Alexander & Rebecca (Royals of Valleria #1) (2 page)

“Cheeky,” Catharine said and Rebecca chuckled. Catharine squeezed their joined hands before she let go and turned to face the impending shoreline. “Back to the world again for me, it seems. I’m very glad Alex convinced Papa to let us all have some time off, though I think he’ll be the worse for wear because of it. I have a feeling he, like you, spent the whole time working.”

A pair of dark, masculine eyes flitted across Rebecca’s mind at the sound of his name. “I am afraid you’re right, Your Highness. His chief of staff told me as much last week.”

Catharine quirked an eyebrow. “Now, as I recall, Tavin is Alex’s chief of staff. He’s quite lovely to look at, isn’t he?”

Despite herself, Rebecca blushed. She knew Catharine would never look at Tavin for herself, and was only using him as an excuse to tease Rebecca. After clearing her throat, Rebecca said, “There are a great many men who work in the royal offices who are attractive, and Tavin could be considered one such man.”

Catharine laughed, a bright, rich laugh, into the swirling sea air. “A very diplomatic answer. As a princess to her chief of staff, I approve. As one friend to another, I think you’re full of it.”

“My Lady, please,” Rebecca started, but Catharine cut her off.

“I know there’s nothing going on between the two of you. I just think there should be. You’re only young once,” Catharine said wistfully. “You should enjoy this time and meet men and fall in love.”

Rebecca knew Catharine felt pressure to marry, and marry well. As the second in line to the throne, it fell to her to make a good match in case Alexander never married or never had children. “Oh, My Lady,” Rebecca said unsure, even with all her training on etiquette on protocol, what to say to such a statement.

“It’s all right, Rebecca. I just wish you’d remember that you’re still relatively free to enjoy the world, unlike me. Now, come on. We’re nearly to shore and I want to get back to Valentia before nightfall. After the schedule you’ve arranged for me, no doubt at Alex’s urging, I’ll need another vacation after week’s end. I want to get back and talk to Alex about it as soon as possible.”

Rebecca's pulse quickened at the thought of more meetings with Alexander, but she pushed thoughts of her completely unrealistic crush aside to focus on the task at hand. She prepared to disembark from the ship and directed the porters to ready hers and Catharine’s luggage.

She picked up her own belongings just as the ship docked and quickly headed for the gangplank, checking her phone for messages along the way. Catharine stood on the long walkway, waiting for the men on shore to confirm it was safe for her to cross. Rebecca curtsied to her again after standing behind her and returned to her phone.

As the princess began walking, so did Rebecca a few steps behind. Royal Protection agents, two of which walked in front of her while two followed behind, kept a careful watch of their surroundings. Rebecca’s attention became diverted by an urgent message from Tavin and she missed the figure waiting just beyond the walkway. Only when he spoke did she realize who was waiting for them.

“You still can’t seem to show up anywhere on time,” Alexander said. “Even at our birth you showed up late. It’s no wonder I was born first.”

Rebecca’s face shot up as Catharine laughed. Alexander said something else, but shaken as she was to see him there, she lost her footing and tripped. Just as she imagined making a devastatingly embarrassing fall into the sea, an even worse scenario emerged.

Rebecca felt herself pressed against a rock-hard chest and fisted the lapels of the man in front of her to keep from falling. With her face buried against his chest, she said, “Oh, thank you so much. I’m so clumsy.”

A low, rough whisper against her ear answered back. “Are you all right, Rebecca?”

As a familiar masculine scent wove around her, Rebecca’s face shot up as she realized it was Alex who had saved her. She gasped. “I-I’m so sorry, Your Highness.” She tried to stand but her legs were still unstable and she faltered; he only gripped her tighter. She suddenly became aware that his broad and entirely too capable hands were gripping her hips. She’d often dreamed of those hands on her body, though in a much different venue. She could feel her the blush stain her cheeks even though she fought it, and her body warmed in reluctant arousal.

“Are you injured?” Alexander asked, his concerned eyes trailing down her curvy frame towards her heeled feet.

“No, sir,” she said and loosened her grip on him. Her fists had left faint creases in his jacked and she tried to smooth them away. That, however, had been a mistake, as all she felt was more of his elegant body hidden beneath his impeccable, dark suit.

When she looked up again, his eyes were darker and more intense than she’d ever seen. She hoped no one suspected the real reason she’d fallen; she would never live it down if anyone knew the sound of Alexander’s voice could send her careening into the Mediterranean unexpectedly.

Alexander took her hand in his and they walked the rest of the way to solid ground together. After they reached the sandy shore, and she remembered they were in public, Rebecca stepped instinctually away and noticed several people nearby staring. Her eyes met Alexander’s and her mind went blank for a few moments.

“I beg your pardon, Your Highness,” Rebecca said once she’d recovered and curtsied to Alexander. Only the security staff were allowed to forgo curtsying to the royals.

“Oh, no one cares about that,” Catharine said as she stepped over, a note of worry in her voice. “Are you hurt?”

“No, just embarrassed, My Lady,” Rebecca said as the security agent handed over her fallen purse and phone.

“You’re not usually so clumsy,” Catharine said.

“It was just the light distracting me, My Lady. Nothing more.” Nothing more she would admit, at any rate.

“Well, as long as you’re not hurt. Before you almost fell, Alex told me he’s come to take us back to Valentia after a quick stop for tea.”

“Of course, My Lady,” Rebecca said as she noticed the crowd nearby, several with camera phones aimed in their direction. No doubt her ineptness would make the tabloids, and perhaps some legitimate papers as well. Photos and even videos of her pressed against Alexander like a desperate woman would make the rounds, and the teasing and taunting would begin. Her stomach lurched at the thought.

Since work always helped her to cope with distress, she focused on it again. “Shall I make the arrangements?”

“They’ve already been made,” Alexander said in an authoritative voice.

“Of course, Your Highness,” Rebecca said as she curtsied again, only because she didn’t know what else to do.

“Oh, stop curtsying all over the place,” Catharine said, her voice curt and just a little too loud. “Just relax. We don’t need your help.” Now, instead of just a clumsy moment, the tabloids would, no doubt, weave a tale of Princess Catharine reprimanding her useless chief of staff for throwing herself at the Prince.

Rebecca lowered her head and prayed for the scene to end. “I apologize, ma’am. May I be excused to see to some business?”

“Oh, but you’ll need to come with us to tea. You know my schedule better than anyone, and can make notes of our conversation.”

Rebecca chanced a glance at Alexander, whose stern expression hardened her own resolve to put as much distance between them as possible. “Please, ma’am. I would be most grateful for a few hours to see to some things. I am, of course, available should you need me to assist you today.”

Catharine sighed. “Of course. Take the time you need. We’ll meet you later, then.”

Rebecca curtsied as she said, “Thank you, My Lady.” She curtsied one more time to Alexander. “Your Highness,” she said and fled as gracefully as she could to a small waiting vehicle. She knew this vehicle was meant for her use and not for the royals, as their vehicle was much more spacious.

“Are you all right, miss?” the driver, a man whose age was more father than friend to her, asked as she neared the car. “That was quite a tumble you almost took.”

“Oh, yes, I’m fine. Thank you so much for asking,” Rebecca said with a small smile as she slid into the back seat, while the porters simultaneously filled the trunk with her luggage.

As the driver started the engine, Rebecca chanced a glance at the royal twins. Though they had smiling faces, it was clear they were arguing about something. Rebecca noticed the cameras again, hidden among the growing crowd.

As a familiar knot of tension formed inside her, Rebecca gripped her stomach and attempted a futile massage through her dress.

“You sure you’re all right?” the driver asked.

“Oh, yes. I’m fine. Extremely embarrassed but, other than that, just fine.”

He laughed. “I wouldn’t worry about it. Our royals wouldn’t think too much of it.”

“No, but the papers might,” she mumbled. Recalling she’d had an urgent message just before she’d made a spectacle of herself, she checked her phone again. Apparently, Tavin had been informing her of the Alexander’s desire to meet their ship in Masillia.

Rebecca sighed; too little, too late. She doubted Catharine would fire her for something the tabloids printed, but if Rebecca lost the respect of her colleagues because of it, there would be little point in continuing with the position. Damn the twenty-four news cycles which would, no doubt, play her ineptness on a near constant loop every thirty minutes.

“Are you heading to tea with the royals?” the driver asked.

“No, I’m not. Straight back to Valentia for me, please.”

“You got it,” he said as he shifted into traffic and towards the highway. Catharine wouldn’t like learning that Rebecca had gone back home ahead of her, but she would just have to accept it. There was no possible way she could sit through a leisurely afternoon tea with Alexander when she felt like a complete and utter fool.

Alexander plastered what he hoped was a convincing smile on his face, and spoke low and with a bite. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Catharine’s face, also covered with a similar smile, registered surprise at his tone. “What do you mean?”

“Why did you berate Rebecca in front of everyone?” he asked as he slipped her hand into his arm and walked them slowly towards the waiting car. With their backs now to the crowd, his false smile was replaced by a scowl.

“Didn’t you see the cameras in the crowd? The press will be all over her by nightfall. It’s no wonder she wanted to get away from both us.” His anger was not only on Rebecca’s behalf, but a majority was directed clearly at his sister. Alex had been looking forward to seeing Rebecca, perhaps a bit too much, and Cat’s actions had prevented it.

Cat gasped, dropping her false smile as well. “I didn’t see them. I’m sorry, but I didn’t.” Her eyebrows folded into a frown. “She only tripped. Do you really think things are all that bad? It was such a small thing, and I wasn’t really upset at her.”

“Yes, but she tripped into me.” He didn’t think he’d ever forget the way her long, slender fingers had felt against his chest. “The photos will look compromising even though they’re innocent, and no one in the crowd could knew you were worried and not upset at her. They’ll think you were telling her off for throwing herself at me.”

Alex sighed as the life of a royal weighed heavy on his shoulders. “I just hope you don’t have to fire her because of it.”

“Fire her?” she asked astonished before stubbornness took over. “I’ll never fire her. I’ll go straight to the press and defend her, if need be. She’s my friend.”

While Alex admired Cat’s loyalty, the politician in him knew the outcome may not be realistic. “I’ll give Tavin a call. He’s got some contacts at the papers and news stations; he’ll let us know if anything comes up.”

“Papa won’t stand for Rebecca getting fired, either,” Catharine said as Alex helped her into the car. After Alex slid in as well, she continued. “He looks at her almost like a daughter, since he’s so fond of her father.”

“I’m aware of that,” Alex said, and hoped one day that their Papa would also accept her as daughter-in-law and future queen. Liking someone for their father’s sake was one thing, but liking them as part of their own family and legacy was something else entirely.

Cat sighed. “Well, I’ll make it up to her. She can ride with us and I’ll apologize.”

“That may not be enough,” he said as a man who’d wanted an afternoon with the woman he loved, not just a two-hour car ride back to the capital.

“Well, it will have to do. I’ll message her to meet us at the café when she’s done with whatever she had to do.”

“Don’t you know what she had to do? She is your chief of staff. Presumably, she was doing something under your direction.”

“Rebecca rarely needs direction,” Catharine said as she sent Rebecca a message and waited for her reply; Rebecca was always quick to answer, day or night. “She knows better what to do than I do most of the time. I’d be completely lost without her.”

As would I
, Alex thought and sighed as he recalled the feeling of her pressed against him. He had felt her curvy hips under his hands, and her lavender scent still haunted him. He had never been so physically close to her before, as propriety had never allowed otherwise. These few moments on a sunny beach had only made him want more moments with her. Truthfully, he wanted a lifetime with her.

“She’s not answering," Catharine said, frustrated. "What could she be doing?” With a look of worry on her face, she asked Alex, “You don’t think she was really hurt when she tripped, do you? Maybe she hurt her ankle?”

A knot formed in Alex’s stomach at the thought of her in pain, but he forced himself to focus on the memory of her fall. “No, I don’t think so. She was walking fine afterwards, in any case. Though how she could in those heels, is beyond me.” Though they may have injured her, he had to admit that he did not mind the heels, particularly when he’d seen what they had done to her long, luscious legs.

“Well, she always responds right away; this isn't like her.”

Alex quirked an eyebrow. “How often do you contact her? Surely, you’re not bothering her in the evenings?”

Cat looked slightly abashed. “Not every day but, yes, I do depend upon her a lot.”

“Cat, I know we’ve got a lot of work but your schedule allows you time to relax most evenings. I make sure of it.” He shook his head, concern for Rebecca settling inside him once more. “It’s no wonder she looked a little pale. I bet you didn’t even let her have a break the last three weeks, did you?”

Cat shifted in her seat and became a little defensive. “It’s true that she worked a lot, but not because I asked her to.”

“You asked her to go with you to see Nonna for three weeks.”
Three weeks away from him
. “Of course she was going to work the whole time. You don’t think Tavin goes with me on holiday, do you?”

“You never take a holiday, so it’s a moot point.”

“It’s exactly the point. I’m the future king, I don’t get holidays. Rebecca is not a future ruler.”
Yet
, he added silently. “She shouldn’t have to work day and night. We can add more staff to your office to help Rebecca.” He paused. “If you’re feeling overburdened, come to talk to me. You do have seven other brothers and sisters besides me that can share the load.”

Cat stared out of the window before facing Alex again. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful for all you do. I know you shoulder most of it for the rest of us, and my schedule’s very tame by comparison. Rebecca just wants everything to be perfect.”

“She has more to prove.”

Cat nodded. “I still wish she would answer,” Cat said, glancing at her phone again. When no new message appeared, she called for the security agent in the front seat.

“Yes, Your Highness?” he said.

“Will you check in with the security following Rebecca? I can’t seem to reach her.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, before turning forward and flicking out his own phone. After a few minutes, he reluctantly turned back. “Your Highness?”

“Yes?”

“I’ve checked in with her driver, ma’am, who confirmed that she’s on her way back to Valentia.”

“Why on earth is she headed back to the capital?” she asked. “What did the driver say? What about her security?”

“Miss Campo does not warrant security, ma’am.”

“What?” Alex and Cat said at the same time. “Why the hell not?” Alex asked, a bit too forcefully.

“Based on current security protocol, Your Highnesses, chiefs of staff or other royal staff, save members of the Vallerian royal family and Vallerian Royal Council, do not warrant additional protection.”

Cat’s brows furrowed. “She’s always had protection. I’ve seen it.”

“My Lady, that is your protection. It follows you and not Miss Campo.”

“Tavin has security,” Alex said, his voice tight and temper reined, for the moment at least. The thought of her unprotected and with the press on the loose did not sit well with him.

“Your Highness, that is his own personal security. He felt it was necessary, and he pays for it himself.”

“I see,” Alex said, and planned to have a conversation with Tavin as soon as he was back at the palace in Valentia.

“Rebecca’s all right, though, isn’t she?” Cat asked.

“Yes, My Lady. The driver assures me she’s fine.”

“Well, I suppose that will have to do,” Cat said as the car stopped in front of a charming café. “Oh, Alex, couldn’t we skip tea and head straight back? I feel positively wretched about all this.”

Alex sighed. “I’m sorry, Cat, but we’ve already arranged it with the owner. She’d be disappointed if we didn’t go in, particularly now that we’re here.”

As Cat’s face fell, he took her hand in his. “It’ll be all right, Cat. Now, put it out of your mind, put a smile on your face, and let’s have some tea. I can make it a short visit.”

Cat squeezed his hand back. “You’re right. As always.”

A quick smile bloomed on Alex’s face. “Naturally. It’s why I was born first. I convinced you it would be the best thing to do in the womb, if you’ll recall.”

Cat laughed as the driver helped her out of the car. “You’re ridiculous. I think you got power hungry and pushed me out of the way.”

“Now who’s being ridiculous?” Alex asked as he stepped out behind her. “You’re the one who was hiding behind me in all the sonograms. No one even knew you were there.” As Cat slipped her arm through his, Alex added, “I really think, however, that I was doing my best to protect you. I came out first to make sure nothing would hurt you.”

“You did, and do, protect me, Alex,” Cat said softly, so that only he would hear. “If I’d come out first, and been in your position, I don’t know that I would have been able to handle being the future queen. You were born to be a ruler, not me.”

“Don’t I know it?” Alex said, thinking again of how his position had kept him from Rebecca for too long. He dropped a quick kiss on his sister’s cheek before leading her inside the cozy establishment.