A Royal Christmas Proposal Page 7

  Treat felt that pull in his gut again. He would have to put a stop to it. He’d figure out how soon enough, he promised himself. In the meantime, he shook his head. “I can’t think of any man who would consider that a trial,” he told her in a dry tone. At the same time, she seemed to be playing havoc with a place inside him he’d considered sewn up tight and under wraps.

  “Thanks for the field trip.” She sighed and leaned her head back against the headrest in the car. “Maybe my sister Bridget is right. She keeps saying I need to get out more, but I don’t like leaving Leo.”

  “You could take him out every now and then. Has he been to the beach?”

  “Not since he was an infant. I’m afraid the paparazzi will catch a photo of him wearing his hearing aids. I want to protect him as long as I can,” she said.

  Treat shrugged. “You could always go early in the morning and put a hat on him,” he said. “For that matter, you could put him in the pool, too.”

  “I’ll see,” she said. “Like you said, my number one job is to protect him.”

  “Are you afraid of the questions?” he asked.

  She looked away for a moment as if she didn’t appreciate his query. “Perhaps. I don’t have all the answers. I may never. I don’t want anyone to make fun of him. That would break my heart.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that. You’ve got a strong mama-bear thing going on. If anyone caused harm to your baby in any way, I wouldn’t be surprised if you broke some bones.”

  “That may be a slight exaggeration. I’m not normally a violent person.”

  “But if someone threatened Leo?”

  “I like to think it would never get that far,” she said.

  Treat gave a short, emphatic nod and pulled the car past the gate to the front door. Cutting the engine, he rounded the car and helped her out of the vehicle.

  “Thank you,” she said. “My new part-time genie planned to prepare an afternoon meal today. Would you like to join us?”

  “Thanks,” he said, knowing such a move would be dangerous. “But I have computer work.”

  Her eyes darkened with a twinge of disappointment. “Of course. Ciao, then,” she said as she walked into the cottage.

  Treat stood there, looking after her, for a full moment after she closed the door behind her. His attraction to her was ridiculous. She was the princess of a Mediterranean island for Pete’s sake. He was a wrong-side-of-the tracks kid from Texas. He knew he wasn’t the kind of man who would normally catch her eye. He had to be careful. He knew enough about security to know that these situations could be emotionally intense for some people although he’d never had a problem before. He sure as shooting didn’t need a problem now, especially since this job could help him expand his company internationally. He’d worked hard the past several years. He didn’t want to lose all his hard-won progress just because he was developing a stupid crush on a princess.

  Raking his hand through his hair, he returned to the guest suite and turned on his laptop then grabbed one of the jars of peanut butter he’d brought with him from the States and slapped a peanut butter sandwich together before he returned to his desk. The welcome screen rose to greet him. There was always work to do, he told himself. Work that would help him forget everything he had lost so quickly in his college year. Work was a panacea. Always.

  Treat checked the perimeter several times then knocked on the door to the house that evening. Nanny answered. “How are you tonight, Mr. Walker?”

  “I’m fine. How are you, the princess and the baby?” he asked.

  “All well. The baby appears quite charmed with his new ceiling mobile of the solar system. Her Highness has either been working all afternoon or playing sign language games with Leo. I swear that woman hardly ever stops. I would just like to see her get a full night’s rest.”

  Treat smiled and nodded. He could always count on Nanny giving him a mouthful of information. “I’m glad to hear everything is going well. I hope everyone has a good evening. I’m only a few steps away. Call me if you need me.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said.

  Treat returned to his suite and made a few calls. His agreement with Stefan allowed him to continue to make future business plans and contacts. So far, it was quiet job, but he never let down his guard. Not even when he slept. He’d set multiple alarms and had a backup with the palace.

  Hours later, he looked at the clock and realized he needed to hit the sack. He did a weight work-out in the suite, but still felt restless, so he put on a swimsuit and went to the pool. Lap after lap, he took then felt a slight disturbance in the water. Rising, he looked around and saw Ericka hanging on to the side of the wall.

  He took several breaths. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  “You said you swim when you can’t sleep. Why can’t I do the same?” she asked.

  He studied her for a long, hard moment and saw that she wasn’t being coquettish. She, like him, just wanted a decent night of sleep. “Have you tried meditation?” he asked.

  She sighed. “The trouble with meditation is that I keep interrupting the oms with what I worry about.”

  He chuckled, easily identifying with her quandary, although he struggled with more regrets than worries. “Okay, start your laps. I’ll sit on the side to make sure you’re okay.”

  “I’ll do fine,” she told him with a prim frown and began swimming.

  He couldn’t fault her form and he liked that she didn’t move too quickly. A nice, steady pace. She did a flip turn against the wall and he was impressed yet again. On her back, she kicked like a pro. After the next turn, she did a great breaststroke, tagged the wall and did another length of breaststroke.

  She smiled as she approached him, taking several heaving breaths. “I was never good at butterfly.”

  “Looks like you’re good at everything else,” he said.

  She gulped in several more breaths. “Again, my father encouraged competitive swimming.”

  “That can be good and bad,” he said.

  “It was probably one of the few good things he did,” she said. “I need a few more laps.”

  She did a few more and he couldn’t help admiring her body. He liked her combination of athleticism and feminine softness. She relied on the breaststroke for a couple more laps then turned on her back and did the backstroke for two more laps.

  She grabbed the side of the pool and gasped for breath. “I think that’s enough for now,” she said.

  “Should you have stopped sooner?” he asked.

  “No. You always have to push yourself when you’re swimming,” she said, still taking deep breaths. “Even if you feel like you’re dying.”

  “And this is why I want you to let me know if you decide to do night swimming,” he said.

  “Spoilsport,” she said as she rested her head on the side of the pool. “The water feels nice at night, doesn’t it?”

  He nodded. “Do you worry about Leo at night?”

  “Yes,” she said. “I worry about what I may have done during my pregnancy that caused his deafness.”

  “Isn’t this a genetic issue?”

  “Most likely,” she said. “But I still wonder. I wonder if I could have prevented it.”

  “You couldn’t have,” he said.

  “How can you be so confident? How can you know that I did everything possible to protect Leo during my pregnancy?”

  “Because I know you did. I know you couldn’t prevent his deafness,” he said. “And you can’t make his world perfect now. It’s okay that you can’t. You just need to be his mom and love him no matter what. You can’t fix everything. You don’t have to.”

  Ericka sighed. “I wish I had superpowers and could fix everything.”

  “Stop wishing,” he said. “Just do what you can every day. You get to
the end of the day, say a prayer and enjoy a full night of rest every night.”

  She chuckled. “A full night of rest every night?” she echoed. “That’s a fantasy world for me.”

  “Do another four laps,” he said.

  “I’m tired,” she protested.

  “Not tired enough,” he told her. “You’re still arguing.”

  She groaned, but did the laps, albeit slowly. After the fourth, she dragged herself out of the pool. “You’re not as bad as my father, but you’re close. I’m way tired.”

  “Good. Maybe you’ll sleep now,” he said. “Let Nanny do her job if Leo awakens during the night.”

  “It makes me feel like a slacker when I don’t get up with him at night,” she said.

  “Take a break. It’s not as if you have a husband to take a turn,” he said.

  Ericka bit her lip. “And that’s another subject. No father figure for him.”

  “He’s got plenty of father figures. More than most,” Treat said. “Your brothers. Your brothers-in-law. I hear there’s more one road to Mecca. You’re taking it.”

  “If you say so,” she said, wrapping a towel around her.

  “I do. Now you’re growing very sleepy. Very sleepy. Your eyes are closing,” he said.

  “You’re a good guy, Treat, but you’re no hypnotist.”

  “Bet you fall asleep within five minutes,” he said.

  “But will I stay asleep?” she asked.

  “Yes,” he said, then waited until she left to swim ten more laps. He wanted Ericka more than ever.

  Chapter Six

  The next night, Ericka sent Treat a text informing him that she planned to take Leo for an early morning trip to the ocean. Ericka had strange feelings about Treat. He showed her a lot of heart then totally backed away as if he wanted to remain as professional as possible.

  That’s what he should do, she told herself as she crawled into bed and pulled the sheets up to her chin. That’s what she and Stefan wanted. A true professional. It was his good heart that was wearing her down. It was his good heart that made her feel both weak and strong. And she totally needed to get over those feelings.

  She took a deep breath and tried the meditation exercise she’d learned earlier in the day, and surprisingly enough, she drifted off to sleep.

  Reality smudged with dreams. Treat took her into his arms and his body felt so strong and muscular. His heartbeat drummed against her chest.

  “I want you,” he confessed. “I want you, but I shouldn’t.”

  She felt herself melt in his arms. “I want you, too. I was afraid I was the only one.”

  “No,” he said, and lowered his mouth to hers. He slid his tongue between her lips and she drank in the taste of him. She couldn’t prevent herself from rubbing her chest against his.

  He groaned in response. “You feel so good,” he said. “I want more of you,” he told her. “I want you naked.”

  Her heart beat so quickly she wondered if she would faint. She slid her fingers through his short hair and opened her mouth for a soulful kiss.

  Moments later, as if through magic, her clothes floated away, as did his. Her nipples meshed against his hard chest. She felt him naked against her from head to toe. He took her mouth and the kiss seemed to go on forever and ever.

  “I can’t get enough of you,” he muttered against her lips as he slid his hand between them and rubbed her where she was swollen and needy. “Can’t get enough.”

  “I want you,” she said. “I need you...”

  Groaning, he pushed her legs apart and...

  Ericka reached for him, arching her body. “Treat...”

  A sound permeated her dream. A baby crying. Ericka sat up in bed, fully aroused and full of want and need. She gasped for breath and shook her head, chasing consciousness. “Oh, my—”

  She shook her head again and realized she was hearing Leo’s cry. Rubbing her forehead, she climbed from her bed and went to the nursery. She clicked on the light for the solar system and waited a few seconds. She could hear Leo squirming in his crib then he quieted. She felt him slurp his thumb into his mouth as he studied the lights on the ceiling.

  He was comforting himself, she realized. He needed a little extra help, but he was working at it, sucking his thumb and staring at the solar system. Her chest tightened and she felt a tear run down her cheek at the realization. Her baby boy was doing the best he could. She would do the best she could for him even if the best she could do frightened her nearly to death.

  Ericka returned to bed and waited for sounds from Leo, but he remained quiet, hopefully sleeping. She tried meditation, but she fell asleep during the middle of it. Proof she was exhausted, but also felt safe. She would have to think about that safe feeling tomorrow. Or the next day.

  * * *

  The next morning, Ericka arose to the sound of her alarm and dragged herself out of bed. Despite her drowsiness, excitement raced through her. She was taking Leo to the beach!

  She stripped then pulled on her bathing suit followed by a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. She went to her bathroom, splashed her face with water and brushed her teeth.

  “Your Highness?” Nanny said, wearing her night robe, as Ericka entered the hallway. “I believe the baby is asleep.”

  “For how long?” Ericka asked.

  “Most of the night,” the older woman said. “I only heard him once and he quickly went back to sleep or I would have gotten up with him.”

  “It’s the solar system,” Ericka whispered. “I pray it continues to work. In the meantime, I’m taking him to the beach.”

  Nanny’s eyes widened. “The beach? Are you sure that’s wise? Won’t the water be too cool for him?”

  “If it is, he can enjoy the sand. This baby lives on an island and he’s only been to the beach once. I want him to experience the ocean, if only for a few minutes.”

  Nanny gave a thoughtful nod. “I think it’s a good idea. The boy loves new experiences.”

  Ericka smiled, glad Nanny approved of her idea. Even though Ericka knew it was the right thing to do, Nanny’s affirmation added to her confidence. “See you later,” she said. “Go back to bed.”

  “As you wish, ma’am,” Nanny said, tightening the belt of her robe and returning to her room.

  Ericka rushed to the nursery and broke one of her cardinal rules. She awakened Leo. He blinked his sleepy eyes and rubbed them then met her gaze as she changed his diaper.

  “Good morning,” she whispered, even though she knew he couldn’t hear him. She signed the words and repeated them then smiled.

  He smiled his toothless grin in return.

  “Aren’t you handsome,” she said to him and stroked his forehead. She grabbed a few more articles of clothing and a bottle. He was hungry and quickly downed the formula. Ericka lifted him against her shoulder and a burp escaped. “Aren’t you the efficient one this morning?” she asked, then grabbed her diaper bag and raced out the door.

  Treat was waiting next to the car. Her heart leaped at the sight of him. She told herself to ignore her wayward reaction to him.

  “You think he’s ready for the ocean?” he asked.

  “We’ll start with the sand and end with the ocean. I don’t want him to get too cold,” she said, and placed Leo in the infant safety seat. “I think he’s ready for an adventure.”

  “He’s always ready for an adventure,” Treat said.

  She glanced at him. “And how do you know that?”

  Treat shrugged. “He’s just that kind of guy.”

  Ericka stuck a pacifier in Leo’s mouth and he suckled it for all he was worth, as if he knew this would be one of his first great adventures.

  Sliding into the passenger seat, Ericka gave Treat direction to the privately owned beach of the Deve
reaux family. Although the beach was private, it was no match for the long lenses of cameras from the paparazzi. Since it was December and early morning, however, they had a great shot at avoiding the photographers.

  Treat pulled down a sandy road and stopped when the beach was in sight. “I think we’re here.”

  “I think we are,” she said, excitement thrumming through her. Pulling on a baseball cap, she got out of the car before Treat could assist her and started to release Leo from his safety seat. She began to pick him up.

  “Hat,” Treat reminded her, and she paused.

  “Right. Thanks,” she said as she put a ball cap on the baby’s head.

  Leo stared at her, still sucking on his pacifier. His expression seemed to say, Are you sure you know what you’re doing? I don’t know if I like this thing on my head.

  “You’re gonna love the cap,” she told him and pulled him against herself.

  The trio walked toward the gentle lap of the waves on the beach. Not too far from the surf, she sank onto the sand and put Leo between her legs. “How do you like this?” she asked, and stroked his head while keeping his cap in face.

  Leo continued to suck on his pacifier as he stared at the surf.

  Ericka lifted a handful of sand and spilled it over his tiny palm. He glanced down at his hand and she repeated the motion. His sucking slowed as he studied the sand in his hand. A few seconds later, he dipped his hand into the sand and squeezed his fingers through it.

  “Good for you,” she said, patting his arm. “You’re a smart one.”

  Leo played in the sand for the next several moments and Ericka loved watching him explore.

  “Are you sure you want to try the ocean? It may be a bit cold,” Treat said.

  “I agree,” she said. “Maybe we could just dip his feet in it.”

  Treat grabbed Leo against him and pulled Ericka rise to her feet. They took a few steps into the ocean.

  “A little chilly,” she said.

  “We can let him have his own opinion,” Treat said and, still holding Leo against him, he dipped the baby’s feet in the ocean.