Page 22 of Summer on the Ranch (Royally Wed #1)

A lex tried to pay attention to what her mother was saying, but she found herself drifting back in time to all that had happened with Mitch the previous night.

She hadn’t been able to think about anything else.

Not on the drive home, not while she lay in bed, unable to sleep, not that morning while she’d been showering and dressing.

Everything was different, although she couldn’t exactly say how.

Maybe it was her heightened awareness of the world around her, as if she’d suddenly realized all the vivid colors and sounds that filled her day.

Maybe it was her sense of her own body, of the texture of her skin and hair, of the incredibly intricate marvel of engineering that was the human body.

And when she wasn’t stumbling around like an alien discovering a new planet, she was reliving every moment of their time together, from their conversation in the diner to the way he’d touched her when they’d been in his truck.

She still couldn’t believe her body was capable of those amazing sensations. What had she been missing all her life?

Except… Alex drew in a deep breath. Except her instinct told her that what had happened between Mitch and her had been special.

Not that another man wouldn’t make her enjoy intimacy, but with Mitch there had been an extra jolt of chemistry.

She had a feeling that being with someone else wasn’t going to be as wonderful, nor would she feel as safe and comfortable after the fact. Which was all too confusing.

If she was right, then what did that mean?

She searched her heart to find out if she had any regrets about what they’d done, and she found she didn’t.

She trusted Mitch. He wouldn’t go running off to share details with a tabloid.

He wouldn’t use their intimacy against her, or try to make her feel obligated or cheap. He was a good man.

‘‘If you’re trying to pretend you’re listening, you’re not doing a very good job.’’

Her mother’s voice jolted her out of her reverie. ‘‘Sorry,’’ Alex said. ‘‘I was—’’

‘‘Woolgathering. Yes, I could tell. Do you want to tell me what’s going on?’’

‘‘Nothing really. I have a lot of things to do today.’’

‘‘You’re not a very good liar, Alexandra. Does this have anything to do with the reason you’re not with your sisters in Aspen?’’

Alex opened her mouth, but no words emerged. Had her parents guessed what was going on? ‘‘Not at all.’’

‘‘I see.’’ Her mother’s voice was clipped. ‘‘You’re not staying at a resort, are you? I was surprised when you first said you were relaxing at a spa. Elizabeth might do that, or even Serena, but never you. You’re not the spa type.’’

‘‘I’m…’’ She straightened in her chair, as if her mother could see through the telephone lines, not to mention across the thousands of miles, and comment on her posture.

‘‘I’m staying at a working ranch. You’re right, I would be bored silly at a spa, but I did want to get away.

The owners have let me set up an office here.

I work in the morning, then ride in the afternoon. I’m having a wonderful time.’’

She bit her lower lip and wondered if her mother was going to believe this cleaned-up version of the truth. The only thing she was leaving out was the ongoing search for James…and her relationship with Mitch.

‘‘It’s more than that,’’ her mother said, then sighed. ‘‘What is it, my dear? I can hear something in your voice. Something…’’ The older woman gave a short laugh. ‘‘If I didn’t know better, I would say there was a man involved.’’

Alex didn’t want to know how her mother had guessed. Maybe it was some secret learned while raising her four daughters. At least she hadn’t guessed about the investigation.

She was about to deny the presence of any significant man when she realized she desperately wanted to talk about Mitch to someone who would understand. ‘‘It’s not what you think,’’ she began slowly.

‘‘I don’t know what to think,’’ her mother admitted. ‘‘If you’re attracted to someone, I must confess to being relieved. I was never happy about your decision not to get emotionally involved with someone inappropriate.’’

‘‘You wanted me to fall in love with someone I shouldn’t?’’ Alex asked, stunned.

‘‘Not at all. My complaint was with your determination to keep your heart so completely closed off until a political match could be made. You are impossibly practical, Alexandra. Just once I would like you to be impulsive, to act with your heart, rather than your head.’’

‘‘Serena does that enough for all of us,’’ Alex said.

‘‘Perhaps, and at times she’s found her way into trouble, but I would guess her happiness is guaranteed. She will always do what is right for her, rather than what is correct for the kingdom.’’

‘‘That’s irresponsible.’’

‘‘Perhaps, but who will have the better life?’’ Her mother paused. ‘‘I want you to be happy, too, my dear. Life is more than duty. So if you’ve finally noticed an inappropriate but handsome, charming man, I’m pleased. Tell me about him.’’

Alex was still dealing with all that her mother had said. ‘‘I have duties.’’

‘‘Yes, I know. But sometimes it’s important to remember the duties to one’s self. Personal happiness is allowed. Everything doesn’t have to be for the greater good. Now, what about this mystery man?’’

Alex leaned back in her chair and smiled. ‘‘His name is Mitch. He is handsome and charming, but those are the least of his qualities. He’s strong and sure of himself, yet very gentle. He keeps forgetting that I’m a princess, Mother. He treats me like a normal woman.’’

‘‘Ah, that would be hard to resist.’’

‘‘It is. And he’s honest and stubborn and can be difficult.’’

‘‘But you like that about him.’’

Alex laughed. ‘‘I do,’’ she admitted. ‘‘I like that he doesn’t back down from me. I don’t frighten him with either my title or my strength of character. But…’’ Her voice trailed off. She drew in a breath. ‘‘But he’s tied to the land. He’s a rancher and all he wants is here.’’

‘‘What do you want?’’

‘‘I don’t know. I want to be happy. I want to fulfill my responsibilities. I want to do the right thing.’’ She squeezed her eyes shut.

‘‘What if I become queen? Mitch would never be comfortable in the role of consort. He would never want to leave his ranch, and even if he did, even if he was willing to try, it would destroy him. All that I admire about him would be crushed. Then where would we be?’’

‘‘It’s quite a problem. What does Mitch say about it?’’

‘‘You mean have I talked to him about this?’’

‘‘Yes.’’

‘‘Of course not. I wouldn’t discuss this with him.’’

‘‘So you’ve met a man whom you admire greatly. You’re in fact falling in love with him, but you refuse to discuss the future with him.’’

Alex opened her mouth, then closed it. ‘‘I don’t love him.’’

‘‘Of course you don’t. It would never work. How smart you are to figure this out early. I assume you’ll be leaving today?’’

‘‘Leaving?’’

‘‘Yes. Why waste your time being around a man like him? If he won’t compromise and give up his world for you, why bother with him?’’

‘‘It’s not like that. I’m not saying that he wouldn’t give up everything, I’m saying I don’t want him to.’’

‘‘But you don’t love him.’’

‘‘No.’’ She couldn’t. Love Mitch? It wasn’t possible.

Things could never work out between them.

They were too different. Love. She thought about how he’d held her the previous night, and the way he’d laughed with her in the diner.

She thought about his strong, gentle hands and the way he made her feel as if she belonged in his arms. Was that love?

‘‘No,’’ she said firmly. ‘‘We’re friends. Nothing more.’’

‘‘Alexandra, you are a most stubborn woman. I suppose I should be grateful you’ve learned there’s more to life than simply doing your duty.

So take your newfound knowledge and start enjoying yourself.

Stop faxing the palace four and five times a day.

Stop calling. We’re fine here. We have a staff that functions surprisingly well despite your absence.

Why don’t you take a trip to Disneyland or go see a play in New York?

Or better yet, have a wild, passionate affair with your young man. ’’

‘‘Mother!’’

The queen laughed. ‘‘Don’t for a moment think that your generation invented sex. It’s actually been around for quite some time.’’

‘‘I know that. I just can’t believe you would encourage reckless behavior in one of your daughters.’’

‘‘I wouldn’t, Alexandra. I trust you to temper a little bit of wildness with good sense. If you trust this Mitch, then I believe he is trustworthy. So have fun for once. Worry about the rest of it when you’re back in Wynborough.

’’ She paused, then spoke to someone at the other end of the phone. ‘‘I must go. I love you.’’

‘‘I love you, too.’’

Alex hung up the phone and stared at the receiver. Her mother wanted her to have an affair? Or at the very least, enjoy herself with Mitch. Was that possible? Was it even allowed?

* * *

Alex petted the smooth, soft nose of the skittish bay mare. ‘‘There’s a pretty girl. Aren’t you lovely? Don’t you like your new home?’’

Alex hadn’t tried riding the new mare yet, but she was making progress.

Princess—Alex still smiled every time she thought of the bay’s name—trusted her enough to take bits of apple or carrot from her hand.

The horse even let her stroke her nose and rub her ears.

But Alex sensed that there would be trouble if the animal was ridden too early.

‘‘I had the most interesting conversation with my mother this morning,’’ Alex said as she collected brushes and combs and stepped inside the stall to groom the mare.

‘‘Parents can be very unusual. Just when I think I have my mother completely figured out, she does something to shock me. Are you like that with your babies?’’

The mare’s only response was to toss her head.