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‘‘No. Families do this when they have a bunch of kids. It makes it easier for them to share a bathroom without arguing over who’s spending too much time at the mirror.’’
‘‘I see.’’ Although she couldn’t. Alex didn’t think she’d ever shared a bathroom with anyone.
The sister bedroom to hers had been converted into a study complete with a desk across from a sofa and chair. The matching bay window faced a fenced paddock that held three mares. Alex crossed the room to gaze at them.
The animals grazed in the peaceful afternoon. She felt a flicker of envy. What would it be like to live a life like this one? ‘‘It’s so quiet here,’’ she said. ‘‘When I left Aspen, there were security people everywhere. My sisters were arguing over who got what bedroom, and the cook was complaining because the proper supplies had yet to be delivered. To make it all the more interesting, half the town had already figured out we were in residence, so there was a constant stream of cars driving by the front gates. It’s just a matter of time until the press starts camping out.’’
‘‘If your sisters are as pretty as you, then I can sure understand why. Any of you married?’’
It was the second time he’d complimented her. Over the years she’d been told many positive things about her appearance. Some had been outrageous flattery, and some she’d believed. Even so, no practiced collection of words had made her feel as flustered as this man’s casual comments.
‘‘Um, no. We’re all still single. I’m the oldest.’’ She smiled. ‘‘I’ve had several rock stars propose, but I’ve managed to steer clear of any romantic engagements.’’
He leaned against the door frame, and it seemed as if he held up the wall instead of the other way around. ‘‘I can’t imagine living like that,’’ he said. ‘‘I promise no press or rock stars out here. The most excitement will be when Betty, my housekeeper, finds out you’re really a princess. She has a thing for royalty. She follows the British royal family and that one in Monaco.’’
His gaze drifted over her body again. As he looked at her, she had the oddest sensation of heat and pressure, almost as if he was really touching her skin. How ridiculous, she told herself. It must be jet lag.
‘‘She’s going to want to fatten you up,’’ he said.
It took her a minute to figure out who the ‘‘she’’ was. ‘‘Your housekeeper?’’
‘‘Yeah. Betty’s not one for skinny women.’’
She wanted to ask about his preference, but didn’t have the courage. Besides, something wonderfully alive and hot flickered in his eyes. Something that made her mouth go dry and her legs tingle.
Their conversation was far too personal to be appropriate, she thought, trying to distract herself. Yet if she was honest with herself, she would admit that she didn’t want to change the subject. Nor did she want to complain about the way Mitch was looking at her. Because very few men bothered to see her as a woman instead of a princess. Alex would have bet her favorite pair of diamond earrings that at that moment he’d completely forgotten she was anything close to royalty.
She had to clear her throat before she could speak. ‘‘You have a very lovely home, Mitch, and I’m honored to stay here. Thank you.’’
‘‘Your watchdog hasn’t cleared me yet.’’
‘‘Is there any doubt?’’
He sighed. ‘‘Not a one. And I’m a dozen kinds of crazy for letting you move in, princess.’’
‘‘Will it be so awful?’’
His gaze settled on her face. She found herself studying his mouth and wishing it weren’t quite so intriguing.
‘‘Awful?’’ he asked. ‘‘No. It’s going to be worse.’’
* * *
At exactly seven that evening, as it did every Sunday night, the phone rang. Mitch picked it up on the first ring. ‘‘Hi, Mom, hi, Dad,’’ he said into the receiver.
‘‘Mitch!’’
His parents greeted him as they always did, their familiar voices bright with pleasure.
‘‘How are things up there?’’ Mitch asked as he leaned back in his favorite chair and closed his eyes.
He could picture his parents in their quarters in their bed-and-breakfast in the San Juan Islands in Washington state. They’d retired there about five years before with the intent of buying a small house and finally taking things easy. After six months they’d both been going crazy with boredom. As his mother put it, a body couldn’t spend a lifetime working from sunup until midnight and then just stop. So they’d purchased a small bed-and-breakfast, fixed it up and started catering to an upscale crowd. They both loved it.
‘‘We’re doing well. I have to tell you, though, some days I think cattle are a darn sight easier to deal with than people,’’ his father said.
His mother laughed. ‘‘He’s just annoyed because some of the guests wouldn’t go on his evening walk. You know how your father likes to collect everyone together, then herd them along the path by the cliffs.’’
‘‘The exercise makes them appreciate their dinners more. It’s healthy.’’
‘‘They’re on vacation, Bob. Let them rest.’’
It was a familiar argument. Enough of one that Mitch allowed himself to be distracted by faint noises coming from the back of the house. He hadn’t seen much of his guest since her security team had reluctantly cleared both him and his employees. They’d driven off only a short time ago, and that was after leaving him with pages of written instructions, phone numbers to call in case of emergency and a cell phone that connected automatically with the FBI.
He knew he was going to regret letting Princess Alexandra of Wynborough stay with him, and not just because she was going to be a pain in the butt. He was going to regret it because she was the first woman in a long time who tempted him. He couldn’t help staring at her body and wondering what it would feel like next to and under his. He wanted to kiss her and hold her and lick her and—
‘‘Mitch, are you listening?’’
His mother’s voice broke through his erotic daydream.
‘‘I’m here, Mom.’’
‘‘Is everything all right?’’
He’d decided not to mention his guest to his parents. His mom would get way too excited about royalty, and his dad would figure it was a cover for a hot romance and start talking about grandkids. ‘‘Everything’s fine. Have you heard from John?’’
There was a brief pause. He knew both his folks would be momentarily sad at the thought of their youngest son. They never understood his need to roam, although they respected it and always welcomed him home. ‘‘Not in a few weeks.’’
‘‘Me, either. I’ve just been thinking about him. If he calls you, will you ask him to phone me?’’
‘‘Of course, dear.’’
They chatted for a few more minutes, then Mitch heard the beep of his call-waiting. ‘‘I have another call.’’
‘‘Go ahead and take it,’’ his father said. ‘‘We were about to say goodbye. We love you, son.’’
‘‘I love you, too. Bye.’’ He pushed the Flash button and connected the waiting call. ‘‘Hello?’’
‘‘Mitch Colton?’’ an unfamiliar male voice asked.
‘‘Yes.’’
‘‘This is Andrew Morgan from the State Department. I’m calling to thank you for extending your hospitality to Princess Alexandra. Our nation has a long and cordial history with her country. After the unfortunate loss of their son, the king and queen choose not to visit us. We were deeply disturbed by this. Fortunately, the visit of the princesses allows us an opportunity to make some kind of amends for what happened before. Your nation is very grateful for your cooperation in this matter.’’
Mitch held the phone in front of him for a second and stared at it disbelievingly before returning it to his ear. This wasn’t really happening to him, was it?
‘‘Mr. Colton?’’
‘‘Yeah, I’m here. I’m happy to help.’’
‘‘Good. I have a special phone number for you. Please call with any problems or special requests.’’ The man went on to talk about the importance of making the princess’s stay a pleasant one, that FBI security would be instantly available in the event of something going wrong and would Mitch like some information from the Protocol department on how to interact with royalty.
‘‘I think we’re doing fine on that one,’’ he said dryly.
‘‘As you wish,’’ Mr. Morgan said. ‘‘If you change your mind, you can reach me at the number I gave you. When all this is finished, the government would like to show its gratitude in the form of an invitation to the White House. Perhaps your parents would like to attend with you.’’
Mitch would have preferred a cut in his property taxes for the year, but he doubted Andrew wanted to hear that. ‘‘Thanks. I’m sure that will be very nice.’’
‘‘Call me if you have any questions. And again, Mr. Colton, thank you from a grateful nation.’’
There was a click and then silence. Mitch hung up and swore. Yup, just like he’d thought. Nothing was ever going to be the same again.
Chapter Three
‘‘Are you all right?’’
Mitch glanced up and saw that Alex had walked into the living room. She still wore the toast-colored knit dress that clung to her curves in a way that was decidedly unroyal—at least in his masculine opinion. Not that he was going to complain. If he had to have a princess in his house, at least he’d gotten a beautiful one.
‘‘The State Department just phoned,’’ he said. ‘‘They wanted to make sure I planned to extend every courtesy to the representative of an important country, or something like that.’’
She didn’t even have the decency to look surprised. Instead she nodded seriously. ‘‘I forgot to mention that they would be in touch. It’s more of a formality than anything. I wouldn’t worry about it.’’
‘‘I hadn’t planned to.’’ He stared at her, taking in the blue eyes and the cascade of auburn curls. Deep inside, the flame of need roared into a full-fledged wildfire. Just his luck. The first woman to get his attention in several years turned out to be about as unapproachable as a nun. ‘‘You really are a princess,’’ he grumbled. ‘‘So what am I supposed to do with you?’’
She gave a soft laugh that threatened his composure. ‘‘You could invite me to sit down.’’
Only then did he realize she was standing. ‘‘Sorry.’’ He waved at the sofa, then leaned forward in his chair. ‘‘Look, Alex, if you’re going to be staying here, you’re going to have to just go ahead and do what you want. If you’re planning on waiting for me to ask you if you want a drink or something to eat, you’re going to starve. I spend most of my days out with the cattle and my evenings working on the books. I don’t have much company, certainly not your kind.’’
‘‘I appreciate the warning. I promise to take care of food and water for myself.’’
‘‘Except for Sunday, you won’t have to worry about food. Betty will be here in the morning and she’s going to be thrilled to have someone else to cook for.’’
‘‘Are you sure I won’t be in the way? I don’t want to be a bother.’’
‘‘You won’t be,’’ he told her, answering the question in the context she’d intended. After all, she bothered him plenty, but that was his problem and he would solve it all on his own. Her stay was very temporary. When she was gone, he was going to have to force himself to start dating again. Obviously he’d been spending way too much time alone.
‘‘I spoke to my parents,’’ he said. ‘‘I didn’t tell them about you being here, but I did ask them to have John call me if he got in touch with them.’’
‘‘That’s wonderful. Thank you.’’ She tilted her head. ‘‘Why didn’t you say anything about me?’’
‘‘For one thing, I hadn’t talked to you about it. I figured you’d want to keep your presence here as quiet as possible. For another, they wouldn’t understand.’’
She wrinkled her nose slightly. ‘‘Because I’m a princess?’’
‘‘Because you’re a woman.’’
She raised her eyebrows but otherwise didn’t respond to his statement. The lamplight caught on the curls on the top of her head and gave them a goldish glow. Again he saw that she had the most perfect skin and long, slender hands. She moved those hands now to open a folder that he hadn’t noticed until just that moment. Inside were more than a dozen sheets of paper.
‘‘There are a couple of items I would like to discuss,’’ she said. ‘‘As I mentioned earlier, my parents don’t know the real reason my sisters and I are in this country. They think we’re here doing publicity for my father’s celebration.’’ She looked up and gave him a quick smile. ‘‘We are doing that, as well, but our real purpose is to find out information about our brother.’’
‘‘You’re not going to get much publicity out here,’’ he said. Then an ugly thought occurred to him. ‘‘You’re not planning on inviting the press to the ranch, are you? I don’t want things disrupted more than they have to be.’’
‘‘Of course not, Mitch. No press, not even an interview. We arranged the schedule so each of us would have some free time to work on the investigation. I have to attend a charity fund-raiser in Los Angeles in a few weeks, but other than that my calendar is clear until after the first of the year.’’
‘‘You’ve thought it all out.’’
‘‘I hope so. This is important to us.’’
She continued to talk about her plans, but Mitch found himself distracted by the thought of what she was doing. While he believed the story about her brother, in his mind the odds that the kid had survived seemed slim. Did she really think that John might be the long-lost heir to a kingdom? Mitch shook his head. Not John. No way. He was a drifter, someone who had, despite the family’s best efforts, never fit in. If he was Alex’s brother, wouldn’t he behave royally or something?
‘‘I’ve already made arrangements for the extra phone lines,’’ Alex was saying.
‘‘You got through to the phone company on a Sunday?’’ he asked.
‘‘I didn’t call the phone company directly. I was given a special number. They’re going to have to run another trunk line to the house.’’ She paused. ‘‘I’m not sure what that means, but I’m hoping it won’t be too disruptive. Of course, I’ll cover any costs involved.’’
He waved her comment away. ‘‘Don’t worry about it.’’
‘‘All right. The rest of my things will be here on Tuesday. The office equipment, the computer, copy machine and fax will arrive tomorrow. Then there’s the messenger service. They’ll be delivering daily, sometimes twice a day.’’
Mitch leaned back in his chair and tried not to let his dismay show. Just as he’d thought, his life was being pulled in a direction he didn’t want to go. ‘‘You’re not going to start playing polo on the front lawn, are you?’’
Alex glanced up. ‘‘I don’t play polo.’’
Her accent intrigued him. He wanted to hear her say his name softly, but with passion. Down boy, he told himself. Don’t go there.
‘‘If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you some questions about your brother,’’ she said, flipping to another page in her folder. ‘‘You both went to school locally.’’ She read for a second. ‘‘You played sports quite a bit, I see, as did John. Football? That’s different from soccer or English rugby. I’ve actually seen a few games live. It’s a little confusing, but I liked it.’’
He stared at her, then at the papers in her hands. He’d assumed she just had lists of whatever princesses kept lists of, but it wasn’t that at all. Irritation built inside him until it pushed him to his feet and across the room.
‘‘May I?’’ he asked, even as he took the folder from her. He scanned the contents of several sheets. There were detailed histories of himself and his family members, information on the ranch employees and even copies of his last three tax returns.
‘‘What the hell is all this?’’ he asked, tossing it back at her.
Alex grabbed the papers and stared up at Mitch with some surprise. His change from cordial host to hostile adversary startled her. ‘‘Is there some mistake? Did they get something wrong?’’
He planted his hands on his hips and glared down at her. She suddenly felt small and faintly alarmed.
‘‘No. They got everything right.’’
‘‘Then I don’t understand the problem.’’
‘‘That is the problem.’’
She studied him for a couple of seconds, then realization dawned. ‘‘Oh, I see. You’re upset because I have this information. What’s the expression? You consider it an invasion of your privacy?’’
‘‘Damn straight.’’
She drew in a deep breath. It was easy to forget that the rest of the world was different from her reality. ‘‘If you would stop looming over me, I could try to explain.’’
Despite his obvious irritation, he flashed her a quick grin. ‘‘I’m looming?’’
‘‘Rather impressively. I’m tall, and most men are my height or shorter. You’re taller by several inches. I’m not used to that.’’
He sank onto the far end of the sofa. ‘‘We grow them big out West.’’
‘‘So I’ve heard.’’ She closed the folder and smoothed the cover. ‘‘I’m sorry this has upset you. I never thought it would be a problem, but that’s because I have very little privacy of my own. I often forget the rest of the world isn’t like that.’’
‘‘I guess I can understand that,’’ he said.
Alex searched his face. She sensed that he was saying the right words, but that he didn’t really mean them. She wanted him to understand. She not only needed his cooperation to help her find her brother, but she and Mitch were going to be living in the same house for a short period of time. It would be easier if they could get along.
‘‘I know this isn’t anything you expected or wanted. One minute you were living your life and the next I invaded it. I do hope we can find a way to make this work for both of us.’’
His gaze sharpened suddenly, as if her words had a meaning that only he could understand. Then he rose to his feet. ‘‘You’re right. I didn’t ask for you to be here, but you’re here now so there’s no point in complaining. As for making this work, I suggest we try to stay out of each other’s way as much as possible. The ranch is big enough, as is the house.’’ He headed for the door.
‘‘Mitch, wait.’’ She gestured to the folder. ‘‘I still have more questions. I’m not finished with you.’’
He paused and looked her up and down. ‘‘Maybe not, princess, but I’m finished with you.’’
* * *
Alex compared the numbers on the computer screen in front of her to the papers that had arrived earlier that morning by messenger. Donations to the Wynborough children’s organization she ran were up considerably. The new advertising campaign was a success. She made a note to send the publicity director a handwritten thank-you letter, then went to the next item on her list.
She’d been on the ranch four days and finally had things organized. Setting up a remote office had taken longer than she’d expected, but now she was able to stay in touch with the palace and her sisters. Now if only the mysterious John Colton would make an appearance.
She heard the sound of approaching footsteps in the hallway and glanced at the clock on her desk. It was nearly ten, so the visitor would be Betty with her morning coffee.
‘‘You don’t have to do this,’’ Alex said as she rose to greet the other woman. ‘‘I’ve told you, I’m not a real guest here. I’m more of an intrusion.’’
Betty, an attractive woman in her mid-fifties, waved her off with a smile. ‘‘I haven’t had anyone to spoil in ages. Mitch is always working, and there’s never anyone else around to cook for. I like it. Besides, when all this is over, I get to tell all my friends about taking care of a real live princess.’’
As she had for the past couple of days, Betty set the tray with two cups of coffee and some incredibly delicious cookies that she made herself. The two women moved to the sofa at the far end of the study and sat down. Alex enjoyed both the break from her work and the company. Despite Betty’s short gray hair, the woman had a youthful glint in her eyes and a wicked sense of humor. She also knew everything about the ranch.
‘‘Are you all settled?’’ Betty asked.
Alex took a sip of coffee and nodded. ‘‘I was able to get right to work this morning. I’m trying to clear up as much of my work as possible so I can get on with the investigation. What with coming over to America, then moving to the ranch, I’m a little behind.’’ She glanced at the piles of papers on her desk. ‘‘I’m in touch with the palace several times a day. There’s so much to organize.’’
‘‘Almost sounds like you’re running a company.’’
‘‘In a way it’s very similar.’’ Alex pressed her lips together. ‘‘I spoke to my parents this morning. I haven’t done that since moving here.’’
Betty nodded sympathetically. ‘‘Did they accept your story about taking some time to relax at a private ranch resort?’’
Alex nodded. She’d had to come up with a way to explain a different area code and phone number to her parents. Betty had been the one to suggest saying she’d gone away to unwind for a couple of weeks. ‘‘It was horrible. They were both pleased I was taking time for myself.’’
‘‘What’s wrong with that? They sound like lovely people.’’
‘‘Oh, they are, but I’m not used to lying to them. It’s not something I do often or well. I just felt uncomfortable.’’ She took another sip of coffee, then sampled one of the chocolate chip cookies on the tray. ‘‘But I reminded myself it was for a greater good. If we find James, they’ll understand. If we don’t, better that they aren’t troubled by what we’re doing.’’
Betty leaned forward. ‘‘I think it’s very exciting that you’re searching for your long-lost brother. I hope it turns out to be John.’’
‘‘That would be convenient,’’ Alex admitted. ‘‘But there’s only a one-in-three chance of it being him. I want to get over to The Sunshine Home and go through their records. I finally have permission from the current owner. Although, she warned me that nothing that old has been put on computer, so it’s going to have to be a manual search. We’re going to have to find the other two boys who arrived around the same time as John.’’
Alex paused and took another bite of the sweet cookie. ‘‘There’s so much to coordinate. And as if searching for my long-lost brother isn’t enough, I worry about my sisters, especially Serena.’’
‘‘She’s the youngest?’’ Betty asked.
‘‘Yes. She has a wild streak that is going to get her into trouble. And there’s something wrong with Elizabeth, although I can’t figure out what.’’ Alex thought about the conversation she’d had with Elizabeth just that morning. Her sister had seemed distracted again. ‘‘Right now the only one I can count on is Katherine.’’
‘‘I’ve seen their pictures in the paper. They’re all very pretty young women. I’m surprised you all aren’t married.’’
‘‘Sometimes we are, too,’’ Alex admitted. She glanced around the homey room. The decorations had a woman’s touch. ‘‘Did you and Mitch’s mother decorate the house?’’
‘‘Most of it. Now that she’s moved away, I don’t change things as much as I used to. Mitch’s study is off-limits, of course, as is his bedroom. That man is incredibly stubborn about certain things.’’
He might be stubborn, Alex thought, but he was also a man of his word. He’d told her that they should stay out of each other’s way, and so far that was exactly what he’d done. She’d barely seen him since Sunday, and when she had sought him out to ask him a question, he grunted rather than answered. Telling herself it was silly didn’t make the faint sensation of disappointment go away. Foolishly she’d thought they could be friends.
She glanced at Betty. The housekeeper had known Mitch since he was a boy. Alex had thought about asking her about him, but hadn’t quite worked up the nerve or the right question. Impulsively she decided she might as well plunge in with both feet.
‘‘I’m surprised Mitch isn’t married.’’
Betty snorted. ‘‘I keep telling him he needs a woman around here, but he doesn’t listen. Of course, there aren’t that many to choose from in the area, and city girls don’t usually take to ranch life.’’ Her gaze turned speculative. ‘‘You’re different enough from…’’ She shook her head. ‘‘Never mind. I won’t discuss his personal business.’’
Alex brushed her hand self-consciously against her wool skirt, then touched the cuff of her silk blouse. What personal business? she wanted to ask, but didn’t.