The Lost Princes of Ambria 06 - Taming the Lost Prince (12 page)

“How did I do without you all this time?” he said huskily. “Eddie once said to me that if anything ever happened to you, he wouldn’t want to go on alone. And I can see why.”

His words sent a shock through her. She closed her eyes and thought about them for a moment. Then she looked at him, trying not to be resentful. “And you’re wondering how I’ve managed to go on so normally without him?”

“No,” he said, looking shocked at the thought. “That isn’t what I meant to say at all.”

“Then why did you say it?”

He shook his head, trying to remember what had been in his mind at the time. “I just wanted to remind you to remember how much Eddie loved you.”

She pulled her arms in close. “I don’t need reminding. I remember very well. I remember it all the time.” She still felt resentful as she looked at him. “I didn’t get to where I am without a lot of pain, you know.”

He nodded, searching her face, staring into her eyes. “I know that, Kayla. There was enough pain to go around.” He winced and looked away. “I felt it, too. After Eddie died, I went a little crazy for a while.”

“Didn’t we all?”

“No, I mean it.” He looked back at her. “I took stupid chances, did stupid things. In some ways, it almost felt as though I couldn’t live life normally anymore. If a guy as super as Eddie could get killed like that, what right did I have to be happy?” He frowned, remembering. “I began to make careless mistakes. At one point, I did something stupid and I had to ditch my plane. I bailed out in time, but it was a while before they found me.” He shook his head. “That woke me up.”

“That was when I saw the report on the news. I … I really thought you were gone, too.”

He nodded. “It was hard to accept a world where the best people got snuffed out like candles. No real reason. Just here one moment, gone the next. To see a good guy like Eddie get killed so easily and a waster like I am get lucky every time—it didn’t seem right. I was having a hard time with that.”

“Max, Eddie’s gone. I don’t think you’ve completely faced it yet.”

“Have you?”

“Yes. I’ve tried very hard. There’s a part of me that will always love him and miss him horribly. But most of life has to go on without him. I either go on or I throw myself off the balcony.”

His eyes darkened with horror. “You wouldn’t do that.”

“No. I couldn’t do that. I have Teddy.”

He looked startled, as though he’d forgotten.

“Teddy is my whole life now,” she told him carefully, wishing she saw a smile or a look of affection or something friendly toward her son. How could this man not feel something? “Do you understand that?”

“Yeah, I think I do.”

She thought about the fact that he’d never really lived in a family. Maybe he didn’t understand what it meant to have a child, how it consumed your soul. It was true that as far as she could see, he didn’t react well to Teddy and she didn’t know why. But maybe this was a part of it.

Or maybe it was something else, something about Teddy’s background that threw him off. And if that was what it was, she knew she didn’t want to face that at all.

“I’ve got to get back.”

He nodded. “I’ll walk with you.”

They started off and once again, they both fell silent, as if they had talked about things that needed some mulling over before they mentioned them to each other again. At the door to her office, Kayla smiled at him.

“Could I come by and see you tonight?” he asked. “After the pizza party?”

Her smile disappeared. “No,” she said slowly, thinking it over on the run. “I think it would be better if we kept our relationship on a completely professional level. Forget that we’re friends.”

He looked as though he thought she was nuts. “Forget that we’re friends?” He shook his head, his anger beginning to hint at a return engagement. “No. That’s carrying things too far. I’ll be circumspect during prince lessons, but once they’re over, you’re fair game.”

“Fair game?” she repeated, puzzled.

“You got it. You can run but you can’t hide.”

“What are you talking about?”

“This.” Taking her face in his hands, he bent down and kissed her softly. His lips were warm and his solid male earthy scent made her head spin. His kiss was sweet and sincere and somehow much more effective than the wild one out by the little river. It brought tears to her eyes and left her gasping, aching for more.

“And that’s just a sample of things to come,” he told her, giving her a triumphant grin and turning to go.

Speechless, she watched him go, her cheeks burning. It wasn’t until he was out of sight that she remembered she still had his jacket.

She was fixing Teddy a nice peanut butter sandwich for dinner, because that was all he would eat besides eggs and bananas. He was dancing around the apartment, bobbing his head and pretending to play a little plastic guitar, when the phone rang.

“Hey, it’s me.”

Amazing how his voice could send sparkles through her bloodstream. She remembered the kisses and the sparkles intensified.

“Max. What is it?”

He paused, listening. “What’s that noise in the background?”

“Oh, it’s just Teddy. He’s so funny. I wish you could see him. He’s sort of singing and dancing and banging things. But you may ignore at will. Go on.”

“He makes a lot of noise for such a small kid.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” she said, laughing. “He’s only just begun.”

“Hmm.”

Once again Kayla got the impression that he didn’t like her baby much, and she frowned.

“Well, I just called to tell you my place has been totally ransacked.”

“What? How did someone get by the guard?”

There was an extensive network of security in the castle, but it was especially concentrated in the royal wing.

“That’s a good question.”

“Did they take anything?”

“I don’t think so.”

“What were they after?”

He paused, then said, “I think it’s all related. The people watching me, the people going through my things. What do you think?”

“It would seem logical I guess. But you have no idea who they are, right?”

“Right. Still, I think it’s related to this. Now if I could figure out what they’re looking for …”

“How about an historical artifact from Mercuria?” she suggested, eyes widening as she thought of it.

“I was thinking the same thing.” He paused. “Anyway, I just wanted to tell you to be careful. I’ve told the guards to watch your apartment more vigilantly than usual. So if you notice a lot of cops hanging around, you’ll know why.”

“Okay. Thanks.” She frowned. “Do you think it’s people from Mercuria?”

“I’m sure of it. No one else has a grudge against me at the moment. At least, no one that I know of.”

“Are you still going to the pizza party?”

“Sure.”

“Good. What are you wearing?”

“Kayla! I’m not a girl. Who cares what I wear?”

“No, I mean … I forgot to give you back your denim jacket. I left it in the closet at the office. Remind me later to give it back to you.”

“I have another one.”

“Oh. Hey, I guess you really do like them, don’t you?”

He ignored that and when he spoke again, his voice was lower, almost husky, with a feeling she didn’t want to name.

“Hey. I miss you.”

Her heart gave a lurch. “No, you don’t. You just saw me an hour ago.”

“I know. But I still miss you.”

“Max, don’t. You can’t …”

“I know. But I still miss you. Can’t help it. See you tomorrow. Good night, Kayla.”

“Good night, Max.” She closed her eyes to stop the tears that were suddenly threatening. “Happy pizza.” They met for breakfast at nine. She flushed when she saw him waiting for her in the little crepe café. She couldn’t help it. All that crazy kissing had made her jumpy for hours.

But he didn’t seem to remember it. He had a lot to tell her about his pizza party with his brothers the night before. He’d obviously had a pretty good time, though he wasn’t ready to call it that.

“It was okay,” he said slowly as he savored the hot cup of coffee the waitress had served him. “I still don’t feel really comfortable with them, but they are a great group. I like them all.”

And then he went on to tell her in minute detail everything everyone had said. She smiled, listening to him, slowly picking at her blueberry crepe. Could it be that he was beginning to feel a little better about being here?

He had an omelet and a brioche, but he looked tired. And then he yawned.

She frowned. “Didn’t you get enough sleep last night?”

He hesitated, looking a bit chagrined. “Actually, no. On my way back from the pizza party I met an old flying buddy I hadn’t seen for a while. We went and had a few drinks and …”

She bit back the words that came to mind, but he read her thoughts in her eyes.

“I know, I know. I’m supposed to be learning to be royal, not carousing with old friends.” He glowered at her. “The royal life is looking about as appealing as a term in prison.”

“It’s not that bad,” she said, smiling at his funny face. “Royals go out with friends all the time. In fact, some even get in a lot of trouble all the time. Just read the tabloids. But …”

“Kayla, I know what you’re worrying about. We’re back to the need for me to grow up. I know. I’m working on it.”

“I know.” She made a face. “I don’t mean to be your constant scold. That’s not much fun for either of us. And you deserve to have fun.” She gave him a silly grin that just oozed affection. How could she help it? She adored him and adored the way he told her what he was thinking all the time. There was very little about Max that was inscrutable.

And then she sobered. “Just don’t forget how serious these times are. The war may be officially over, but there is more work to do. This truce with the Granvillis is going to lead to us taking over their area soon and who knows how that will go?”

He looked at her carefully. “You’re sure of that, are you?”

“Of the Granvillis surrendering? Everyone says it’s about to happen.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Funny thing. This old flying buddy I met last night? He has some ties to the Granvillis and he thinks they are getting ready for a new surge.”

Her heart sank. “Oh, no.”

“He seems to think they’re getting some international help they didn’t have before.”

She shook her head, knowing how terrible it would be if the war heated up again. “You’d better tell Monte,” she said anxiously.

He looked away and shrugged. “I might,” he said slowly. “I’ve got to think it over first.”

“What?” The very thought that he might hesitate to tell his brother and king something that might be vital to national security floored her.

He glanced back, looking defensive. “It was a private conversation. Just talking with a friend. I can’t back any of it up. I’m not sure if he was on the level or just trying to recruit me.”

“Recruit you!”

He nodded. “They need flyers.” He looked at her, hard. “That’s what I do, Kayla. I’m a flyer. It’s what I love. I told him I’d think about it.”

“But …” She bit her tongue and turned away, horrified. Didn’t he see that doing something like that would be tantamount to treason? She had to find a way to make him understand that he was now a part of the heart and soul of the Ambrian people, and of this royal family. Their destiny was his destiny. All the rest would flow from that.

Turning back, she looked at him, so handsome, so rebellious. She thought of Eddie. He’d been the kind of man who always did the right thing without effort. He was never tortured by doubts the way Max was. But he’d loved the vulnerability in Max as much as she did, and Eddie’s own certainty was part of what drew Max to him, as she knew well. Two men, so different, yet both such quality guys. Max just didn’t know the extent of his virtue yet. But he would work it out. She had faith in him.

“Max, you’re representing the DeAngelis royal family now,” she said quietly. “And the nation of Ambria. That has to be your highest priority.”

He gave her a skeptical look and the corner of his mouth jerked down. She sighed, thinking about what she would say to him if only she could.

Max, you didn’t really grow up here. You have love of country in your blood, but not in your experience. You need both in order to understand what the others take for granted. You will. But you need to be introduced first. How am I going to make sure that happens?

She ached to say those things, but she knew he wasn’t ready to hear that right now. He was still feeling resentful.

“No matter what, I won’t be a spy,” he said, turning to look into her eyes. His jawline hardened. “I won’t rat on my flying buddies.”

She was so tempted to launch into a lecture on duty and patriotism and how those things had to come first, but she stopped herself. She was acting enough like a schoolmarm to turn Max from a best friend into an enemy. She had to learn a few things herself—things about when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. So she bit her tongue and smiled brightly instead. After all, they were still trying to convince him that he should stay.

She knew one thing. Everyone who came in contact with him wanted him to hang around. But he was so bored with the whole thought of being a prince. She was afraid one of the other offers that kept pouring in would tempt him and he’d be gone.

CHAPTER EIGHT

HALF an hour later, Kayla and Max were taking the elevator down to the main floor, where the gymnasium was located. The gym had a marquee, like an old-fashioned movie theater, and today it was advertising a basketball game that night. But as they walked in, half of the pictures posted in the display boxes had to do with minor sports and most of those were fencing.

“Have you ever studied fencing?” Kayla asked him as they entered the cavernous room. All the princes had been trained and Max would have to learn as well.

“Never.” He pretended to wield an imaginary foil. “We didn’t do much of that in the crowd I ran with.”

“Well, take a good look,” she said with a sweep of her hand. “Because you’re going to have to learn.”

“This lame stuff?” He looked down over the edge of the railing and suddenly hoped his voice hadn’t carried that far. Down below were numerous men in white clothing, holding very slender swords.