Reluctantly Royal (4 page)

There was his old friend Patrick. I could call him and see if would be willing to help. Patrick and Granddad had been very close before we moved to Lilaria. If he would help, that would leave me with only two spots to fill.

I had to ask my father. There was no way around that. He should be one of the men to carry the casket, and I’d hide all of the liquor in the house if he said no. I could always super glue his hands to the casket—or maybe bribe him with scotch.

One more person. I needed one more person.

I looked around my room like someone would spontaneously appear. An idea began to form in my mind and I looked down at the jeans I was wearing and shook my head.

There was one person that I could ask. He had told me to tell him if I needed anything. Well, I needed something all right, but it wasn’t the kind of thing you could ask over the phone. I needed to go to him and present my case.

I undid the button on my jeans and kicked them off before walking to my closet. If I was going to ask for such a big favor, I needed to reevaluate my wardrobe decision. The right clothes could go a long way to getting me the answer I needed.

FOUR

I
SWEAR TO
G
O
D,
I’m moving all of my stuff to the palace. I can’t take one more night of your loud, tub-thumping sex.” I pointed my finger at my brother and sister-in-law.

Sam laughed loudly as she heaped more bacon on to her plate. “Good. Our plan is working.”

“That’s not funny.” I slathered butter on my croissant.

“Sure it is.” She shoved a piece of bacon in her mouth and smiled at me. “We’ve been trying to get you out of D’Lynsal Manor for months.”

“It’s not my fault that my bathroom is right next to your room. And besides, the bathtub is the only place Samantha is comfortable—”

“Enough!” I cut Alex off with a horrified look. “I don’t want to know where you two have sex, much less pregnant sex.”

“Well, how do you think I got this way?” Sam gestured to her baby bump.

“Knowing and hearing are two different things.” I rolled my eyes. I’d never admit it to her, because it would go to her head, but she made an adorable pregnant woman. It looked like she had a basketball hidden under her shirt.

“Then go back to the palace.” Alex pointed at me with his fork.

“I came here for the same reason you did.” I shoveled some eggs in my mouth before continuing. “The place is covered in visiting dignitaries. I ran into the Duke of Edinburgh in our family kitchen. He was drinking out of the milk carton.”

Sam laughed. “Was he naked?”

“Thank you very much for that horrible visual.” Alex set his fork down.

“No. He was wearing sleep pants.” I grabbed the coffeepot and refilled my cup. Sam’s love of coffee had infected the entire family.

“I hate you.” Her eyes were full of lust as she eyed the coffeepot.

“You’re hating on the wrong brother.” I made a big show of sipping from my cup. “I didn’t knock you up.”

“Let me smell it.” She held her hand out. “I just want to remember what it tastes like.”

“Don’t torture yourself.” I laughed while Alex playfully slapped her hand.

“I don’t miss the wine, or being able to stay awake past eight o’clock in the evening, but I do miss my coffee.” Her sigh was so sad it almost made me feel bad for her. Almost.

“You could always drink decaf,” I said.

“Blech. That’s like Oreos without cream in the center. Just a mean tease.” She made a face.

“What is it you keep saying?” Every time she came across something she couldn’t or shouldn’t do while pregnant she would mumble under her breath with gritted teeth.

“It’ll be worth it.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to calm herself or catch a sniff of the coffee. “It’ll be worth it.”

“What’s your mantra going to be when the baby is up at two in the morning?”

She didn’t answer, just flung a piece of apple in my direction.

“Leave her alone,” Alex said. “She didn’t get any sleep last night.”

“Yeah, I heard, remember?”

“I mean it, smart ass. The baby kept her up all night.” Alex looked at Sam with a disgustingly sappy look. It normally made me sick, but we were all protective of Sam, especially now. Her morning sickness was more like all-the-time sickness. Not to mention it had lasted way past the first three months.

“Sick again?” I tried to keep the concern out of my voice.

“A little.” She shrugged and rubbed her belly. “The little bean was grumpy.”

“Might have been all that bouncing around.” I bit into my croissant and hoped they didn’t notice that I was worried. Sam was usually active and lively, but lately she seemed to be dragging.

“Oh, shut it.” Sam glared at me. “You’re just jealous that you’re not getting any.”

“I don’t have time for the drama.” Setting the croissant down, I took a big slurp of coffee. That would teach her for picking on me.

“Aren’t you supposed to be doing a lunch event with Mother?” Alex asked.

“I canceled.” I shrugged. It wasn’t like it was the first time I’d backed out of an event she’d tried to force me into. She probably had expected it.

“I told her you would.” Alex shook his head.

“And yet she keeps trying to get me to do things.” I frowned. “You’d think she’d figure it out.”

“Mother just wants you to be more comfortable with it.”

“That’s never going to happen.”

Sam opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by the dining room door being opened. The butler stepped in and cleared his throat.

“Lady Meredith of Thysmer.” He bowed his head before motioning for someone to walk in the door.

I stood up and set my napkin down as the feisty redhead walked into the room. Was it my imagination, or did the room seem to brighten just a little? I couldn’t help the way my eyes traveled over her perfect legs and along her delicious body. The skirt she was wearing hugged every curve, and the slight sweater over her shirt draped open in an inviting way. Her hair hung over one shoulder in gentle waves, and I found myself wondering if it was as soft to touch as it looked.

Alex cleared his throat as he too stood, and I quickly tried to cover up the fact that I had been staring.

“Meredith.” I bowed my head before motioning to the table. “Would you care to join us for a late breakfast?”

“I’ve eaten, but some tea would be nice.”

“We have some peppermint tea, if you’d like.” Sam motioned to the teapot near her.

“That would be great.” There was a sway in Meredith’s walk as she crossed the room that was almost hypnotizing. I looked over at Alex to see if he had noticed, but his eyes were trained back on Sam as she poured tea into an empty cup and passed it across the table.

Hurrying around the table, I pulled the chair out for Meredith and slid it back in as she sat.

“Thank you.” Her voice was husky as she looked up at me with half-lidded eyes.

“You’re welcome.” I cleared my throat and moved back to my seat.

“You look wonderful.” She smiled at Sam and I felt that tug again. As if she had captured me in a web, something pulling at me—pulling me toward her. “I’m guessing from the peppermint tea that you’re still having morning sickness.”

“Ugh, yes.” Sam frowned. “And thanks, but I don’t feel wonderful. I feel fat and tired.”

“How far along are you?” Meredith poured cream into her tea.

“Five months.” Sam smiled. “I thought I’d feel better by now.”

“Hang in there. I had morning sickness for what felt like forever, but by the middle of the fifth month I woke up one morning and felt wonderful.” She reached out and squeezed Sam’s hand.

“God, I hope that happens to me.” Sam smiled wistfully.

“It’ll be worth it,” Meredith said, and I chuckled.

“That’s her mantra,” I explained when she turned to look at me.

“It’s a good one.” Meredith picked up her tea and took a sip. “I’m sorry to crash your breakfast.”

“Not at all,” Alex offered. “I was very sorry to hear of your grandfather’s passing. He was a bright, humorous man.”

“Thank you.” Her eyes dimmed. “He will be missed.”

“Do you need anything?” Sam asked. Her voice was thick and I realized she was fighting tears. Though it had been over two years since her father’s death, it was obvious that it was just as raw.

“Actually, I do.” Meredith looked at me with large eyes and leaned forward just enough that I got a peek of cleavage. “I was hoping that you, Max, would be one of the pallbearers at my granddad’s funeral.”

I pulled my eyes away from the glimpse of breast and frowned. I had barely known the man and she wanted me to carry his casket?

“Trust me, I know it’s a lot to ask, but we don’t have much family, and to be honest, we haven’t really been in Lilaria long enough to make many friends.” She looked down at the cup in front of her. “I don’t have anyone else to ask.”

I cut my eyes at Alex but kept my face blank. How the hell was I going to get out of this? Funerals gave me the heebie-jeebies and being in the spotlight made me irritable. Center stage at a funeral? Fuck me.

Alex gave a small shrug as if to say there was nothing he could do, but it was Sam who sealed the coffin, so to say.

“Of course he will!” Sam reached out to touch Meredith’s graceful hand. “We wouldn’t leave you alone in a time like this.”

“You don’t mind?” Meredith’s face lit up with relief, her eyes turning to me with hope. “It’s so much to ask and I know you don’t do a lot of public appearances.”

“Um, no, I don’t.” I shot a look at Sam and hoped she could read the promise of torture before smiling at Meredith. “But I can make an exception for you.”

Damn, I meant to say for him, not for her. What the hell was wrong with my mouth? It kept saying things I didn’t mean. I didn’t mean that I would do it because it was for her. Did I? Shit.

“That means the world to me.” She smiled, and the room brightened again. “I owe you big-time.”

That I could work with. There were lots of big things she could do for me . . .

Stop it, I told myself. The last thing I wanted was an erection at the breakfast table. At least not while my brother and sister-in-law were in the room. Now if it was just me, Meredith, and a little raspberry jam . . . Fuck me. I was hard.

“Don’t mention it. A little media won’t hurt me.” I waved my hand. Caskets. Dead people. Media galore. Yep. That killed my excitement.

“Do you need any help with the arrangements?” Sam asked around a mouthful of bacon. You could give her a crown, but she’s still good ol’ Sam.

“I think I have most of everything covered. There is someone from the palace coming to Thysmer Manor to help with the major things.” She looked at her watch. “Speaking of which, I should probably be heading back. Marty has probably made the nanny cry and there is no telling what my fa— my favorite kiddo has gotten into.”

I knew instantly why she had hesitated. She was more worried about leaving her father alone than about what her son was doing to the poor nanny. I couldn’t imagine that little boy being that difficult. All you had to do was sit him in front of his video games and he’d probably never move. How hard could that be for the nanny?

“Let me see you to the door.” I stood and helped pull her chair out.

“I’m sorry for interrupting your breakfast,” she said to Sam and Alex. “I hope I didn’t ruin your day.”

“Not at all.” Alex stood and held his hand out to her. “If we can be any more help, please let us know.”

“Thank you, but you’ve already done enough.” Meredith looked at Sam. “If you need someone to bitch to about being pregnant, I’m your girl.”

Sam laughed. “Oh, you might regret that. I’m not exactly the glowing pregnant woman.”

“Pfft. You look fantastic, but a spa day never hurt anyone.” Meredith raised her eyebrows. “And if you need company, I’m your girl!”

“That we will definitely have to do.” Sam laughed. “But no waxing.”

“Have you ever tried threading?” Meredith stepped next to me, and it felt strange but good to have her petite frame next to mine while we chatted with my brother and his wife.

“Oh hell no. I’m never doing that again.” Sam shuddered.

“I see you have tried it.” Meredith’s laugh was contagious and I felt my mouth pull up into a smile.

“Never again.” Sam shook her head.

“Well, we can stick to the calmer things. A prenatal massage for you.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Sam smiled. “I’ll have Chadwick, my assistant, contact yours.”

“Oh, I don’t have an assistant.” Meredith laughed. “Just tell him to call me and we’ll hash it out.”

“You’re going to need some assistance in the coming days.” Sam frowned. “I could send someone over to help out.”

“No, we’re fine. Besides, the palace has already called me about helping arrange the funeral.” Meredith edged a little closer to the door.

I wondered what had made her uncomfortable. Not that her face showed it in the least. I was beginning to suspect that a lot of today had been a performance. It was the little, real-life moments that let me get a peek at her real emotions.

“If you’re sure.” Sam frowned.

“I am, but thank you.” Meredith stood a little straighter and smiled. “Thank you again for letting me join you this morning.”

“Of course.” Sam raised an eyebrow I could see the wheels turning in her head and knew that Meredith was most likely going to end up with a bevy of assistants.

“This way, my lady.” I held open the dining room door and let her walk through ahead of me. The faint smell of lavender floated past me and I took a deep breath.

“I really appreciate you saying yes.” Meredith seemed to drop some of her strong appearance when she looked up at me. “I’m not sure what I would have done had you said no.”

“No need to worry.” I cleared my throat. She looked so vulnerable in that moment I would have agreed to anything.

We stopped at the front door and I saw her car idling out front.

“It’s a lot to ask of someone. You barely know me and hardly had any time to see my granddad.” She frowned up at me. “He was a good man, though.”

“I’m sure he was.” I reached out and touched her cheek. Her eyes closed briefly, before reopening with a soft smile.

“So, I think, are you.”

“I have my moments.” Warning bells filled my head and I took a step back. “Are you sure you don’t need anything else?”