From the corner of her eye she happened to spot Hector, who stood several feet away. He was clearing his throat to get their attention. How long had he been in the room listening?
“Your Highness? The queen has sent for you.”
“Is it a medical emergency?”
“No.”
“Then I’m afraid she’ll have to wait until tonight. After this lesson I’m taking Zoe and Mrs. Richards out on the boat,” he said emphasizing the B. “We’ll work on her B sounds while we enjoy a light buffet on board, won’t we, Zoe?” He smiled at his daughter who nodded, still gripping her baby tightly. “But don’t worry. I’ll be back in time to say good-night to her.”
“Very well, Your Highness.”
Dottie had to swallow the gasp that almost escaped her throat. Lines bracketed Hector’s mouth. She looked at the floor. It really was funny. Alex had a quick, brilliant mind and a surprising imp inside him that made it hard for her to hold back her laughter, but she didn’t dare laugh in front of Hector.
After Hector left, Dottie brought out a box containing tubes of blue beads, so Zoe and Alex could make a bracelet together. They counted the beads as they did so, and Dottie was pleased to note that Zoe’s B sounds were really coming along.
Satisfied with that much progress, Dottie cleaned everything up. “That’s the end of our lesson for today.” She got up from the chair, suddenly wishing she weren’t wearing a T-shirt with a picture of a cartoon bunny on the front. She’d hoped Zoe would ask her about it and they could practice saying the famous rabbit’s name. But it was Alex who’d stared at it several times this morning, causing sensual waves to ripple through her.
He swept Zoe in his arms. “I’m very proud of you. Now let’s show Dot around the island on the sailboat.” His daughter hugged him around the neck. Over her shoulder he stared at Dottie. “Are you ready?”
No. Sailing with him wasn’t part of her job. In fact it was out of the question. She didn’t want to feel these feelings she had around him. Yearnings …
“That’s very kind of you, Your Highness, but I have other things to do this afternoon, including a lot of paperwork to send in to the Institute. In case you don’t get back from sailing by dinnertime, I’ll see you and Zoe in the morning for her lesson.”
He lowered his daughter to the floor. “I insist.”
She took a steadying breath. “Did you just give me a command?”
“If I did, would you obey it?”
There was nothing playful about this conversation. The last thing she wanted to do was offend him, but she refused to be anything but Zoe’s speech therapist. With his looks and charismatic personality, he could ensnare any woman he wanted. That’s what royal playboys did.
Alex might be a widower with a daughter, but as far as she was concerned, he was at the peak of his manhood now and a hundred times more dangerous. She was reminded of that fact when he’d eyed her T-shirt. A little shiver went through her because he was still eyeing her that way and she was too aware of him.
Dottie needed to turn this around and make it right so he wouldn’t misunderstand why she was refusing the invitation. Using a different tactic she said, “I gave you that pack of flash cards. You should take your daughter on your sailboat this afternoon and work with her while the lesson is fresh in her mind.”
In a lowered voice she added, “I might be her speech therapist, but outside this classroom I can only be a distraction and cause her more confusion over the mommy issue. She wants your undivided attention and will cooperate when you do the cards with her because she’d do anything for you. There’s a saying in English. I’m sure you’ve heard of it. ‘Strike while the iron’s hot.'“
“There’s another saying by the great teacher Plato,” he fired back. “'We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.'“ He turned to his daughter. “Come with me, Zoe.”
Dottie trembled as she watched them leave. Alex had her figured out without knowing anything about her. She was afraid. Once upon a time her world had been filled with blinding, glorious light. After it had been taken away, she never wanted to feel it or be in it again. One tragedy in life had been too much.
Alex put his daughter to bed, but he had to face facts. After the outing on the sailboat and all the swimming and fun coaching moments with the flash cards, it still wasn’t enough for his little girl. She didn’t want Sofia tending to her.
He’d read the good-night book to her six times, but the tears gushed anyway. She was waiting for her favorite person. “Have you forgotten that Dottie had a lot of work to do tonight? You’ll see her in the morning. Here’s Betty. She’s ready to go to sleep with you.” He tucked the baby in her arm, but she pushed it away and sat up.
“Tell Dot to come.”
Alex groaned because these tears were different. His daughter had found an outlet for her frustration in Dottie who understood her and had become her ally. What child wouldn’t want her to be her mommy and stay with her all the time? Alex got it. She made every moment so memorable, no one else could possibly measure up. Dottie was like a force of nature. Her vivacious personality had brought life into the palace.
Earlier, when he’d asked Hector about Dottie’s activities, he’d learned she’d refused a car and had left the grounds on foot. Security said that after she’d jogged ten miles in the heat, she’d hiked to the top of Mount Pelos and sat for an hour. After visiting the church, she’d returned to town and jogged back to the palace.
“Zoe? If you’ll stay in your bed, I’ll go get her.”
The tears slowed down. She reached for her baby.
“Hurry, Daddy.”
Outside the bedroom he called Dottie on his cell phone, something he’d sworn he wouldn’t do in order to keep his distance, but this was an emergency. When she picked up, he asked her to come to Zoe’s bedroom. He sensed the hesitation before she said, “I’ll be right there.”
It pleased him when a minute later he heard footsteps and watched Dottie hurrying towards the suite with another book in her hand.
“Alex—” she cried in surprise as he stepped away from the paneled wall.
He liked it that she’d said his name of her own volition. “I wondered when you would finally break down.”
Dottie smoothed the hair away from her flushed cheek. Her eyes searched his. Ignoring his comment she said, “Did Zoe have another nightmare?”
He moved closer. “No. But she’s growing more and more upset when you’re not with us. Why didn’t you come today? I want the truth.”
“I told you I had work.”
“Then how come it was reported that you went jogging and climbed Mount Pelos, instead of staying in your room? Were you able to see the sail of my boat from the top?”
A hint of pink crept into her cheeks. She had been watching for him. “I saw a lot of sailboats.”
“The security staff is agog about the way you spent your day. Not one visit to a designer shop. No shopping frenzy. You undoubtedly wore them to a frazzle with your jogging, but it was good for them.”
A small laugh escaped her throat. He liked it that she didn’t take herself seriously.
“I’ll ask the question again. Why didn’t you come with us this afternoon?”
“Surely you know why. Because I’m worried over her growing attachment to me.”
“So am I, but that’s not the only reason you kept your distance from me today. Are you