‘‘We’ll just be friends.’’
‘‘Yes. Friends would be wise.’’
But he was standing terribly close for a man who was just her friend, she thought as heat from his body seeped into hers. And there was a glint of something in his brown eyes. Wanting, maybe? Desire? Her stomach had started tightening at the thought of him so near to her, and her legs weren’t getting any steadier. There was also the issue of her mouth which seemed to be quivering ever so slightly.
‘‘Speaking of friends…and family,’’ she said, making an effort to sound casual. ‘‘Have you heard from your brother?’’
‘‘Not yet.’’
They stared at each other. Mitch started to lean toward her, then straightened, turned on his heel and headed for the door.
‘‘I gotta make a call,’’ he yelled over his shoulder.
But his rapid retreat didn’t fool her for a second. Mitch Colton wanted her. Alex felt it all the way to her bones. What a heady feeling to know that a handsome, virile man wanted her in his bed. No one had before. She didn’t doubt that there had been many men interested in her, but much more for the power and prestige she would bring rather than for herself. Mitch didn’t care that she was a princess. If anything, her lineage was a complication he didn’t want.
She turned to the mare with the bruised expression. ‘‘This is all probably very strange to you,’’ she murmured as she reached in her pocket and pulled out a sliced apple. She held a piece in the palm of her hand. ‘‘Humans and their odd rituals. Your way is much more sensible. It’s about biology and one’s place in the herd.’’
The mare took a tentative step closer. Her gaze had settled on the slice of apple.
‘‘The problem is, I don’t know my place,’’ Alex admitted, keeping her voice low and gentle. She knew it didn’t matter what she said, she just had to keep talking. Winning the animal’s trust was going to take time and patience.
‘‘You’re going to like it here,’’ she continued. ‘‘Mitch is a fine man. Very gentle. He won’t let anyone hurt you. In time you’ll feel better and you’ll be able to have lots of pretty babies. Won’t that be nice?’’
Alex ignored the familiar ache inside of her, the one that reminded her how much she wanted to be a mother, too. A dream she rarely allowed herself. When had life gotten so complicated?
The mare shied suddenly and returned to the corner of the stall. Alex put the slice of apple on the top of the door and took several steps back. Nearly a full five minutes later, the mare approached and snatched away the treat. At that moment Alex knew the mare was going to be fine. It would take a while, but the animal would heal, and her trust in people would be restored.
As Alex walked out of the barn, she wished she could be as sure about her own outcome. There were so many unanswered questions. What if they found her brother? What if they didn’t? The laws of Wynborough required that a male heir inherit the throne, but without her brother, there were no male heirs.
What about her? What did she want? As she stepped into the cool afternoon light, she caught sight of Mitch driving out to check on the cattle. Her heart stirred in her chest, and her breath caught in her throat. Mitch? Did she want him? But she was a princess and he was a rancher, and there was no way to make their two worlds intersect. She had a duty to her country and to her parents. And Mitch, what did he have? She looked at the well-kept barn, the low, one-story ranch house and the mountains in the distance. Mitch, she decided, had the most perfect life imaginable.
Chapter Seven
Mitch leaned back in his leather chair in the living room and sipped from his mug of coffee. It was nearly seven on Sunday evening, which meant that Alex had been living at the ranch for a week. While it was strange having her in the house, it was also strange to think about the fact that her time was temporary. Once he’d made an effort to get to know her, he’d found that he liked her. Who would have thought that possible?
The phone rang just as the grandfather clock struck the hour. As always, his parents were right on time.
‘‘Mitch,’’ they said together when he picked up the receiver.
‘‘Mom, Dad. How are you two?’’
‘‘We’re fine,’’ his mother said. ‘‘It’s been gray and cool almost every day. I’m still having trouble adjusting to these northwest winters. I miss the sunshine.’’
Mitch listened with half an ear. He’d already made the decision not to tell them about Alex. Even though they’d been cleared by security and he knew he could trust them to keep the information to themselves, he’d figured that explaining about a princess on the premises was going to be complicated. Plus, he wasn’t sure how they would feel at the thought of John meeting his birth parents, assuming he was Alex’s long-lost brother. Better to let things take their natural course. If John was Alex’s brother, there would be time enough for explanations later. If he wasn’t, there was no reason for his parents to be concerned.
‘‘We’re completely booked for the holidays,’’ his mother was saying. ‘‘Most of the people have been with us before. Now, I know it’s hard for you to get away, but your father and I would both like to see you.’’
‘‘I know, Mom,’’ he hedged as he heard footsteps in the hallway. He’d gone up to see his folks at the holidays a few times since they’d moved, but this year he wasn’t so sure. Would Alex still be around? Would she be heading back to Wynborough?
‘‘Promise us you’ll think about it,’’ his father told him.
‘‘I’ll give it a lot of thought.’’
He looked up as Alex walked into the room. On cue, his heart rate increased, as did his blood pressure. He could feel the heat filling his body, settling in different places, before moving on again. Whatever attraction he’d felt for her before had only multiplied since he’d kissed her. Now when his overactive imagination flashed images of him with Alex, he had more details to make it real. He knew how her body felt pressed against his. He knew her taste and her scent and the way her breath would catch in her throat when he ran his hands up and down her spine. He knew that she started out a little shy when she kissed, but after she got into it she was wild and passionate and made him want in ways he’d never wanted before.
She smiled at him and showed him a pack of cards. ‘‘I thought you might enjoy being humiliated at poker,’’ she said. ‘‘I know several rather amazing games, some of which—’’ Her gaze settled on the receiver pressed against his ear and she quickly mouthed an apology.
But it was already too late. He heard a soft sound from the other end of the phone and knew that his parents had heard the female voice.
