- -
- 100%
- +
“Laryngitis, hmm?” he asked, still grinning. “I’ll cut my hair. I’ll even wear this prince’s fancy clothes. But don’t think I’m gonna stick out my pinkie when I drink out of one of those sissy china cups.”
GWENDOLYN SUPPRESSED A sigh of relief when Mr. McCauley acquiesced to her plan for him to impersonate the prince. At least he’d give it a good try, she was sure, because for some reason he’d decided to help her. It wasn’t the money; something else motivated Hank McCauley. Perhaps he wasn’t as broke or lazy as he appeared. She certainly wished she knew what did motivate him, since she would no doubt need that knowledge later, when instructions were going poorly and he threatened to walk out. Which he probably would.
Truth be told, she wasn’t entirely certain she could turn this casual, flirting, unrefined cowboy into Prince Alexi in less than twenty-four hours. However, the idea of reporting her failure to King Wilheim was unconscionable. She had to try. And Milos Anatole, Prince Alexi’s valet, would help tremendously.
The idea of telling her father she’d been dismissed from her first independent job, especially one with the royal house of Belegovia, was appalling.
“Very good, then, Mr. McCauley. If you’d like to pack a small bag with any personal toiletries, we’ll be off.”
“Whoa, now. I have to make arrangements for someone else to help Juan take care of my stock. I can’t just walk away from seventeen horses, four laying Rhode Island Reds, and the best mouser in the state of Texas.”
Gwendolyn wasn’t sure what he was talking about—probably some types of animals—but he sounded responsible for them. “Perhaps this Juan person can handle the task. Or surely you have a friend or a neighbor who can help.”
“Well now, I have somebody I can call, but I’ve got to see if he’s available. He’s got his own place to take care of.”
Gwendolyn glanced at her watch. If they got on the road within the hour, they could arrive in San Antonio before two o’clock that afternoon. That would give her nearly twenty hours—if they had to work through the night—to get Mr. McCauley ready for the children’s hospital and zoo appearances tomorrow.
“Let’s get on with it, then.” She rose from the couch and clutched her briefcase in front of her with both hands.
Mr. McCauley frowned, leaning back in his chair to look her in the eye. “Are you always this bossy?”
She swallowed a caustic reply. “I’m sorry, Mr. McCauley, but we are on a tight deadline. If there is anything I can do to convince your friend to arrive promptly, please let me know.”
“How much were you gonna pay?”
She suddenly realized they hadn’t discussed a fee. “How much do you require?”
“We’ll talk about me later, but why don’t you pay my friend five hundred to stay here and watch my spread? That’ll cover about two days of his time.”
From knowing Prince Alexi—who had the uncommon ability to compute pounds to yen to euros—for so many years, she’d learned to compute foreign currency. Five hundred dollars seemed fairly reasonable. About ten dollars an hour American, if one counted the entire day and night. “Very well. I’ll have a check prepared for him.”
“Now, Lady Wendy, I’m not sure the bank in Ranger Springs will let him cash a check from Europe.”
Gwendolyn felt her body go rigid. “I assure you—”
“Now, don’t get all bent out of shape. This is a small town. Hell, a lot of people won’t take a check from Oklahoma, much less Belegovia. Why don’t you run into town and see if you can get some cash? I’ll get dressed, pack a bag and be ready to go when you get back.”
“This is absurd! A check from the royal treasury of Belegovia is absolutely valid!”
Hank McCauley shook his head, making a lock of unruly hair fall into his hooded eyes. “No cash, no deal.”
Gwendolyn swallowed another reply and turned on her heel. “Very well, then, Mr. McCauley. Your friend will have his cash. I’ll be back shortly. Kindly be ready to leave when I return.”
“You’ve got it, Lady Wendy.”
She heard the recliner squeak as he rose, but his bare feet made no sound on the floor. She couldn’t keep herself from looking back to see where he was located.
He was right behind her. She turned and clutched her briefcase high against her chest, drawing in a deep breath, inhaling his clean fragrance and spicy cologne. Why didn’t the man at least don a shirt? He was absolutely improper.
Absolutely intoxicating, she had to admit as her head swam.
“You might want to stop by the Kash ’n’ Karry on your way back from the bank. I’ll need a couple of six packs of Dr. Pepper—the real kind, not that diet stuff—while we’re working on this prince thing.”
“Dr. Pepper.” She was relieved her voice still worked. “Anything else?”
“Throw in some Doritos, will you, darlin’? I’ve got a good idea all this training is gonna make me hungry as well as thirsty, and I doubt they have my kind of food on the menu at the hotel where we’ll be stayin’.”
Hotel. The two of them, working until the wee hours, alone in a suite. Maybe not alone, if she could keep Milos with them all night. “Whatever you wish, Mr. McCauley.”
He stepped even closer, so close she had to look up into his blue eyes and heart-stopping grin. Too dangerous. She dropped her gaze. She could see the sprinkling of hair on his fingers as he gripped the towel around his neck. His chest appeared warm, broad and firm underneath those fisted hands. She had the irrational and totally inappropriate urge to taste his skin.
Good heavens! What was wrong with her?
“Now, Lady Wendy, what did I tell you about not leavin’ an offer like that on the table?”
“What?”
He grinned. “Never mind. You run off to the bank, now, and don’t forget those Dr. Peppers.”
TRAVIS AUSTIN WHITTAKER had just paid for a pound of ten-penny nails, a box of staples and two rolls of chicken wire when his cell phone rang. Getting his change from Jimmy Mack Branson at the hardware store, he unclipped the phone from his belt.
“Hello.”
“Travis, I need a favor.”
“What’s up, Hank?”
“I need to go out of town for a couple of days, real unexpected. Can you come over and help Juan? He needs to be home with his family at night. Also, I’ve got a new horse coming in on Friday and I’m not sure what time I’ll be back.”
“Sure, I’ll be glad to.” He paused as he held the door open for two ladies. “Got a hot prospect on a new horse?”
Hank chuckled. “Kind of a hot prospect, you might say, but not the four-legged variety.”
“Whoa. That’s news.”
“Well, not exactly. I need to keep this real quiet, Travis. Can you do that for me?”
“Sure, buddy. No problem. Will you have your phone with you?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’ll call if anything comes up I can’t handle.”
“Thanks. I’m paying you for this.”
“No way.”
Hank laughed. “Yeah, I’ve gotten you a great deal. I’ll fill in the details later.”
“Whatever.” Hank knew that Travis didn’t need the money. Besides, he wouldn’t take payment from a friend and neighbor. “I’ll come by late this afternoon if that’s okay.”
“Sure. Juan leaves around five o’clock usually.”
“See you when you get back.”
Travis hung up the phone and shook his head. So Hank was finally seeking out some female companionship. Good for him. As far as Travis knew, Hank hadn’t been in a serious relationship for months. He’d sworn off women after he quit the circuit because the gossips of Ranger Springs could sure do a number on a man’s reputation if he wasn’t careful. Just look at what had happened to Grayson Phillips—they’d hounded the poor man into matrimony last year, not that Gray seemed to mind being married to Dr. Amy Wheatley, Travis recalled with a chuckle.
So Hank was going off with a woman for two days. Well, Travis sure hoped he had a real good, relaxing time. Nothing like a little R and R to put a smile on a man’s face.
Chapter Two
He might be a rogue and a scoundrel, but he was a man of his word. He was ready to go when she returned from the bank. A well-worn carryall sat next to his chair on the porch while a large, fat yellow tabby cat wove its way through his legs.
Presumably the “best mouser in the state of Texas.”
Gwendolyn stepped down from the Land Rover, motioning Prince Alexi’s valet to follow her. She’d prefer to make the introductions before they all climbed back into the vehicle for the short trip to San Antonio.
“Would you care to join us, Mr. Boedecker?” she asked the driver.
“You go right ahead, Lady Gwendolyn. I’ll get to know Mr. McCauley later.”
Yes, at least the two men would have something in common. Same state, same economy of language. They no doubt enjoyed activities like drinking beer and flirting with women.
Well, she thought, pulling her jacket straight and marching toward the porch, Mr. McCauley would not be flirting with women for the next few days. Not as Prince Alexi. She didn’t want any rumors to get back to King Wilheim, who was intent on his eldest son marrying a suitable woman from European nobility as quickly as possible. Gwendolyn prayed that no word of Alexi’s impulsive little trip with the truck-stop waitress reached the king’s ear.
Hank McCauley rose from the wooden chair, stretching until she was certain the pearl snaps on his shirt were going to pop open. Ridiculous idea. Why in the world did these cowboy types prefer shirts without proper buttons?
“Mr. McCauley, I’d like to present His Royal Highness Prince Alexi’s personal valet, Milos Anatole, who will be assisting you with clothing and personal grooming.” She gave a slight nod, and Milos, who was very proud of his position as attendant to the future king of Belegovia, stepped forward and bowed.
“No offense, Mr. Anatole, but I’d just as soon get dressed on my own.”
“Milos will be indispensable to you in making the correct wardrobe choice,” Gwendolyn pointed out.
“He can pick ’em,” McCauley drawled, “but I’m doin’ up my own buttons and zippers.”
She suppressed a smile, noticing that Mr. McCauley’s drawl became much more pronounced when he stressed his Texas roots and independent ideas. “I’m sure we all understand your need for privacy.”
He frowned at her, but she plunged ahead before he could make any further remarks. “Milos will also assist with your instruction and other details such as protocol and menu.”
“You just tell me where to go, when to be there and what to wear, you hear?”
Good heavens, but Hank McCauley was laying it on thick today! Perhaps he was trying to convince them all that he was as opposite to Prince Alexi as night and day. Well, she’d just see about that! When she was finished with him, he’d be able to stand next to the prince and confuse even close acquaintances.
She only hoped she could fool the paparazzi and the king.
“Well, let’s be off then,” she said cheerfully. “Mr. McCauley, I’d suggest you sit in the back where the windows are tinted darker until we work more on your princely bearing.”
“Whoa again, Lady Wendy. I’m perfectly willing to go with you and help out with this impersonation, but I’m not squeezing myself into the back seat of that vehicle and taking off for San Antonio. No self-respecting cowboy would get himself stranded in town with no way back home.”
“We will, of course, provide transportation when Prince Alexi returns.”
“Nope. I need my own truck.”
Gwendolyn resisted the urge to place her hands on her hips and stamp her foot like an irate fishwife. “Mr. McCauley, we need to start work immediately on the history of Belegovia, the itinerary and all the details that you will need to know as Prince Alexi.” And she sincerely doubted she could get any work done in a rattletrap truck strewn with paper rubbish and beer cans. Not that she’d actually seen any of that debris around Mr. McCauley yet…
“Then you come with me and start working. I’m driving my own truck to San Antonio or I’m staying right here.”
Stubborn man! She would have gladly strangled him if she didn’t need his neck to be free of bruises for the next few days. “Very well,” she said as civilly as possible under the circumstances. “Let me get my briefcase and I will begin instructions at once.”
“And bring me one of those Dr. Peppers, darlin’,” he called out as she turned away.
She gritted her teeth and shooed the other man back to the Land Rover. “Make a list of whatever you feel is most urgent for Mr. McCauley’s education. We’ll meet with him in the suite after checking in to the hotel. I trust we’ve already made arrangements to enter through the service elevators?”
“Of course,” Milos answered. “No one except for a few maids will see the prince enter the hotel.”
“Very good. Call me on my mobile if you think of any problems.”
After retrieving a cold can of the soda, her sun-glasses—a recent addition to her wardrobe caused by the unrelenting glare of the sun on the shining bonnet of the Land Rover—and her briefcase, she made her way with as much dignity as possible to the porch, where Mr. McCauley awaited. At least he was fully dressed. She should have thought to give him a selection from Prince Alexi’s wardrobe, but she’d been so shaken when she left his ranch to go into town that she hadn’t planned that far ahead. She sincerely hoped this was not an omen of things to come.
“Let’s be off,” she repeated, handing him the can.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Really, Mr. McCauley,” she said as he took her arm and steered her around the side of the house, “your sarcasm is unnecessary and inappropriate. I am the daughter of an earl, not a member of the royal family.” She took a deep breath as she rushed to keep up with his longer stride. “Prince Alexi would certainly never say such a thing to an employee.”
“I’m beginning to think this prince is a real bore.”
“Absolutely not! He’s a wonderful man.”
“He sounds like a sleazy toad who just ran off with my former girlfriend.”
“You claimed that you and Ms. Jacks were not that close.”
“That’s beside the point. I’m not real fond of this prince right now.”
Gwendolyn wasn’t real happy with him, either, but she wasn’t about to admit that to Mr. McCauley.
They stopped beside a huge, flashy pickup truck with a ram’s head emblem on the side. It was spotlessly clean, and the dark blue finish featured tiny, glistening metallic flecks that reflected the unrelenting Texas sunshine. The monstrous vehicle was so tall that it needed a step for passengers to climb inside.
Hank McCauley reached up, opened the door and gazed at the interior. “You just throw that gimmee cap in the back and boost yourself up into the dually. I’ll get us to San Antonio pronto.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“What?”
“Did it ever occur to you that the rest of the world speaks English, while you are communicating in some language that is incomprehensible to the average person?”
Hank McCauley threw back his head and laughed. Of all the gall! Gwendolyn was sorely tempted to kick him in the shin, just as she’d done to Prince Alexi when they were school chums in England and he’d teased her about a particularly lovely little straw hat she’d worn…just once.
“I’ll tell you what,” Mr. McCauley said as he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her to the steps of the monster truck. “You teach me proper English, and I’ll teach you Texan.”
She let out a gasp as she tottered on the step, bringing her eye to eye with the irritating cowboy.
“Easy does it, Lady Wendy.” His warm hands steadied her. “First lesson. This truck is a dually because it has dual wheels on the back. That’s for hauling horse trailers and other heavy equipment. Second lesson,” he said, his warm blue eyes crinkling in humor, “a gimmee cap is a cap with a logo that you get free from somebody who wants to sell you something. Like John Deere or Purina. Got it?” He didn’t wait for her reply. “Now you get your cute little butt inside the truck and don’t touch anything. You can start lecturing me as soon as I get on the road.”
With that, he turned her around—quite effortlessly, she noticed—and actually patted her on the bottom!
“Well!” she exclaimed, but she was already pulling herself onto the seat. His chuckles faded as he walked around the back of the “dually.” He probably told every woman he met that she had a “cute little butt.” As if that were true praise. If he’d really been paying attention, he might have made a tasteful remark like complimenting her suit or her general appearance, not commenting on the size of her bum.
Irritating man, she thought as she “accidentally” placed her hand on top of the gimmee cap and squashed it flat.
BY THE TIME HANK DROVE into San Antonio, his head was spinning with details of Belegovian history, social protocol, current European nobility and a hundred other subjects he’d never heard of before. Lady Wendy had taken the opportunity to brief him on these subjects so she could start their “hands-on” instruction once they reached the hotel.
Hands-on, he remembered with a chuckle.
“Something you’d like to share, Mr. McCauley?” she asked from her side of the truck.
“Just thinking about all the stuff you have stored.”
“Don’t you dare say ‘in that pretty little head of yours,”’ she said in that upper-class British voice of hers that should have left him chilled. Instead, he felt real warm. Getting hotter by the minute.
“Why, I’m shocked that you’d think such a thing!” he said in mock indignation. “You make me sound like some sexist macho pig.”
Lady Wendy sniffed and straightened her spine. “I’m surprised you’re even familiar with the feminist slur.”
“I do get around,” he informed her as they slowed for traffic where I-35 branched off. “By the way, which hotel are we goin’ to?”
“The Hyatt Regency,” she informed him. “I believe it is on what is called the Riverwalk.”
“That’s right. Best of all, it’s just a block from the Alamo.”
“Ah, the Texas landmark.”
“Darn right! I take it you’ve never been.”
“This is my first trip to Texas,” she said in a tone that implied it would also be her last. She just didn’t appreciate the state’s wide variety of attractions. Hank felt a moral obligation to change her mind.
“Now, all this learnin’ and drivin’ has tired me out,” he informed her as he took I-37 toward down-town San Antonio. “After we get checked in, I’m gonna need a little nap.”
“Absolutely not! We have to begin immediately on fitting the wardrobe, learning the speech, mannerisms and posture of Prince Alexi, and heaven knows what else to get you ready for tomorrow!”
“Princess, if I don’t get a few hours of shut-eye, I’m not going to do you a bit of good tomorrow or anytime.”
“Perhaps you should have thought of that when you stayed up all night, Mr. McCauley.”
He narrowed his eyes and gripped the steering wheel tighter, but he doubted Miss High and Mighty noticed his anger. “Well, I wasn’t thinkin’ about much but saving Sandstorm’s life last night, Lady Wendy,” he answered with as little sarcasm as possible. Darn woman probably thought he’d been out drinking and chasing women. “Have you ever seen how much misery a horse can be in when they colic? You would have been walkin’ her all night and half the morning, too, if it would have saved her.”
“Colic? Like with babies?”
“Yeah, except it’s more serious with horses. They get down on the ground, first throw their head toward their bellies, then begin to roll ’cause they’re in such pain. They can get their guts all twisted and they’ll die. It’s not a pretty sight, I’ll tell you that.”
He exited the freeway and pulled the truck to a stop at the light, which gave him a chance to take a nice, long look at his passenger.
“No, I don’t imagine it would be,” she said with a little shudder. “I take it your horse is better this morning?”
“She’s fine. I dosed her until she was all cleaned out, then—”
Lady Wendy held up a hand. “That’s enough detail for me, Mr. McCauley.”
Hank chuckled, his anger gone as quickly as it began. The light turned green and he turned right. “The hotel’s just a few blocks from here. Do you want me to pull into valet parking?”
“No, we’ve made arrangements for Prince Alexi to enter through the service entrance.”
“But I’m not Prince Alexi yet.”
“Yes, but you look enough like him that people may recognize you.”
“They might also recognize me from my bronc-riding days.”
“Really? Are you somewhat of a celebrity, then?”
Hank chuckled again. “Just if you follow rodeo, Princess.”
“Please, stop calling me those ridiculous names. As I explained, I’m not royalty.”
“Yeah, but you sure are cute when you’re riled,” he said with a grin.
“I assure you, Mr. McCauley, I’ve never been called ‘cute’ in my entire life.”
As he stopped at the light to go around the block, he looked again at Wendy. She had a real aristocratic face, kind of narrow with what might be called sharp features. Her biggest assets, in his practiced opinion, were her eyes. He imagined they could get real warm and pretty, with the topaz color and golden highlights. But she didn’t use them to flirt. As a matter of fact, she didn’t play up any of her features, even that pale, pretty English complexion.
“I think you might be real cute if you’d smile more often.”
“I smile.”
“Naw, I’m not talkin’ about one of those stingy little polite smiles. I’m talkin’ about a big old, happy-to-be-alive kind of smile.”
He suspected she was blushing, because she looked down at her hands and fiddled with the buttons on her too-heavy suit jacket. “I don’t think we should be discussing my smile.”
“Why?” He snapped his fingers, getting her attention. “Oh, I get it. You’ve got that British problem I heard about. I’m sure sorry, Lady Wendy.”
“What British problem?” she asked, obviously irritated at his teasing.
“I’m sure sorry I didn’t notice it earlier,” he whispered, then paused dramatically. “Bad teeth.”
He heard her cry of indignation as he pulled to a stop in front of the hotel. “I most assuredly do not have bad teeth!”
“Really? Let me see.” He leaned toward her.
“Mr. McCauley! Please, I’m not one of your horses!”
“Come on, now, Lady Wendy. Just open up a little and let me see.”
“You are incorrigible.”
She sounded offended, but he detected a hint of amusement under her starchy facade. “I know I am. It’s part of my charm.”
She tried harder not to smile.
Hank grinned. “You know you want to show me your pearly whites.”
“I’ll have you know my mum and dad spent a fair amount on my teeth.”
“Yeah? Mine, too. I was always busting out a tooth or chipping one when I got thrown.”
“I’ve never had a chipped tooth.”
“Really? They can be pretty sexy.”
She sucked in a breath, her topaz eyes suddenly warm. As a matter of fact, the whole inside of the truck seemed to have warmed up considerably. “How?”
He leaned a bit closer. “’Cause you can run your tongue over that little ol’ chip.”
“Why would that be sexy?” she whispered.
“Maybe I wasn’t makin’ myself clear. I meant if you were kissing me, you could run your tongue over that chip. Of course, you’d have to search really long and hard, ’cause it’s been fixed for years.”
“I see,” she said, staring at his mouth.
He couldn’t stand it a moment longer. He stretched his arm across the space dividing them, held the back of her head in one hand and kissed her while her lips were parted in surprise. He didn’t intend to take advantage of her shock, but her mouth was as sweet as Texas in springtime, and her lips were as soft as blue-bonnet petals. His tongue touched hers, then retreated to trace the shape of her teeth—teeth he’d already noted were pearly white and straight as could be. When she moaned, he cupped her cheek with his other hand and deepened the kiss.