Page 14 of Summer on the Ranch (Royally Wed #1)

M itch leaned back in his leather chair in the living room and sipped from his mug of coffee.

It was nearly seven on Sunday evening, which meant that Alex had been living at the ranch for a week.

While it was strange having her in the house, it was also strange to think about the fact that her time was temporary.

Once he’d made an effort to get to know her, he’d found that he liked her. Who would have thought that possible?

The phone rang just as the grandfather clock struck the hour. As always, his parents were right on time.

‘‘Mitch,’’ they said together when he picked up the receiver.

‘‘Mom, Dad. How are you two?’’

‘‘We’re fine,’’ his mother said. ‘‘It’s been gray and cool almost every day. I’m still having trouble adjusting to these northwest winters. I miss the sunshine.’’

Mitch listened with half an ear. He’d already made the decision not to tell them about Alex.

Even though they’d been cleared by security and he knew he could trust them to keep the information to themselves, he’d figured that explaining about a princess on the premises was going to be complicated.

Plus, he wasn’t sure how they would feel at the thought of John meeting his birth parents, assuming he was Alex’s long-lost brother.

Better to let things take their natural course.

If John was Alex’s brother, there would be time enough for explanations later.

If he wasn’t, there was no reason for his parents to be concerned.

‘‘We’re completely booked for the holidays,’’ his mother was saying. ‘‘Most of the people have been with us before. Now, I know it’s hard for you to get away, but your father and I would both like to see you.’’

‘‘I know, Mom,’’ he hedged as he heard footsteps in the hallway. He’d gone up to see his folks at the holidays a few times since they’d moved, but this year he wasn’t so sure. Would Alex still be around? Would she be heading back to Wynborough?

‘‘Promise us you’ll think about it,’’ his father told him.

‘‘I’ll give it a lot of thought.’’

He looked up as Alex walked into the room.

On cue, his heart rate increased, as did his blood pressure.

He could feel the heat filling his body, settling in different places, before moving on again.

Whatever attraction he’d felt for her before had only multiplied since he’d kissed her.

Now when his overactive imagination flashed images of him with Alex, he had more details to make it real.

He knew how her body felt pressed against his.

He knew her taste and her scent and the way her breath would catch in her throat when he ran his hands up and down her spine.

He knew that she started out a little shy when she kissed, but after she got into it she was wild and passionate and made him want in ways he’d never wanted before.

She smiled at him and showed him a pack of cards. ‘‘I thought you might enjoy being humiliated at poker,’’ she said. ‘‘I know several rather amazing games, some of which—’’ Her gaze settled on the receiver pressed against his ear and she quickly mouthed an apology.

But it was already too late. He heard a soft sound from the other end of the phone and knew that his parents had heard the female voice.

‘‘You have company,’’ his mother said, her voice bright with excitement. ‘‘Who is she?’’

‘‘Doesn’t matter who she is,’’ his dad announced. ‘‘Mitch, you finally went out and found yourself another woman. Good for you. I’m sure we’ll like her very much.’’

Alex had moved to the sofa and taken a seat. She looked beautiful in an elegant dark green dress that more than hinted at the curves it concealed. She’d piled her hair on top of her head, leaving only a few curls to tumble down to her shoulders. She looked regal and unapproachable.

‘‘It’s not what you think,’’ he said quickly into the phone. ‘‘Alex is a friend and nothing more. She’s in the area, looking for relatives.’’

‘‘Do we know her?’’ his mother asked. ‘‘What relatives? Was she adopted like John?’’

‘‘Not exactly.’’ He hesitated, not wanting to tell them too much.

‘‘Is she pretty?’’ This question came from his dad. ‘‘I guess it doesn’t matter why she’s visiting, as long as you take advantage of the situation.’’

‘‘Robert! I can’t believe you said that to our son. Mitch is a gentleman. He would never take advantage of a young woman.’’

‘‘I didn’t say for him to take advantage of her. I said the situation. The ranch can be a real romantic place.’’

Alex motioned for him to cover the mouthpiece, which he did.

‘‘I’m sorry I started talking without noticing you were on a phone call,’’ she said quietly. ‘‘Now that they know I’m here, you might as well tell them the truth. Otherwise, they’re going to assume you’re keeping a woman here.’’

‘‘Too late for that one,’’ he said. ‘‘Are you sure you don’t mind?’’

‘‘They’re your family, Mitch,’’ she answered, as if that explained everything.

He returned his attention to the call and found his parents were still quarreling.

‘‘It’s a nonissue,’’ Mitch said. ‘‘Yes, she’s very pretty, but she’s also Princess Alexandra of Wynborough.

You’ve probably seen several pieces about her and her sisters on the news.

The four princesses are here in America to publicize their father’s upcoming celebration. ’’

There was a moment of stunned silence from the other end of the phone. ‘‘A princess?’’ his mother asked. ‘‘In our house?’’

‘‘Yeah.’’ He winked at Alex. ‘‘Hard to believe, huh? She’s really nice. Almost like a regular person. I have her helping me with the horses.’’

‘‘Mitch, you don’t!’’

‘‘Not cleaning out the stables, but she is exercising some of the mares. Don’t worry, Mom, she likes it.’’

Alex nodded in agreement. ‘‘Tell her that her house is lovely.’’

‘‘Alex says to tell you that she thinks the house is lovely.’’

‘‘You call her Alex?’’ His mother sounded as if she were in shock.

‘‘I do, but Betty uses her whole title.’’ He hesitated.

‘‘It’s okay that you two know about her being here, but you can’t tell anyone.

She’s in the area looking for relatives, and she doesn’t want the press finding out that she’s here.

To be honest, neither do I. The last thing the cattle or the horses need are to be invaded by news vans and helicopters. ’’

‘‘We won’t say a word,’’ his father promised, then chuckled. ‘‘Well, I’ll be. A real princess, just like on television.’’

‘‘Mitch?’’ His mother cleared her throat. ‘‘Tell Betty to use the good china when she serves dinner, and be sure to take a couple of photos for the family album.’’

‘‘I’ll do that,’’ he promised. They chatted for a couple more minutes, then hung up.

Alex raised her eyebrows. ‘‘Let me guess. They were in shock.’’

‘‘Actually, they took it pretty well. Mom wants me to take your picture so we can put it in the family album.’’

‘‘Then I would be part of your history.’’ She tucked a loose curl behind her ear. ‘‘I believe I like that idea. We’ll have to plan it so that you can see I’m actually in the house.’’ She flashed him a smile. ‘‘It will make her bragging rights so much better.’’

‘‘Thanks for understanding about my folks. They won’t tell anyone.’’

‘‘I know. I trust them. After all, look what a great job they did with their son.’’

Her praise made him both proud and uncomfortable. To change the subject he pointed to the deck of cards in her hand. ‘‘Still up to getting your fanny whipped at poker?’’

‘‘Absolutely, although I should warn you I’m something of a card shark.’’

‘‘Yeah, right.’’

She rose to her feet and laughed. ‘‘You’ll see. In a matter of a few hands, I’ll have you begging for mercy.’’

He followed her into the dining room. They took seats across from each other. She opened the package of cards, then shuffled them expertly. Mitch eyed her flying fingers and realized she might not have been kidding about her abilities.

‘‘We’ll start with something simple,’’ she said as she dealt the cards. ‘‘Five card draw, one-eyed jacks wild. Oh, and Mitch? I want to head over to The Sunshine Home tomorrow. I’ve heard back from the owner and they’re finally ready to let me go through their old records.’’

He studied his hand. Two ladies and a pair of fives. Not bad. ‘‘If you can wait until the afternoon, I’ll go with you.’’ He passed her his lone three, facedown.

‘‘You don’t have to do that.’’

She dealt him another card. A third five. He had to hold back his grin of pleasure.

‘‘I don’t want you going alone.’’ When she gave him a questioning glance, he shrugged. ‘‘I know, it’s a little town and nothing is going to happen. But I would feel better if you weren’t by yourself. Besides, with the two of us there, the work will go faster.’’

‘‘Thanks. I appreciate that. Your help will be welcome.’’ She spread her cards on the table. ‘‘Three tens.’’

He tossed his hand down. ‘‘Full house.’’

When she pressed her lips together in minor irritation, he laughed. ‘‘Could be worse, princess. This way you’re only losing money, but if I’d set the rules of the game, you’d be taking off that dress right about now.’’

She looked at him calmly. ‘‘Strip poker?’’

‘‘Game?’’

‘‘Why don’t you see how the next few hands go. Then you can ask me that question again.’’

* * *

‘‘I can’t believe how much money you won from me,’’ Mitch grumbled the next afternoon as they drove into the parking lot of The Sunshine Home.

‘‘ I can’t believe you’re still complaining,’’ Alex told him good-naturedly. ‘‘I warned you that I was very good.’’

‘‘But I won the first three games.’’

‘‘It takes me a while to warm up.’’ She tried to control her expression so he couldn’t tell she was secretly gloating. ‘‘Now aren’t you glad we didn’t play strip poker? That chair would have been very cold on your bare bottom.’’

‘‘You’re forgetting you lost the first three hands. I might have been the first one to get naked, but you would have had to undress some yourself.’’