to roll her eyes in exasperation. “I’m sure Prince Max feels attracted to each of you. You’re the final two out of fifteen. But he has to decide which one of you he has the strongest feelings for. Choosing a bride is a big deal and can’t be taken lightly. Be thankful you’ve made it this far.”

“Oh, we are!” they exclaimed in unison. “We’re so happy. One of us will be a princess. Can you imagine that? A princess!”

The ache in Chloe’s heart grew five times bigger. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

She wished she could feel the same. But all she felt was misery every single day. And she wanted out. She wanted to get away from everyone, but mostly Max. She didn’t want to feel the intensity of his blue eyes as he watched from across the room. She didn’t want to see him courting, embracing, and kissing other women. She wanted to be away from it all. The show couldn’t end fast enough.

“Isn’t he the dreamiest man you’ve ever seen in your life?” Elizabeth asked. “I’ve never met anyone so handsome and gentlemanly in my whole life. He truly is a prince.”

“That’s what his pedigree says,” Chloe remarked. She couldn’t keep the sarcasm from her voice. Talk about torture. “I have to go.”

“Bye, Miss Tanner.”

“Have a good meeting.”

Chloe hurried in the opposite direction, out the back door, across the pool area, and to the guest cottage where the meeting was being held. She took a deep breath and tried not to think of what surprises awaited her beyond the door. She had a very bad feeling about this meeting, and she didn’t want to attend. For a split second, she considered turning around and hightailing it back to her bedroom. But she couldn’t do that. She was so close to finishing this job, to honoring her contract.

“You can do it,” she whispered softly. She lightly rapped her knuckles on the door.

“Is that our hostess?” Mr. Parker’s irritated voice boomed angrily through the door.

“Yes,” she replied, wincing at the croaking sound of her voice.

“Come in. Come in. We’ve been waiting for you. We can’t have a meeting without our lovely hostess.”

Chloe took another deep breath and pushed the door open. Mr. Parker and several members of his production team sat around a large rectangular table. Max and Eric Von Stratton were also there, and both smiled warmly as she entered. She acknowledged them with a quick nod before sliding into an empty seat.

“I’m sorry. I truly am.”

“Oversleeping again, Miss Tanner?” Mr. Parker asked.

“A late start.”

“I need another cup of coffee.” His assistant jumped from her chair, grabbed his empty mug, and filled it to the brim. “You know I hate to have an empty cup.”

“Yes, Mr. Parker.” She set it before him on the table and offered him an apologetic smile, but the smile faded when he didn’t thank her. Chloe felt sorry for the girl. She waited on him hand and foot and he hardly took notice of her at all—that was, until his coffee cup was empty.

“We can start, now that Miss Tanner has decided to grace our lives with her presence.” Mr. Parker took a long drink of his freshly brewed coffee. “Actors,” he snickered softly.

Chloe reddened. She hoped she didn’t have too many directors like Jack Parker in her future. She wanted to chop his head off as much as she wanted to claw out the too-perfect hair of Ingrid and Elizabeth.

“Good morning, Chloe.”

Chloe’s eyes met Max’s across the table. “Good morning.”

“We’ve been discussing what’s going to happen during the final week.”

She nodded. “Yes, I read the agenda.”

Mr. Parker hooted. “Well, isn’t that a first. Usually you choose to read the agenda at the meeting or after. I think you’re improving—though your punctuality could still use a little work.”

“That’s enough, Mr. Parker. Shouldn’t we get on with this meeting so we can attack the rest of the day?” asked Eric Von Stratton. He frowned with disapproval at Mr. Parker.

Chloe tossed a thankful smile in his direction, and Von Stratton smiled back. She liked Max’s sidekick. She admired his loyalty to Max and felt as if he’d started to look out for her best interests over the past couple of weeks. It was nice to be protected; she could get used to someone taking care of her.

“That’s an excellent idea, Mr. Von Stratton.” Mr. Parker picked up his agenda sheet and began to rattle off the week’s priorities.

It didn’t take long for Chloe’s mind to drift. She only bothered to listen in meetings when things directly related to her, which happened very little. Max was always involved, as were the contestants, but she was usually in the background.

As the meeting continued, she tried not to focus her attention on Max. She slathered a blueberry bagel with cream cheese and politely asked Mr. Parker’s doe-eyed assistant for a coffee. The people at the table continued to talk about agenda items she only vaguely understood. She supposed it would be in her best interest to listen and learn, but she didn’t really want to. The whole conversation seemed so meaningless, so trivial. She had bigger issues on her mind, and she didn’t have a committee to solve them. Was there such a thing as a committee for mending broken hearts? That was the meeting she needed to attend.

“Now that we’ve taken care of the major issues, let’s move to the last item on our list. Chloe, we need you for this.”

Chloe quickly swallowed the piece of bagel in her mouth and dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “And what is that, Mr. Parker?”

“The choosing of the ring.”

She swallowed again. She wasn’t sure she had heard correctly. “What did you say?” she whispered hoarsely.

“The ring. You’re going to help the prince choose a ring for his bride.”

Chloe reached for a glass of water and took a long drink. Her hand shook, and the bracelets on her arm rattled against the colored glass. This couldn’t be happening! She was going to choose the ring? How could Max ask her to do this? But he wasn’t asking her—the show’s director was. Still, it felt like Max was behind this. Another betrayal. Another way to torture her. She wanted to look at him, but she forced herself to keep her gaze on Mr. Parker.

“The ring? But shouldn’t Prince Max do that?”

“He’s selected three, but he’d like your opinion.”

“My opinion?”

“Yes.” Mr. Parker turned to his terrified assistant. “Get the rings.”

“Yes, Mr. Parker.” The assistant reached underneath her chair and pulled out a small black velvet bag. “Here they are, sir.”

Chloe still refused to look at Max. Feeling the heat of his gaze on her, she wanted to die. She simply wanted to die. She’d thought things couldn’t get any worse, but this had to be the icing on the cake or the nail in the coffin—she wasn’t sure which cliché she’d use to describe her feelings at that moment. Probably the one about the final nail in the coffin. Yep, that sounded about right. Dying. She definitely felt like dying.

“I don’t think I want to do this,” she admitted softly as the assistant untied the bag and pulled out three blue boxes. “I think Prince Max should choose on his own.”

“I can’t, Chloe.”

She looked across the table into Max’s blue eyes, and her heart stopped beating. The tenderness in his eyes took her breath away.

“I need your help.”

“But I can’t do this. I can’t do this.”

“You can. Choose the one you like the best, Chloe.”

“The cameras aren’t rolling, Miss Tanner,” Eric Von Stratton assured her softly. “We promise.” He turned to Mr. Parker. “Right, Mr. Parker? You promised. No cameras, hidden or otherwise.”