Barefoot Bay: Castle in the Sand (Kindle Worlds Novella) (4 page)

“And hello to you, too. She told you?” Yeah, he wasn’t expecting any of this. Looking around the blonde, he saw Josie curled up on the sofa. Snoring.

Next to her there were two empty bottles of wine, a bag of tortilla chips, and crumpled tissues all over the floor. He wasn’t sure, but it looked as if Josie had completely lost it.

He’d only been gone three hours. “She’s drunk?”

“Yep. Was already on her way when I got here.”

“Brilliant.” Leaning against the door, he thought about his next move. “I should find someplace else to stay. It was a bad idea coming here…” Running his fingers through his hair, he couldn’t remember ever feeling worse. Moving to Josie’s side, Tony crouched down next to her, wanting to touch her, but holding himself back.

“I’m so sorry, Josie,” he whispered. “So sorry.” Turning to Lila, he knew what he had to do. “I’ll leave. I’ve put her through enough. No more.”

Lila watched him intently. “You really did a number on her. I don’t know why she let you move in here.”

Surprised to hear it from someone he just met, Tony responded the only way he could, with his own admission. “I don’t know why either. I don’t deserve her kindness.”

“Maybe not, but I’d bet dollars to donuts you still care about her.”

Rising and walking toward Lila, Tony treaded carefully. Her friend wasn’t a blood relative, but if Josie trusted her enough to tell her about their past, she might as well be. “Why would you say that?”

“Just the way you look at her. There’s…something. I don’t trust you, that’s for sure. And if you hurt her again, I’m telling Nick everything. But I do believe you care.”

“I’ll do my best to keep my distance, and leave sooner rather than later.”

“That’s probably a good idea. She’s the best person I know,” Lila sighed. “You don’t have any thoughts about getting her back, do you?”

“I always think about getting her back. But it wouldn’t be easy.”

“Winning her heart shouldn’t be easy. Even for a prince.”

Chapter Three

After Lila left, Tony watched Josie sleep. She looked so vulnerable, curled on her side and clutching one of the throw pillows. Telling himself she might get sick in her sleep, he set himself up in one of the chairs and watched her slow deep breaths, listened to the sweet, almost musical sounds she made. He felt a wave of shock when his name slipped out on a whisper.

He remembered that sound. It was the way she said his name after they’d made love, when they were in the dark, wrapped around each other, and each word was swallowed by a kiss.

She looked peaceful lying there on the sofa, even though he was sure she’d have quite a hangover in the morning. Tony levered himself out of the chair to find his bed, but something made him hesitate. If Josie hadn’t gotten ill yet, she probably wouldn’t—but he still didn’t feel right leaving her on the couch all night while he made himself comfortable in her house. Ignoring the nagging inner voice telling him to let her be, he scooped Josie up and carried her to her bedroom.

She felt good in his arms, like she belonged there. He wasn’t lying when he told Lila he wanted her back. He did. She fit him in so many ways, but the obstacles to their being together hadn’t really changed. He was still a prince with a father who expected him to marry a woman with a title. He didn’t want to put Josie in that kind of crossfire again.

Her room was right next to his, and also faced the wide expanse of beach. The house was really a gem, and he could see why someone would want to live here. The two times he’d come over the bridge from the mainland, he’d been struck by the island’s charm.

Josie’s room was bathed in the light from a small lamp on her bedside table. The walls were painted a soft yellow and the furniture was substantial, while still telling him this was a woman’s room.

It had little touches that were uniquely hers: lipsticks and hair elastics littered the top of her dresser, a red lifeguard sweatshirt was tossed across a chair, and there were stacks of books on the shelves. Some looked to be political thrillers, some psychology books, no doubt used in her work, and there were several shelves of romances. All very Josie. While he took in the scene, Josie pressed her head into his shoulder, her hair tickling his neck, and for the first time in three years, Tony felt right.

Josie stirred just as he lowered her onto her bed. Her eyes fluttered open and her lips curved up ever so slightly at the corners, warming his heart. “Mmm. Are you coming to bed?”

Her words, so familiar, so tempting, made his blood heat.

“Not right now,” he whispered back.

“I’ll keep the bed warm.” Her voice, soft and sweet, made his heart slam into his ribs. He remembered how she often uttered those very words when he had to wait for a late call or was watching the end of a soccer match. It was intimate, personal.

Without another sound, Josie clutched a pillow, turned on her side, and went back to sleep. Grabbing a light blanket at the foot of the bed, Tony draped it over her and left the room as quickly as possible.

His good deed was done and there was no reason for him to stay around. If Josie came fully awake, he was sure there would be hell to pay. His goal for tomorrow was not to antagonize her. If he could manage that, maybe they could get on even footing. It would be a start.

A vibration deep in the pocket of his shorts had him grabbing for his phone. Noting the caller ID, this was one call from home he could answer.

“Hey, what are you doing up so early?” It was six in the morning in Marinbourg, and his sister wasn’t known to be an early riser.

“I had to call before the rest of the house woke up. How are you, Tony? Is everything okay?”

“I’m fine, Marie. As I said, I’m at a friend’s home. Actually, do you remember Nick DeMarco?”

“Do I remember him? I practically swooned at his feet.” Marie Therese was a surprise his parents never expected. Ten years younger than he was, she was irreverent, brilliant, and beautiful. She could play their father like a pro, something he had never mastered.

“His sister, Josephine, lives in Florida. A small community on the west coast. Very nice. I walk out of my room right onto the beach.”

“Oh, yes, of course.” Marie remembered. “The poor girl who was mistakenly drawn into that betrothal scandal a few years ago. How is she? The house sounds fantastic. Can I come visit? Father is insufferable. I don’t know if he’s angrier at you, Astrid, or the press.”

“Me, for now,” Tony growled. “Ultimately, he’s going to call Astrid’s whole family on the carpet for her behavior.”

“Astrid doesn’t care. Taking those photos was more about getting back at her own father than you. You were just an easy target.”

“I suppose.” Flipping the light on in his room, Tony walked to the large glass door that led to the Gulf. A bright full moon reflected off the water, making the whole beach glow in blue light. “I’ve been thinking I should get back. Deal with any fallout in person. Confront the press.”

“That could go both ways, but it’s up to you, of course. It’s not your fault.”

As much as Tony knew this, it never seemed to matter. “Tell Father that.”

There was a break in the conversation as they both regrouped. His sister knew the ‘fallout’ Tony referred to didn’t necessarily have to do with the photos. It was about finding him a suitable wife, taking his rightful place in court; basically, waiting for his father to die. Tony had been fighting off one arranged marriage after another, and insulting the daughters of several European royal families in the process. Currently, there was a duchess waiting for a proposal and a ring. She was going to be waiting a very long time.

“So is Josephine Nick’s older sister? I’ve forgotten.”

“No, Josie is younger. She’s about twenty-eight.” He should have avoided the topic. The minute he gave details, he knew he was in for it.

“
Really?”
His sister’s tone was the stuff of adolescence. “She’s attractive, I’m assuming? The good looks surely didn’t stop with Nick.”

He couldn’t give himself away on this, but he wasn’t going to lie. “She’s quite pretty. Smart. Lovely. It was very nice of her to let me stay here.”

“And you two are still…friends?”

The directness of the question made him hesitate, but once again, he couldn’t lie even though it would be easier. “Yes. Friends.”

“How does she feel about hosting a prince? I mean, royalty in her house…”

“We haven’t really discussed it, but this is the United States. If I was Harry Wales, it might be different,” he snapped. Other than her acknowledgement of his title, his status hadn’t come up. Josie had avoided talking to him, pretty much. “Anyway, enough about Josie.”

“Tony, is there something I should know about Josie? She seems to be a bit of a sore spot for you.” His sister had an uncanny ability to read him, even if she wasn’t in the same room. Or on the same continent, for that matter.

“There’s a history. But I don’t want to get into it.”

There was more silence. No doubt his sister trying to figure out what this all meant.

“You care for her,” she said matter-of-factly. “Don’t you? The gossip rags were onto something a few years ago, weren’t they?”

Of course he did. But should he bring his sister into his confidence? Tell her everything?

Not yet.

“I do, but I’m not prepared to give you details. Suffice it to say, things didn’t go well for us. It was my fault.”

“Admitting fault isn’t like you,” Marie teased. “She must be quite special.”

“I’m going to try to sleep. Thank you for checking in with me, Love. Tell Father and Mother, and the prime minister, that I’m fine and I’ll be home soon to deal with the press regarding Astrid’s stunt”

“That’s it?”

“Yes. I understand Father is angry, but I do feel his advisors are right. This will settle down faster if I stay out of sight. Not giving Astrid any attention will make it less likely she’ll try anything again.”

“I’ll tell them, but they still want you to come home, Anton. I want you to come home. We all miss you.”

“I know. I’ll speak to you soon. Goodnight, Marie.”

Josie awoke with a start, trying to remember everything that had gone down the night before. Nick left, Tony was getting a car, she drank wine, Lila came over, there was more wine.

Shit,
no wonder her head was pounding and her mouth felt fuzzy. “God, what was I thinking?”

Thankfully, she didn’t feel sick, but she didn’t have any memory of Lila leaving or going to bed. All she remembered was a very strange dream…
that probably wasn’t a dream.

Tony brought her to bed. She remembered the feel of his arms, the warmth of his body, and waking just a bit as he settled her onto the mattress. Even now, just thinking about being held, her skin tingled, her heart raced. And deep inside, a tiny part of her wished he’d stayed.

Now she was going to have to face him.

For the first time since he left, Josie had spilled her heart out to someone. She told her friend everything, from how she’d met Tony, to the friendship that turned very serious, to his leaving. Josie relived the heartbreak in shattering detail. Usually upbeat, Lila didn’t know what to say or do, and Josie felt bad for dumping it all on her the way she did.

She needed to shower, brush her teeth, and make herself somewhat presentable. Stepping outside of her room would be impossible if Tony knew how much he still affected her.

Staring at herself in the bathroom mirror, eyes swollen, skin pale, she looked like the walking dead. Maybe if she went out there like this, it might scare him away.

A hot shower and clean clothes did wonders for the hangover, but nothing for how her insides were on perpetual meltdown. She felt like one of her fifteen-year-old students in the throes of a romantic crisis. And Josie hadn’t liked being fifteen when she
was
fifteen.

“Three deep breaths, Josie. Just breathe.” Trying to follow her own advice wasn’t working, but she couldn’t hide in her bedroom all day, either. It was her house, and she had things to do. Prince Anton could go to blazes.

Just as she was about to walk out of her room, her cell buzzed. A text.

Lila.

How are you?

I’ve been better. Did you talk to him much?
Hopefully she hadn’t.

Just told him that you were stressed. Had a little too much to drink. End-of-school-year decompression.

What a friend. She was probably lying—Lila had almost no filter—but there was no way to prove it.
He carried me to bed! I woke up when he put me down, but honestly I thought I was dreaming.

I got a good look at him when he got back to the house. That man is a dream walking. Talk about a handsome prince. I can’t believe you never told anyone about him.

I couldn’t. I still don’t know how I’m going to deal with him in my house.

You will. Somehow you will.

I have to eat something. I’ll talk to you later.

Josie wanted nothing more than to head to the water for a swim, but it was gray and rainy, so instead she donned a hoodie and readied herself for Tony.

The house was so quiet she could hear the surf, and for a minute she thought he might still be asleep, but then the smell of coffee hit her nostrils. Just the aroma helped clear the fog in her brain, and all at once Josie realized there was no way to hide from this anymore. It was time to face the day.

Anton was standing in the kitchen, scrolling through his phone and sipping a cup of coffee. He wore a pair of blue knit pants and a plain white t-shirt. His feet were bare and a day’s growth of beard shadowed his jaw. He could have been a businessman, a teacher, or a doctor just checking the scores before he went to work.

In that moment, the man leaning his hip against the counter wasn’t royal, he was just the man she fell in love with. Except that he was royal. Which was the reason she could never have him.

When he looked up and saw her there, Tony drew a breath. It was more than Josie had been able to do since he’d arrived. “Morning,” she croaked out.

“Good morning,” he replied, setting his cup on the counter. “How are you feeling?”

God, this was awkward. “Um, okay. A little fuzzy, but not as bad as I could feel.”

“You were really out when I got back.” An amused grin played at his lips, brightening his entire face.

“You carried me to bed?”

He froze. Nodded. “I couldn’t leave you out there on the couch.”

“No? Why?”

“I don’t know. It didn’t seem right. Are you angry?”

Looking away, she wasn’t sure. “I don’t think so. It’s just…odd. Having you here, and… I don’t even know what to say to you. I’ll be fine, but it’s weird.”

“Josie, I’m the same man you knew. I swear, I haven’t changed much.”

That pretty much said it all. Taking a mug from the cabinet, she poured herself some coffee and put in enough cream that the liquid muted to a soft light brown. “Not changing is a problem, you know? All things considered.”