Recklessly Royal (9 page)

“Yeah, I’ve noticed.” He smiled sheepishly. “About last night—”

“No.” I shook my head adamantly. “Let’s just forget last night.”

“There are some things a man can’t forget.” He looked at me with deep eyes. “But we can start over—try things from the beginning.”

“This means we’re not going to talk about the whole stripping mishap, right?” I stood up and held out my hand.

“Oh, now that isn’t something anyone can forget.” He wrapped his fingers around mine. “Hi, I’m David Rhodes.”

“Hi, David. I’m Cathy.”

“Nice pj’s.” His eyes ran over my body and I wondered if he was imagining what was underneath.

“I wasn’t exactly expecting company.” I frowned.

“Would you have dressed up if you’d known I was coming?” He still had my hand wrapped in his.

“Well, you’ve already seen me puke in a potted plant and hungover the next day.” I shrugged. “This is actually an improvement.”

“Even hungover, you were gorgeous.” He winked and finally let go of my hand.

“Wow.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you practicing these compliments in the mirror at night?”

“I can’t reveal my secrets.” He tucked his hands back into his pockets.

There was a knock on the door and I looked past David as Selene stuck her head inside.

“My apologies. I didn’t realize you had a guest.” She started to duck out, but stopped long enough to add something. “Our next appointment is in an hour.”

“Thank you. I’ll be ready soon.” I nodded at her as she closed the door quietly.

“Well, I’ll let you get dressed,” David said.

“I have a meeting with some of the officials working on my new charity.” I smiled. I was really looking forward to meeting with the investors. The program I wanted to start targeted schools that had cut art training out of the budget. Art was something that I was passionate about and I didn’t want children to miss out on the opportunity to express their creativity.

“I’d like to hear about it.” He walked to the door before stopping to smile at me. “Should I call your secretary and make an appointment?”

“No.” I giggled. “Chadwick is helping you while Sam is gone, right?”

“Yeah.” He shook his head. “That man is intimidating. I think he has planned out my bathroom schedule.”

“I’ll have Selene find out when we both have free time.”

“Hopefully soon.” He opened the door, smiled at me, and then closed it behind him.

“Hopefully,” I whispered. The oddest feeling swamped over me. Fear, excitement, and pure adrenaline. If I didn’t know any better I felt like I wanted to giggle and squeal. Instead I acted like the adult I was and got dressed while I danced around the room to music from my mp3 player. Giddiness had me shaking my booty in the mirror. I hadn’t ever been this excited by the thought of a date before.

That was, until a thought hit me like a ton of bricks. What if he had only asked me out because he felt sorry for me? The pathetic princess stuck in a tower that he needed to rescue? It could be that he didn’t want to see me again at all and was just doing what he thought was right. After all, he had left me naked and panting last night without seeming bothered.

K
ICKING THE SHOES
off in the car I slumped in my seat and closed my eyes. I had never had such a strong urge to punch someone as I did while listening to the idiot bankers asking what their return would be for something like the art program.

“Well, that went well.” Selene humphed from her seat. “What is it your new sister says? Those men were a bunch of asshats.”

A laugh burst out of my mouth and I peeked one eye open to see her grin as she flipped through her files.

“That’s it exactly.” I sat up. “Why did they even come? I mean, what did they expect? A percentage of crayon drawings? Finger paintings to hang in their offices?
That
I could take care of, but a financial return?”

“You made a compelling argument.” Selene looked at me over the top of her glasses. “Stretching a child’s imagination leads to new products, intellectual property, and more local resources.”

I blew a raspberry. “Fat lot of good it did me.”

“You know how this works,” she said. “They come in all gung-ho or completely distant.”

“I know it’s annoying.” I closed my eyes again. “They just want to be able to say they had a meeting with a princess.”

“Well, I’m sure that’s a big point for some of them.” She shrugged. “But then again, you know that you can use your status to make good things happen. That comes with the job.”

I sighed. It was the same conversation we’d had countless times over the years. Only this time I didn’t feel placated by the simple observations. I was tired of being Princess Catherine. It was completely ridiculous that it took my title to get people to invest in our children.

Right now, I was looking forward to going back to D’Lynsal and finishing the book I had started earlier. My eyes popped open when I remembered that David would be just a short drive away at Rousseau. Even if I wasn’t sure if he wanted a date with me or he felt sorry for me, I had told him I’d try to find time. The worst thing that could happen would be an uncomfortable night that ended in him feeling better and me right back where I already was.

“Selene?”

“Yes?”

“When do I have another dinner free?” I looked down at my nails and picked at a cuticle.

“Thursday, I believe.” She raised an eyebrow. “Is there something you’d like me to schedule?”

“I was thinking about going to see a movie.”

“Tell me which one and I’ll have it screened at the palace for you.” She picked up her pen.

“No, I’d like to go out.” I paused, looking for words that wouldn’t make me sound like an excited girl. “With a friend.”

“I see. And is this friend trustworthy?”

“I think so.” I looked up at her and frowned. “Why?”

“I know that Princess Samantha trusts him, but you don’t know him very well.” She said the words quietly and I tried to see the worry beneath her disappointed tone. It obviously hadn’t taken much of a jump to figure I was referring to David.

“That’s what I’m trying to correct,” I responded. “I’d like to know more about him.”

“Okay, then.” She nodded her head but not without a grin. “I’ll check with Chadwick and see what we can work out.”

“Thank you.”

By the time we pulled up to D’Lynsal, I was more than ready for a hot bath and my bed. My apartment at the palace was great, but despite what I had said to David, it didn’t feel like home the way our family estate did. The palace was meant to house visitors, showcase our culture and history, while giving the country a place to look toward during tough times.

After I turned eighteen I had the apartments updated to my tastes, which had been fun but weird. People had complained in tabloids about the fact that I was wrecking historical objects. Others cheered on my need to modernize the palace. In truth I was just tired of the rose petal pink wallpaper and green carpet. I’m sure that had been the height of fashion at some point, but I couldn’t stand it a moment longer.

D’Lynsal, however, was ours. It was the home we didn’t have to share with the media. There were no flyers or press releases if I decided I wanted to change a paint color or update a light feature. Some of my fondest memories were running through these halls or fighting with Alex and Max. Seemed odd when you thought about it, but the best part of being a child was that we had nothing more to worry about other than dessert and getting out of events we thought would be boring. The older we had gotten, the harder it had become to avoid those important functions.

And now I even looked forward to some of them. Well, not many. At least not as much as I was looking forward to seeing David again—despite the butterflies that came with the thought. I still couldn’t believe that he had come back to ask me on a date after what had happened that night. Not that I had a great deal of experience with men, but I didn’t think that many of them would have tried to find a way to make it okay. In fact the men, or I should say boys, that I had spent my youth around would never have even thought to stop when they realized I was a virgin. Most of them would have felt it was an even better score—which was exactly why I was still a virgin.

The driver came around and opened the door for Selene and me, helping carry my bags up the steps and passing them on to some of the household staff. I hadn’t put my shoes back on when we climbed out of the vehicle, completely comfortable at our home. There was a small fire in the great room, even though it was summertime. The evenings could have a chill in the air despite the time of year. Dropping my shoes onto a small footstool, I curled up onto the settee and watched the flames jump.

It felt like it had been years since I had last curled up in this same position. Here in this spot, I could remember my father sitting in a nearby chair while reading a book and mother working on paperwork. She had never been able to take time off—even on the weekends or late at night. Father had thought it was because of the way she had grown up watching her father do the exact same. It was one of the reasons our father had pushed for us to have hobbies, to do things that we wanted, and kept us from performing royal duties until we were older.

The ache that accompanied my thoughts was familiar but manageable. No matter how long it had been since I’d last seen his face, I’d miss him like the accident had happened the day before. Now though, I also remembered the happiness and good times, not just the pain.

“What are you doing, monster?” Max mussed my hair before plopping down into Dad’s seat.

“Relaxing.” I curled up even tighter into a ball so my feet would be closer to the warmth.

“You? Relaxing?” Max picked up one of the magazines on the table and raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, I’m relaxing. Why is that weird?” I craned my neck so I could look at him.

“Because,” he said. “You’re like Mom. Always working on something.”

“That’s not true. I take time off.” I scrunched my nose.

“Sometimes.” He shrugged while looking at the magazine in his hands. “But even then you’re working in your head. You don’t ever turn it off.”

“Turn what off?” My voice rose a bit and I frowned.

“The list.” He looked at me with an amused expression.

“List? Are you drunk?” I rolled my eyes.

“No, I’m not drunk.” He reached out with his foot and pushed the seat I was curled up on. “The list. The one where you’re mentally checking things off, planning what to do next, and accepting more responsibility.”

“Not everyone can get away with hiding in an office or studio all day.” My sneer was obvious.

“Sure they can.” He laughed. “You just have to not care what everyone else wants.”

“That’s not as easy for some people.” I closed my eyes, not wanting to let him ruin my peace. “Other people have to pick up the slack, in case you didn’t know.”

“Right. Thanks for that.”

“You’re an ass.”

“Well, say something else that we already know.”

“You’re a terrible Sudoku player.” I laughed.

“Now that’s just cruel.” Max fake-groaned. “What is the point of those puzzles anyways?”

“I don’t know, genius. You’d think those would be fun for you and your giant brain.”

“My giant brain is geared for painting, creative things. Numbers make me sick.” He frowned.

“And yet you can’t get enough of computer games.” I rolled over so I was lying on my stomach and looking at him. “You’re such a nerd.”

“Everyone needs a distraction.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me. “Looked like you found yourself one.”

“What?” I hoped my expression didn’t give away my surprise. I should have known that more people would have noticed me and David sneaking away.

“Sam’s friend. The bloke with the dark hair who can’t find a razor.”

“Really? Are you going to tease me about a guy like we’re teenagers?” I rolled my eyes.

“Yes, yes I am.” He chuckled. “Care to say what happened after you disappeared?”

“Absolutely not.” I’d die if anyone found out the truth. It was almost better that they think I’d had a one-night stand. I wouldn’t be the first in the family to scratch an itch.

“I thought that might be your response.” Max stretched in his seat. “Just be careful there.”

“What do you mean?” Why was everyone warning me about David? It was starting to piss me off. It wasn’t like he had chased me. I’d been the one doing the seducing. I think, anyways.

“Don’t get bent out of shape.” It was his turn to roll his eyes. “I just meant that he’s not used to everything we put up with. It’s a lot for people to adjust to. You know how hard it’s been for Sam.”

“David is a smart man.”

“He is.” He laughed at my expression. “What? You didn’t think I’d do my research when I saw him sneaking off with my baby sister?”

“I’m not a baby.”

“You’ll always be the baby in the house.” He shrugged. “I’m just saying that you might need to prep him for what dating you would entail.”

“Right, I’ll draft up a list for him in the morning.” I rolled my eyes. I wanted to get to know David better, not scare him away.

“Well, I’m calling it a night. I have to meet the local council in the morning for lunch since Alex is away.”

“Oh, that sounds fun.” I smirked. That would be torture for him.

“Trade?” Max stood up.

“Yeah, I’m going to pass.” I laughed.

“You’re opening a bird sanctuary tomorrow, right?” Max frowned. “Photographs, speeches, all that good stuff. I guess I’d hate that just as much.”

“Yep.” I laid my head down and stared at the flames. “Back to work in the morning.”

“Right.” He leaned down and kissed the top of my head. “Good night, sister.”

“’Night.” I yawned loudly. It was definitely time for bed.

T
HE NEXT MORNING
came early and in ugly fashion. The beautiful weather from the wedding had passed and storms were forecast for the rest of the week. Sighing, I climbed out of bed and got ready for the day’s schedule. I opted for an outfit that would allow me to wear boots. With the amount of rain that had fallen the night before, I would sink in the mud if I wore heels.