The Princess Problem (2 page)

Alicia glanced at the unsigned contract, then at Mike who bit back another smile. Jerk. This close to what she wanted, Alicia decided to be gracious in defeat. “I’d love to. That sounds wonderful. It’ll give me a chance to see your roses.”

Mrs. Highborn smiled.

Alicia smiled back as her natural optimism reasserted itself. She knew enough about business to know that someone untried like herself probably wouldn’t have this opportunity if it weren’t for the fact that Mrs. Highborn had somehow decided it was imperative to introduce her to her son, the dateless dud. So if that was the only reason she was up for the contract, and she was pretty sure it was, then being nice to the guy over a meal was a small price to pay. It might be a little bit awkward, but nothing she couldn’t handle. Especially since it would do wonders for her career. She glanced at the contract.

“Is eight o’clock too late?” asked Willa. “Jonas, um, that is to say, we sometimes eat late.”

“Sounds good.” Anyway, she wouldn’t have to stay long. As soon as dinner ended, she’d claim to have work early in the morning, which she did.

“Wonderful,” said Mrs. Highborn. She reached into her desk drawer and extracted a card. “Here’s my address.”

Alicia looked at the exclusive Portland location. “Thank you.”

Mrs. Highborn lifted the contract. “My neighbor, Tate, will no doubt want to read through this first. He’s a retired lawyer. I’ll have the contract ready for you after dinner tonight. Is that all right?”

Alicia somehow managed to keep her smile firmly in place. “Of course. Until tonight.” She rose with Mike and they took turns shaking Mrs. Highborn’s hand and saying their goodbyes before heading out.

As soon as they were out of hearing distance, Mike chuckled softly. “My feelings are hurt. I didn’t get an invite to dinner.”

Alicia pushed open the front doors and they headed into the parking lot. “Shut up or I’ll stick you in a dress and send you over.”

Mike barked out a laugh. “I’d do it, too, if it meant getting the contract.”

Alicia sighed. “I’ll get it. She said after dinner, right? How hard can one little dinner be? I mean, I have to eat anyway, right?”

“Sure.” Mike didn’t look convinced. “Just make sure you protect your ovaries, okay?”

Alicia snorted. “Shut up, Mike.”

He laughed all the way to the car.

Chapter Two

“Mom, I’m starving. Why can’t we eat yet? What’s the hold up? Tate is acting like I’m committing a crime by asking for dinner. I have things to do. I know he’s picky about his cooking, but can we hurry him up somehow?” Jonas Highborn came the rest of the way into the opulent sitting room to see his mother staring out the window at the pouring rain. “Come away from there. I don’t want you getting hit by lightning.”

His mother glanced up for a moment, then immediately looked back out the window. “This storm is terrible.”

“Are you worried about your roses? They’ve weathered worse.” When she still stared out the front window, her brows furrowed, Jonas joined her and glanced outside to see the trees swaying under the force of pelting rain and wind. “So what? It’s storming again. Why are you so upset? This is Portland. What do you expect?”

“I’ve invited a guest to dinner. I’m afraid she won’t make it in this storm.”

Jonas stared down at his mother, his eyes narrowing. “She? An old friend of yours?”

She shot him a quick glance, but didn’t hold his gaze.

“All I can say is that it had better not be an unmarried female.”

“Mmm, hmm.” His mother finally turned away from the window to fuss with some roses she’d cut earlier and placed on a side table.

“Mom?”

She wouldn’t look at him.

“Mother?”

She sighed. Shrugged.

“Mom. You did it again, didn’t you? You invited yet another girl over to dinner. Admit it.”

She finally faced him. “Dear, you need to listen to me. This one is different.”

“That’s what you always say.”

The house went dark, and the house powered down with a moan, leaving them in darkness and silence. Jonas laughed. “Well, there goes your evil plan. The last time this happened, it was out for hours.”

“Oh do be quiet and light a candle. It’s not evil for me to want a grandchild. Or two.” She muttered the last under her breath.

Letting himself smile since she couldn’t see him anyway, Jonas found matches and lit a few candles on the mantle. Then he couldn’t help it. He snickered. “So, can we eat now?”

“We should wait a little longer.”

“What for? Even if she does show up you won’t be able to open the front gate if she buzzes it. In fact, the intercom isn’t working now. If she does show up she’ll just go home again.”

“You could take an umbrella and go down to the gate and wait for her. She can park her car on the road and come in through the walk-in gate.”

Jonas laughed. “Not going to happen.”

“If I do it, I could fall.”

“Which is why that’s not going to happen, either.”

“I could send Tate.”

Jonas watched, amused, as his mother struggled with the idea of sending the old guy out in the rain. Granted, Tate would do anything for her, but Jonas knew she wouldn’t ask. When her shoulders slumped, he grinned. “Don’t worry about it. If she even shows up, which I doubt, she’ll probably turn around and go home when she sees the electricity is off.”

His mom sighed. “You’re probably right.”

“I am. Let’s eat dinner.”

With two candles, Jonas led the way into the dining room, set the candles on the table, found a flashlight in the sideboard, and headed into the kitchen to find Tate surrounded by candles, dishing up food. How the old guy always knew what was going on in the house was a mystery.

“Let me help you with that.”

When Tate gave him a nasty look, his wild, white hair catching light from the candles, Jonas grinned. “Or not.”

“I’ll be right in,” said Tate. If you’ll wait in the dining room, I’ll make sure you have some food in that bottomless pit you call a stomach, pronto.”

Jonas’s lips curved and he gave a slight bow. “Yes, Tate.”

Jonas heard the old man mumbling to himself and joined his mother at the table as the door swung shut. She looked unhappy in the candlelight, and younger than usual. He hated to disappoint her, but she needed to butt out of his love life.

Tate came out of the kitchen with three full plates he set at each place, then proceeded to fill their water glasses before sitting down to join them.

They ate in silence, his mother not speaking to him. Finally Jonas couldn’t stand it any longer. “Mom, I know you mean well.”

“I just want you to be happy. Fall in love. Have some children.”

“Hey, don’t you think I want that, too?”

Tate snorted.

Even in the candlelight, Jonas could see his mother’s pained expression. “Maybe you’re just too picky?”

“Maybe I just haven’t met the right girl?”

“They’re never the right girl.”

She sounded so down he wanted to comfort her. “Mom. I just want the real deal, you know? You and Dad set too good an example for me. I want what you had. I don’t want to settle for less.”

She sniffed.

“No crying at the table, remember? Dad always said it was bad luck.”

She laughed at that and they settled back into their meal. They were halfway through when there was a knock on the door.

His mother looked up and smiled. “She made it.” She set her fork down with a clatter, jumped up, and ran into the kitchen. “Tate! Help me set another place.”

Jonas looked at the storm-drenched windows, the lightning, and the darkened room. Some people were truly unbelievable. The lengths some girls would go to simply to attract his attention was truly astounding. While his mother was busy in the kitchen, he was going to give her a piece of his mind. If she liked going out in this weather so much, she could turn right around, get in her car, and go home. This was ridiculous. Jonas hurried to the front door and as he opened it, the candle blew out. A flash of lightning lit the sky, illuminating the beautiful, pathetic-looking, drenched girl before him. He sighed. “Blast it. Come in, if you must.”

* * *

Come in, if you must?

Alicia was annoyed.

At herself, sure. And she probably ought to be miffed at Mrs. Highborn for putting her in this situation. But it was actually the lady’s son she wanted punished. If the guy weren’t such a dating dud, then she wouldn’t be in this situation right now, would she? Maybe she did need to take some responsibility for the fact that she’d driven out in a raging storm. And, okay, maybe no one had forced her to stumble through the rain to the Highborn house, thereby making a complete idiot out of herself. But this would have been completely unnecessary if the guy in front of her was able to get a freaking date! So, unfair or not, she blamed him.

And there was no doubting the identity of the big jerk snapping at her. She knew it was him.
Come in, if you must?
So much was explained about his single status.

“Thank you, so much, for the gracious invitation.” She stepped forward. Well, she squished forward, so dripping wet that the water filling her shoes leaked onto the floor. “I believe I will.”

He shut the door behind her. “Can I get you anything? A glass of water perhaps? Or a towel or two?”

She clenched her chattering teeth.
The blockhead.
If he thought she didn’t hear the sarcasm in his voice, he was sadly mistaken.

What she’d like was the signed contract, in a big, zip-lock baggie, and to be on her way. A hot shower, some dinner, a cup of cocoa, and a nice long gloat while she looked at the contract and snuggled in her thick blankets sounded like the perfect evening.

But that wasn’t going to happen, was it? And why not? Because of this big twit standing in the shadows in front of her. She could see the outline of his body, well over six feet tall, all broad shoulders and menace. And, while she couldn’t see his face, she could hear his voice just fine. He was snide, rude, and condescending. At that moment, she hated him.

“How about we make it three towels? Thank you for the kind offer.”
Now scurry off, fathead, and when you come back, you can clean up the puddle I’m making on your mansion floor.

A door opened and a woman holding a candle and a man with a towel hurried forward. “Alicia! Welcome, my dear. I’m so glad you could make it.”

Alicia relaxed a little at the genuine welcome in Mrs. Highborn’s voice and in her glowing face, illuminated by the candle. “Thank you, Mrs. Highborn.”

“Remember to call me Willa.” She handed the candle to the white-haired man at her side and wrapped Alicia in a towel.

Alicia huddled into it, patting her face with the corners, grateful for its warmth. “Thank you, Willa.”

“I see you’ve met my son, Jonas.”

“Yes.” Alicia could hear the edge to her voice and hoped Willa didn’t.

“Jonas, this is Alicia, the girl I was telling you about. She’s going to help me with the commercial. She has wonderful ideas and I’m really excited to work with her and her team.”

“Hopefully someone on her team has more common sense than she does.”

“Jonas.” His mother’s tone held a warning.

“What? Either she’s a dimwit, or so desperate for your business that she’s put aside her common sense. Either way, I’m not impressed.”

“Jonas. You will apologize this instant.”

“No, please.” Alicia face was hot and she was glad for the darkness. “It’s fine. I don’t mind hearing what he thinks. As long as he’s up to the same treatment.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked.

She considered telling him exactly what she meant, but a glance at Willa had her changing her mind. “Nothing I can say in mixed company.”

Willa sighed. “I’m sorry, Alicia. I raised him better than that. He’s usually charming and hard to resist.”

Alicia laughed out loud.

Willa ignored her. “Don’t forget, Jonas, this commercial is completely my decision, not yours. I’ve got to get another candle. I’ll be right back.”

As soon as Willa and the man with her left the room, leaving Alicia and the cretin in darkness once more, Jonas took a step forward. “Do you want to tell me what you meant by that comment?”

She lifted her chin. “You first.”

“I meant that if you don’t have enough sense to stay out of the rain, then it appears it will be left to others to handle that aspect of the project, won’t it?”

Alicia’s eyes narrowed and she clenched her jaw. She knew she looked stupid, and it probably wasn’t fair to be mad at him for it, but she was. “For your information,” she said, “I have plenty of common sense. Do you really think I wanted to come out in this storm? Your mother wanted me here. I was blackmailed with the promise of a contract. And do you know why?”

He crossed his arms. “Enlighten me.”

She shouldn’t say it. She should control her tongue. But when lightning flashed, she could make out the smirk on his face and couldn’t seem to control herself. “Because you are such a clod that you can’t seem to get a date on your own.” She tried to lower her voice. “So mommy has to try and set you up with innocent bystanders by twisting their arms. Surely I’m not the first one to show up here in the middle of a storm? It must happen to you all the time.” She waved a hand in the air. “Good weather, bad weather, hail, snow, sleet. So you can wipe that snide tone from your voice and share a little of the responsibility, hey?”

Jonas laughed, sounding genuinely amused.

Willa laughed, sounding delighted.

Alicia turned, dismayed. “Mrs. Highborn...Willa...I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to hear that.”

Willa laughed again. “No. You’re completely right. I do have to bribe girls to date my son. I should be completely ashamed of myself, but I can’t seem to stop doing it. He’s just such a hard case, you know?”

Alicia wondered if she’d completely blown it, but Willa’s smile in the candlelight looked sincere.

“Here we go.” Still smiling, Willa handed over the candle and a packet of matches. “Jonas, show Alicia up to the guest room.”