Alex’s first little parental talk with his son had produced results. His heart swelled with fatherly pride. Too many emotions were welling inside of him from all directions.
As Darrell walked toward Alex, the glow from the street lamps highlighted the silvery-gold sheen of her hair.
Unable to keep from studying the contours of her lovely face and figure, he felt the same quickening in his blood as before when she’d first walked up the steps of the jet. To his chagrin it was much stronger now.
The fact that he’d never had this kind of reaction to Isabella caused him to groan because he knew he was in trouble. Worse, there wasn’t a damn thing he wanted to do about it. What in heaven’s name was happening to him?
Darrell discovered there were two bedrooms aboard the plane. For the flight to Switzerland Alex had installed them in the one normally reserved for his mother. When Phillip joked about the queen-size bed being named after his grandmother, laughter pealed out of Alex.
Though he indulged his son and seemed to find him a never ending source of entertainment, Darrell was concerned Phillip’s sometimes cheeky nature was too over the top.
He hadn’t inherited that behavioral trait from Melissa, so Darrell had assumed he must be more like his father. But Alex wasn’t anything like Phillip in that regard, which made Darrell wonder where exactly the imp in Phillip had come from.
After he’d changed into sweats and climbed under the covers he looked up at Darrell. “Dad’s awesome.”
The hero-worship in her son’s eyes was clear for anyone to see. For the last hour Phillip had fired one outrageous question after another at his father until they were all worn out from laughing.
“I agree.”
“My friends are going to freak when they find out he’s the king of Valleder.”
“You’re right about that. Just remember that for now it’s our secret, and we’re simply your father’s guests. The woman he’s going to marry doesn’t know about you yet. After he’s told her, then you can claim him.”
“You don’t think she’s going to like me, huh.”
Darrell struggled for the right words. “I doubt your father would choose a woman who wouldn’t like you, but she’s going to need time to get used to the idea that she has to share him with you.” All of three little weeks in fact.
“Why? Steve’s stepmom likes him.”
“I’m sure in time Isabella will come to love you, sweetheart. But she’s a princess who’s been planning to marry your father for a long time. She doesn’t know he has a son. It’s going to be a shock to her.”
The whole thing was a shock to Darrell who couldn’t get Alex’s image out of her mind. What was wrong with her to be thinking intimate thoughts about a betrothed king who’d once slept with her sister? None of it made sense!
Phillip frowned. “Do you think Dad wishes you’d never found him?”
“No,” she said without hesitation. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be on his royal jet right now.”
He sighed. “Dad said he’s glad I’m learning French. He keeps calling me Phillip.”
“Of course. One of these years he’ll have you speaking Italian and German and Romanche, too.”
“He’s super intelligent. No matter what you ask him, he knows all about it.”
She nodded. “From the day he was born, he was tutored by experts to be king one day. He has to be on top of everything.”
Being a father to a child he hadn’t known about would have thrown any other man, let alone a king. Yet he’d let nothing stand in the way. Darrell had a foreboding there was going to be a huge price Alex would have to pay. It terrified her.
“Someday I’m going to be as smart as he is.”
“You’re his son, so I wouldn’t be surprised. But you’ll have to start taking your homework more seriously.”
“I know.”
She turned out the light. “I’m going to say good-night to him, then I’ll be back.”
“Okay.”
Her fear for the whole situation caused her to leave the cabin for the den where the three of them had been talking earlier. Alex was just coming out.
They would have collided but for his quick reflexes that sent his hands to her shoulders to steady her.
She let out a small cry of surprise.
“That was close,” he murmured without relinquishing his hold on her.
“Yes.” She exhaled the word, afraid to look at him. Even though the jet was full of his staff, in the dimly lit passageway it felt like the two of them were far removed from the rest of his entourage.
His male warmth enhanced the tang of the soap he used, overwhelming her with telltale sensations and yearnings.
A long time ago Melissa had experienced these same feelings. With the help of alcohol she’d acted on them and he’d been willing. To Darrell’s shame, she couldn’t seem to control her attraction to the man who’d given Melissa a son.
If he’d been a normal man who’d married her sister, Alex would be her brother-in-law. Instead he was engaged to be married to another royal. Darrell needed to keep that fact foremost in her mind. He was off-limits to her and always would be.
Guilt drove her to back away from him, forcing his hands to let go of her.
“I know it’s late,” she said in a breathless voice, “but now that Phillip’s in bed, there’s something we have to talk about.”
“If you’re referring to our son, he seemed fine to me earlier.”
“I agree. I’m afraid I’m the one who’s nervous. My relationship with Phillip is changing. When I think of the life we’ve had in Denver all these years. Now everything’s different.”
Her head fell back as she looked up at him through eyes that had turned a deeper shade of violet. “I keep wondering what I’ve gotten us into. I—I’m scared.”
His lips tightened, giving him a forbidding aura that made her tremble.
“What are you really saying, Darrell? You want me to instruct my pilot to turn the jet around?”
“No—Yes—” she cried, covering her face with her hands, “This is going to ruin your life—” The words came out muffled.
To her surprise he removed her hands. Still holding them clasped in his he said, “Look at me.”
She was afraid to, but his compelling demand had her lifting her chin. His gaze probed hers.
“The fact of Phillip’s existence trumps all royal oaths and pledges. There’s no question this is going to change things. But I’ll make you this promise. I’ll do everything in my power to shield Phillip from any unnecessary hurt.”
Darrell could hardly swallow. Once again she eased herself away from his touch.
“Melissa begged me to look for you because she believed in you. Now that I’ve found you, I believe in you. I know you’ll do everything in your power to make Phillip feel secure in your love. But I’m not naïve.
“Though I may not have been born to royalty, I’ve read enough history over the years to know the normal challenges of living take on a life of their own within a royal household.
“I have to admit I’m afraid for all of us. For you! Your wedding day should be one of happiness and joy. If the monarchy suffers, then I’m going to feel responsible. So I’m begging you to rethink what you’re doing. It’s