Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 7) (21 page)

I grip the chair in
front of me as I watch her walk down the steps of the plane. She’s
wearing a long white dress that’s sexy, sinful, and all her. It has
a Peter Pan collar at the top, but then it’s sheer down the middle,
almost to her belly button, exposing the swells of her delicious
breasts. Black butterflies cover the front, spilling over onto the
sleeves. There’s also a swath of fabric extending from one side
that looks like a cape. Perfect for the village heroine. Her hair is
up and she has very little makeup and no jewelry on. She’s
gorgeous. So fucking gorgeous. I have to stop myself from reaching
out to touch the screen.

None of us say a word
as we watch her walk to the edge of the airfield where it looks like
the entire village is waiting for her. The children surround her,
giving her more flowers than she could ever carry. She passes them
off to Nate and Aiden who are obviously here as her bodyguards. She
pulls up her skirt a little as she takes the hands of the two
children next to her and begins to walk with them.

More and more people
gather behind her as she makes her way to the castle. I stay rooted
to this spot until she makes it to the palace gates, and I see them
denying her entrance. It’s then that I run down the stairs and out
the front door.

“Let her in. Open the
gates and let her in,” I yell.

The guards don’t
hesitate to do as I’ve instructed. She walks through, as everyone
streams in around her. I stop in front of her, cup her face in my
hands, and kiss her. The people cheer, and clap, but I don’t let
her go. Not yet. Not until her hands finally dive into my hair. I
pull back just enough to look into her eyes.

“Well hello, Your
Highness.”

“Hi, Darcy.”

“Your people begged
me to come.”

“So I’ve been
told.”

“We can take a few
pictures, and then I’ll go if you want. I know I’ve been banished
from the island, and I’d prefer not to spend any time in the
dungeon.”

“Please stay.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I was stupid
to send you away, and I want you to be there tomorrow. I didn’t
know how to ask you after I was such an ass, but it would mean
everything to me for you to be there when I’m crowned.”

“I heard you were
interviewing princesses.”

“I was.”

“Shouldn’t one of
them be there with you?”

“Probably, but
they’re not you.”

“Are you going to
fight the law?”

I want to tell her yes,
but I don’t want more lies between us. “I don’t know.”

“I won’t sleep with
you tonight. I want to, but I can’t handle it.”

“Just let me kiss you
a few times?”

“Yes, and then I’ll
leave after the ceremony.”

“Night by night,
Cat.”

“Kiss by kiss,
Crown.”

We pose for what seems
like hours. The other guests arrive while we’re still outside, and
the princesses all glare at me as they walk by. Darcy smiles at their
dirty looks and gives me a kiss for every single one. All of those
boring dinners may have just been worth it.

I don’t leave her
side for the entire night. My mother is sending me death glares as I
refuse to dance with anyone else. I don’t really care. The woman I
love is here with me for one more night, and I’m going to hold onto
every moment I can with her.

Long after the rest of
the guests have left, I’m making out with Darcy on the couch in her
game room. I never changed anything in here. I couldn’t. My hand is
palming one of her tits over her dress while she has her hands down
my pants. I start to unzip her dress, but she pulls back, stopping
me.

“I-I can’t. I meant
what I said about not sleeping with you.”

“We won’t sleep,”
I promise her, leaning in to nibble at her neck.

“No.”

I immediately let her
go and stand up. “Okay. Yeah, I understand. I shouldn’t have
pushed.”

“You didn’t push.
I’m the one who had my hands down your pants. I just can’t make
love with you, and then leave again. And I can’t stay to be your
secret lover while you look for a wife.”

“I’m not looking.”

“Maybe not right now,
but we both know you’ll have to eventually. The longer this goes
one, the harder it’ll be for both of us. I probably shouldn’t
have even come, but I had to. I wanted to see you become King, and I
was also a little afraid that your entire country would come after me
if I didn’t make an appearance.”

“They love you. I
love you. I’m so happy that you’re here.”

“I love you, too.”

We kiss one more time,
and then I leave her alone. Walking away from her this time is harder
than any other. Before there was a chance, even when I was throwing
her out of the country. There was a chance that I could be man enough
to fight for her. This time, we both know that I’m not. Even though
I really, really want to be.

* * *

Darcy

Last night I dressed
for me, but today I’m dressed like a true lady. Stella helped me
find a light blue dress that hits below my knee and is covered in
lace on the top, sides, and back. I feel like I belong as I file into
the cathedral. When I give my name, I’m escorted to the second row,
where Noah is already sitting. Nate and Aiden take their places near
a side door.

“Hey, Sis. I didn’t
get to see you much last night. Brayden was hogging you.”

“It was the last
night we’ll ever have together.”

“He could fight the
law.”

“He told me he didn’t
know if he would. I won’t force him to do something he’s not sure
about. He’d resent me forever, even if he did want me. Once that
crown is placed on his head, it’ll be over for us.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too.”

I hold my brother’s
hand through the ceremony, using him like an anchor to hold me steady
while I watch it all unfold. The pomp and circumstance is beautiful.
Brayden
is beautiful
in his suit with the fur cape draped over him. He’s handed his
scepter, and then the crown is lowered to his head by the Archbishop.
As it’s settled there, his eyes find me, and I see the pain that
mirrors mine. It’s only for a second, and then he’s looking away
to smile for everyone else.

I have to go. I can’t
stay here. It’s over. My God, I knew it was coming, but now that
it’s here, I feel like I’m suffocating, or drowning. I stumble
from the pew, as Noah follows me.

“Get me out of here,
I need to get out of here,” I whisper to Aiden and Nate.

Nate immediately pushes
open the side door, and I practically run to the SUV that’s waiting
for us. The driver gets the door open, and then I’m inside curling
myself into the seat. Noah, Aiden, and Nate follow me inside, and try
to calm me down.

“I knew…I mean I
knew
…but I
thought…I wanted…he didn’t choose me…I wanted him to choose
me.”

My body is wracked by
sobs, and I can hear them trying to reassure me that he loves me,
that he’ll come to his senses, but I block it all out. I just want
to go home. I need to be far, far away from this place, and that man.
The King of Cyndryann.

When we get to the
airport, I can barely stand because I’m shaking so hard. Nate
swoops me up into his arms as the car door shields me from the press,
both local and international. Someone must have seen us leave, and
now they’re swarming the airfield. Noah kisses the top of my head
and makes me promise to call him once I land. I squeeze his hand and
then we’re off.

Aiden takes out his gun
and waves it around as Nate runs with me in his arms. We’re up the
steps and into the plane in less than a minute, but I know they’ll
be hundreds of pictures of me being carried in my best friend’s
arms while I hid my tear stained face in his shoulder. Just another
thing to look forward to.

* * *

Brayden

Almost everyone has
left the church when I see Noah re-entering it. He’s alone, which
makes me nervous. I thought Darcy was with him.

“Noah,” I say,
approaching him. “Where’s Darcy.”

“She’s gone.”

“Gone?”

“Yes. Gone. Her plane
is already off the ground.”

“She didn’t stay to
see me?”

“She couldn’t. Once
the crown went on your head, she knew it was really over.”

“I never lied to
her.”

“No. I’ll give you
that. You always told her—and me—that you wouldn’t chose her
over your kingdom. That doesn’t mean she didn’t still
hope
you’d choose her.”

I close my eyes and try
to breathe normally. I had hoped I’d choose her, too. But I didn’t,
and now we both have to live with my choice. And I have to live with
myself after hurting her yet again.

Later that night, I’m
drinking my fifth—or is it my sixth—glass of scotch when my uncle
enters the room. “Anything good on television?” he asks,
motioning to the screen, where I have an image of Darcy being carried
into her plane by Nate frozen on the screen.

“Just broken hearts,
and a king whose country hates him.”

“They don’t hate
you, they’re just disappointed.”

“They want Darcy.”

“So do you.”

“It’s not possible.
You know that.”

“Laws can be
changed.”

“I talked to the men
of Parliament after she left today,” I say, noting the surprise on
his face. “They said they would vote me down.”

“Damn those
close-minded bastards.”

“That’s what I’m
doing right now. Drinking myself into oblivion while damning them all
to hell.”

“You could tell the
people. They’d rally behind you.”

“Most of them would,
yes, but the rest would fight against me. The country would be
divided. All because of love.”

“There’s not much
in this world that’s stronger than love, Brayden.”

“My parents didn’t
marry for love.”

“No they didn’t,
and your mother has never gotten over it. Your father was always kind
to her, but they never fell in love.”

“Yet she wishes the
same fate on me.”

“It’s all she
knows. She’s a good woman, but she was born and raised on
tradition.”

“She could still find
love now that I’ve taken over. There’s no law saying she can’t
remarry.”

“Perhaps you should
remind her of that.”

“Yeah, I think I
will. One of us should be happy.”

“How drunk are you?”

“Not nearly enough.”

“Good. Because I need
you to think about your future. Think about being King and ruling
with a woman you don’t love. And then think about having to fight
for it, but ending up with Darcy by your side. Which do you really
and truly want?”

“Darcy.”

“You didn’t even
hesitate.”

“No, I didn’t,” I
say, in surprise. “I’ve wanted to be King for as long as I can
remember. But now I know it’s not important to me if she’s not by
my side.”

“Then you have a
decision to make. And maybe you’ll even get to marry her a second
time.”

“A second time?”

“You had a nice
little wedding when you were both five and we were visiting her
family in America.”

My mouth drops open as
I remember that day. I’d forgotten it, and forgotten that I’d
ever met Darcy before. How I could ever forget the little girl who
insisted I marry her to make her a princess is beyond me. But now I
remember, and I know exactly what I’m going to do. It’s not what
my uncle expects, but it’ll still have the same outcome.

Brayden

I wake up feeling
happier than I have in a long time. I have a plan, and I just need to
talk to everyone before I put it into motion. Well first, I need to
look over some books in our library, and then I need to talk to
everyone. I’m pretty sure I’m clear on the law, though.

After checking that I’m
right, I start to make my rounds. I stop in to see my mother first.
Her reaction is unexpected, but wonderful.

“I’m glad you’re
following your heart.”

I tell her she should
do the same, and then go to find my uncle.

“This is not what I
was expecting when I talked to you last night.”

“I know, but will you
do it?”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes. I love Darcy,
and this gives me the chance to be with her.”

“Then yes, I’ll do
it.”

“Thank you,” I say,
pulling him into a hug.

I search out Jen next.

“This is the best
news I’ve heard all year. Maybe in my entire life. Thank God you
came to your senses.”

“So, you really hate
the idea, huh?” I ask with a laugh.

She tosses a throw
pillow at me. “Just go make it happen.”

“I have to wait until
tomorrow to call Parliament into session. I have one more person to
go see, though.”

“Are you going to
apologize to him for being such an ass, too?”

“Maybe.”

She raises another
pillow. “Okay. Yes. Yes, I’m going to apologize to Noah.”

“Good.”

“Thank you for
bringing him to my coronation. You were right about me wanting him
there once I stopped being my own worst enemy.”

“It meant a lot to
him that he was there. Even after you sent his sister away in tears.”

“I’m hoping to have
her crying in happiness soon.”

“When she sees the
news, she’ll come running to you.”

“Nope. That’s not
the plan. The news will be a big gesture, but then I need to earn her
love by doing some other things.”

“What things?”

“Come to your house
in an hour, and I’ll tell you and Noah. I have a partial list, but
I’m open to suggestions.”

“Deal. Now go beg for
your best friend back.”

“So bossy.”

“So cheeky.”

I shrug. “You
wouldn’t want me any other way.”

“No, I really
wouldn’t.”

I hurry to my final
destination, driving only because I gave Jen an hour, and knowing
her, she’ll interrupt even if I’m not done groveling. I head in
the front gate, and then go around back. Jen said Noah’s probably
on the beach, and she’s right. He’s standing near the water’s
edge, looking out. I take off my shoes and socks and run out to join
him.