“I believe you promised me this dance.”

A deep, sexy male voice slid down her spine like a smooth cognac.

Valentina glanced up and saw a tall, broad-shouldered man wearing a black Stetson and a tux, his blue eyes searing into hers.

“Yes, I did.”

When he pulled her against him, his hard-muscled frame made something inside shudder and relax at the same time. From the moment she’d been born, Princess Valentina had been bred for duty. Her position was more important than her desires. She was always to behave responsibly.

“I don’t want this night to end,” he said, pulling her closer.

He clearly knew what he wanted and, for this moment, she knew that he was what she wanted.

“Me neither,” she said and lowered his mouth to hers.

Responsibility would have to wait.

Dear Reader,

Do you know anyone who does so much for others that they forget to take care of themselves? They’re so busy doing their job that they forget what they need. They forget what they really want. Because surely whatever they want can’t be as important. Hmmm. Maybe you are that person sometimes?

I loved heroine Valentina Devereaux from the moment she sprang to my mind and heart. The poor girl works like a dog, deals with a pain-in-the-butt-brother-prince and younger siblings who whine and shirk their duties at every turn. Okay, so the truth is this could be any family.

Princess Tina takes a break from being a princess for just one night and gives into what she wants, and oh, boy, does that night turn the world upside down. Her instincts led her to the one man who could make everything in her world right. Maybe … You’ll find out soon enough …

Enjoy,

Leanne Banks

About the Author

LEANNE BANKS is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author who is surprised every time she realises how many books she has written. Leanne loves chocolate, the beach and new adventures. To name a few, Leanne has ridden on an elephant, stood on an ostrich egg (no, it didn’t break), gone parasailing and indoor skydiving. Leanne loves writing romance because she believes in the power and magic of love. She lives in Virginia with her family and four-and-a-half-pound Pomeranian named Bijou. Visit her website at www.leannebanks.com.

Royal Holiday

Baby

Leanne Banks

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Chapter One

Tina adjusted her mask and breathed a sigh of relief. The masquerade party was in full swing with the house band slipping into a hip-hop number. For the next two hours, she could be anyone she wanted to be. In her case, that would be anyone other than the older sister of Her Highness Fredericka Anna Catherine of the small kingdom of Chantaine.

Thank God her college friend, Keely, had invited her to Dallas to celebrate her daughter’s christening and catch up. Tina couldn’t bear any more of the pitying glances she received when people talked about her beautiful younger sister’s marriage to a wealthy Parisian film director. It was all so glamorous, so exciting, and while she was happy for her sister, she was sick of everyone asking when she was getting married. After all, she was older than Ericka and the event had stirred up her brother’s suggestion that Tina should marry someone who could aid in Chantaine’s political interests.

But she wasn’t going to think about that tonight. Tonight the only person who knew her true identity was dancing with her husband at the other end of the room. Keely caught her glance and waved.

Tina waved in return, glad to see her friend enjoying a night out with her hubby.

“Wanna dance?” a man said.

She glanced up, surprised at the invitation. “Oh, no, thank you very much. I’m enjoying watching right now.”

“Maybe a drink would help you loosen up,” he suggested.

A little pushy, she thought and gave him a once-over. He stood about an inch shorter than her in heels. She didn’t like his slicked-back hair or his voice. It was whiny sounding.

Tina had always had a weakness for a sexy voice, though she’d kept that to herself. She shook her head. “No, thank you. Excuse me, I see a friend,” she fibbed and moved away.

She accepted a crab cake appetizer from one waiter. Another offered her a glass of champagne. Seconds later, Keely appeared by her side. “How’s it going? Are you sure you don’t want me to introduce you around?”

“Absolutely not,” Tina said. “I’m ecstatically anonymous.”

“If you’re sure,” she said in the warm friendly twang that had welcomed Tina since they first became roommates in college. “I guess it’s nice not to have to put on your princess face.”

Tina felt a twinge of guilt. She knew her position carried both benefits and responsibilities and she’d tried to never shirk from her duties, but lately it had felt overwhelming. “Just a little break,” she said. “I’ll be headed back to Chantaine day after tomorrow. I can’t tell you how much I’ve appreciated having this time with you.”

“We’ve loved having you,” Keely said. “Are you sure you can’t stay a little longer?”

Tina shook her head. “No. Remember, the wedding takes place in two months.”

Keely shot her a look of sympathy. “Duty calls. You’re always giving up what you want for others, Tina. One of these days you’re going to rebel and shock everyone.”

Tina laughed. “Not likely. Someone’s got to toe the line in Chantaine and it looks like it’s going to be me.” Uncomfortable with the discussion, she pointed to the dance floor. “As you would say, time’s a wasting. Enjoy your time with your husband.”

Keely gave a mocking dip of her head. “Yes, your highness, but there’s no reason you can’t kick up your heels yourself. If a gorgeous guy asks you to dance, promise me you’ll do it,” she whispered.

“I don’t know,” Tina said, thinking of the man who’d approached her earlier.

“Promise,” Keely said.

“Oh, okay,” Tina relented, because she knew there wasn’t much of a possibility for such a thing happening. “But he has to be gorgeous.”

“Agreed,” Keely said and left to drag her husband out on the dance floor.

Tina took a step back and observed the crowd. She enjoyed the novelty of being the observer rather than the observed. To her left, she heard a group of men discussing the fate of the Dallas Cowboys. To her right, she noticed a man seductively feeding his date an appetizer. Feeling a strange stab of envy at the romance oozing from them, she immediately looked away.

When had a man wanted her just because she was a woman, just because she was herself, instead of wanting her because she was Princess Valentina Catherine Marie of Chantaine? Try never, she thought and immediately felt frustrated with herself. She led an amazing life. Why had she been so dissatisfied lately?

“Let me take you on the dance floor,” the man who’d approached her earlier said. “I can show you a good time.”

Be careful what you wish for, she told herself, but this was not the guy of her dreams. She sighed. “No, again,” she said firmly. “But thank you.”

His hand on her arm took her off guard. “No need to be so shy. We could have some fun.”

“No, thank you,” she said, pulling back her arm and frowning when he didn’t release her. She didn’t want to make a scene, but this man was making things difficult. In other circumstances, her security detail would handle this, but tonight she’d successfully ditched them. She hadn’t done that since college.

“I’m really not interested—”

“Excuse me,” she heard another man say. A deeper, sexier male voice slid down her spine like the smoothest cognac in the history of the world.

She glanced up and saw a tall, broad-shouldered man with black hair wearing a black Stetson, a black mask and a tux. “I believe you promised this dance to me,” he said, his blue eyes searing into hers through the slits of the mask.

Tina’s heart tripped over itself. She met his gaze and felt an instant inexplicable trust and attraction. She gave it a second thought, then dismissed it. “Yes, I did,” she said and accepted the hand he offered.

“Well, I guess,” the whiny-voiced man began.

The lone ranger, however, led her onto the dance floor and guided her into a slow dance to a romantic song. “It looked like he was causing you trouble.”

“I suppose so,” she said, hyper-aware of his strong chest and clean, musky scent.

“Should I not have interrupted?” he asked.

“No,” she said then corrected herself. “I mean yes.” She swallowed a groan.

His hard mouth lifted into a slight grin. “Which is it? Yes or no?”

“Both,” she said, stiffening her spine. “He was causing me trouble, but I should have handled it.”

He spun her around then drew her back against him. “Now you don’t have to.”

She couldn’t help smiling. “So I don’t.”

Tina danced through another song with the mysterious stranger, then the band took a break and he lifted her hand to his lips. “Maybe later,” he said and moved away. The crowd closed behind him like the Red Sea.

Tina looked around for him but couldn’t see him.

Keely appeared in front of her. “I’m sorry, sweetie, but the babysitter called and Caitlyn won’t stop crying. Brent and I are going home.”

“I’ll go with you,” Tina said.

“Absolutely not,” Keely said with a firm shake of her head. “This is your last chance to have fun for a while. We’ve already asked a friend to look after you.”

Tina cringed. “That’s not necessary.”

“It’s either that or your security,” Keely said. “There’s no need for you to leave now.”

Tina thought of the handsome man who’d danced with her earlier. Why not? “Okay. But I’ll probably get to your house in less than an hour.”

“Don’t rush. Remember, you’ve got Ericka’s wedding coming toward you like a freight train.”

The very thought exhausted her. “Okay, you’ve convinced me.”

“Hey,” Keely said. “The crab cakes are great.”

Tina laughed and gave Keely a hug. “Go home and comfort your baby.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Keely said then pulled back. “Call me if you need me.”

As Tina watched her friend walk away, she felt a combination of exhilaration and terror. She was officially all alone at a party. Except for Keely’s mysterious friend.

Zachary Logan watched the brown-haired beauty accept a glass of champagne from the tray the waiter offered her. She also accepted a crab cake.

He smiled to himself. He liked a woman with an appetite. His good friends Keely and Brent McCorkle had asked him to look after Tina Devereaux. The only thing he knew about the woman was that she was Keely’s guest from out of town. He owed Brent a favor so he would do what his good friend asked despite the fact that he had been counting the seconds until he could escape this party.

Zach had been cajoled into attending this party by both friends and relatives. It had been two years since his Jenny and their baby had died, and he’d gone into seclusion at his ranch outside of Fort Worth. The pain of his loss still stabbed at him, the memories gutting him like a fish.

For the first time, the gaiety of the social gathering lifted his spirits, and Tina flat-out made him smile. Full-figured, with good manners and an accent he couldn’t quite place, she looked at him with a feminine curiosity that grabbed at him and drew him.

She took a sip of bubbly, then licked her lips and he felt an odd twist in his stomach. With the mask covering much of her face, it was easy to focus on her full, puffy mouth, the color of a deep rose. Soft and sensual looking. He rubbed his thumb over his own mouth, feeling a slight buzz.

He shook his head at himself. Where had that thought come from? Noticing how she tapped her toe to the music, he took the hint and walked toward her.

“Another dance?” he suggested, extending his hand.

Her green eyes lit up. “That would be nice,” she said and looked around for a place to put her glass. He took it from her and nodded toward a waiter who came to collect it, then led her onto the dance floor.

She shimmied to a dance club tune, laughing throughout the song as if she were getting away with something. Her attitude was contagious and he caught himself smiling more than he had in months. The song blurred into another and another until a slow tune began and he pulled her into his arms.

“I just realized I don’t even know your name,” she said. “I’m Tina.”

“Zach,” he said. “Zach Logan.”

“I would have never expected it, but this is the most fun I’ve had in—” She paused, a surprised look coming over her face. “Forever,” she confessed.

He chuckled. “Maybe you’re like me. Maybe you need to get out more.”

“Oh, I get out,” she said. “Just not like this. I hate to see it end, but I need to leave before the big reveal.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I need to leave before everyone takes their masks off at the end of the evening.”

“Why? Do you want your identity to remain secret?”

She shot him a cautious glance and shrugged. “Something like that.” The music stopped and she started to pull away. “I should go. Thank you, Zach Logan.”

He couldn’t let her leave on her own. He’d promised Keely and Brent he would make sure she got home safely. “Let me take you,” he said. “Can’t have a beautiful woman like you leaving by herself. And I know a place close by that serves the best ice cream floats if you’re interested.”

She looked tempted. “I shouldn’t,” she said, her voice oozing reluctance.

“Why?” he challenged, not eager for the evening to end either. He would go back to his apartment, full of memories that reminded him of how much he’d lost. “It’s just ice cream with a local boy.”

“Boy,” she echoed in breathless disbelief, giving him a once-over.

“Okay,” he amended. “It’s just ice cream.”

“Well, you did rescue me from that creep,” she said, caught in indecision. She squished her eyes together for a half beat then opened them. “I really shouldn’t get into a car with a man I’ve just met.”

“I can get you a cab,” he said.

“Thank you,” she said, disappointment leaking through her tone. He escorted her to the door of the private club and waited with her while the valet waved a car forward.

He opened the door and just before she stepped inside, she glanced over her shoulder. “I could still meet you for that ice cream float if I knew the address.”

“Calahan’s Diner on 54th and Poplar,” he said to the driver and her. “See you soon.”

Forty-five minutes later after Tina removed her mask, she sat across from the rugged man with the magnetic eyes. “I can’t remember the last time I had one of these,” he said as he drained the last drop.

Her gaze slid down his hard jaw, taking in the slide of his Adam’s apple, then lower to his broad shoulders. Watching him drink the float was the most seductive experience she’d had in a long time.

Tina wondered if that was just plain pathetic as she took another sip of her own float. She liked the way his bedroom eyes crinkled at the corners. The fact that he was knocking back an ice cream float made him seem a little less dangerous than if he’d been swilling whiskey. She supposed that if she were ever going to do something wild and impetuous with a man, he might be a good choice. Not that she ever would.

“You never mentioned where you live,” he said.

“Out of the country, right now,” she said. “But I attended college at Rice.”

“Is that where you met Keely?” he asked.

Tina blinked, digesting his comment and what it meant. She felt a rush of self-consciousness. “You were the one Keely asked to look after me.”

He nodded and his lips tilted into a half smile. “My pleasure.”

She resisted the urge to fan her heated face. “This is a little embarrassing. I didn’t know you were assigned to look after me. I shouldn’t keep you any longer—”

His smile fell. “No,” he said. “When I said it was my pleasure, I meant it. I haven’t been out in awhile. Being with you has—” He broke off and shrugged those broad muscular shoulders. “It’s been great. I haven’t felt this good in a long, long time.”

His eyes darkened with emotion, and she felt a visceral tightening in her stomach.

“I don’t want it to end,” he said.

His words echoed her own feelings. She sucked in a quick breath, determined to clear her head. She had responsibilities. Her duty was most important. Always. “I don’t either, but it must end.” She closed her eyes for a quick moment, trying to stiffen her resolve. Opening her eyes again, she shot him a smile that she knew was weary. “Grown-ups have to be grown-ups.”

He nodded, giving a slight chuckle as he slid his gaze over her from head to waist, heating her from head to toe. “Damn shame, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” she said, wishing she were a little less responsible, wishing she could be impetuous and follow her heart … or hormones….

“I’ll get the check, then get you a cab,” he said.

Moments later, she sat in the back of a cab driving her toward Keely’s house. Damn chivalry, she thought and gave a dark laugh at herself. It would have been so much easier if he’d taken advantage of her. Oozing his sexy Texan charm, it would have been sooo easy. Instead, he’d given her a choice, which meant she’d had to take the chaste high road when she’d wanted to be a bad girl. Just once. She’d always been the good daughter. At the moment, that halo she wore felt way too tight.

The taxi stopped at a red light. When it turned green, the vehicle sputtered and stalled. Great, she thought. She was accustomed to riding in perfectly maintained limousines. Riding in a taxi was an adventure. Under a torrential downpour, she looked outside her window and hoped the cab would start.

The driver cranked the engine again. And again. And again. To no avail.

Darn it, she didn’t even have an umbrella with her. Her staff usually provided that. Tina sighed. Perhaps she should call her security. Heavens, she hated the idea. There would be a fuss from the head of security and her brother and maybe even her father.

She waited several more moments, her cell phone ready in her hand. An SUV pulled alongside the cab. A moment later, a knock sounded at her window, startling her. Frightened, she stared into the rain, reluctant to open her door.

“Tina,” a male voice said. “Open up.”

Recognizing the voice of Zachary Logan, she opened the door. “Zach,” she said.

His Stetson dripping with raindrops, he swung an umbrella toward her. “Need a ride?”

“To where?”

His gaze gave a dark flicker. “Wherever you want. I can take you to Keely’s or I can take you to my place in town.”

Tina stared into his eyes and felt as if she were balanced on a precipice. She could be sensible or cautious or for once, give into her passions. She saw a ravenous need in Zach’s gaze that called to something inside her. She’d been taught to ignore her needs. But somehow, the tug she felt toward Zach was stronger than anything she’d ever felt before.

Tina rose from the cab with all the grace she’d been taught since she could walk and accepted his hand. “Your place,” she whispered.

Chapter Two

Tina stepped across the threshold of Zach’s apartment, her heart hammering in her chest. When Zach flicked on the light behind her, she stared into the spare, generically furnished living space and felt her stomach dip with reticence. What was she doing?

“Let me get you something to drink,” he said, walking past her and removing his hat. “Sorry I don’t have much to offer. I spend most of my time working when I stay here instead of at my ranch.”

She followed after him and watched as he stared into a near-empty refrigerator. “Juice, water.” He craned his neck. “Beer and chardonnay.”

“Water’s fine,” she said, licking her lips.

“Sure you don’t want wine?” he asked, looking over his shoulder.

“Maybe just one glass,” she said. “Besides ranching, what kind of business do you have?”

Zach grabbed a beer, then opened the bottle of wine and poured the golden liquid into a glass. “My brother and I own some companies together—information-sharing systems and upgrading equipment for mid-size companies. We also offer consultation for trading futures and trade them ourselves.”

“Sounds busy,” she said and accepted the glass of wine.

“What do you do?”

“I work in public and international relations,” she said, not wanting him to ask any further questions. She took a quick sip and stared into his gaze, feeling her stomach dance with nerves.

He skimmed his gaze over her, then took a long drink of beer. “Listen, if you’d like me to take you to Keely’s—”

“No,” she said, quickly, breathlessly. “Unless you want me to go.”

“No,” he said just as quickly, but his voice was rougher with a sensual edge to it that affected her on a visceral level.

She took another sip of wine and willed herself to be more brazen. She took two steps forward then stopped. “I’m not accustomed to making the first move,” she whispered.

He raised his eyebrows and nodded, taking another long drink of beer. “Maybe I can help with that,” he said and closed the space between them.

Inhaling deeply, she caught the scent of him, soap, cologne and just a hint of musk. He smelled male, good, seductive. He slid his hand over hers and tugged her toward the kitchen counter where he propped his can of beer.

His hand felt strong and warm around hers. Taking her wine glass from her hand, he took a quick sip, then also set the glass on the counter. He dipped his fingers into the wine and rubbed them over her lips.

She blinked at the raw seductive move, but had no desire to object.

“I think I need another taste of that wine,” he said and lowered his mouth to hers. His mouth was firm and sensual. He slid his tongue over her lips and she felt his hunger vibrate inside her. When he pulled her against him, his hard-muscled frame made something inside shudder and relax at the same time.

She wasn’t dealing with a college boy here.

She remembered her first time as heavy kisses, awkward fumbling, a rushed penetration followed by a stab of pain. Afterward, she’d wondered Why bother?

Tina knew she was experiencing the opposite side of the spectrum. Zachary was a man, and he clearly knew what he was doing. He knew what he wanted and at this moment, she knew that he was what she wanted. From the time she’d been born, Tina had been bred for duty and responsibility. Her position was more important than her desires or personal needs. She was always to behave responsibly. If things went wrong, then she was supposed to fix them. She would always need to remain on guard.

For the first time in a long time, if not forever, she let down her guard. She had the bone-deep sense that Zach was the most responsible man she’d ever met. For now, his responsibility meant taking care of his needs and her own, and she felt a delicious anticipation that he could achieve both tasks. She sighed with a combination of relief and excitement and clung to his strong frame.

Giving herself into his sensual care, she drew his tongue into her mouth, savoring his taste. He quickly inhaled in surprise or approval, or both, and rocked her pelvis against his hardness.

A thrill raced through her and she pressed her breasts against his chest. He gave a low growl. “Are you sure you—”

“Yes,” she whispered desperately against his lips and slid her hands upward, knocking his hat from his head.

Within seconds, he had pushed off her coat and unzipped her dress. Tina felt a draft of cool air when her dress pooled at her feet, but his warm hands replaced the fabric, quickly distracting her. She tugged at his jacket and tie then fumbled as she unbuttoned his shirt.

It seemed like both forever and no time at all before she felt his naked warm skin against hers. The sensation of her breasts against his chest made her nipples tight with need. Heat and desperation grew inside her. When had she wanted like this? When had she allowed herself to want like this?

Her brain shorted out as he dipped his head, taking one of her nipples into his mouth. Tina gasped in pleasure.

He swore under his breath. “You’re so sexy. Don’t know how long I can wait.”

“Don’t,” she urged, sliding her fingers through his hair. “Don’t wait.”

Taking her by surprise, he pulled her into his arms and carried her out of the kitchen down a hallway. In a darkened room, he set her down on a bed and pulled back. During those few seconds, she felt cold without him.

“Zach?”

“Right here,” he said, returning, leaning over her as he opened a foil packet and protected himself. “I don’t trust myself much longer.”

He slid his hand through her hair and down her face to cup her jaw. “I never thought I’d feel this—” He broke off and shook his head. He trailed his hand down over her breasts and lower, over her abdomen and between her legs where she was hot and moist. “Perfection,” he muttered. “All woman.”

Toying with her, he took her mouth in a French kiss. The desperation and need tightened inside her so she could hardly stand it. Unable to bear another second, she slid her hand down to where he was hard and big and all male. She stroked down his shaft and he gave a hiss of arousal.

“That’s it,” he said and pushed her thighs apart. One breath later, he plunged inside her, stretching her, filling her.

He swore. “You feel so good,” he said and began to pump. She moved in counterpoint to his sexual invasion, craving every millimeter of him.

She felt the first flush of a climax soar through her. She was so close, so very close, but then he plunged one last time crying out, and sank on top of her.

His weight was heavy, but somehow sweet. His breath flowed over her and she was left with a strange feeling of satisfaction despite the fact that she hadn’t gone over the top.

He struggled up to rest on his elbows, looking deep in her gaze, his eyes still dark with sex. “You didn’t come,” he said.

Surprised, a little self-conscious, she dropped her jaw. “It’s not a big deal. Not—”

“I can fix that,” he said and lowered his mouth to hers again.

Tina awakened to darkness and a man’s heavy leg trapping her lower body. A clock on the bed stand displayed the time as 3:47 a.m. She wasn’t sure what had awakened her—perhaps the unfamiliar sensation of sharing a bed with a man who gave satisfaction a completely new and wonderful meaning. Guilt and responsibility that had developed before she exited her mother’s womb. Or just the fact that her left leg was falling asleep.

Alarm rushed through her. What on earth had she done? What on earth was she doing? Her security detail would be descending on her any minute. She was surprised they hadn’t shown up already.

Oh, that wouldn’t do, she thought, cringing at the image of Rolfe, her head security man, bursting through the door. She had never caused a scandal. She was the dependable one. Her brother Stefan, the crown prince, was the one with a temper. Her younger sister was the beautiful, impetuous one with the whole family breathing a sigh of relief that she was settling down. Her other younger siblings were involved with their own lives and personal dramas. Getting them to help with royal duties was like pulling teeth from a wild boar.

Tina was the go-to princess. Someone had to be. She should leave before Zach was dragged into the craziness of her life. Her heart twisted with regret as she studied the hard planes of his face, his dark eyelashes and his dark hair, mussed by her fingertips.

He’d given her a sliver of an out-of-time, out-of-body experience. Thank goodness for these few hours, she thought. She’d never felt more like a woman. Sadness twisted through her as realization sank through. She might never feel like this again.

Sunlight seeped through the blinds of Zach’s condominium window. He didn’t open his eyes, feeling a bone-deep relaxation and satisfaction that prevented him from any muscle movement. His muscles were relaxed, his mind blessedly blank. For a full moment.

Then flashes of the night before skittered across his brain. His eyes still closed, he saw a woman with sexy, plump lips and inviting eyes and a body that made him hard. Again.

He opened his eyes. Tina. He glanced around the bed and inhaled, smelling the scent of her. Where had she gone?

“Tina,” he called, lifting up on his elbow.

Silence answered him.

“Damn,” he muttered and raked his hand through his hair. He shouldn’t have brought her here, he thought. She was Keely and Brent’s friend. He was supposed to see her safely back to their place.

But she’d been so soft and sexy and irresistible. And now she’d run out on him.

Not until he’d taken her over the edge, he reminded himself. Several times. For both of them. He couldn’t remember a wilder night. Not even with his wife.

His gut squeezed at the thought. His dead wife and his dead baby. For a little while, Tina had given him something else to think about. His elbow scraped against something. Metal, he thought, scooping up a small chain. He studied it for a moment, noting the catch had broken. He remembered the way the silver bracelet had played over her skin when she’d caressed him with her hands and mouth.

He closed his eyes, his sense of pleasure and ease evaporating quickly. His little break from pain was over, and his time of torture and self-recrimination had returned.

Twelve hours later, Tina sat in her brother’s parlor waiting for his to-do list. He usually delivered it via e-mail, but Tina suspected that since she’d ditched her cell phone for that one night at the masquerade party, he didn’t trust electronic communication. Or perhaps he just didn’t trust her.

Her brother’s assistant had already bowed in greeting a few moments ago. Standing, he waved his hand to the door to Stefan’s office. “His Royal Highness will see you now,” he said.

Tina could have pushed to eliminate the wait, but after rushed good-byes to her friend Keely, and her transatlantic flight to Chantaine, she was grateful for a moment to catch her breath. “Thank you, Pete,” she said and entered her brother’s office.

Her brother stood, even though his royal position made it unnecessary, and rounded his large, antique desk. He opened his arms to give her a quick hug. “Welcome home,” he said. “Why is it that we seem to get hit with an onslaught of royal duties every time you leave the country?”

She smiled. “It’s the same amount of duties as always. No one picks up the slack.”

“I’ve noticed that,” he said with a frown. “Both Bridget and Phillipa have finished their education. They should take on more.”

“Good luck with that,” she said. “They both have more excuses than there are grains of sand on Senesia Beach,” she said, referring to the most popular beach of their island kingdom. “I take it you tried giving them assignments.”

“They ignore me,” he said, his expression incredulous. “Turn off their cell phones, lose e-mails. If they were staff, they would have been fired ten times over.”

Tina laughed. “Tough to fire your sisters.”

He shook his head and his mouth drew into a frown. “I’m considering other measures. You’ve told me again and again about your American friends who believe in earning their way. I can put a limit on their charge cards.”

“Ouch,” Tina said. “There will be lots of screaming. You may try negotiating first.”

“I’m thinking of putting you in charge of them. They need to be trained.”

Tina shook her head. “No way. Even Mother didn’t train me. A longtime advisor taught me everything. You can bring her out of retirement for the job,” she said. If she doesn’t quit.

Stefan wrinkled his brow. “Something has to be done. With Ericka’s upcoming wedding, you’ll be busier than ever. I’m focused on plans for the economy and facilitating our diplomatic relationships with countries that can boost our GDP.”

“What do the advisers say?

“They recommend that I take a wife. I have no time for courting with my schedule.”

“You could always just accept one assigned by the advisers. That’s what you wanted me to do,” she said, unable to resist the dig. Both her father and brother had urged her to accept an arranged marriage to a man twice her age because he was an Italian count.

“You could have done worse,” he said.

“What about Princess Margherita from Italy?” she retorted.

He cringed. “I couldn’t bear her laugh for a night let alone for the rest of my life.”

“But think of your country, your duty,” she began, echoing the same words he’d used with her.

“Enough,” he said sharply, lifting his hand.

Tina could tell by the flicker of the tiny muscle in his jaw that she’d pushed a little too far for his comfort. Stefan struggled with his temper, especially when he felt as if things were out of his control.

“The purpose of this meeting is not to discuss your marital prospects or mine,” he said. “The purpose is to discuss where you disappeared to for over eight hours last night. Rolfe said he couldn’t reach you by cell and that your hostess refused to name your whereabouts when asked.”

Tina felt a twist of irritation. “Rolfe is a tattletale.”

“He was doing his job,” Stefan said. “You know better than this. You must always remain available via your cell. You must always have protection.”

“How many times have I been unavailable?” she demanded.

“None to my memory, but that’s not the point.”

“For that matter, how many times has Ericka been unavailable?”

“Do you really want to be compared to someone who spent two stints in rehab? Thank God, she’s clean now. And who would have thought she would bring a French movie director into the family?” he marveled. “But we count on you to be mature and dependable. You understand your obligations and duties.”

“Maybe too much,” she whispered to herself, glancing toward the window, feeling more trapped than she’d ever felt in her life. She rubbed her bare wrist, wondering where she’d left her favorite bracelet. She would search through her luggage again for it.

“Valentina,” Stefan said in his ruler voice. “Where were you?”

In the past, she would have felt intimidated or at the least, guilty for causing trouble. For some reason, this time she didn’t. This time she felt impatient with Stefan’s demands.

“I was out,” she said, meeting his gaze dead-on.

The muscle in his jaw began to tick again. “These next three months, the eyes of the world will be watching our country in anticipation of Fredericka’s wedding. I need you to act with utmost maturity and responsiveness. Ericka will be under enormous pressure now that she’s placed in the spotlight. Of all our family, Ericka will trust you.”

Tina shook her head. “I can’t promise miracles. She needed rehab.”

“But even you talked her into that,” Stefan said. “I need you to be supportive of her. Keep her together.”

“I told you I can’t perform miracles.”

“Just be your best self,” he said. “That’s more than almost everyone else on their best day.”

She couldn’t hold back a semi-smile. “Flattery,” she said. “You must be desperate, your highness.”

Chapter Three

Zach paced the dentist’s office as he waited for his longtime housekeeper to get her broken tooth fixed. Hildie was no wimp. She’d been known to face down two intruders at once with only a frying pan as her weapon. She’d even confronted a brown bear that came a little too close to the house.

Under usual circumstances, Hildie would drive herself to the doctor if she were sick. Hildie had helped deliver babies. She wasn’t squeamish at all. Dentists, however, were her waterloo. She’d procrastinated going to the dentist and now the poor woman winced every time she breathed.

Zach had insisted she go in and Hildie agreed only if he would take her and wait for her. They never knew which sedation the dentist would use. It was all determined by Hildie’s anxiety level, which today, hovered at one hundred on a scale of one to ten.

Bored, Zach sank onto one of the chairs and checked his BlackBerry. His brother wanted him to cover for him in Dallas while he took a scuba diving trip. No problem. Zach was always around. It wasn’t as if anything exciting was going on in his life, and he preferred it that way. Particularly in his personal life.

He couldn’t deny, at least to himself, though, that ever since that night with Tina, he’d almost asked his friends how to get in touch with her. Every time he was tempted, however, he remembered the tragic ending of his marriage.

No. He wasn’t ready to have a woman in his life. He didn’t know if he would ever be ready. Restlessness nicked at his nerve endings and he rolled his neck to release some tension. Desperate to distract himself, he picked up the trashy gossip rag on the table and skimmed the front page.

The theme of the day seemed to be babies. He felt his gut clench at the memory of the loss of his own child, but shook the paper and kept reading. Senator’s love child living in an igloo in Alaska. Movie stars adopt three more children. Dog helps deliver baby. Pregnant Princess? Who’s your daddy?

He almost tossed it back onto the cheap table holding the rest of women’s magazines. But as he flipped through the pages in disgust, an image of something he’d seen before flashed before him. A young curvy woman with brown hair. In the photo, she wore a hat and a loose-fitting dress. Her belly was amplified in a photo insert.

Zach frowned at the photo and quickly read the article. Princess Valentina of Chantaine has stood by the side of her fragile sister bride nonstop during the huge wedding that drew the focus of the entire world. Tina has always been the good girl in the royal family, but maybe she isn’t so perfect after all. Has Tina gained a little weight? Strange that her weight gain isn’t all over … just in her belly. Insiders report Princess Tina fought nausea throughout the wedding festivities. If the princess is pregnant, where is the baby daddy? Or did she give up on her prospects and enlist the services of a sperm bank? Time will tell.

Princess, Zach thought. What the— Princess Tina. She hadn’t mentioned being a princess. What kind of job had she said she had? Something in international relations.

He gave a cynical laugh. Cute, he thought. Real cute. He wondered how in hell Keely was friends with a princess.

Glancing at the slight baby bump, he felt a tight knot form in his chest. She couldn’t be pregnant, he thought. He’d used protection. He mentally flipped through the night they’d spent together. Every time they’d made love. And they’d made love a lot. Had there been one time when he’d forgotten or been too eager to feel her close around him or—

He had a vivid memory of feeling her wet velvet with no barrier.

“Damn,” he muttered, pulling off his hat. Was she pregnant? If so, that baby could be his.

Panic ripped through him. His heart raced, skipping and sinking. A horrible dread tugged at him, sinking to his gut and lower, dragging him down. He swore at himself ten times over. What had he been thinking?

He hadn’t been thinking. He’d been feeling. That was the problem. Feeling always caused problems.

Sucking in a long breath, he stared at her photo and that damned baby bump insert. He would find out if she was pregnant and he would find out if the baby was his. He clenched his fist in determination. It wouldn’t take him long.

For once, Tina’s sister came through for her. It was a huge switch. Although Ericka was happily busy and traveling hither and yon with her new husband, she said Tina could stay at her new home just outside of Paris. Close enough to the city, but far enough from the congestion, the new home was perfect for the respite Tina needed.

Tina had escaped just as her brother began to insist she was due for an examination from the royal doctors. Before her plane landed in Paris, rumors in the gossip rags had exploded. She’d only been away for twenty-four hours and her voice mail box was full. She didn’t even want to look at her e-mail.

She knew her brother was going to freak out, and her security man, Rolfe, was watching her every move. Thank goodness she and her sister had worked out a plan for this very situation. An older woman, Genieve, brought fresh vegetables most every morning and brought pastry treats for the staff. She usually left from the back entrance of the house around noon. Except today. Today Genieve would stay until 4:00 p.m. and watch television with one of the favorite staff members in a room upstairs while Tina dressed in dark clothes with a dark scarf covering her head and drove the woman’s car to a small, out-of-the-way museum with beautiful gardens.

There, Tina could think about her and her baby’s future. There, she could make plans.

Tina told Rolfe she planned to take a nap and didn’t want to be disturbed. As soon as he left her hallway, she took the back stairs to the back entrance and got into the ancient vehicle and escaped.

The July heat was oppressive, but the temperature inside the small museum was cool. She noticed only a few tourists, but an abundance of caution made her keep her head covered. Glancing outside, she saw no one in the gardens and walked outside to a stone bench beside a small pond. Despite the shade from the tree, the heat forced her to pull off her scarf.

She closed her eyes, craving peace and quiet for her mind and soul. She didn’t need panic in this situation. She needed to remain calm. Since everyone else was going to be emotionally jumping out of windows.

Tina could see the headlines now. Unwed Pregnant Princess. She, the one everyone counted on to be scandal-free. She laughed softly to herself, although she still struggled with a twinge of hysteria. Was she prepared to be a single mother? It didn’t matter. That’s what she would be. She stroked her abdomen, feeling protective of the baby growing there.

Tina had always put her loyalty to her position first, but there was no doubt in her mind what was most important to her now. Her child. Her pregnancy might be unexpected, unplanned and her situation not exactly optimal, but that didn’t change the fact that Tina would make her child her priority.

That solid knowledge released a tension from inside her. She took a deep breath and gave into the temptation to build a perfect little world for her and her baby in her mind. The two of them could live here in France, near her sister. She would lead a simple life raising her child, serving as a patron for her favorite charities and making rare appearances in Chantaine.

Her sisters would pitch in and take over her assignments. That was pure fantasy, she thought. And her brother would marry a woman who would keep him out of her hair. More fantasy.

She inhaled again, lingering over the idyllic image in her mind.

Something fell beside her on the bench. A chain? She opened her eyes and glanced beside her, immediately spotting the bracelet she’d thought she’d lost.

“Been missing that?” a deep male voice that had haunted her dreams said to her.

She glanced behind her, directly into the hard blue gaze of Zachary Logan. Her heart stopped in her chest. Her breath froze in her lungs.

“The baby’s mine, isn’t it?”

Zach didn’t like her color. She’d gone past the pale stage and she looked gray. He handed her his bottle of water. “Here, you look like you need this.”

She stared at him without blinking, seemingly without breathing for another long moment. “Tina,” he said and squeezed her shoulder. “Drink some water.”

At his touch, she finally took a breath and looked away. “I didn’t think I would ever see you again,” she said. “How did you find me?”

“A combination of Keely and a private investigator. I’ve had a guy watching your sister’s house for every person who came and went. I tried calling your assistant, but she blew me off.”

She looked up at him in alarm. “Did you tell her you and I had—”

“No, but I was tempted,” he said, reining in his frustration from the last several days. “When were you going to tell me about the baby?”

Tina blinked. “I—I wasn’t,” she said with a shrug.

Shock rushed through him. “You what?” he nearly shouted.

Tina glanced around in alarm. “Please keep your voice down. I don’t want to draw attention. I came here to think.”

Zach’s stomach turned. “Are you saying you’re not keeping the baby?”

She looked at him in confusion. “What do you mean? Give the baby up for adoption—”

“No, I meant,” he said and stopped, his throat closing over his words. “I meant end the pregnancy.”

Shock widened her eyes. “Absolutely not.”

Some small something inside him eased and he took a quick breath. “That still doesn’t explain why you weren’t going to tell me.”

She gave a sigh of frustration. “It was a one-night stand. It didn’t seem fair to drag you into it.”

“It’s my child too,” he said in a deadly firm voice.

“Yes, but it’s not just about the baby,” she said and lifted her hands. “Dealing with who I am, who my family is, what’s expected of me and my family. Not many men can handle that. You don’t really even know me. It’s not as if we’re in love. Being involved with the baby and me would turn your life upside down.”

“You don’t think it already has?”

Her lips parted in surprise, as if she had truly believed he wouldn’t be interested in his own child. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I shouldn’t have rushed to the assumption that you would only view this as a burden.”

“There’s a difference between burden and responsibility,” he said.

She nodded. “That’s very true. I’m just not accustomed to dealing with men who know how to distinguish the two.”

“Maybe you’ve been hanging around the wrong men,” he said.

Her lips lifted in amusement. “Maybe so.”

“Do you know what your plans are?” he asked. “Are you going to live in your country?”

Tina looked down at her hands folded in her lap and shook her head. “My brother is going to freak out. He might have expected something like this from my younger sister, but never me. I know he’s in a difficult situation, but I just wish I could go away for a while. I need to get my head on straight about all this and doing that in Chantaine is going to be very, very difficult, if not impossible.”

“I have the perfect place if you need to think. My ranch,” he said.

She blinked at the recommendation. “Your ranch?” she echoed as if that possibility was last on her list.

“Sure,” he said with a shrug. “It’s no palace, but most people who visit like it. It’s quiet. You would be able to think. Plus,” he said, “it would give you an opportunity to get to know the father of your child better.”

She met his gaze and a glimmer of the night they’d shared seemed to pass through her eyes. Licking her lips, she glanced away. Zach felt a surprising bolt of sexual awareness stab at him. Where the hell had that come from?

“What do you say?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I hadn’t even considered this until this moment. I can’t make an instant decision.”

“Why not?” he asked. “You have a passport. You’re an adult. You can do whatever you think is best for you and your child.”

At that moment, a group of men with cameras and microphones burst into the garden. “Princess Valentina, tell us the truth. Are you pregnant?”

“Oh, no.” Tina stood and backed away.

Zach automatically stepped in front of her. “Leave her alone,” he said.

“Who are you?” the short, portly reporter continued. “You’re not her regular bodyguard. Are you her lover?” he asked. “The father of her child?”

Cameras snapped and the reporter pressed against him. “Leave us alone. Get out of here.”

The reporter continued to push against Zach, irritating him with his persistence. “You sound American. What’s your name?”

“None of your damn business,” Zach said. “Step aside. You’re bothering Tina.”

The reporter pushed past Zach and began to crowd Tina. “Tina,” the reporter echoed. “Who is this man? How far along are you? Are you getting married?”

Zach pushed his way between the reporter and Tina. “Last warning. Step aside.”

The reporter ignored him and Zach knocked him to the ground. He picked up Tina and carried her out of the garden.

Tina gawked at Zach. “What are you doing?”

“Getting you the hell away from those wackos,” he said, heedless of the stares he drew as he hauled her through the small museum.

“Where are we going?” she asked as he tucked her into a rental car and got into the driver’s seat. He started the engine and put the car into gear.

He glanced at her. “Where do you want to go?”

Her heart dipped at his expression. Her heart, in fact, hadn’t beat regularly since she’d looked up to see him in the museum courtyard.

“Do you want to go back to your sister’s house?” he asked.

Her stomach twisted. “Not really. My bodyguard will insist that I talk to my brother. He may even push me into going back to Chantaine.”

Zach made a U-turn. “Okay, that’s out. We could go to my hotel.”

“So public,” she said. “If you think the paparazzi was bad here …”

He shrugged. “Okay. How about my ranch?”

She gulped, taking in the way his large hand shifted gears. “That would require a flight. That could take some time.”

Zach shifted gears and accelerated. He met her gaze. “Not necessarily. I can have a jet ready in an hour.”

Surprise raced through her. “That would be expensive,” she said, aware of the cost of private transatlantic flights because she usually flew first-class to save the royal family some change.

“I can handle it,” he said with a shrug of his powerful shoulders. “I usually fly first-class for the legroom, but the jet’s always at my disposal. But are you sure about this?”

Tina felt another forbidden thrill. Her brother would wring her neck. Her sisters would curse her for leaving them to deal with her brother. She bit the inside of her lip and nodded. “I’m sure.”

Chapter Four

Half a day later, Tina awakened to the sensation of Zach’s jet landing on a runway. Rousing herself from her slumber, she squinted out the window to see the flat landscape surrounding the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

She glanced across the aisle at Zach. He was looking outside the window on his side of the jet. His long lean legs extended before him, his dark hair was mussed. She wondered if he had slept half as much as she had.

She realized again that she had committed to going to his ranch. He was a man she knew intimately. In most ways, however, she barely knew him at all, and he barely knew her.

A knot of nerves formed in her throat. What in the world had she done? Tina took a deep breath. Give yourself a break. You didn’t have a lot of choices.

Zach turned to look at her. “We’re here. I can get a helicopter. Otherwise it’s an hour and a half drive to my ranch.”

“There’s no need for a helicopter,” she said. “I’ve slept most of the flight. A car will be fine.”

“You’re sure?” he asked.

She nodded, smiling. “I’m sure.”

His gaze did things to her. She looked away to gather her things. He ushered her out of the plane and down the steps to the tarmac.

Two armed officers immediately approached them. “Mr. Logan, we need to question you about the kidnapping of Valentina Devereaux.”

Zach blinked. “Excuse me?” he said.

“Oh, no,” Tina whispered. “This is either my brother or my security guard. Or both.” Refusing to be a victim, refusing to allow Zach to be a victim, she went into Princess-mode. “Pardon me, officer, but there’s obviously been a misunderstanding. Mr. Logan graciously allowed me to be a passenger on his jet. I was being pursued by the paparazzi and he provided me with a safe escape.”

The uniformed men exchanged glances. “His Majesty, Stefan Devereaux, insists you were taken against your will.”

“His Majesty is mistaken,” she said, lifting her chin. “I am here and this is where I wish to be.”

“Give me a minute,” one of the officers said.

The two men exchanged an extensive whispered conversation, then turned toward her. One pulled out a cell phone. “Clear it with His Majesty. I don’t want a diplomatic incident on my head,” the man said with a southern drawl.

“Clear it,” she echoed, unable to keep the indignation from her voice. “I’m an adult. I don’t have to clear this with any—”

“Tina, make the call or I’ll be here all night,” Zach said.

Giving a heavy sigh, she took the officer’s phone, stabbed out her brother’s personal cell number and waited. One ring. Two rings. He damn well better pick up, she thought.

“Stefan,” the male voice finally announced. Two seconds later, he swore. “What the hell are you doing, Valentina?”

“I’m visiting Texas by my own free will,” she said. “I sent both you and Rolfe a text message explaining my plans.”

“The paparazzi said you were carried out of a museum by a madman,” Stefan said.

“He was protecting me,” she said.

“Humph,” Stefan said, disbelief oozing through his voice. “Who is this Zachary Logan?”

She paused a half beat, then decided to break the news. “He’s the father of my baby.”

Silence followed. “So it’s true,” Stefan said, his voice turning hard. “Tina, how could you?”

She bit her lip at the disapproval in his voice. “The usual way,” she said.

Stefan let out a litany of oaths.

She narrowed her eyes and interjected. “I’m putting you on speaker phone for the armed officers so there won’t be a need for Zachary Logan to be detained.”

The litany abruptly stopped.

“So, Stefan, we now agree that there has been a terrible misunderstanding and I have not been kidnapped. Correct?”

“Correct,” he said in a clipped voice.

“And just for the benefit of the kind officers, please state your name,” she said.

“Tina,” he said, with a warning note in his voice.

“You’re the one who pushed the kidnapping charges,” she said.

Stefan cleared his throat. “Stefan Edward Henri Jacques the fifth.”

“Thank you, Stefan,” she said and he hung up. “Good luck,” she whispered, thinking of her sweet, but spoiled sisters.

Zach glanced down at her. “Ready to go?”

“You have no idea,” she said.

He slid his hand behind her back and steered her toward the private terminal. “I’ve heard of overprotective older brothers, but—”

“He’s terrified of losing me. My sisters are useless.” She felt a stab of guilt. “By choice. They would be terrific if they would think about anyone but themselves.”

“Isn’t that true of half the world?” he drawled.

“Yes,” she said, smiling. “I guess it is. I apologize about the near-arrest.”

“Something tells me that won’t be the last excitement I see as a result of having you around,” he said.

Tina winced. “I warned you.”

“Yeah,” he said. “You did. Let’s get out of here.”

Zach ushered her into the same SUV he’d driven all those months ago when he’d taken her to his apartment. She inhaled the scent, feeling a flood of sensual memories skitter through her.

She sank into the leather seat, feeling safe and for the first time in months, not judged. Closing her eyes, she tried to make sense of her most recent, most impulsive decision of her life.

“I don’t have any clothes,” she said.

“No problem,” he said. “You can sleep in one of my T-shirts and go shopping tomorrow or the next day.”

“Your T-shirt,” she echoed, finding the prospect incredibly sensual and forbidden.

“Yeah,” he said. “Unless her highness requires silk.”

She paused a half-beat and decided to push back a little. She suspected she’d been way too easy for him. That put her at a disadvantage. “Silk? I can skip a night.”

He gave a low laugh that rippled along her nerve endings. “Tell me something I don’t know,” he said. “You skipped every stitch of clothing the night you spent with me.”

“I’m surprised you remember,” she said. “It was just one night—”

He whipped his head around to meet her gaze. “I remember everything about that night, Tina. Everything.”

Just as Zach had said, ninety minutes later, he pulled down a long driveway lined with scrubby landscape. “Is this it?” she asked, preparing herself for a log cabin.

He nodded and she noticed the dirt and scrub were replaced by green grass and trees. “Is this your family home, or did you acquire it?”

“It’s been in my family for generations. Some of the staff live in the original homeplace. I had a new home built about six years ago,” he said.

A large white building with a wraparound front porch sat amidst tall trees and flowering shrubs. The waning sunlight glistened on the leaves. “It’s beautiful,” she said.

He glanced at her. “You sound surprised.”

“I didn’t know what to expect. A ranch can mean different things to different people.”

“Ah, so you were expecting something more primitive. I hope you’re not disappointed,” he joked.

“Not at all,” she said, looking forward to a shower.

“If I know Hildie, she’ll have a meal waiting for us when we walk in the door,” he said.

“Hildie?”

“Cook and housekeeper. She’s been working at the ranch since before my parents passed away,” he said.

“It’s nice to have that continuity. We have a few staff members and advisers who have been around a long time.”

“Are you worried about getting homesick? This is a lot different than Chantaine.”

“I’m counting on that,” she said with a sigh. More than anything, Tina craved an opportunity to hear herself think.

Zach pulled the SUV to a stop, then got out and stepped to the passenger door to open her door. He extended his hand and she took it, remembering the sensation of his calloused palms on various places of her body. Leading her up the steps, he opened the door and she stepped into a terra cotta tiled double-story foyer that featured a double staircase. A copper and crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling.

The foyer was warm and welcoming without being pretentious. She felt a sliver of tension ease from inside her. She took a short breath and inhaled the scent of a mouthwatering meal.

“Zach, is that you?” a woman called. Seconds later, a tall, sturdy woman with iron gray hair and a stern face entered the foyer. Her mouth softened slightly, but she still didn’t quite smile. “There you are. The phone’s been ringing off the hook. Some kook named Rolfe got all snippy with me, accusing you of kidnapping. I finally just hung up on the man.”

Tina cringed. She generally tried to avoid creating drama, but this time she hadn’t seen any other way around it.

“Yeah, well, I think we took care of that,” Zach said, shooting Tina a sideways glance. “This is Valentina Devereaux, Hildie.” He cleared his throat. “Princess Valentina Devereaux.”

Hildie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Princess?” she echoed. “You didn’t really kidnap a princess, did you?” She glanced at Tina. “I mean, I know it’s been awhile since you’ve been on a date, but—”

“Hildie,” Zach interjected. “Tina is pregnant with my child.”

Hildie’s jaw dropped. “When in tarnation did that happen?”

Tina felt her cheeks heat at Hildie’s suspicious expression. “It wasn’t planned, Miss—?”

“Just Hildie. Everybody calls me Hildie. And what do I call you? Your majesty? Your highlyness.”

“Tina would be fine,” she said.

“Humph,” Hildie said and lifted an eyebrow at Zach. “You said you were bringing a guest, not a princess. She may not like beef stew.”

“I’m sure it’s wonderful,” Tina rushed to say. “I’ll try not to be any trouble. I’m just looking forward to the quiet.”

“Well, we’ve got a lot of that around here. Come on in. Dinner’s waiting,” Hildie said and walked down the hall.

“Oh, dear,” Tina said. “I believe I’ve already upset her.”

“Don’t worry,” Zach said, putting his hand on her lower back and guiding her farther into the house. “Hildie may look like she’s just taken a bite out of a green apple, but she’s got a heart of gold.”

Hildie served the hearty meal in the kitchen nook instead of the formal dining room. Zach was pleased to see Tina eat a healthy portion of the stew and corn bread, although he didn’t eat as much as usual. Although he’d been determined to bring Tina home, now that she was here, he was on edge. The ranch had become his cave, the place where he could hide and grieve. He hadn’t brought a woman to the ranch since his wife had died.

Hildie refilled the water glasses. “So when’s the wedding?”

Tina choked on a bite of her corn bread. “Oh no,” she said, taking a long drink of water. “No wedding. Zach and I barely know each other.”

“Well, you know each other well enough to get preg—”

“Hildie,” Zach interjected. “Tina just arrived here. She just made the decision to come to the ranch yesterday. Let her settle in.”

“Humph,” Hildie said. “It don’t make sense to me.”

Hildie left the room and Tina leaned toward him. “Is she always this opinionated?”

He nodded. “And she doesn’t hold back. Don’t worry. She’ll adjust. If she gets too pushy, just tell her to back off.”

Tina bit her lip. “I can’t fathom telling that woman to back off.”

“Pretend she’s your brother,” he said.

Her lips lifted in a smile and he felt something in his gut twist. The sensation took him by surprise. “If you’re done, I’ll show you around the house.”

“Thank you. That would be nice,” she said and followed him to her feet as he rose.

Zach led her through the den, formal areas and his office area downstairs, then took her upstairs. Proud of the home he’d designed and helped build several years ago, he couldn’t help wondering what Tina thought of it. She paused at the collection of family photographs in the upstairs hallway. “Is this your mother and father?” she asked. “And these other children? I think I remember you mentioning a brother.”

He nodded. “Yeah, those are my parents, and my brother and sister,” he said, pointing to another photograph. He felt a twinge of regret. His relationship with his brother and sister had suffered after the death of his wife. He’d shut everyone out.

Surprised at the onslaught of emotions he was experiencing, he cleared his throat. “Your room is down the hall,” he said and walked toward the largest of the guest rooms. His former wife had chosen the colors for this room. Shades of green and blue-green provided a soothing haven. His own blood pressure always seemed to drop a few notches when he stepped into this room.

“Oh, it’s lovely,” Tina said. “I love the colors.”

“Good,” he said with a nod. “There’s a connecting bath with plenty of towels. I’ll bring a couple of shirts for you. The remote for the TV should be on the nightstand. Anything else you need that you can think of?”

“Toothbrush and toothpaste,” she said.

“I’ll tell Hildie to bring you some. Anything else?” he asked, feeling his heart tug at the vulnerable expression on her face. Giving into an urge, he extended his hand to her arm and gently squeezed. “You’re safe here,” he said. “I’ll make sure of it.”

She took a deep breath and appeared to stiffen her spine. “Thank you. I’m afraid of how much I’m imposing.”

“You’re the mother of my child,” he said firmly. “This is no imposition. You’ve been taking care of everyone else. It’s damn time someone looked after you.”

She blinked. “I have royal doctors and assistants. I didn’t mean to give you the impression that I have to do everything on my own because I don’t.”

“Maybe,” he said. “But it’s pretty clear your family doesn’t put your health or your need to take a break first. Now that you’re pregnant, that needs to change. I can make sure that will happen.”

“What about the paparazzi? They always show up,” she said, her eyes darkening with fear.

“I have electric fences and gates. I don’t usually have to close those gates, but I can and I will. Plus there’s Hildie. She took on a brown bear one time. The bear turned tail and ran.”

Tina stared at him for a long moment, then laughed. “Oh, my goodness, I can easily visualize that.”

The sound of her laughter eased something inside him. He smiled. “I’m not stretching the truth. The only thing that scares Hildie is the dentist. I had to take her to fix a broken tooth. That’s how I found out you were pregnant.”

Tina lifted her hand to her throat. “At the dentist’s office?”

“I was in the waiting room killing time. I saw your photo in one of those gossip sheets.”

She winced. “The bump article,” she said. “I received an anonymous tip from someone that the article was going to be published and left Chantaine just before the story hit. I was hoping to avoid the first wave from the media while I figured out how to handle everything.”

“France wasn’t far enough,” he said.

“Nowhere is far enough,” she said woefully. “I’m afraid you don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into by bringing me to your home.”

“I’ve been through worse,” he said, his own personal tragedy never far from his mind.

She widened her eyes. “With the media?”

He shrugged. “With life,” he said. “Don’t worry about me. The media is the least of my concern. Get some rest. If you need anything, let Hildie or me know. I’ll let her take you into town so you can get what you need tomorrow.”

She still looked vulnerable. His hands ached to pull her against him, but he resisted the urge. She wasn’t exactly the same woman who had gone to bed with him months ago. Back then, he hadn’t known she was a princess. Back then, she hadn’t wanted him to know. She’d wanted one anonymous night just as he had. Now, everything was different. In a way, they were strangers more now than ever before.

She licked her lips and a flash of that dark night of need snapped through him. “Thank you for taking me away. For bringing me here.”

Zach gave into the urge to stroke her hair and cup her head. “I know you’re still wound tighter than a spring, but you’re safe here. Soon enough, you’ll realize you can relax.

And no thanks are necessary. I wouldn’t have it any other way. ’Night Tina.”

She took a deep breath that seemed to tremble out of her when she exhaled. “Good night, Zach.”

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