The Princess Problem (5 page)

“Wow. It’s beautiful.”

“My father preferred the term decadent,” he said, the deep timbre of his voice making her shiver in the warm evening air.

“That, too.”

They passed a garden wall covered with climbing red roses, and walked down a few steps to a reflecting pond with a bench beside it. Alicia reached out to touch a series of beautiful yellow roses, each plant looking strong, healthy, and loaded with blooms. “This explains why I got the job. Your mother is definitely a woman who believes in happily ever afters.”

“I don’t.”

Alicia chuckled. “Whatever. Anyone who grew up here is obligated to believe in storybook endings. Have you always lived here?”

He shook his head. “I moved back in after my dad died.”

“Who takes care of all this?”

“Tate and my mother. The two of them can talk about water, fertilizer, pruning, and shaping for hours on end. They have a shed in the north corner where they do their potting and plotting, as my dad used to say.”

“Willa said your dad bought rose bushes for every anniversary. How many years were they married?

“Forty years.”

“There are more than forty rose bushes here. Where did they all come from?”

Jonas shrugged. “My mom’s garden club, the local nursery, mail order. But a lot of them were from my dad. He loved to bring them home and whenever he traveled he tried to bring back clippings. My mom can probably tell you where each bush originated. What started off as a tradition of giving his bride roses turned into an obsession for them both. People are always asking her for cuttings.”

“Do you know much about roses?”

He shrugged. “Some of it has sunk in. I know the difference between flowering hedges, and climbers and ramblers. But I don’t know the difference between tea roses and English roses. But don’t tell my mom, okay?”

“Your secret is safe with me. Unless I need ammunition at some future date.”

Jonas chuckled as they stopped at a bubbling fountain. “This is the center of the garden. It’s my mom’s favorite place.”

Alicia glanced around at the pretty benches and the profusion of roses in every direction. Another arch led to a gazebo in the distance, and the smell was light, sweet, and musky. “I can see why.”

“Do you want to feed the ducks?”

“Sure.”

They headed back to the pond and sat side-by-side on one of the benches, and Alicia wished she weren’t so mindful of his presence. Her skin prickled with awareness as she handed Jonas a slice of bread, careful not to touch his fingers. They tossed bread to the ducks and Alicia watched as the birds tried to out-swim each other. “Greedy little buggers, but they’re cute.”

Jonas handed her a cookie. “They’re a nuisance.”

“They’re adorable.”

They munched on their cookies.

“Well, they’re better than peacocks, anyway. We used to have peacocks when I was growing up, and they’re loud and messy. When they started to attack my dad’s car, he got a local farmer to take them.”

“Why would they attack a car?”

“They could see their reflections in the paint.”

“Ah. Gotcha.” She smiled and looked around. “This is nice. Sitting here, I mean. Talking like civilized people.”

“Enjoy it while it lasts. I’m sure you’ll be upset again when I show up to watch you work tomorrow.”

She sighed. “Why am I not surprised? Are you planning to micromanage us?”

“No.” He shrugged. “But I’m sort of at a loose end at work at the moment. Plus the launch of this new mattress is important to me. Plus my own mother is encouraging me to participate.” He looked at her slyly. “She’s trying to set us up, you know.”

“Really? I am so shocked.” When he chuckled, she smiled at him. “So how do you feel about your mom matchmaking all the time?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Usually it’s a pain in the butt, but I’m finding I don’t mind it so much this time.”

He wasn’t looking at her, but Alicia’s heart seemed to stop in her chest, then restart with renewed enthusiasm. “Oh? You’re falling in love with me already? I’m surprised you’d admit that.”

He laughed.

“I’m also suspicious. I’m not sure I trust your motives. Is there any chance this is an attempt to sweet-talk me into changing the commercial?”

He eyed her. “Would that work?”

“Not likely. Your charms aren’t that tempting,” she lied.

“That sounds like a challenge.”

She grinned. “Oh dear. I’m in for it now, huh? Well I take it back then. I can’t possibly resist you. Easy pickings. Not worth your effort to even try.”

He smiled widely, emphasizing his male beauty and making her catch her breath. “I’ll be the judge of that,” he said.

She tried to ignore her reaction to him, the way her heart sped, and her breath caught. “So what? Do you want to go steady now or something?”

He leaned forward. “I thought you’d never ask. I accept. Do you have a pin or something for me to wear?”

Alicia smiled, surprised by how attracted she was to him, not just physically, but to his personality. She kept wanting to smile and laugh. With him acting like a normal human being, she realized his mother was right. It really was hard to resist his charm. “I’ll be glad to stick you with a pin,” she said.

He grinned and, unwilling to continue the conversation, unwilling to fall any further under his spell, she stood. “I’d better get going.”

“I’ll walk you to your car.”

When they’d almost reached the garden exit, Jonas stopped. “Hold on. Just a second.” He withdrew a small knife from his pocket and expertly cut a pink rose and handed it to her. “Here you go.”

“Thank you.” He watched her as she lifted the flower to her nose and inhaled. “Mmm. It smells wonderful.”

“Did you know that most roses have meanings?” His voice was low, intent.

“I’ve heard that.” She didn’t look at him, but studied the rose instead. “What do the pink ones mean?”

“This isn’t just a pink rose, it’s a thornless one.”

She finally glanced up and the intent way he watched her had her swallowing against the tightness in her throat. “So what does it mean?”

He took a deep breath and turned away, heading up the path once more. “Look it up when you get home.”

When they finally reached her car, she turned. “Until tomorrow, then?”

He nodded. “I’ll look forward to it.”

She wasn’t ready to admit it, but she looked forward to it, too. “All right. I’ll see you.”

When she arrived at her townhouse, she ran upstairs, set the rose on the desk beside her, and turned on the computer. It took forever to warm up. When she finally looked up the meaning of a thornless rose, when she found it, her mouth parted and she slowly sank back into the computer chair.

Love at first sight?

She picked up the rose and studied the thornless stem. What in the world was that supposed to mean? Why would he give her that rose, then tell her to look up the meaning? Was he trying to drive her crazy? Was he teasing her? She swallowed. Or was he trying to tell her that he felt something, too?

With a groan she stood, found a vase, and put the rose in water. She got ready for bed, took a sleeping pill, and climbed between the covers. There was no way she was going to lay awake all night and wonder what he’d meant by the romantic gesture.

She’d see him tomorrow, and maybe, just maybe, she’d find the nerve to ask.

Chapter Five

The next morning Alicia called Katie. “Did I wake you?”

“No. I’m seven months pregnant. I don’t sleep, I doze. What’s up?”

“I went over to the Highborn’s last night and ended up walking in the rose gardens with Jonas.”

“Jonas…Highborn? Okay, wait a minute. Back up. Why does that name sound familiar?”

“He and his mother own Highborn Mattresses.”

“The company that’s hired you? Okay. I’m sort of in the dark here. Catch me up.”

So Alicia did. She told Katie about meeting Willa, meeting Jonas in the dark, getting the contract, Jonas’s objections, and how protective he was of his mom since his dad died. She finished with the walk in the garden, but left out the rose he’d given her and the meaning behind it. She wasn’t quite ready to share that yet.

“So, what’s the problem?” asked Katie.

“I don’t know what to think. After being such a jerk for a few days, he was charming last night. We actually had fun and didn’t snap at each other.” And then there was the rose.

“Any chance he’s just trying to lower your guard and hurt you in some way?”

“That’s what I think!”

Katie laughed. “I was just kidding. I know that’s what you think. You don’t trust guys ever since Blake the Sleaze threw you over for the poor girl who ended up with him. I just thought if I said it out loud you’d hear how ridiculous it sounds. Okay, I just looked up a picture of Jonas Highborn on the Internet. Nice. I mean, wow. He’s gorgeous.”

Alicia frowned. “And he probably knows it, too.”

“Why do you say that? Is he stuck up? Arrogant?”

“Well, not arrogant exactly. He’s actually kind of fun to fight with. And last night we had a good time, even without the fighting.”

“And what else?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean what else? There’s got to be a reason you called me about him. So…what else?”

“He seems like he’ll be reasonable about the commercial.”

“And....”

“And,” Alicia reconsidered telling Katie about the love-at-first-sight rose, but chickened out. Katie would read way too much into
that.
“And he loves his mother. He’s really sweet with her.”

“That’s always a good sign in a potential boyfriend, but what else?”

“Okay.” Alicia laughed. “He’s drop dead gorgeous.”

“Already established. And?”

“And… I’m really attracted to him.”

“Finally she admits it! So, what are you going to do about it?”

Alicia’s breath caught at the thought of doing anything at all about it. She had to admit she was afraid. Especially after finding out what that flower meant last night. What if he was putting her on? Luring her in simply to manipulate her? She had to guard her heart.

“Alicia?”

She blew out a breath. “For the moment? Nothing. I have to get this commercial done. When it’s finished? Well, we’ll see if he’s really interested in me of if he’s just playing games.”

“Alicia.” Katie’s tone was gentle. “We’ve established how gorgeous he is, but we left out how beautiful you are. Are you really so far gone that you think he’s faking an interest to get you to change your commercial? From what you’ve said, he comes from a solid family, from parents who loved each other and who loved him. He’s probably a nice guy. Not everyone is out to make a fool of you. Can’t you just take a chance?”

“You’re one to talk. You haven’t even told the father of your child that he’s going to be a daddy.”

Katie sighed. “I’m going to forgive you for harassing me when I’m seven months pregnant because I know you’re lashing out because you’re afraid and I’m pushing.”

Alicia put a hand to her heart. “Oh, Katie. I’m sorry. What’s wrong with me? I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just worried about you.”

“And?”

“And you’re right. I’m scared.”

“Just take a chance, will you?”

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll try. How’s that?”

“It’s a start.”

* * *

Later that morning, Alicia sat in front of the computer monitor with Willa and Mike, trying to choose a model. They watched the third film, then looked at the 8 x 10 head shots Mike had developed of the girl.

“What do you think?” Alicia tapped her finger beside the model’s picture. “I like her hair, and her height is a plus.”

Willa shook her head. “Her eyes look hard. She looks worldly and tough.”

She did. The princess was supposed to be slightly vulnerable. “You’re right. Okay, next one, Mike.”

Mike cued the next model on the monitor and they watched as she turned her head to the left, the right, then faced the camera. They looked at her photos.

“She’s a pretty girl,” said Willa. “And I like her dark hair, but don’t you think her nose is just a little too long?”

“Hmm.” Alicia picked up a different photo of the girl. “Maybe.”

Mike shrugged. “She’s supposed to be a Princess. Don’t they have long noses?”

Willa chuckled. “Think Disney princess, Mike. Next.”

As they were discussing yet another model, with yet another flaw, Jonas arrived. “Hi, Princess. Miss me?”

Alicia glanced up, but her gaze quickly skittered away and she felt her face heating. She cursed her light coloring and kept her face turned away from him. “Are you talking to me or to Mike?

Mike straightened. “He’d better not be talking to me.”

Jonas laughed. “Sorry, Mike. You’re not my type. Alicia, on the other hand…”

Out of the corner of her eye, Alicia could see Willa smiling as she looked between the two of them, but Alicia kept her gaze firmly on the monitor.

“What are you doing?” Jonas bent down to look over her shoulder and his closeness, his breath against her neck, made her shiver.

“Choosing a model for the princess.”

“What for? I figured you’d end up doing it.”

“What?” She glanced at him to see if he was kidding, but he looked serious, and much too close. She turned away. “No. We spent the whole day yesterday in casting calls. We’re choosing a girl now.”

He finally straightened, allowing Alicia to relax a little. “When I showed up yesterday you were wearing the dress and holding the crown on your head. You looked good.”

“I’m the director.”

“Well, let’s see your choice then.”

“Mike?”

As Mike showed the next model, Alicia studied the monitor. She clasped her hands on her lap and didn’t look at Jonas, though she was hyper-aware of him and, as he bent closer once more, she could swear the heat from his body warmed hers, though she knew it was an illusion. Her body temperature was going up all on its own, thank you very much. However, she couldn’t help but notice that he smelled wonderful–she wasn’t sure if it was soap, cologne, or just him–but she exhaled slowly in an attempt to hide her reaction. She finally just leaned away from him, mostly because she had the desire to lean into him, and he finally moved back.