Royal Affair (10 page)

No sign of the two men. They were probably casing the store, looking for her. Or picking up diapers as instructed by their wives.

Feeling foolish, she walked past the cashier near the open gate, gave the woman a smile, then went into the parking lot. Keeping cars between her and the building as much as possible, she walked fast but didn't run.

Relief filled her when she saw a large motor home pull across two parking spaces and hide her car from view. She crossed the open lane, dodged behind the motor home and unlocked Katie's compact car with shaking hands.

The dark-blue sedan was still in its place when she drove carefully away from the store. She didn't, however, see the men. Nor did she spot the car in her rearview on the way to Crosby Systems.

Ivy found Katie on the phone when she entered her sister's office and laid the car keys on the desk. Katie smiled and waved her to a chair.

Inside the building Ivy felt safe. Thanks to a security system that didn't allow anyone into the building without a guard's scrutiny, she thought as she sank into the cushions.

“What's happening?” Katie asked immediately upon hanging up the phone.

Ivy shrugged. “I'm not sure. I thought I was being followed.” She explained what had happened. “It's probably nothing,” she concluded.

“An overactive imagination? I don't know.” Katie was silent as she considered the possibilities. “This appears to be connected to Max, don't you think? Nothing suspicious occurred until he arrived in town.”

An ill feeling swept through Ivy at the thought that he might still be in danger. She wrapped her arms across her tummy until the fear dissolved.

“So, you do care,” Katie murmured.

“Of course. I don't want him to be hurt because of me. Because he followed me here,” she amended.

Katie pushed her glasses up on her nose, her eyebrows raised as she studied Ivy. “Is that all?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” Ivy said at once, then, “I don't know. He isn't the person I thought he was.”

“Who is?” Katie questioned sardonically.

Ivy leaned an elbow on the chair and propped her chin on her palm. “Being a prince is a lot different from being a businessman, though. Intrigues. Absurd tabloid stories. Your every move recorded.”

“Poor Max. I wonder how he stands it. Life in a fish bowl must be terribly lonely. Especially when you're the only fish in it,” Katie added softly.

“He said even royalty needed private moments.”

Moments to cherish,
he'd told her. With her. With their children. And with friends. She sighed shakily.

“Of course.” Katie nodded as if she understood completely and totally agreed.

“So you think I should marry him?”

Katie studied her a long moment. “That's up to you, little sister. Max seems honorable. I think you can trust him. But only you know your own heart.”

But that was the problem, Ivy mused later in her
office. Her heart wasn't very reliable. She turned on her computer and began reading the e-mails, bringing her mind firmly back to work-related matters.

At twenty of four, Max strolled into her office. She noted he had a photo badge, which allowed him to wander about the place without an escort.

“Your brother provided it,” he told her, seeing her glance at the ID tag.

“A good idea since you're determined to make a nuisance of yourself.”

His laughter did things to her insides. She sternly quelled the desire to rush to his arms and kiss him until they were both senseless. “Let's go.”

He was obviously amused about something as she directed him to the clinic near the hospital. He kept giving her oblique glances as he drove. Once, he shook his head slightly.

“What's so funny?” she asked.

“Something Chuck told me.” He parked in an open slot at the medical clinic.

“About me?”

“About how evasive a woman could be if she set her mind to it.”

At the door to the doctor's office, she stopped in her tracks. “Those men,” she said. “They were sent by Chuck, weren't they?”

Max had the audacity to laugh. “You outwitted two of Crosby Systems' best security detectives. How did you get out of the store?”

“Through the garden shop. It has a gate that opens on the parking lot.”

“When did you spot them?”

“I saw them sitting in their car at the hospital when I left. I thought they were waiting for someone. But when they arrived at the store where I stopped, I became suspicious. I mean, two men in business suits being at the same places I was without any apparent reason…” She shrugged one shoulder. “It didn't seem likely.”

“I'll warn Chuck about that.”

“Warn him not to have me followed,” she said hotly. “That's unnecessary. Besides, it scared me. I thought they were after me because they wanted to get to you.”

The laughter disappeared from his handsome face. His eyes became dark and deep and questioning as he gazed into hers. “Ivy,” he said, his tone husky and very tender.

Returning his stare, Ivy experienced the classic symptoms of falling in love—breath shortening, heart beating hard, vision narrowing until he filled her world—

Just then the door was pulled open from inside, startling her and destroying the moment.

“Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't realize anyone was there,” a very pregnant woman exclaimed.

“No, it was my fault,” Ivy told her. She and Max stepped aside so the woman could leave, then went
inside the modern office decorated in green and mauve. After signing in, she sat on the green chenille sofa with thin mauve strips and worried about the tumult raging inside her.

“Don't worry so,” Max murmured for her ears only. “You'll make the baby anxious.”

She gave him a challenging glance. “You know so much about it?”

“I've been reading up on child rearing,” he said virtuously. He picked up a parenting magazine. “Ah, this looks like an interesting article.”

She glanced at the title he pointed out. The Emotional Ups and Downs of Pregnancy and Birth. She met his eyes, then laughed. “I can vouch for that.”

When her name was called, Max rose and went into the inner office with her. Ivy noted a couple of women looking at her with envy. If they only knew the whole story, she thought, would they be shocked or intrigued?

Studying him surreptitiously, she got her answer easily. He was the most fascinating person she'd ever met.

The nurse gave her the usual paper gown after taking her vital signs and writing them on the chart. “Uh, do you want to wait in the doctor's office?” she asked Max.

“No.” He crossed his arms and planted his feet as if taking a firm stand.

“It's okay,” Ivy said quickly before the motherly looking woman could argue with him. Ivy pulled the
curtain across the dressing area in the corner of the room and changed to the gown. Then she sat on the end of the exam table. They waited in silence.

“I think we've met before,” the doctor said, smiling as he entered the room. He shook hands with Max. “Dan Woodruff.”

“At the hospital last week,” Max affirmed. “I'm Max Hughes.”

The doctor took a seat on a stool and motioned Max to the chair. He looked over her chart and asked some questions on her recent health. “Do you want me to deliver or would you like a referral to an obstetrician? We have several good ones in the clinic.”

“I'd rather stay with you,” Ivy said. When Max would have said something, she shook her head. “He's been my doctor for ten years. I'm comfortable with him.”

Max sized up the youthful-looking doctor. “How long have you been in practice?”

“Ten years.” He smiled, showing a perfect set of white, even teeth. “Ivy was one of my first patients. She recommended me to all her friends and family.”

“I see.”

Max shot her a keen glance, which made Ivy feel defensive as if he questioned her motives. Well, she'd had a slight crush on the doctor for a year or so. All her friends had. Then he'd married another doctor.

“His wife is in pediatrics,” she explained.

Max smiled. “Good.”

Ivy rolled her eyes.

“Let's figure out your due date,” Dr. Woodruff suggested. “Do you know when you conceived?”

A lump formed in her throat. Before she could clear it and speak, Max said with great certainty, “July eighteenth.”

“Hmm, a Friday,” the doctor noted, looking at the calendar on the side table.

“That should make her due in April, right?” Max asked.

“Right. Human gestation is around 280 days. Let's see…” He figured it out. “April twenty-third should be it.”

“How long after the birth before Ivy and the child can travel?”

The doctor and Ivy stared at him.

Max took her hand. “We will need to return to Lantanya within six weeks for the official christening.”

“Lantanya?” the doctor inquired.

“My country. We will live there most of the year. With frequent visits to your family,” he said to Ivy. “I wouldn't separate you from Trent and Katie. I know you're close.”

Tears stung Ivy's eyes. He was wonderful in so many ways. If only he were a simple businessman, she would marry him without a qualm. But he wasn't. She blinked back the useless tears.

Dr. Woodruff glanced at her ring finger. “You are married or planning on it soon?”

To her surprise Max turned to her, waiting with the doctor for her answer. “We're engaged,” she finally said.

“We hope to marry by the end of the month,” Max added.

She wondered if he used the imperial
we
of kings or if he had made the assumption she was of the same hope. She realized the idea wasn't quite as shocking as it had been a week ago.

The doctor laid the chart aside. “Okay, let's see how you're getting along.” He turned to Max. “My office is one door down. Wait there for us.”

The examination proceeded, then ended with a sonogram. Max was invited in to view the fetus.

Later, telling Chuck about the experience during dinner at the hotel suite, he remarked, “It looked like a cross between a tadpole and a seahorse.” He flashed Ivy a teasing grin.

She gave him a mock-indignant glare, then thought about the developing child, wondering whether it was a girl or a boy. And what its life would be.

At ten she turned in, alone in the king-size bed. She heard the drone of the men's voices in the living room for a while. Chuck had been rather put out that she'd detected the detectives.

Max had reminded him that Ivy had a sharp mind and noticed things. He'd seemed rather proud of her.

At last all was quiet. She slept, then awoke, restless from dreams she didn't recall. Rising, she
slipped on a robe and crept silently into the living room. Max lay at an angle under the sheet on the sofa bed. The bed was barely long enough for him.

Gazing at him in the pool of moonlight from the open curtains, she realized his eyes were open. He smiled when he saw that she knew he was awake.

“Join me,” he invited on a lazy note.

“You can join me,” she said.

He rose at once. She saw he wore sweatpants, which surprised her for some reason. But she'd only seen him when he'd been in bed with her, when neither had worn night clothes.

Taking her hand, he let her lead the way into the bedroom, then closed the door behind them.

“Is this platonic?” he asked.

She hesitated a fraction of a second. “Only if you want it to be.”

He caught her to him. “You have no idea how I want it to be,” he murmured, “but I'll show you.”

With the gentlest of touches, with kisses so sweet they melted her heart, he made love to her as if they had all the time in the world.

When the sensation became unbearable, she sobbed in his arms as ecstasy flowed over her, through her, piercing all the secret places of longing she'd ever known.

“I love you,” she said, unable to stop the words. “I love you, love you, love you.”

M
ax was on the phone when Chuck entered the suite, jogging clothes damp from his exercise. He returned Chuck's wave, then continued his conversation with Ned, who was at the palace in Lantanya.

“Talk to the architect,” he told his valet and friend, “and let's see what we can come up with. My wife and I will share a bedroom. She'll want the nursery nearby. I'm thinking of the suite across the hall from mine for the children.”

“Very good, Your Highness,” Ned said, sounding both surprised and pleased.

Max smiled. Perhaps he was being premature, but after last night he decided to proceed as if the mar
riage at the end of the month was a set-in-stone fact. Which it was, as far as he was concerned.

Warmth spread through him, heating his blood and firing his imagination. No, not imagination, his memories. Last night Ivy had been incredible in her response. Now past most of her original shyness, she'd been pleasingly aggressive and demanding, every man's dream of a perfect lover.

I love you, love you, love you.

The words she'd murmured during the excitement of their desire had filled him with added pleasure. A bonus. He'd slept in deep contentment with her in his arms.

This morning she'd been introspective while dressing for work, but she hadn't attempted to deny the words she'd whispered at the height of passion. The contentment filled him again. He'd never known anything like it—

“You look like the cartoon cat who has at last caught the pesky mouse,” Chuck said, interrupting his thoughts. “Did I hear you talking to Ned? Is there anything that needs my attention?”

“I'm making a few modifications on the family living quarters. Ivy will want our children close, so I'm having the nursery moved across the hall.”

“To the queen dowager suite?”

“Yes. Since my mother is dead, there's no need for it.”

“The marriage is definitely on, then?”

Max met his friend's amused but serious gaze. “Yes. I think we can assume all is well in that department.”

Chuck's cool blue eyes lingered on the sofa bed. The maid hadn't yet been in to straighten and tuck it out of sight. Max, to his amazement, felt his ears grow hot.

“I thought so when I didn't find you up and ready to go for a run this morning.” His friend hesitated, then added softly, “I'm happy for you, Max. Ivy is a fine woman.”

Max nodded. “She is that.”

I love you, love you, love you.

He suddenly wanted very much to hear those words again, not in passion this time, but in total trust and endearing honesty. His throat closed up and he felt that odd flip of the heart he'd experienced while holding the baby.

“Taking on the responsibilities of a wife and children makes a man view life differently,” he confided to his best friend. “The future becomes much more real.”

“It'll be good to get this settled before you have to assume the mantle of king. You'll need a place to rest, someone special to come home to, as it were.”

“Private moments,” Max murmured.

“Will Ned's wife assist Ivy? As queen, she'll need a personal maid to take care of her clothing. I like the idea of having an older woman experienced in palace protocol, someone discreet as well as trustworthy.”

“Mrs. Bartlett has two children of her own.”

“Both nearly grown. She'll like having new babies to spoil, or so she told me back in the spring.”

“Oh, she did, did she?” Max chuckled, then poured another cup of coffee and pushed the pot across the table to Chuck. “We'll need a security escort for Ivy at all times.”

“Also the children,” Chuck added. “Don't worry. I'll see that they have the best. No one will hurt them.”

A whirl of emotion so strong it was almost painful speared through Max at the thought. “It's a different realm,” he said, “this marriage and family business. I'm not sure I'm trained for it. To be a king, yes. To be a husband…” He frowned at the uncertainty that dogged him of late.

The two friends sat in silent contemplation of the coming changes, then Chuck smiled. “I think you'll get the hang of it, old chum.” He lifted his coffee cup in a salute, then removed a sheaf of papers from a folder he'd laid on the table earlier. “Here are the latest reports from the diplomatic courier this morning. All is calm in the kingdom, according to the department ministers and captain of the palace guard. My security men agree.”

“So does Ned,” Max commented.

“Then,” said Chuck, “all is right with the world.”

“Or will be, once the rose and I are married,” Max said thoughtfully. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Thank God that was settled. He hadn't known it was a weight on his shoulders until
last night when it had rolled away sometime during their idyllic moments together.

 

Ivy was hard at work reviewing the Lantanya project when Trent stalked into her office. “Hi,” she said. “Did you know we have another delay from production? I'm beginning to worry about meeting our deadlines.”

Trent closed her door with a bang. “I'm worried about
you.
The head of security says you eluded the two men assigned to stay with you.”

Ivy stood and looked her brother in the eye. “If I'd known they were my guards, I might not have eluded them. Or been scared out of my wits.”

“Why didn't you use your cell phone and call somebody to ask what was going on instead of pulling the female James Bond trick?”

“I didn't think of it,” she snapped. “I was too busy trying to escape. I didn't have time to call everyone I knew and ask if they happened to have two men tailing me, thank you very much!”

They glared at each other until Ivy realized how much alike they looked with their chins out and their hands on their hips. The corners of her mouth twitched, then broke into a grin.

Trent grimaced, then gave a faint smile. “Okay, this is getting too much like a TV drama. Why don't you marry your prince and get out of the country while I figure out what's going on?”

“You think it has to do with Crosby Systems, then?”

“What else can it be?” He paced to the window.

Ivy stood beside him, her gaze following his to the perfectly landscaped lawn in front of the building. All was beautiful and serene out there. She sighed and settled into her chair.

“I don't know,” she said. “Things feel funny. Out of kilter somehow.”

“Woman's intuition?” His tone was gently mocking.

“I suppose.” She paused. “I think Max and I will be wed soon. A small wedding with family and close friends.”

“So you've decided.” He laughed. “I'm surprised Max let you come back to work once you agreed. If I were in his shoes I'd whisk you off to the preacher ASAP.”

Ivy lifted her chin. “I won't be rushed into anything. Besides, I haven't exactly told him yet.”

Trent's eyebrows rose in question.

“Tonight,” she said on a half note of promise. “Or tomorrow. Definitely before the end of the week.”

His expression became somber. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

She hesitated. Images of the night spent in Max's strong, gentle arms whirled around her. He'd been tender and fierce in his passion, and generous, making sure of her satisfaction before taking his own. They'd spent a total of three nights together, each one better than the last. Practice did indeed make perfect.

“Well?” Trent demanded, shaking her from her reverie.

“Yes,” she said softly, “this is what I want.”

Trent looked pleased. “Good. It's settled then. Today is Thursday. Do you want the wedding on Sunday? I think we can arrange it.”

She held up a hand to stop his hurried planning. “Wait! I'm just getting used to the idea of an actual marriage.” She checked the calendar. “How about the following Sunday? That's the twenty-first. I need to find a dress and arrange for flowers. I love mums, so we can have those for a fall wedding. Then there's food for the reception.”

“I'll have my secretary call the country club and arrange all that. We can do the reception there. Dad and the company can foot the bill.”

Ivy gave him a frown. “I thought we said a small wedding. Everyone we know will be at the country club if this gets out.”

“A small wedding, yes, but the reception will have to be much larger. There'll be publicity whether we want it or not. Our largest business associates will expect to attend. Maybe this will smoke out whoever is trying to steal our secrets. I'll call Chuck and alert him. Hey, you think he would like to work for our company?”

Without waiting for an answer, Trent headed to his office, his mind obviously buzzing with details, while Ivy sank weakly against the chair back, her
train of thought a total wreck of half-formed plans, fears and hopes.

When her phone rang, she answered rather absently.

It was Katie. “Ivy, Trent just told me the news. Am I going to be your best woman?”

“Of course. You and Emma. I'll call her. No, no, I have to call Max first. He won't like reading about the plans for the ceremony in the headlines of a tabloid.”

She told Katie she wanted the wedding to be outside. The maple and alder trees on her father's estate were simply beautiful as they changed to fall colors.

“Then that's where it'll be,” Katie declared. “With white and golden mums lining the gazebo, it'll be lovely. Our stepmama will be thrilled. She loves to plan a party.”

“So does our mom.”

There was a beat of silence as if Katie had forgotten about Sheila. “Yeah, she'll want to be the center of attention. Maybe we can distract her somehow.”

“Max can handle her.” Ivy pressed a hand to her forehead. “No more. I've got to get in touch with Max.”

“No problem,” Katie said. “He just walked by my door and is heading your way.”

“Thanks for the warning. Talk to you later.” Ivy hung up and composed herself as much as she could with her heart sounding like the 110 trombones of song.

Max,
her heart sang.
Max, my love.

She flew to his arms when he came into the room.

 

The rest of Thursday and all of Friday passed in a rush of activity and emotion as Ivy told her parents and siblings of the plans. Late Friday afternoon she and Katie went shopping for wedding finery.

Ivy was willing to settle on the first dress she tried on, but Katie insisted they check several stores. Four hours later they went back and bought the first wedding gown and left with promises that it would be hemmed by Tuesday. Ivy also selected a long dress made in a coordinating style for Katie. The russet shade was wonderful with her sister's skin tones, brown eyes and sun-streaked brown hair.

Max had agreed to Ivy's plans without objection. “But you do realize we will have to have a formal ceremony in my country?” he asked Friday night as they lay entwined in the king-size bed.

“No. Why?”

“Tradition. The royalty of Lantanya are wed in the cathedral so that everyone can see they are truly bonded and their children are legitimate.”

Ivy laid a hand over her abdomen with a tired sigh. “That means more shopping. Will we have to stand in a reception line for hours the way Queen Elizabeth did?”

“Yes, but I will see that you don't become fatigued. No harm will come to the child,” he averred.

“Thank you,” she said, snuggling against him.

“We will have the ceremony immediately after the coronation, then as king, I will crown you as my queen.”

Ivy started to protest that she needed more time to think about this, then she realized it was too late. The wheels for the royal marriage were already in motion.

“I will do my best,” she said simply, gazing into his dark eyes.

“Ah, Ivy, you please me in so many ways. The day we met, my ministers had already told me much about you, that you were polite and intelligent and knowledgeable in your dealings with them. I've found you to be kindhearted and generous, a person of integrity…and passion.”

With a chuckle he seized her and proceeded to let her have her way with him. Ivy found the weariness of shopping disappeared with a little TLC. She awoke refreshed on Saturday morning.

“What are your plans for the day?” Max asked over coffee at the breakfast table.

Ivy was aware of his and Chuck's eyes on her while she swallowed a sip of coffee before answering. It came to her that their lives would always be shared with others, such as Chuck and Ned and palace officials. Except for the few hours they would have in privacy in their bedroom. A cold sensation trickled down her spine.

“I'm going to the nursery to rock the babies this morning,” she told the men. “Katie and I are meeting
for lunch with the florist at noon, then I'm supposed to go to the country club to talk to the coordinator about the reception at two. Oh, and I have to call Emma to see if she can be the matron of honor.”

“No flower girls and ring bearers?” Max asked, his eyes gleaming in sardonic humor as he teased her.

“No. Since neither of us has nieces or nephews, that won't be necessary. Thank goodness,” she added. “At least with a quick wedding, I won't have time for a nervous breakdown before it's over.”

Both men roared at this conclusion, delivered in a deadpan voice. She smiled and rose. “Am I to have a bodyguard today?”

Max glanced at Chuck, then at Ivy. “Not if you'll agree to let one of us drive you to wherever you need to go.”

“What about when I'm with Katie?”

“What do you think?” Max asked his security chief.

Chuck considered. “There haven't been any personal incidents and we've seen nothing suspicious since we found the bugs. So as long as you and your sister stay together and go only to restaurants and public places, I think it will be okay.”