Going Royal 01 - Some Like It Royal (13 page)

Chapter Fifteen

They made their debut splash as a public couple at a small event raising money for Malibu Beach recovery before advancing to several charity events over the next week.

The photographers, having sensed blood in the water with the initial social page, followed them. It took everything in Daniel to keep the act up, particularly when all he wanted to do when he kissed her was pull her away somewhere quiet and explore just how far those kisses could take him. It was an exercise in pure sensual torture. If not for her insistence on sleeping on the sofa, he had a feeling they might have already taken it past their agreement.

“It’s working.” Martin sailed into Daniel’s office. Daniel glanced up from loading his briefcase. He’d just signed all of the outstanding papers Lucy’d collected for him. Amazingly his secretary wasn’t ready to hang him after his conspicuous absences and constant working from home. If he wasn’t reviewing code, he was out with Alyx—holding her hand, kissing her plump, sweet lips and driving himself slowly insane.

“What’s working?” The think vellum invitation was the one they’d been waiting for. Local problems in Japan delayed the CEO’s visit to Los Angeles, but he was schedule to arrive Friday. The company had planned a large charity event to help promote recovery in the Japanese provinces still struggling since the disaster.

“You and Her Royal Hotness.” Martin slid a paper across to him. “I just got the heads-up that this is running in tomorrow’s Journal. It’s already live on their Web site and
People
magazine just put in a call. They want to meet with the Princess Alyxandretta and hear her story.”

The single sheet of paper included the Journal’s letterhead and a byline from one of their most popular gossip columnists, a woman renowned for scoring interviews with the most reluctant of celebrities. He gave the release a cursory glance.

Spherecast billionaire and his
“
royal
”
girlfriend showed some PDA while taking a stroll on day three of the Cochella Music Festival in Indio
,
California.
The cute couple shared a kiss as they enjoyed their time together watching indie band Fever take the stage alongside such notable film actors as Diana Keegan and Josh Jamison.
Networking opportunities for the aspiring actress?

The day before
,
the two were spotted attending a pool party at the Beverly Hilton and later headed down to Santa Monica for another PDA-filled ride on the Ferris wheel.
Royal watchers are turning their eyes to the mysterious princess and the blossoming love affair.

Sources close to the couple have identified the princess’s interest in film and stage roles.
In the fun column
,
the billionaire apparently staged an elaborate audition to get a first date.
What show would you like to see the princess appear on?

“It’s working. I’ve had some feelers from the grand duke. Cursory calls from the local law firm that represents his interests and an inquiry about your schedule.” Martin looked ready to burst with smugness.

“Great.” He tossed the sheet in with the rest in his briefcase and closed it. “Anything else?”

“No.” Martin slid his hands into his pockets. “Heading out already? It’s barely three.”

“Was just a drop by to sign some things for Lucy. We’re driving to Napa this evening to attend a party.” He hit the button on his desk. “Lucy, did my tux come back from the cleaners?”

“Of course it did and I already sent it to the house. It will be waiting for you. Miss Dagmar called. She said to let you know she would be about an hour late.”

“Is everything all right?” He ignored Martin’s smirk.

“Yes, sir. Apparently there was a shoe emergency. Something to do with the dress she is wearing.” Lucy didn’t bother to contain her amusement. “She had to make some calls to find the pair she wanted, but now she’s stuck in traffic.”

Stuck in traffic? Her car couldn’t handle heavy traffic and if he knew Alyx—which he did rather well by now—she’d probably taken her own vehicle rather than the driver he arranged for her.

“Do me a favor? Call her back and see where she is stuck and if you can help her out?” He cut a glance to his watch. If he left now, he could pick up the orchids from the florist rather than waiting on their delivery. The Chanel evening gala was his least favorite event, but when they’d gone over the social schedule with Victor, he hadn’t missed the light leaping into her eyes so he’d agreed to it. The corsage was old-fashioned, but a popular accessory for the attendees to wear along with their evening finery.

“Absolutely. Now you need to go. You still have a haircut appointment.” Lucy clicked off the intercom and Daniel swore. He’d forgotten about the haircut. But if Alyx ran late that still gave him some time. Scooping up his case, he swung around the desk and headed for the door.

“Racquetball this weekend?” Martin called after him.

“Can’t.” Daniel waved to Lucy and glanced at Martin as he followed him to the elevator. “We’ll be in Napa until Sunday evening. Maybe next week.”

The elevator doors whooshed closed, cutting off whatever response Martin may have made.

* * *

It was a cool evening and the air carried a wild variety of spicy scents from grapes to the hint of coffee, sage, rosemary...and something more elusive that she couldn’t quite identify. The heels she wore were magnificently comfortable and perfectly silver, a smashing complement to the skin-baring Grecian wrap. The silver metallic knot strap and drape floated around her. She’d picked the color because it reminded her of Daniel’s eyes, and the look on his face when he saw her filled her with a lush sense of accomplishment.

He’d presented her with the most elegant single-orchid corsage she’d ever seen. As he’d slipped the strap over her wrist, she’d been transported back to prom, that annual hell event for seniors. Especially seniors like her who didn’t have a date or know most of the kids attending. She’d gone anyway, had her picture taken and danced. But no good-looking jock or lean-built nerd had given her a corsage.

Until tonight.

Arm in arm, they strolled through the candlelit vineyards, pausing to chat with the others, mingling among the guests. But Alyx didn’t really pay much attention to the names or the faces. Daniel’s arm was warm against her and he kept lifting her fingers to his lips, the butterfly kisses turning her insides to jelly. When the music started and he swept her into a dance, she forgot about the rest of the party and the role she was supposed to be playing.

“What’s going on in that mind of yours?”

Shivers raced through her as his lips brushed against her ear. She closed her eyes. It was easy to just get lost in this story they’d created.

“I was thinking I feel like a princess tonight. And not because of the dress or the shoes or the atmosphere.” She leaned back, looking at him as he turned her away from the other guests. The comforting weight of his arms around her and the singular focus of his gaze locked on her combined to transport her to a magical spot where the party, the guests—hell the world—all faded away.

“You are a princess, sweetheart.” He dipped down and stole a kiss—a casual, easy brush of his lips to hers, igniting that sensual ache crying out inside.

“No, not that kind of princess.” She licked her lips, enjoying the hint of his taste that lingered there. “It’s hard to explain.”

“Try.” The music shifted to a more popular love song and the band apparently had a singer, because his low baritone crooned out the words.

“I told you about going to my high school prom.” That confession came over a pair of banana splits and a
Red Dwarf
marathon he’d surprised her with late one night. She’d never met anyone who liked the old British science fiction show the way she did.

“Yep, I remember.” His fingers stroked her back, light little touches that reminded her he was there—as if she could forget.

“I didn’t have a date.”

“Because high school boys are stupid.” He didn’t miss a beat and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Well, maybe, but in their defense. I was the new girl. It’s hard to be the new girl at the big blowout to celebrate the end of your high school career.” Once upon a time that hurt, but she’d moved past it. “I went to the prom, I bought a dress, I got shoes, I dressed up and I danced. I danced with girls, I danced with guys, I danced by myself. I got my picture taken.”

“And this?” He nodded to the swaying lanterns casting their muted romantic glows and the luxuriously attired couples dancing around them. “It reminds you of prom?”

“Oh no. It’s about a thousand times better than prom.” She grinned. “Not only do I have a dress and shoes—” she leaned in conspiratorially, “—I have the best-looking date here and he gave me a corsage.”

“Lucky, lucky man.” He matched her smile and tugged her closer, fisting her joined hands against his chest. His mouth slanted over hers and she was lost in the gentle massage of his tongue seeking entrance, the pounding of his heart and the feel of his palm gliding across her lower back, just skimming the curve of her hip.

The telltale whir of a camera and the eye-blinding flash pulled them out of their haze and she blinked slowly. Daniel gave the man a mild look of irritation, but the photographer ignored them, moving on to take another picture.

“You want to get out of here?” he murmured.

Her heart squeezed. “Yes...but I’d like to dance one more song.”

“Whatever you want.”

* * *

An hour later, they wandered through the vineyard back toward the house they were staying in. His hosts had waved them off when they paused at their table to give their excuses. He slipped off his suit jacket and draped it around her shoulders when a chilly breeze swept through the grapes.

“Thank you for bringing me to this one.” The moonlight emphasized the graceful column of her neck when she glanced up at him.

“It was an excellent choice.”

“And you do business with none of those people.” She danced ahead of him, stretching his arm out as she twirled and faced him, walking backward. “They’re fashion designers, wine-makers, directors, movie producers and celebrities.”

He laughed softly and shook his head. “No, I don’t do business with any of them. It’s rather remarkable that we were invited, wasn’t it?” Victor’d pointed out that this invitation was the first of many, a tacit acknowledgment of Alyx’s royalty and something they should take advantage of. If she hadn’t gotten excited about the location, he wouldn’t have cared one way or the other.

Better to not examine his motivations with regard to that.

“Thank you.” She waggled her brows playfully. “It’s beautiful here and I had a lot of fun.”

“Me too.” Strangely enough, he really had enjoyed it. From the wine tour they took the first day to the tasting they’d attended the night before, to this morning’s tennis doubles with their hosts and a handful of other guests. Alyx never failed to surprise him, least of all with her ability to hit the ball on the courts.

He hadn’t realized she knew how to play tennis.

“Good.” At the edge of the vineyard they crossed over onto a well-manicured lawn with decadently thick grass. The lack of rain in the region hadn’t stopped their hosts from using judicious irrigation to keep the area green and beautiful. Alyx paused to slip off her shoes, bracing one hand on his arm for support.

Wiggling her toes in the grass she grinned. “Okay, they didn’t hurt earlier, but my pinkie toes are not happy with me.”

The absolute lack of guile and artlessness she delivered with the line was just one of the many reasons he enjoyed her.
I
adore her.
She’s wonderful.
The thought crept out to ambush him. But he couldn’t dispute the validity of the sentiment.

She paused on the steps and glanced at him. “Daniel?”

“Hmm?” He tucked the emotions away for examination later.

“You okay?” Concern edged around her quiet joy.

“Great. I was just thinking we’re going to have a hard time secreting our ice cream upstairs.” It was the first thought that crossed his mind and when her eyes lit up, he was glad for it. “Tell you what. Head up and get changed. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Okay.” She skipped ahead of him and he blew out a long breath. It was hard to take his gaze off her. Shaking off the stupor, he diverted from the stairs to head into the kitchen. The cook took almost no bribing to prepare the hot fudge sundaes with nuts. He carried both up the stairs along with a carafe of hot coffee and two mugs.

Their shared guest room was empty, but a light shone under the in suite bathroom door. “I’m almost done,” she called.

“Take your time but the ice cream might melt.”

Her little whoop at the comment brought another smile to his lips. He stripped off the rest of his suit and left the cufflinks on the dresser. By the time the bathroom door opened and she appeared, face scrubbed and a hairbrush in hand, he was settled on the bed in a pair of loose shorts and a T-shirt. She grinned at the tray he’d set on the nightstand and slid up onto the comforter next to him.

Unfortunately, the guest room didn’t boast a sofa and rather than let her take the floor, where she’d most certainly tried to sleep their first night in, he’d taken the bullet and ordered her onto the bed.

“Do you think we’re too late for tonight’s marathon?” She set the hairbrush aside and claimed her sundae.

“Nope.” Daniel grinned and pointed at the television, paused on the opening credits to the science fiction show.

“Yes!” She made a little fist pump with her spoon and they toasted with their sundae glasses. As soon as she curled her legs up and propped a pillow across her lap, he killed the lights and hit Play.

Three episodes later, they’d devoured their sundaes, finished the coffee and she curled against his side.

Sound asleep.

He stroked a finger across her hair and shifted a little to make her more comfortable, but when she just burrowed closer he leaned back against the headboard with a sigh. The first time he actually had her in a bed and he was going to sleep sitting up.