Hand-Me-Down Princess (17 page)

She shrugged. “Why not? It’s here.”

“Okay then.” He texted someone, probably their security team. “It’ll be arranged for tomorrow. What about dinner tonight?”

“What was recommended by the front desk clerk?”

“Doc’s Smokehouse, I think. It’s a barbecue place right across the street.”

“The barbecue we had at that place in Serenity Landing was good.” She hadn’t been too sure about American barbecue but was pleasantly surprised.

Malachi stood. “Then let’s go.”

A few minutes later, they were seated with food in front of them. They both decided on the signature sandwich, something the guy behind the counter said was smoked brisket, Provolone, and grilled onion on ciabatta.

“Thisisgood.”

Jessabelle tried to contain her smile. She doubted Malachi had ever talked with his mouth full in his life. “It is.”

“You’ve never had it before?” They turned to see a young man grinning at them from the next table.

“No,” Malachi answered. “We don’t have this kind of food at home.”

“Where’s home?”

“Nicky.” The woman with him-his mother?-admonished. “Leave the people alone.”

Jessabelle stared at her food, not sure how to respond, but Malachi did.

“It’s fine, ma’am. He’s right. This food is new to us, but it’s delicious.” He had an ease with anyone that Jessabelle prayed she’d be able to pull off someday.

The other man held out a hand. “I’m Nick. This is my mom, Michelle.”

Malachi shook it. “Kai. And this is my wife, Belle.”

Jessabelle glanced at him, but he just gave a small shake of his head. Right. He didn’t want to give out their real names to people they didn’t know. “Nice to meet you,” she said, shaking the other woman’s hand.

“You’re in town for a visit?” Michelle asked. There was some kind of undertone Jessabelle didn’t quite understand.

“Just for a couple of days,” Malachi confirmed.

Nick’s phone beeped, and he checked it. “And apparently, my day off isn’t.” He gave his mother an apologetic look. “Sorry, Mom.”

She just smiled. “Go on.”

He kissed her cheek and said good-bye to Jessabelle and Malachi.

Michelle looked uncomfortable before setting her napkin on top of what was left of her food. “I’ve got to go, too.” She stood and gave them an uncomfortable half-smile. “Nice to meet you.” She hurried out the front door.

Jessabelle watched as Malachi watched her leave, a thoughtful look on his face. “What is it?”

He turned back to his food. “I’m not sure. Nothing I can put my finger on. I’m not even sure if it’s that feeling of having met someone before or not quite trusting someone or what it is.” After a minute, he shrugged. “I can’t figure it out. Is there anything you want to do before we go back to Serenity Landing?” He smirked at her. “Besides go see the world’s largest catsup bottle?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Then we’ll head back in the morning?”

“Sounds good.”

“Alivia’s supposed to come tomorrow afternoon to teach you butterfly?”

Jessabelle nodded her confirmation.

Malachi flashed a smile her way, the one she was coming to love. “Then we’ll have to make sure we’re back in time for your lesson.”

* * *

Wearing his swim trunks and a t-shirt, Malachi went down to the pool about the time he thought Jessabelle would be done with Alivia. He hadn’t been swimming since they arrived, and he wanted to get a few laps in.

“Good job!” Alivia’s voice drifted up to him as he neared the room with the pool.

They didn’t see him, so he was able to observe Jessabelle’s progress. Though she’d said they were going to work on her butterfly stroke, but she was doing freestyle and, though it wasn’t very fast, her form looked pretty good.

“Think I’ll beat Malachi anytime soon?” Jessabelle asked Alivia as she removed her goggles.

“Well…” Alivia hedged. “If he swam competitively, you’ve probably got some work to do.”

Jessabelle laughed, a sound he hadn’t heard often enough in their short marriage. He would have to figure out how to hear that sound more often. Walking further in, he let them know he was there. “You’ll beat me before you know it.”

His wife turned a becoming shade of pink. “Do we even have anywhere to practice at home?”

“Of course.” He faked indignation. “There’s an endless pool by the gym.”

“Good to know.”

They wouldn’t be able to race, but she could definitely work on her strokes. Alivia hopped out and wrapped a towel around herself. “Thanks for asking me to help, Jessabelle. I enjoyed it. How much longer are you here?”

“A couple more days,” he answered.

“Have a great time and a safe trip back.” She waved as she left the room.

Malachi tugged his shirt off and tossed it on one of the chairs nearby. He stepped off the side and into the deep end of the pool. The cool water washed over him. He knew it was heated, and compared to the outside it was warm, but the pool room, like many of them, was warm and humid. In that case, the water always felt better. He did a modified breast stroke toward Jessabelle, stopping several feet away.

He kept moving just enough to stay buoyant. “Did I tell you Jonathan invited us to a comedy club tonight? Some friends of his own it. He has a blind date, and isn’t sure he wants to go alone.”

She shrugged. “Sure. Sounds good to me.”

“We need to leave in about two hours.” He moved back toward the wall. “Will you show me what Alivia’s taught you?”

An uncomfortable look crossed her face. “Sure.” Jessabelle didn’t sound very confident. “She didn’t teach me the somersault-y flip thingies though.”

“Then I’ll teach you sometime. Maybe the next time we go to Ravenzario.”

“Okay.” Jessabelle still seemed uncertain, but she took a deep breath and pushed off the wall.

The former swim team competitor in him wanted to critique her form, but he restrained that part and focused on how far she had come in the last week and a half. “I’m impressed,” he told her as she finished. “You’ve come a long way in the last week.”

“I need to get ready. Take a shower and stuff.” Before he could reply she climbed out the ladder on the other side. With a sigh, he decided she still wasn’t comfortable with him. Not in swimsuits. He took a deep breath of his own and launched into a few laps.

A couple hours later, they were seated at a Mexican restaurant just a few doors down from the comedy club. He held Jessabelle’s seat while Jonathan let his date slide into the bench side of the table first. Jessabelle had never seemed very comfortable in any social setting, but maybe such a small one would be better. A few minutes into the meal, he knew that wouldn’t be the case. At least not this small setting.

Jonathan had never met his date, never talked to her before, and it showed. Malachi didn’t know Jonathan very well, but he knew this particular woman wouldn’t have been his choice. A bit too loud. A bit too boisterous. A couple too many margaritas. Jonathan seemed grateful they were tucked into a bit of a nook so few people could actually see them. By the time dinner was over, Malachi could practically see Jonathan looking for a reason to end the date.

Fortunately, his date took care of it for him, claiming she suddenly remembered an early appointment the next morning. Jonathan walked her to her car then returned to meet them in front of the Serenity Landing Comedy Club.

“It’s not going to work out,” Jonathan told them.

Malachi gave him a sympathetic smile. “Sorry it was so uncomfortable.”

“I’m just glad you two were there. It would have been more awkward if it was just the two of us.”

Jessabelle asked a question of her own, one of the first times she’d ever just jumped into a conversation. “Didn’t you date Princess Anastasia?”

Malachi tried to control his wince as Jonathan nodded. “I also dated the new Princess Ellie and Queen Adeline.” He sighed. “I never meant to set my sights on royalty, but I think I need to make sure they’re not quite so out of my league or in love with someone else.”

Jessabelle surprised Malachi with her next words. “You don’t need to find a princess, Jonathan. Find someone who is
your
princess, but most of all, someone who is a child of God, of the King. Remember, the Prince of Peace didn’t come to live in a palace. He was considered by most to be the bastard child of a carpenter. Not exactly someone who rode in on his white horse and took over the world.”

Jonathan seemed to soak in her words then nodded. “I know that. There’s wisdom in what you say, but I do think I’m going to forgo dating
anyone
for a while.”

Before they could talk any further, the doors opened and those gathered around went inside. The next hour and a half was filled with some of funniest bits Malachi had ever seen, though he knew he didn’t get all of the references because he wasn’t an American. Some reference to “spring training” he didn’t quite understand plus a few others.

Jonathan insisted they wait around after the show ended. About twenty minutes later, the main couple from the show walked back in. Only the five of them were left in the room. As they neared, both of them stopped a few feet away to either bow or curtsy.

Malachi shifted uncomfortably, suddenly on high alert. They knew who he was? Did his security team know? And were they a threat?

Chapter 17

Jessabelle wasn’t sure how to react when this couple bowed and curtsied in front of them. Malachi tensed next to her.

Then Jonathan introduced them with a grin. “Malachi, Jessabelle, these are friends of mine. Josh and Stephanie Wilson.”

So they were a couple. Jessabelle thought Stephanie looked to be about Malachi’s age, but the Josh guy seemed to be a bit older.

“I do business in Mevendia,” Josh was saying. He looked at his wife. “We actually attended Queen Adeline’s wedding and met very briefly there.”

“We did?” Malachi asked. “I apologize for not remembering.”

Josh chuckled. “There’s no reason for you to have. It was a handshake in a line with a bunch of other people. But now, I wish we could stay and hang out longer. We’ve got an infant at home that’s going to be looking for her mom soon.” He held out a hand to Malachi. “It was a pleasure to see you again, sir.”

“You, too.” Malachi shook his hand as Jessabelle shook Stephanie’s.

The five of them walked out together, talking about the show that night, with Jessabelle and Malachi complimenting them on it. Josh and Stephanie both expressed their desire to have them over for dinner, but their time was too short to make those arrangements this trip. They went back to the Langley-Cranston Estate, and Jessabelle got ready for bed.

She was sitting on the edge of the bed, taking off the cross necklace he’d given her on their honeymoon and laying it on the side table, when she heard him come in.

“I have something for you.” An envelope dangled from Malachi’s hand as he casually leaned in the doorway.

“What’s that?” Jessabelle brushed her hair back and wished she felt more comfortable around Malachi.

He walked toward her holding it out. “Open it.”

She took it, opened the brads, and slid them through the opening. Lifting the flap she reached in to pull out some paperwork. Jessabelle glanced up at him and pulled the sheaf out. Forms of some kind? In scroll across the top, it read:

Serenity Landing University

Application for Admission

“What?” She didn’t understand.

“You want to go on to university, correct?” He sat next to her on the bed, something that still made her uncomfortable.

“Yes. But here? Or is it an online degree program?”

“You can do some online, but I’d imagine you’d want to do something in the nursing program, and you can’t do that via distance learning.”

Her head snapped up, eyes meeting his. “How did you know?”

“I saw what you were looking at in the brochure, and I saw you with the little girl after the museum.” Tremors shuddered through her as he ran a finger down the side of her face. “Was I right?”

“Yes, but isn’t there a school in Mevendia? Surely there’s at least one that trains pediatric nurses.”

“There is. But this particular school also has a degree program that interests me. We could move here together in time for the next session. I spoke with Addie. They still own the house here and would be happy to let us use it. They kept it for visiting Charlie, Lindsey, and Ellie’s families, but they can make other arrangements, or there may be enough room for all of us, depending.”

She looked back down at the paperwork. “I’ll think about it.” That’s as committed as she was willing to be.

“Read through it?”

“I will.” Was this too much, too fast? Given the recent death of her father, should she be making big decisions?

“Get some sleep. We’re leaving fairly early tomorrow.” Malachi leaned over and pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “And don’t forget, we’ll be heading to the fundraiser in Ravenzario the next day. We won’t be home long.”