Stefan sat on one of the plush outdoor sofas she’d recently added and Victoria took a seat next to him.
“What’s that?” She pointed to the small folder he held on his lap. “Did you draw some secret, magical designs you’re willing to share with me?”
He laid the folder on her legs. “Open it.”
Intrigued, she pulled back the cover flap and gasped. “Stefan...” Page after page, she shuffled through designs and even some of the crazy doodling she’d done as a teen. “Where did you get these?”
“I kept them.”
She eyed the papers, yellowing around the edges, and looked at him. “But...why?”
With a shrug, he turned to face her. “When you came to visit, you were always doodling and talking about being a designer. Sometimes I’d keep the papers you left laying around. I knew you’d make a name for yourself because you’ve always been so determined. You had such
pathos,
a
passion, for designing.” He laughed. “Even then you would sketch random images to help you think clearer.”
Emotions clogged her throat and, dammit, for the second time today she was going to cry. Even all those years ago he’d had faith in her.
“These are, well...terrible.” She laughed through watery tears.
He put a hand over hers, taking his other hand to cup her chin and hold his gaze. “They may be terrible to you, but they were your dream, Victoria. Look at them. Look close. You may see something ugly, but I see a promise that a young girl made to herself.”
Oh, God. How did the man always know what to say?
“You’re right,” she whispered. “I just can’t believe you kept them.”
His hand dropped from her face. “Maybe I wanted to keep them so that when you became famous I could sell them.”
A laugh burst from her. “You’re so rich, you never would’ve thought to sell these.”
His eyes settled on hers, and the heat she saw staring back at her had the smile dying on her lips.
“Maybe I saw the talent,” he told her. “Maybe the crush I had on you prompted me to keep them.”
Victoria’s heart clenched. “Stefan, you didn’t have feelings for me then.”
“I did,” he confessed. “I may have been young and foolish, but I did care more for you then than any other girl I knew.”
Victoria couldn’t handle this. Couldn’t think what that revelation could’ve meant for the course of their relationship had he told her his feelings at the time.
“I’d hate to think if we dated seriously as teens or in our twenties we would’ve lost each other as friends. Besides that, you would’ve disappointed all those ladies,” she joked. “Good thing you grew out of it, huh?”
Something she didn’t recognize, or didn’t want to recognize, flitted through his eyes. “Yeah, good thing.”
As Victoria looked down at her designs, she remembered dreaming as she’d been drawing them. Dreaming of her wedding day, of her groom waiting at the end of the aisle.
And in all her dreaming, that man had been a prince. A prince who knew her inside and out, who cared for her as a friend and lover, who would do anything to make her happy.
Victoria could no longer deny that she was teetering on the edge of falling in love with her husband, and that out-of-control emotion scared her to death.
Eight
S
tefan sat back and watched the chaos—otherwise known as dinner with his in-laws—which was becoming a little too hearth and homey to him between the newlyweds and the babies.
Bronson and his wife, Mia, took turns holding and feeding their little Bella, whom he believed Victoria told him was almost a year old now.
Victoria’s other brother, Anthony, was holding histwo-month-old baby girl as Charlotte fed the eighteen-month-old Lily in her high chair.
And through all the cries, spit-ups and diaper changes, the Grand Dane of Hollywood, Olivia Dane, sat at the head of the long, elegantly accessorized table and smiled. Either the woman didn’t realize that in a year or so her immaculate Beverly Hills home would be a giant playground or she was so in love with her family she didn’t care that her fine china could end up in millions of shards on her marble floor.
“Bella, no, honey.”
Stefan glanced to the other end of the table where Bella was throwing some orange, liquid concoction onto the floor. Why did all baby food look like already recycled dinner in a jar?
“Oh, don’t worry about it.” Olivia waved a hand. “Marie can clean it up when she clears the table later.”
“No, I’ll get it.” Mia came to her feet and whipped out a bunch of wipes from who knows where. Obviously moms had a knack for always being ready for anything.
“I think Carly needs a diaper change,” Charlotte said as she came to her feet, holding her baby to her chest. “I’ll be right back.”
Anthony stood, taking the infant. “Let me. Go ahead and finish eating.”
Victoria laughed. “I love seeing my big strong brothers taking care of baby poop and puke.”
Stefan dropped his fork to his plate with a clatter. “And that’s the end of my dinner.”
Patting his leg, Victoria laughed. “Oh, toughen up, Prince. Your day will come.”
A shudder coursed through him at the thought of children being written into the archaic laws of his land. To be honest, he was surprised they weren’t, but at the same time he was thankful.
And just as quickly as that shudder spread through him, another took over as he glanced to Victoria’s smiling face. An image of her swollen with his child did something unrecognizable to his belly, his heart. He didn’t want to examine the unwanted emotions any further because if she were ever swollen with a baby, it more than likely wouldn’t be his.
She was on birth control. Besides, they hadn’t even discussed kids. They hadn’t discussed beyond the six months, other than to joke, much less anything permanent or long term.
“You okay?” Victoria asked in a low whisper. “You’re staring with a weird look on your face.”
He shook off the thoughts and returned her warm smile. “Fine. I admit I’m not used to babies, so all of this is new to me.”
“We weren’t, either,” she admitted, placing her cloth napkin onto the table. “But we adjusted quickly, and I couldn’t imagine our lives without all these little cuties.”
He studied her face once again, wondering if she did indeed have babies in her dream for life. Had he put that aspiration on hold when he’d selfishly asked her to be his wife? Hell, he hadn’t even asked, he’d basically begged...a moment he wasn’t very proud of, but nonetheless he’d had no choice. Once she’d mentioned wanting a family someday, but was that still a desire? And if so, where would that leave them and their marriage?
Discussing her fantasies of a family would have to wait. For one thing he didn’t think the topic was appropriate conversation at the dinner table with her family, and he had to speak with Anthony or Bronson, hopefully both, about his documentary idea.
Unfortunately, the right time had not presented itself.
Olivia scooted her chair back, the heavy wood sliding over the dark marble floor. “If everyone is done eating, we can go into the living room where the kids can play on the floor.”
Stefan came to his feet and pulled Victoria’s chair out for her.
“You married a prince and he pulls out your chair,” Mia said, then turned to Bronson. “Are you taking notes?”
Bronson laughed, and glanced at Stefan. “Give a guy a break, would ya? You’re making me look bad.”
Victoria wrapped an arm around Stefan’s waist and squeezed. “Can’t help it if my man is always a gentleman, Bron. Looks like you need to step up your game.”
Stefan didn’t miss the way Bronson studied how Victoria was holding on to him, and he didn’t miss the way the look of surprise resonated when Victoria said “my man.”
Just where were they headed? And why the hell was it important for him to know? He was a man for crying out loud. The sex was amazing, she wasn’t demanding of his time and she hadn’t asked him for anything. Why was he suddenly analyzing everything like a damn woman?
Anthony came back in as they were all moving from the room. “She’s all ready to go,” he announced, handing Carly back to Charlotte.
Olivia went to get Lily from her high chair when Bronson spoke up.
“You ladies go on ahead,” he said. “I’d like to talk with Anthony and Stefan.”
Okay, so now the moment of opportunity had presented itself, but Stefan had a feeling this wasn’t going to be the time to bring up his favor, not with the look Bronson was giving him.
Because he tended to be spiteful, Stefan leaned down and gave Victoria a kiss—and not a simple see-ya-later peck.
What he and Victoria decided to do with their marriage was nobody else’s business, and he would fight for their privacy no matter who he went up against.
“Fine with me,” Olivia said. “I’m just glad you’re all not talking about the film.”
“We just haven’t gotten to it, yet,” Anthony piped up. “We will. Don’t worry. We’re only a few months into the shoot, still plenty to discuss.”
“Yes, I’m aware of the time frame.” Olivia rolled her eyes and adjusted a wiggly Lily in her arms. “I should’ve known better than to think we’d get through the night without shop talk.”
“Play nice with the other boys,” Victoria said with a wink.
Obviously she missed the way Bronson was throwing daggers. “Always,” Stefan promised.
Once the ladies and babies were gone, Bronson crossed his arms over his chest. “What the hell kind of game are you playing with my sister?”
“No game.” Relaxed, Stefan rested a hand on the back of his chair. “And before you get all big brother on me, let me tell you that I will not share how Victoria and I treat this marriage. It’s none of your concern.”
Anthony cleared his throat. “Excuse me, but did I miss something in the two minutes it took to change a diaper?”
“Stefan seemed to be on more than friendly terms with Victoria,” Bronson supplied. “I’m just trying to make sure he’s not playing a game with her. She’s been hurt before.”
“Bronson.” Anthony sighed. “Simmer down. Stefan and Victoria are grown adults. If they want to...whatever, then that’s their business.”
Bronson cursed. “Did either of you pay attention when that jerk broke her heart? Did you hear her crying? See the way her self-esteem lowered? I won’t watch someone I love go through that again.”
Guilt tore at Stefan that Victoria had gone through all of that and he hadn’t been able to help her more. But with his father’s illness and death, there was just no way to be in two places at once.
Just the thought of her crying over some jerk who wasn’t worth her tears made his gut clench. She deserved all the happiness and love life could give.
“Listen,” Stefan said. “We know what we’re doing. Yes, we’ve grown closer than just friends, but that’s our business. I won’t explain our actions to you or anyone else.”
Anthony chuckled. “Guess that settles that discussion.”
Refusing to back down, Stefan continued to stare at Bronson. No, he hadn’t heard the cries from Victoria because she’d always been so strong on the phone, but he knew she’d been hurt. A woman like Victoria who loved with her whole heart and was loyal to a fault couldn’t come out of a relationship like that and not be scarred.
And he was no better than Alex. Wasn’t he using her as well to gain a title? The only difference was he’d told her up front.
“I won’t let her get hurt again,” Bronson said. “I hate to sound all big and bad, but I had to tell you where I stand.”
Stefan nodded. “Duly noted.”
“If you two are done kissing and making up, can we get back to our family night?” Anthony asked.
Stefan knew an opening when he saw one. “Actually, I’d like to run something by you two since I have you here together.”
Bronson gestured toward the doors. “Let’s go out on the patio then.”
Bronson led the way out the glass double doors and onto the stone patio surrounded by lush plants and flowers and a trickling waterfall.
Stefan took a seat in one of the iron chairs and waited for Victoria’s brothers to get comfortable on the outdoor sofa across from him.
“What’s up?” Bronson asked.
“I know you’re both aware that my mother passed away when I was younger and there was speculation that she either committed suicide or my father may have had something to do with the accident.”
When both men nodded, Stefan went on. “I have wanted to clear my family’s name because my father never would go public before. He just wanted the rumors to die down, and he feared if he kept bringing it up people would assume he was covering his own tracks. Well, now that he’s gone, I want to shed some light on the situation and prove that he had nothing to do with her accident, nor did she, and they did indeed love each other very much.”
Anthony eased forward in his seat. “What do you have in mind?”
“I know that you two don’t normally take on projects like this, but I was hoping we could discuss working on a documentary.” Stefan wanted to hold his breath and wait for a response, but at the same time, he wanted to keep talking to convince them. “I have proof my father had nothing to do with the accident and that my mother wasn’t depressed or suicidal. There’s not a doubt in my mind that while, yes, he had an affair, he was not trying to get rid of my mother. The affair had been years before the accident, and when she died, I saw him go through pure hell. I just want to clear his reputation and go into my title with a clean slate for the Alexander name.”
“You sound certain that this was an accident,” Bronson said. “I’d be willing to discuss this further. I may not typically do documentaries, but that doesn’t mean I’m not open to the possibility.”
“I agree,” Anthony said. “Could we set up a time to talk about this in greater detail? I mean, we’d have to look at the police reports and interview credible witnesses who are willing to come forward.”
“I can provide you with anything you need.” A spear of relief spread through Stefan. “Victoria and I are going to be here for another few months, so whenever you two are free, let me know. We have a few engagements coming up, but our schedule in the States is still pretty light. I can work around your shooting times.”
As Victoria’s brothers discussed their upcoming schedules, Stefan couldn’t help but be overly thrilled. He had no idea they would be so open to the idea and respond so quickly. Though they hadn’t agreed to anything, they hadn’t shot down the idea.
Moving forward with this project and his coronation, Stefan knew that if everything fell in the right place, his life would be just as he’d pictured it. Clean family reputation and his country secured in the Alexander name.
What more could he want?