Page 18 of Summer on the Ranch (Royally Wed #1)

M itch felt his mouth drop open. He consciously closed it, but that didn’t stop the buzzing in his head. Alex kept on talking as if she hadn’t said anything out of the ordinary.

‘‘I’m not sure if the bill would pass,’’ she went on. ‘‘But the feeling is that it would.’’

He felt as if someone had just shaken his world good and hard. Only this wasn’t something as insignificant as an earthquake. ‘‘Queen,’’ he said, although the single word was tough to speak.

‘‘Yes, similar to Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain. I can only hope I would do as good a job in leading my people. I suspect the uncertainty about the succession is one of the reasons my parents haven’t pressed me to marry. If I am to be monarch of Wynborough, then my choice of husband becomes even more important.’’

Mitch turned that information over in his mind. ‘‘But he wouldn’t be king.’’

‘‘Exactly.’’ She shrugged. ‘‘It would take a very special kind of man to handle the pressure of being the consort—someone married to the queen, but without any of the power. Most men would have problems being the one in the background.’’

He couldn’t believe they were actually having this conversation. He also couldn’t believe that he hadn’t really gotten it before. Alexandra was really a princess. She wasn’t just some beautiful, single woman who happened to be living with him—she was royalty. She might one day rule her country.

‘‘I can’t believe I kissed you,’’ he blurted out.

Her steady gaze settled on his face. ‘‘It’s too late to regret that now.’’

‘‘I don’t regret it, I just hadn’t realized I might be starting an international incident.’’

She smiled. ‘‘I promise I won’t tell a soul.’’

‘‘You’d better not,’’ he muttered, trying not to think about a half-dozen Secret Service agents bursting into the house and arresting him for having illicit thoughts about a visiting dignitary.

Alex read the confusion and panic on Mitch’s face. ‘‘Why are you suddenly so caught up in this?’’ she asked. ‘‘Nothing has changed from a few minutes ago. You’ve always known that I was a princess.’’

He made a helpless gesture with his hands. ‘‘Being a princess is one thing, but we’re talking about your being queen. It makes a difference.’’

‘‘Not too big of one, I hope. I don’t want things to change between us.’’

His gaze sharpened. ‘‘Why do you say that?’’

‘‘I’ve told you that I enjoy spending time with you on the ranch. The main reason is that I get to be a regular person. If you start thinking about me as queen of Wynborough, then everything will be different. I get enough of that in the rest of my life. I don’t want it happening here, too.’’

His brown eyes darkened with something that might have been compassion. ‘‘I take your point,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ll admit that hearing about your potential promotion threw me a little, but I won’t let it affect our relationship.’’

Alex had to laugh. Only Mitch would refer to her possible succession to the throne as a promotion. ‘‘Thank you. I really like being normal.’’

‘‘I don’t know about normal. You’re a little quirky for that description. But I promise to keep treating you like regular folks.’’ He motioned to the diner. ‘‘I brought you here, didn’t I?’’

‘‘Yes, and it’s been one of the highlights of my visit.’’

‘‘Stick with me. I’ll show you all the best sights.’’

‘‘Submarine Point?’’ she couldn’t help asking.

Mitch looked startled, then grinned. ‘‘Sure, why not.’’

Their waitress came by and cleared their table. ‘‘You two want coffee?’’ she asked.

‘‘Please,’’ Alex said, as Mitch nodded. When the woman returned with the steaming mugs, Alex poured cream and sugar into hers.

‘‘So tell me about being queen,’’ Mitch said as he cupped his mug between his hands. ‘‘Is there a class you have to take?’’

‘‘No. It’s more on-the-job training. Except—’’ she shrugged ‘‘—it’s rather confusing. In some ways my father is preparing me for eventual leadership of the country. I have more responsibility than my sisters. My father often refers to me as his right-hand girl. But I’m not given official duties that a prince would have.

There are those in parliament who think a woman shouldn’t rule. ’’

‘‘What, are they crazy? You’d do a great job.’’

‘‘While I appreciate the compliment, you can’t know that.’’

‘‘Yes, I can. You’re smart, you’re capable and you’re patient. More important than all that, you care. Running a country is about character, not gender.’’

‘‘Very forward thinking, cowboy.’’

‘‘My mama didn’t raise a fool.’’ He took a drink of coffee. ‘‘What do you want?’’

It was a question no one ever asked her. ‘‘I don’t know. If we find James, then the problem is solved.’’

‘‘Do you want to find him?’’

‘‘Funny you should ask that.’’ She tried to smile, but couldn’t. ‘‘I don’t know that, either. I’ve never met my brother, so it’s not as if he was a part of my life. I don’t miss him. I can’t even imagine what my world would have been like if he’d been around.’’

‘‘You’re not answering the question.’’

His steady gaze didn’t offer any escape. Alex supposed she could have insisted on a change of subject, but she found herself wanting to talk about this. Mitch was a neutral party, and she knew she could trust him to keep quiet.

‘‘Sometimes I know that I would be a good queen. You’re right—I do care about my country and my people. I would happily dedicate my life to them. I have many ideas about improvements. I think it’s important to stay focused on the future and new opportunities while maintaining the life lessons and history of the past.’’

‘‘That sounds great. But what about the other times?’’

She found herself unable to meet his gaze. She stared into her mug of coffee. ‘‘Other times I’m not so sure.’’

‘‘What does that mean?’’

She shook her head. She couldn’t say it. Not to him, not to anyone.

‘‘Alex?’’

‘‘It’s wrong and selfish.’’

‘‘I don’t believe that. Tell me.’’ He stretched his arm across the table and placed his hand on top of hers.

His fingers were warm and strong as he squeezed hers.

She found herself wanting to speak a truth she’d never had the courage to say aloud before.

‘‘Sometimes…sometimes I don’t want to be queen, or even a princess. Sometimes I want to run away and live like everyone else. I don’t want to be responsible or have to worry about the press or the country or what the people will think.

Sometimes I just want to be foolish and ordinary and not think about anyone but myself. ’’

‘‘There’s nothing wrong with that.’’

‘‘Of course there is. My sisters and I have lived an extraordinary life. We’ve been blessed with material possessions and great responsibility. We have a warm, loving family. That should be enough. I hate that I want more. I hate that I’m not more grateful for all I’ve been given.

I hate that I want to be like other women and just meet a man and fall in love.

I hate that I’ll have to worry about visiting heads of state instead of my husband, or getting back from a diplomatic trip in time to see my child’s first dance recital. ’’

I hate that I can’t pick who I marry. Except she didn’t say that.

She could barely admit that truth to herself.

But it was true. Although she’d tried very hard to be dutiful and understanding, she wanted to fall in love with the man she married.

She wanted their relationship to be special, not politically sound.

Sometimes her heart felt so empty and dry, she was afraid it would shatter and blow away.

‘‘I wish I had some words of advice to offer,’’ he said, ‘‘but I don’t. I can’t relate to anything you’re saying. All I know is normal.’’

‘‘You don’t know how I envy that.’’

He offered her a quick smile. ‘‘I wish I could tell you that I envy you your royal life, but I don’t. I’ve only ever wanted to live on the ranch.’’

‘‘I understand why. It’s beautiful there.’’ She drew in a deep breath. ‘‘I wish…’’ Her voice trailed off. There was no point in wishing. Her destiny had been set a long time ago.

‘‘You ready to go?’’ he asked.

When she nodded, he threw several bills on the table. Alex stared at them. ‘‘May I pay for dinner?’’

‘‘No, you may not.’’ He helped her into her coat, then he took her elbow and led her out to the truck, muttering all the while.

‘‘Buy me dinner. That’ll be the day I let a woman pay for my food. I can’t believe you even asked.

Talk would spread faster than wildfire if I so much as let you put down the tip. My mama didn’t raise me that way.’’

Alex planted her heels and stared at him. ‘‘You’re a sexist pig.’’

Instead of getting angry, Mitch grinned. ‘‘Yes, ma’am. I hold open doors, I let ladies go first and I pay for meals.’’

‘‘But I’m a princess.’’

‘‘I believe we’ve established that fact.’’

‘‘No one buys me dinner.’’

‘‘Then this is a first.’’ He opened the passenger-side door for her and motioned for her to step inside. ‘‘Now if I remember correctly, little lady, you said something about wanting to go to Submarine Point.’’

She didn’t know whether to laugh or threaten him with beheading again. ‘‘I’ll get you for this,’’ she insisted.

‘‘I’m sure you’ll try.’’

He waited until she was settled, then walked around to the driver’s side and climbed in. As he started the truck, he squinted up at the sky. ‘‘It’s nice and clear. We should be able to see all the way to the Pacific Ocean tonight.’’

Alex chuckled, then stopped as she had a sudden, unpleasant thought. She’d suggested going to Submarine Point in jest. Although she didn’t mind seeing the view of the valley below, she didn’t want Mitch thinking that she expected him to, well, do anything.