Her Undercover Prince Page 9

  Back in her street clothes, she told the owner to have it delivered to the palace along with the others.

  “How about some gelato before we go back?” Yvette led the way to a shop a couple of doors down.

  With a cup and spoon in hand, they wandered toward an open-air market.

  “What’s going on with you and the hottie?” Yvette asked. “I presume he’s the guy in the pictures the last few days.”

  “He is,” Jacqueline Grace confirmed. “There’s nothing going on, though. He’s the father of Kiara’s best friend.”

  “I doubt even you believe that.” Yvette took a bite of her gelato as she watched Jacqueline Grace.

  Poking at the gelato with her spoon, Jacqueline Grace wondered if she could get away without answering. “I like him. He likes me. There’s a definite spark between us, but he’s my father’s new assistant valet.”

  “And therefore an unacceptable option for a princess.” Yvette nodded as though she understood. “I know what it’s like to meet family and societal expectations for marriage. Even when we thought Nicky was dead, I knew I wouldn’t have cart blanche with who I chose to marry.”

  “You knew Nicklaus a week before you got married. I can’t imagine doing that.”

  “Less really. We met a week before the wedding, but I didn’t even see him several of those days.”

  “And you went through with it anyway.”

  Yvette took another bite of her snack before answering. “There were reasons. There was that attraction from the very beginning, but a lot of other reasons to go through with it. Some of those reasons were personal. Some legal. Some grounded in international relations. Mostly, I knew I was safe with Nicky. If I’d believed for a second that he wouldn’t be faithful or would be abusive, none of the rest would have mattered. My father would have helped me.”

  “You were barely eighteen.” Several years younger than Jacqueline Grace.

  “You and I both know that life in the royal spotlight can force you to grow up much faster than you would otherwise.”

  “Has the spotlight changed since you married? Is it more intense or less so?”

  “It was more intense for a while. No one knew Nicky was alive until the ceremony itself. That got the media on our backs. Since then, it’s died down a lot, though the ‘burrito or baby bump’ stories get old.”

  Was that a hint of pain in the other princess’s voice? They’d been married just over a year, and both were younger than Jacqueline Grace. Surely they weren’t expected to have a child already.

  “My advice? Choose someone who will love you. Who will put you, Kiara, and any other children above any other commitments they might have. Sometimes choices have to be made and family comes second, but when it all hits the fan, loyalty to family can’t be overrated.”

  Jacqueline Grace pondered Yvette’s words as they went back to the car to return to the palace.

  Given Dave’s statement about his estrangement from his family, where would he fall on Yvette’s scale?

  Until she knew more, Jacqueline Grace knew she wouldn’t be able to stand up to her father and press for him to allow her whoever she wanted.

  When was the last time Dave wore a tuxedo? Even before leaving home, he was more likely to wear his uniform than a tux.

  Something else he hadn’t told Jacqueline Grace about.

  His military service.

  The whole reason why he had chosen to do this undercover, don’t have contact with your family, thing.

  In reality, this wasn’t even the most formal tuxedo he’d ever worn.

  An aide waited for him in the living area of the apartment and told him Jacqueline Grace had already left. When he reached an outer area near the banquet hall where the dinner would be held, Alexander stopped him, gripping Dave’s forearm with his hand.

  “I didn’t know he’d be here,” the other man said quietly. “Christiana didn’t either. He was invited by a mutual friend earlier today.”

  “Who?”

  “David?” The voice caused Dave’s heart to first skip a beat then gallop onward.

  He steeled himself then turned. “Hello, Gideon.”

  Duke Alexander quietly left the two of them alone.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m a guest of Princess Jacqueline Grace of San Majoria. That’s where I’ve been living.” He took a deep breath. “I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell Father.”

  Gideon’s eyes grew wary. “We all understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, but are you sure this is the best way?”

  “I don’t know, but this is the way it has to be done.” How did he get out of being in the same place as Gideon? If Alexander noticed the resemblance without having seen Gid in a while, how much more would Jacqueline Grace see it when they were in the same room?

  “Very well. No one will hear from me that we’re related. I don’t know who else is going to be here that we might know, though.”

  “Your date?”

  “I don’t have one. I was a late addition.”

  That solidified a plan in Dave’s mind. “Then why don’t you be Jacqueline Grace’s escort? I’d rather not risk running into anyone I know. Alexander already figured it out.”

  Gideon nodded. “I can do that. I just need to know if there’s something between you two.”

  Dave crossed his arms over his chest. “Why do you need to know that?”

  The twinkle in Gideon’s eye told him what his brother meant.

  “Leave her alone. There’s nothing going on because she doesn’t know who I am. I expect you to keep your mouth shut. I’m working for her father, and he doesn’t know who I am either.”

  First his brother’s eyebrows shot up, then came the laugh. “You? Working? For a king? What’s your job? Royal shoe-shiner?”

  “Yes. I’m the assistant valet. And a parent.”

  That sobered Gideon. “A parent? And Father doesn’t know?” His eyes narrowed. “You haven’t been gone that long.”

  “I’ve been gone long enough.” He sounded more defensive than he should over an accusation that wasn’t true. “But that’s not me, and you know it. It’s a long story, but I’m the guardian for a little girl. I’m not biologically related to her. I haven’t adopted her.” He silently added yet.

  Gideon’s eyes went back to the twinkling humor he was known for. “Can I be there when you tell Father?”

  “No. For now, be polite to the princess and tell her I’ll talk to her later.”

  Dave spun on his heel and started back the way he’d come.

  “David?”

  He turned back at his brother’s voice but didn’t say anything.

  “It’s good to see you, brother. We can’t wait for you to come home.”

  “Thanks.”

  “But David? You might consider all the legal ramifications of adoption back home before you go through with it.”

  It took a minute for Dave to understand the implications in his brother’s words. He nodded. “I will. Thanks for reminding me.”

  The walk back to the apartment was one of the loneliest ones Dave could remember in a while.

  He found a stash of high-quality beverages in the study and poured himself a drink. Flicking the lights off, he sank into a chair and slouched down. He nursed it, and when it was finally gone, he found some food in the kitchen.

  Dave slouched in the same chair, though he’d undone his tie and top button. He ate a sandwich and nursed another drink while staring at the garden outside. On the first floor, he couldn’t see over the walls, though he did look down into the garden rather than being at eye level.

  Eventually, several members of the dinner party made it into the garden. He didn’t see Jacqueline Grace or Gideon among them.

  Was this how his life would be? Inside looking out? Even after his quest was completed, would he be able to resume his normal life? Would Mary be accepted back home? Would she even be willing to go back home with him? Would the courts
let him take her?

  He downed the last of the amber liquid in his glass. He needed to suss it out, to answer those questions.

  Another time.

  12

  With a sigh, Jacqueline Grace twisted the knob for the door to the apartment they were staying in. The girls were staying somewhere else. She wasn’t sure how she felt about staying in the apartment alone with Dave, especially after he abandoned her with some other man.

  Maybe he’d already be asleep.

  She started down the hall to her quarters.

  “You look amazing.”

  Jacqueline Grace turned to see Dave leaning against the door frame to the study, one ankle crossed over the other. His tie hung loose and the top two buttons were undone on his shirt.

  “I’d say the same to you, but you didn’t show up.”

  The glass in his hand was empty but seemed to hold his attention. “I had reasons.”

  “Good ones?”

  “Maybe. They seemed like it at the time. I knew Gideon would be a pleasant dinner companion but wouldn’t be handsy or make you uncomfortable with his intentions.”

  “How do you know him?”

  Dave shrugged. “We go way back.”

  “Did you know he would be here?”

  “Not until he said something to me before the dinner started. He didn’t know he would be here until this afternoon.”

  “He did tell me that. He didn’t tell me how you knew each other though.” She wiggled one foot out of a heel and then the other. Standing in her bare feet, she stretched her feet and wiggled her toes.

  “Did you dance with him?” Dave looked up, something vulnerable written on his face.

  Jacqueline Grace shook her head. “No. He asked. There was dancing, but not much. I didn’t feel like it.” Because she’d been planning to say yes when Dave asked her and couldn’t say yes to anyone else.

  He pushed off from the wall and walked toward her. “Then dance with me.”

  She’d half hoped he would ask. “There’s no music.”

  As he set his glass down on a side table, he pulled his phone out of the inside pocket of his jacket. After a few taps, music filled the air.

  He came closer and held out a hand. “May I have this dance, princess?”

  With her hand in his, he pulled her closer, his other arm wrapping around her waist.

  “I wish things were different,” he whispered. “I wish I could tell you everything. That you could meet my family. My fellow servicemen and women.”

  “You were in the military?”

  “For a couple of years. Not officially anymore.”

  “Would I like your family?”

  He turned them in a circle before he answered. “I think so. They’d like you.”

  “Would my father like them?”

  “That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?”

  She didn’t like the sound of defeat in his voice. “We’d never know until we tried.”

  “Someday. Someday I’ll tell you everything.”

  “Why not now?”

  His fingers were splayed on the small of her back, but now they flexed and clenched. “Because I can’t.”

  Jacqueline Grace didn’t say anything else but let him pull her closer. Why couldn’t things always be like this? Why couldn’t Dave tell her everything? Did he not trust her?

  The song ended, and Jacqueline Grace stepped back, turning and moving quickly to her room, closing the door behind her. There was no point in being so close to Dave, in seeing what could have been when it couldn’t be.

  The next morning, she knew she’d slept, but fitfully at best. Kiara ran into her room and jumped on the bed.

  “We had so much fun, Jacquie!”

  Jacqueline Grace leaned back against the headboard. “You and Mary had a good time?”

  Kiara shrugged as her demeanor changed. “Dunno ‘bout Mary.”

  Interesting. “Did you argue with Mary about something?”

  Rather than answering, Kiara shifted and snuggled next to Jacqueline Grace.

  “What did you argue about?”

  “Mr. Dave.” She barely heard Kiara.

  Jacqueline Grace closed her eyes and prayed for guidance. “What about Mr. Dave?”

  “I as’ed if Mary would share her daddy.”

  That wasn’t what she expected. “You asked Mary if she’d share her daddy with you?”

  Kiara nodded.

  “What did she say?”

  “She doe’n’t want another mommy.”

  Jacqueline Grace didn’t understand the relevance.

  “If I share her daddy, she shares my mommy, and she doesn’t want another mommy.”

  That Jacqueline Grace understood. “We’ll talk to her later. For now, you’re not going to share her daddy, and she never has to replace her mommy. You can like Mr. Dave, but the only way he’d be your daddy is if I’m ever able to adopt you and Mr. Dave and I were to get married. For lots of reasons, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

  “Why?”

  How to explain to a four-year-old? “There’s lots of reasons. You know who my papa is?”

  “He the king.”

  “That’s right. Because my papa is the king, I’m a princess. That means I can’t marry just anyone I want. There are reasons why I can’t marry Dave. And because we still don’t know who your first mommy and daddy were, I don’t know that I’ll be able to adopt you. That doesn’t mean I love you any less. It just means a judge won’t let me until we know more about your first mommy and daddy.”

  “Oh.”

  “I will always love you, sweet girl. You’re the daughter of my heart, even if a judge never says you’re my legal daughter.” They’d had this talk before, several times. She hoped Kiara understood there was nothing Jacqueline Grace could do to make it any more legal than it already was.

  Security teams and police had spent months looking into Kiara’s past and found nothing. The case remained open, though she didn’t think the investigation was very active.

  They stayed snuggled together for a few more minutes. Jacqueline Grace picked up her phone. “It’s time for breakfast. Why don’t you go get dressed in your room, and I’ll meet you there in a minute?”

  “‘Kay.” Kiara scrambled down and ran toward the door.

  Jacqueline Grace hurried through her morning routine. Another text came in as she picked up her phone. She smiled.

  It was time to get back to the house. She had a date to get ready for.

  They didn’t need a helicopter on the return trip. Just the SUV and a ferry, followed by a drive down the coast of Ichnusia, the southern island of Ravenzario.

  Dave knew something had happened between the girls, though Mary wouldn’t tell him what it was. Kiara seemed to have told Jacqueline Grace. He hadn’t had a moment alone with her to ask about it.

  He wasn’t sure the princess would have told him anyway. The air between them had frosted significantly since their dance the night before.

  If he’d told her everything then, things would be very different now. But he hadn’t.

  Instead, the girls watched separate movies. He and Jacqueline Grace studiously ignored each other.

  When they arrived at the house, they were greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Rappellino. He knew they noticed everyone was more subdued than they’d been when they left two days earlier, but they didn’t say anything.

  Jacqueline Grace went directly to her quarters with Kiara in tow. Dave took Mary with him to the girls’ room.

  “What do you want to do this afternoon, Miss Mary?”

  She leaned against the seat of the couch and crossed her arms. “Nothin’.”

  That didn’t sound like her. “There’s nothing you want to do? Go build a sandcastle? Play in the little waves? Swim in the pool?”

  She shook her head.

  “I know there’s a paddleboard around here. I could take you out a little way in the water on the side with the little waves.”

 
; Mary perked up a little at that idea.

  “Why don’t we do that? While you put your bather on, I’ll go get mine, and we’ll go down to the cove.”

  “Okay!” She ran toward the drawers with her things in them.

  Dave hurried to his quarters and changed into his bathers. By the time he finished, Mary was already knocking on his door.

  Hand-in-hand, they walked back to the beach where they’d found the boat - and Martin. Neither remained at the cove.

  After helping Mary with her life vest, he pushed the large, flat board into the water with her seated on it. When the water was to his waist, he stopped.

  “What do you think?”

  She wasn’t even wet yet. “Is okay.”

  Just okay? Dave loved being in the water. He’d never pushed Mary to tell him why she didn’t.

  “Mama liked water.”

  “Your mom liked the water?” he clarified. It fit what he knew about the woman.

  She nodded.

  “Mama never took me.”

  It started to make a little more sense. Her mother loved the water, but never took Mary. In the little girl’s mind, it probably equated with not loving Mary.

  The abandonment sure didn’t help much either.

  “If you want to love the water, you can.”

  She reached out and touched the lightly rippling surface with her fingertips. “I dunno.”

  “Why don’t we start slow?”

  “Like Kenny.”

  Kenny? Kensington? He remembered the news coverage of the prince and a little girl. He knew it was Mary but hadn’t given it much thought.

  “Kensington took it slowly when you were with him. We can do the same.”

  She bit her bottom lip and stretched her legs toward the water. Scootching, she let her legs sort of dangle partway in.

  After a few minutes of letting the water move over her feet and even splashing a little, she reached for him. “‘Kay. I go in.”

  Dave picked her up. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. “I’m going to go down a little, okay?”

  She nodded.

  He bent his knees until Mary was in about to her waist. “How’s that?”

  “Farther.”