Gamble on Engagement (19 page)

I couldn’t help but wonder if that was his
plan all along. I mean, it was his idea for all the disguises.
Well, the fact that I wasn’t allowed to be seen with him obviously,
but still. He did come off looking rather rosy to the papers. If
you didn’t count the total fear in his eyes most of the time, that
is.

Of course, the papers were mostly just
saying he was brooding or whatever, but I knew fear when I saw
it.

“Okay, well this isn’t so bad.”

“No,” Jen said. “This isn’t.” She motioned
to the table. “But this might be.” She held a paper to her chest,
hiding it.

My heart started beating faster and that
familiar gurgling of the guts reared its ugly head.

“Do you know someone named Missy?”

I skimmed through my mental Rolodex, sure I
must know a Missy from somewhere. And then it hit me. Kind of like
a bus.

“Missy from the airplane, Missy?”

“Crap,” Jen said, and set the paper down.
“So she is real.”

Now that I saw the pictures side-by-side, I
realized it was a miracle no one had figured it out until Missy. I
mean Missy? Who would have thought in a million years that she
would be the one to crack the mystery of the Prince’s love
interests?

You know, unless you were writing a
biography about the guy, which, technically, I was not allowed to
disclose.

I tried to look away, really I did, but the
headline was like being slapped in the face. Repeatedly.

LEO’S NEW LOVE: BRIDESMAID IN DISGUISE GETS
AROUND

Oh. My. God.

“I KNOW IT’S HER,” AIRLINE PASSENGER MISSY
MITCHELL SAID, IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH US. “I SAW HER OPEN
THAT NECKLACE WHEN SHE GOT ON THE PLANE. SHE WENT ON AND ON ABOUT
HOW IT WAS FROM JAKE HALL. AND NOW SHE’S WEARING IT ALL OVER
ENGLAND, GALAVANTING WITH THAT PRINCE. IT’S DISGRACEFUL.”

My jaw dropped reading the quote from Missy.
The same woman who was so excited just to be meeting someone
famous, was now throwing me totally under the bus.

“SHE WAS ALL, ‘OH IT’S CUSTOM MADE. ONE OF A
KIND.’ THAT’S HOW I KNEW THIS WAS THAT MCMASTER THE DISASTER FOR
SURE.”

“You know, I knew there was a reason I
didn’t like this girl,” was pretty much all I could say.

I mean, there was a ton to say, but somehow
the words wouldn’t come to me. “When did this paper come out?” I
asked.

“Three days ago,” Jen answered.

“Of course.”

It probably wouldn’t have been so bad if the
picture they had on the cover wasn’t of me and Leo, looking like we
were getting cozy while wind surfing. God, I hadn’t even wanted to
go with him on the damned thing, I was quite happy with the
instructor I had, but Leo insisted we take the last ride of the day
together so I could get a sense of what Leo was feeling while
surfing. Of course he had mostly been feeling fear, just like with
everything else, but unfortunately, he was doing a little feeling
of something else. Namely me.

Seriously, how do the photogs catch those
split second moments where it looks like he’s grabbing my butt, and
somehow I end up looking like I’m enjoying it, even though I
distinctly remembered slapping his hand away immediately and
putting an end to the ride right then and there.

But of course that’s the picture they use
for the whole world to see—including Jake—even though the
photographer had to have seen how the whole thing really went
down.

Jen finally set the last tabloid down in
front of me.

ALL BETS OFF: BRIDESMAID SNEAKS AROUND
BEHIND JAKE’S BACK

I let out a frustrated, growly yell.

“God, how does this always happen?”

Jen put her hand on my arm. “I’m sorry
Josie.”

I looked at her. Here I was whining and
moaning about another stupid fake tabloid story when she was
actually having a real crisis. I mean, the paper could end up
turning into a real crisis if it was actually the reason Jake
hadn’t called me back, but even still, Jen’s situation was much
more serious than mine.

And I was the one sitting there feeling
sorry for myself with the poor girl right there in front of me.

She was consoling me, for Pete’s sake.

I took a deep breath. “You know what, it’s
no big deal. I mean, Miranda’s head is going to explode of course.
But I’m sure Jake will have to listen to reason, right?”

Jen nodded, though it didn’t look as
confident as I had hoped. “Yeah, he’ll come around, I’m sure of
it.”

If he’ll let me talk to him, was all I could
think. How in the heck was I supposed to tell him what really went
down if I didn’t get a chance to even try?

But I couldn’t say any of that. I was
supposed to be helping Jen tonight, and I’d already been selfish
for way too long.

We ate the rest of our ice cream (an entire
container each) and talked about what Jen was thinking in terms of
the baby, what she planned to do. She wasn’t sure, of course, but
she was definitely leaning toward keeping it and we even made some
plans about what we might do to the apartment when the time
came.

I was even starting to get used to the idea
that I might be helping raise a baby soon, which, if you would have
told me six weeks ago I’d be doing in the near future, I might have
laughed my ass off.

What a difference a couple months can make.
What a few weeks can make.

And actually, even what a few hours can
make.

I’d been blissfully happy an hour ago. Sure,
I was stressed about the book, but I at least had a great boyfriend
who could pick me up if I fell, but now… God, who even knew.

After we were all talked out, we watched a
chick flick—a very much
not
starring Jake Hall chick
flick—both trying to hide the fact that we were checking our phones
approximately every five seconds.

Neither of them rang all night.

We both fell asleep right there on the
sectional amongst a pile of Cheetos crumbs, Skittles wrappers, and
chocolate cookie bags.

~~~

My teeth woke me up the next morning. Okay,
not exactly my teeth, but the vibrating that was making my teeth
tickle.

Apparently, I’d fallen asleep on my cell
phone.

I bolted up, praying to see Jake’s number on
the phone.

No such luck.

It was Leo.

“Hello?”

“Where are you? I’ve got a big day lined
up.”

I rolled my eyes. As if. “I really don’t
think that’s such a good idea. Have you seen the papers
lately?”

“Yeah, so?”

“So? Cripes Leo, they found out who I am. I
can’t be seen with you now. Miranda’s probably already got a lawyer
working on getting me out.”

“There’s no way,” Leo said. “The book is due
soon and there’s no way we can get a replacement writer now.
There’s no choice but to keep you on. Besides, I want you.”

I decided to ignore the intent behind that
last little remark and keep things professional. “Leo, do you even
realize what this has all done to me personally?”

I could practically hear him shrugging over
the phone. “What? I would think you’d like to be in the
papers.”

“Are you nuts?! Of course I don’t like to be
in the papers. Do you like it when they make up a whole bunch of
crap about your life?”

Silence.

Of course there was silence. I scoffed. “You
probably do like when they made up a bunch of crap about you,
since, you always came out smelling like roses and you don’t have
to actually do any real living! No, you’re a Royal, so they’ve
practically turned you into this country’s premiere hero. God,
you’re practically afraid of your own friggin’ shadow but you’re
made out to be some sort of adrenaline-fused wild man or something.
Seriously, was there anything that could be further from the
truth?”

Leo said nothing for a long time and I
wished nothing more than to take it all back.

“I’m sorry,” I finally said, surprised that
he hadn’t hung up.

“No, you’re right. I just thought you might
understand me a little.” He sighed. “But I guess you understand a
little too well. I’m sorry I’m such a disappointment.”

“Look Leo, it’s not that,” I said. “I just…
God, I don’t know. This whole situation is just so confusing.
You’re great, you really are, but I just don’t feel the same…”

“I know,” he said. “Don’t worry, I’ve known
that all along. I think I was just… trying to make more of a
situation than was really there. I mean, sometimes I just get so…
lonely, and you were there and I kind of felt like I knew the real
you from your diary.”

“Leo, the whole bloody world knows about me
that way.”

He let out a sarcastic chuckle. “I guess I
was the one who was a little star struck this time.”

I shook my head, totally unable to wrap my
head around that one. Although maybe a Prince could get star
struck, dreaming about the life of a normal person. A much less
than perfect person.

“I am sorry for all of this Josie,” he said.
“I really am.”

“I know,” I said, smiling. “Me too. Look,
I’m just going to go back to the castle and, if Miranda lets me,
I’m going to try to do whatever I can to finish the book and then
I’m going to fly the home. Alright?”

“Sure,” he said. “I’ll see what I can do
about Miranda.”

“Thanks.”

I sat, staring at my phone, wondering if Leo
would ever find his happiness.

“Hey,” Jen said, slowly coming to life. “I
hope that wasn’t Jake.”

I shook my head. “Leo.”

“Oh,” was all she said.

Really, there wasn’t much else to say.

“I’m going to head back,” I said. “Will you
be okay?”

Jen nodded, and she really did look better.
“I dreamed about being a mom last night.”

“Really?”

And then she smiled. “I’m going to keep the
baby.”

I smiled back, surprising myself at how
excited I was. “Cool.”

I got up and grabbed my purse, trying to
avoid all contact with the tabloids on the table. “Call me if you
need anything, and let me know when you’re flying home, okay? Maybe
I can fly with you. God, I don’t even know why I’m going back to
the castle.”

“Because if there’s anything I know about
you, it’s that you don’t hide from your problems.”

“I guess,” I said, though I wanted nothing
more than to crawl right back onto the couch and sleep until the
end of time.

But I had work to do. If anyone would let me
do it, that is.

~ 17 ~

On my way back to the castle, driving in a
rental car—why didn’t I think of that in the first place?—I kept
having visions of a floating Miranda head saying, “you are not to
be seen with the Prince,” and “sign here please.”

What had I been thinking? I’d signed a legal
document saying I wouldn’t be seen with the guy and then I
practically made myself an accessory on his arm. Granted, it was
only because Leo had been so convincing, and I actually thought I
wouldn’t be recognized.

My hand instinctively went to my necklace.
How could I not have thought of the necklace? I mean, I wanted it
near me because it was from Jake, and now look where that had
gotten me.

I’d probably lost him for good.

My cell suddenly wailed.

“Hey Mattie,” I said.

“What in the hell have you been doing over
there?” Mattie said. I could just tell he was practically waving
his finger at me too. “I can’t leave you alone for one second!”

“Mattie, I’ve been gone almost three months,
and I’m doing just fine.”

“Just fine? Just fine?” he squealed. “How on
God’s green Earth do you think you’re doing just fine?”

I burst into tears.

Seriously, just burst right into them on the
spot. Mattie sure had a way of putting things into perspective, and
not in a good way either. The tears did not help my wrong side of
the road driving in any way, shape, or form.

I struggled to focus on the road.

“Josie, it’s okay,” Mattie said. “Honestly
hon, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“I know,” I said, gulping in a raspy breath.
“It’s just that… everything is so screwed up. This stupid book is
never going to get written even though I’ve wasted three months of
my life on it.”

“It’s okay, Josie. Just look at it like
you’ve discovered something you’re not really into. Now you don’t
have to waste any more time doing jobs like this one.”

I sighed. He was not getting it. “Sure, but
what the hell am I supposed to do about this one? I’ve committed to
finishing this book, and I have like, three days to write almost
the entire thing.”

“So go lock yourself up somewhere and write
it.”

I rolled my eyes. “You can’t write a book in
three days.”

“Okay, so what are the other options
then?”

“That’s the thing, there are no other
options. The book is due at the publishers in three days and if it
doesn’t make it there, the production schedule gets thrown all to
hell, and that’s if they even still agree to do the book.”

“So what will happen if they don’t do the
book?”

“Well Leo won’t be too happy, I’m sure.
Miranda will have my head. I won’t get paid. I will have wasted
three months of my life for nothing…” I could have gone on and on,
but Mattie stopped me before I got too wound up.

“Okay, so you either finish writing the book
or you don’t,” he said, as if it didn’t even matter at all.

“Mattie!”

He took a deep breath. “All I’m saying is
that the book might not be your biggest concern right now.”

The sting started behind my eyes again. “I
know,” I whispered, trying to get a hold of myself. My breath was
shaky when I tried to take a large gulp of air. “What am I going to
do about Jake? He hasn’t called in three days.”

“He hasn’t?” Mattie said, obviously
concerned.