The Princess Problem (9 page)

Alicia hesitated, nerves suddenly tightening her stomach, which made her angry. She wasn’t exactly dog meat or anything. Why shouldn’t he like her? She needed to get over these feelings of insecurity and start having fun again.

“Right?” insisted Katie.

Alicia blew out a breath. “You’re right. I’ll give it a shot. It may not even last through the week, and if so, no biggie, right?”

“Right. But before you do, maybe we should look up Mrs. K and get a refresher course on the birds and the bees. Apparently I still have some questions, and since I’m the one who explained it to you, we might both be in trouble.”

They were still laughing when they hung up the phone.

* * *

The next afternoon, Jonas showed up at the mattress store, hoping to catch Alicia finishing up for the day. As he approached the set, he could see she wore the princess dress again, and was in full makeup, hair done, looking great. They were still busy so he hid the vase he held behind a display. He didn’t want to stand there looking like an idiot with a flower in hand.

When he moved to stand beside one of his employees, Alicia glanced at him, but then her gaze skittered away. He hoped that wasn’t a bad thing. Maybe she was just feeling a little shy after their kisses last night. He knew he hadn’t been able to get them out of his head.

“Okay, Skyler,” Alicia said. “Pull one of the golf clubs out of the bag and look at it like you’re considering something, thinking really hard, then glance at the bed and smile, like you’ve come to a conclusion.”

A guy dressed as a prince stepped forward and Jonas noticed him for the first time. Tanned, a little on the short side, with overlong, thick blond hair that swept back from his handsome face. When he grabbed hold of the golf bag and smiled at Alicia, Jonas noticed piercing green eyes–probably contacts–and straight white teeth. Jonas didn’t like the admiring gaze the guy fastened on Alicia.

The guy,
Skyler,
said, “Are you sure I have to do this alone? I like it better when you’re in the shot with me. You make me look good.”

Jonas crossed his arms and glared at Skyler. What kind of name was
Skyler,
anyway? The guy strutted across the makeshift set like he was God’s gift to women and Jonas didn’t like it. If the little man didn’t want those pretty teeth rammed down his throat, he’d better stop flirting with Alicia.

Skyler flipped his cape over one shoulder and struck a pose. “Are you busy tonight? Maybe we should go to dinner dressed like this. We’d get the royal treatment.”

“Skyler?” Alicia said. “The golf clubs?”

The guy finally did as Alicia asked and slid a club out of the golf bag. He swung it once, no doubt posing for the ladies. “Nice clubs. Do you golf, Alicia? Maybe we should go sometime? You could teach me.”

“I need you to focus, Skyler.”

Skyler winked at Alicia. “With a pretty girl like you around? How am I supposed to do that?”

Jonas sighed loudly. “I suggest you force yourself.”

Skyler turned and gave Jonas a long stare. “And you are?”

Jonas narrowed his eyes. “The owner of this store. The one paying your check. The one who could make sure you never work in this town again.”

“Oh.” Skyler grinned. “Right, mate.” He glanced at Alicia. “Didn’t know I was stepping on any toes.

Alicia glanced at Jonas, her expression uncertain. “Okay, Skyler, shove the club under the mattress, then slide out the next club.”

* * *

About twenty minutes later, Alicia decided they were done. “Okay everyone, that’s a wrap. Thanks for all your hard work.” Mike and Willa headed for the computer to see the last shots, the makeup artist started packing her things, and Skyler, after a glance in Jonas’s direction, headed for the restrooms to change.

Alicia headed for Jonas. “Hi.”

“Hi. I thought I’d come out and see how it was going.”

Alicia looked around. “We’ve actually finished the last of it. The rest of the work will be done back at our firm. Um...” she waved a hand. “About Skyler--”

Jonas shook his head. “Don’t worry about him.” He motioned toward her. “You look great.”

Alicia curtsied. “Why, thank you, kind sir. You look pretty good yourself.” And he did, his snug T-shirt showing off his fit physique and his jeans hugging his muscular thighs. Wow.

Alicia realized Mike was filming them again, and smiled briefly for the camera then ignored him.

Jonas cleared his throat. “I have something for you.”

“Yeah?”

He reached behind a bed set and picked up a vase with a beautiful lavender rose inside.

Alicia put a hand to her suddenly pounding chest, then glanced up into his eyes. “Thank you, it’s gorgeous.” She took the vase from him and admired the flower. “I’ve never seen a rose this color before.”

“It’s actually called a blue rose. They’re genetically engineered to achieve this color.”

Alicia was having a hard time meeting his gaze again. She couldn’t help thinking about the love-at-first-sight rose Jonas had given her, and now she wondered what the meaning of a blue rose could be.

“Aren’t you going to ask me the meaning of a blue rose?” He asked, as if reading her mind.

Breathless, she asked, “What is the meaning of a blue rose, Jonas?

“Some say that blue roses are associated with royal blood, regal majesty, and splendor. Which is apt in this case.”

She smiled at him, but felt slightly disappointed that it meant nothing more.

“Others say a blue rose is a symbol of love, prosperity, and wishes granted.”

“That’s nice. So a rich princess?”

He nodded. “But it has a third meaning that I like the best.”

“Oh?” She could barely breathe.

“In Chinese folklore, the blue rose signifies hope against unattainable love.”

Unattainable? After the way she’d kissed him last night he thought she was unattainable? She wanted to assure him that she wasn’t.

Willa walked over and saw the rose. “Oh, my. A blue rose. You know, since we’re finished here, you should go see the International Rose Test Garden.”

“We should.” Jonas agreed. “How about it? Will you go?”

“Yes. I’d love to.”

“I’ll pick you up here in an hour.”

“Sure.”

After Jonas left, Mike came forward. “You guys are going to the gardens? I want to go, too. I’ve been wanting to visit that place.”

Willa was visibly alarmed. “Oh, Mike. I’m sure I have some work here I need to go over with you.”

Alicia smiled at Willa. “Don’t worry. Mike is teasing us.”

Willa, visibly relieved, smiled. “Did you know that Jonas’s father courted me with roses?”

Alicia nodded. “He sounds like a sweetie.”

“He was, but you know what this means, don’t you?”

“What?”

“Jonas is courting you, dear.”

“Oh.” Sudden fear lanced through Alicia. Jonas was, well, he was Jonas. He was a little too everything. Too good-looking, too rich, too capable of breaking her heart. If she couldn’t hold onto a regular guy, how did she expect to hold on to one of Portland’s most eligible bachelors? On the other hand, Katie had said it was just dating. Seeing if they were right for each other. She didn’t actually have to lose her heart or anything. She could just enjoy going out with him. If it worked out, great. If not, well it was just dating, right? She headed to the restroom to change.

She really hated it when she had a hard time lying to herself.

Chapter Nine

Jonas followed Alicia to her townhouse so she could wash off the thick makeup and change clothes. They both got out of their cars and excitement rushed through her as she clutched the vase with the blue rose and watched him walk toward her. He smiled as he approached and her knees went a little weak. “Come on,” she said. “This way.”

He followed her to her door and she unlocked it and invited him inside. He looked around. “Nice. I like it. It’s very feminine, like you.”

Alicia looked at the flowered sofa, the bright throw pillows, the vivid paint, and all the family photos hanging on the walls and gracing the fiWith mantle. She tried to see it through the eyes of a man who lived in a mansion, but found it didn’t matter. She loved the place, and he was right--it was her. “Thank you.”

She set her rose on the kitchen counter and hurriedly picked up a few things she’d left lying around, stacking paperwork on the kitchen table, then bundling sweaters, shoes, and a couple of shirts in her arms to take with her into the bedroom.

He looked pleased, his lips curving when he spotted the pink rose in a vase on her coffee table. He didn’t say anything, just stood there looking gorgeous, and Alicia headed for her bedroom, suddenly in a hurry to start their date.

“Alicia.”

She stopped. “Yes?”

“I just want to thank you for everything.” He shrugged. “This is the first time my mother has been excited about anything since my dad died. It’s like she’s come back to life. I know your project is what pulled her out of her depression. So, thank you. It’s a big deal to me.”

Alicia clutched the clothes in her arms a little tighter. “You’re very welcome. I’m glad it’s worked out so well for all of us. This has been a great chance for me, too.”

He nodded once.

Alicia tried to still the sudden suspicion taking root in her mind. Could Jonas’s mother be the reason he was interested in Alicia? She knew how much he loved his mother. Could keeping his mom happy and excited about life be the reason Jonas was dating her? It had been pretty obvious from the beginning that his mother would be pleased if they got together. And really, what did Alicia and Jonas have in common except his mother? His mother who asked him to take her out tonight?

It was a real let down to think that might be the only reason he was there with her now.

Again, she had to remind herself that this was just a date. She wasn’t making life and death decisions here. All the same, it was an added incentive to protect her heart.

She smiled to cover her emotional turmoil, but didn’t quite look at him as she handed him the remote control for the TV. “I’ll be out in fifteen minutes or so. Make yourself at home.”

* * *

On the way to the gardens, Jonas pulled over and stopped at the Elephant’s Delicatessen. “I hope you don’t mind, but it’s sort of a tradition. Whenever we go out to the International Rose Test Garden, we stop here and pick up a sack picnic.”

“Sounds great to me.”

Alicia glanced up at the elephant sign as they went inside the round building and headed to an empty spot at the counter. “What’s the motto here? One bite at a time?”

Jonas laughed. “I’ll have to suggest it to the management.”

There were very few tables in the main area, but it looked like they had more around the corner. The place was crowded, smelled wonderful, and had fancy jams, cured olives, and cheeses on display. Sumptuous bowls of salad were laid out behind a long glass case.

“So what’s good?” she asked.

“Any of the sandwiches.”

They ordered--Alicia getting a turkey sandwich and Jonas a club--and before long they were on their way again, picnic in hand.

When they arrived at the garden, Jonas was quick to open her door and carry their dinner. She picked up her sweater and followed.

He indicated a brick pathway. “Let’s go this way.”

Alicia followed. “I suppose with your mother being who she is, you know all the best places.”

“Not just my mom, but my dad, too. They liked to come here together. Mom could spend hours rhapsodizing over any new species of rose and my dad liked to indulge her. I spent a lot of time here while I was growing up.” He lifted the bag he carried. “They could usually talk me into coming by bribing me with food.”

As they walked up the path, there were quite a few people wandering along in the various levels of the garden. They passed sculptures and plaques interspersed with row after row of beautiful roses in different colors and sizes. The aroma was wonderful.

“There are over seven thousand rose plants and something like five hundred or more varieties. There’s an amphitheater where they have concerts and plays. My mom and dad used to drag me to a couple each year. We should come back and see one sometime. I might have a different perspective as an adult.”

Surprised by the offer, by the implication that they’d still be together in the future, Alicia barely managed to say, “That would be nice.” She hoped the offer had nothing to do with wanting to keep his mother happy.

He led her to a bench overlooking the city of Portland and they both sank down and looked at the view. “Wow,” said Alicia. The vista through the trees and abundant greenery was simply amazing, showing Portland’s tallest buildings, and the rolling hills that seemed a spectacular setting for Mt. Hood on the horizon. “Wow. Seriously, what an incredible view.”

“Nice, huh?” he pulled out their wrapped sandwiches, chips, and bottled water and set everything on the bench between them. “This was always my parents favorite place to eat.” Jonas smiled. “Dig in.”

They ate in silence for a while, admiring the view. “You’re kind of quiet tonight,” said Jonas. “Is anything wrong?”

Alicia lowered her gaze. She didn’t think telling him that she was worried about falling for him was a good idea. “I’m just a little tired. It’s the end of the project and now I have to switch from filming mode to editing. I always get a little nervous at this stage of the game, wondering if I caught everything I’ll need on camera.”

“You’ll do a great job.” His admiring gaze did funny things to her insides, warming her, and making her pulse race. “Have you ever edited a project before?”

Alicia nodded. “Oh sure. I’ve been doing this for years. I actually started back in high school. I took a video production class and once my parents realized I possessed some talent, they bought me the computer programs so I could make movies. After that, all our home videos turned into scripted movies, with my two brothers and their friends in the starring roles.”

“Sounds fun.”

“It was, for the most part, but we had a few mishaps. One time I talked my brother into pretending to fly, and so I had him jump out of a tree and onto the trampoline below. He missed the middle and landed on the metal edge and broke his arm. Mom was pretty upset about it, but Daniel and David loved it when I finished the movie and Daniel really did look like he was flying. He took the film to show and tell and proudly showed it off along with his cast.”