The Inconveniently Engaged Prince
Autore
Mindy Neff
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14
Chapter One
Victoria Meadland’s stomach cartwheeled as she looked up and saw him crossing the crowded bar.
Jace Carradigne had been coming to the trendy nightclub in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter every Friday evening with his pals for several months now.
Recently, he’d been coming in more often. And alone.
To see her.
Her fingers trembled against the tray of dirty glasses and half-empty beer bottles she was in the process of dumping. She cleared her tray and handed the bartender, Paul, the next round of orders she’d collected.
Diamond Jim’s did an excellent business on most any night of the week, but Fridays were the busiest. She only worked part-time, but she needed the job until she could get her final college credits and start teaching school, which was her real dream.
And that meant she shouldn’t be fraternizing with the customers. Or anticipating a certain man’s contagious smile or exuberant compliments.
The problem was, Jace’s appearance was something she’d come to count on, to look for. It was like a standing date that neither of them had actually agreed to. Every time she saw him, she wanted to pinch herself.
Tall and surfer-guy handsome, his skin tanned, his dark blond hair streaked from the California sun, he headed straight toward her, made her feel as though she’d stepped into the pages of a fairy tale.
He always had a ready smile on his face and was quick to laugh or tease. His dynamic personality simply swept others along in his powerful presence.
She cautioned herself to be careful. God knows she’d made enough mistakes in her life. She wasn’t going to jump so fast this time. No matter what her heart bade her otherwise.
She swept her shoulder-length brown hair behind her ear and tried to still the pounding of her heart. Jazz music vied with the raised voices of couples, tourists and business pals unwinding after the work-week. For an instant, everything seemed to fade into the background, as though a friendly sorceress or angel had snapped the world into freeze mode.
Jace eased up to the bar, a dimple creasing his cheek, his hair tousled from the late October evening breeze.
“I swear I’ve never seen a prettier sight. Marry me, Victoria.”
She nearly choked on her breath. The din of music and voices swirled into the forefront of her consciousness once more.
For one heart-stopping moment, she almost imagined he was serious. Then she got a grip.
She shook her head. “Jace, Jace. You know I can’t do that.”
“Sure you can. Say yes and I’ll have the company plane wing us over to Vegas.”
“And be responsible for hearts breaking all over Southern California? Sorry, pal. Too much burden for my conscience.” This wasn’t the first time he’d greeted her with the outrageous suggestion.
“I already told you. I’m free as a bird. Not a single heart on the line for you to worry about.”
“You might be surprised,” she murmured. Her own heart was straddling a precarious line.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” She wiped away a circle of water on the bar and refilled the bowl of popcorn.
“Hmm.” The twinkle in his eye said he didn’t believe her, but would let it go for the moment. “Since I’ve asked you to marry me, don’t you think you should at least agree to go out with me?”
“You’re crazy,” she said, half-amused, more than a little tempted.
“About you.”
Lord, he was cute. Funny, attentive, wealthy… “You don’t even know me.”
“Sure I do. I’ve seen you at least once a week for the past month. That makes us practically engaged.” He checked his watch. “You’re off in half an hour, right? Let me take you out for a late dinner.”
“I have to study.”
“No one should study on an empty stomach. It’s a Carradigne rule.”
She bit her lip to keep from laughing. “I already had dinner.”
“What, at five o’clock? That was almost six hours ago. Okay, how about coffee? Come on, Vickie. Say yes.”
She picked up the tray Paul had filled with the latest drink order and scooted out from behind the bar. Passing his stool, she hesitated for a fraction of an instant. The darn man was simply too irresistible.
“Yes.”
He whooped and she hid a grin as she made her way through tables filled with patrons, several of which shouldn’t be ordering another alcoholic beverage. The saxophone player on stage announced this was the last song of the set and rattled off the dates and places where their group would be appearing next.
As she delivered drinks and stuffed tips in her pocket, she kept a subtle eye on Jace Carradigne. More than one female in the room tried to get his attention, but he didn’t seem to notice. Instead, his gaze followed her as though she were the only woman in the universe.
It was a heady experience. Especially for Victoria. A man like Jace Carradigne seemed too good to be true. Then again, she might be building fantasies where they didn’t belong. She hadn’t even had a formal date with him.
Yet.
Why had she agreed to go out with him tonight after refusing him for the past month? She’d thought he’d lose interest after the first couple of times she’d said no. She was sure he was just teasing, being friendly, passing a Friday night. Being a flirt.
But there was something deeper in his laughing green eyes. Something that made her want to ease into him and let him slay her dragons and be her knight.
And those kind of thoughts were ones that would get her in trouble. She had plenty of past experience to go by. From now on, she was going to look before she leapt. She wasn’t going to try to define herself through a man. Wasn’t going to search for love in all the wrong places, or mistake infatuation for the real thing.
Been there, done that, she thought, unconsciously touching the two sapphire rings she wore on the middle finger of her right hand. And the consequences had left irreparable scars on her soul.
“Looks like you’ve made Mr. Cell Phone millionaire a happy man,” Tiffany Hershey commented as she scooted Vickie aside and automatically began clearing dirty glasses from the table.
“Why do you always define people by their profession or bank account?”
Tiffany shrugged and grinned. “Girl, bank accounts are important. And when they come with a guy who looks like that…” Her gaze strayed toward the bar. “Well, I’d say you’ve struck the mother lode.”
“There’s more to Jace than his business success,” Vickie defended.
“Mmm, and you’re going to find out how much more, right?”
“We’re just going for coffee.”
“I know. I overheard. And you were officially off the clock three minutes ago.” Tiffany laid a hand on Vickie’s arm, her heavily made-up eyes turning serious. “Give him a chance, hon.”
“Tiffany…”
“Don’t give me that tone. You’ve got a wall around you a mile high. All you do is work and study. You deserve some happiness in your life.”
Over one too many glasses of wine after work one night, Vickie had told Tiffany about her life and the reason she’d sworn off men. She didn’t often tell her secrets to others, and had regretted opening up to the other woman. Just thinking about it brought her shame.
But Tiffany had turned out to be a gentle champion and confidante. Despite the other woman’s flamboyance, they’d formed a friendship.
“He’s out of my league.”
“Get outta here. You’ve got more to offer a man than most of them even deserve. Sometimes I think you’re too sweet for your own good, but I think this guy’s different. He doesn’t strike me as one to take advantage.”
“If he is, he won’t get far with me. I’m not traveling that road again.”
“That’s a great attitude, hon. But you still have to bend a little. Let people in.”
“We’ll see.” She’d let people in before. Too easily. And the bones of the myriad skeletons in her closet were a rattling echo in her heart and mind. Every day.
The bar would be open for another three hours, but like Tiffany had pointed out, Vickie’s shift was over. She retrieved her tips for the night and slipped in the back room to hang up her apron and grab her denim jacket. Paul was good about working around her school schedule, letting her have flexible hours and plenty of time to study.
At thirty-one, she was starting a bit late in the game toward a career, but better late than never. She was going to make something of herself. Securing an education and a stable, respectable career as a teacher meant everything to her. Eventually, she might even pursue her master’s and go into counseling.
She’d long ago lost contact with any of the people from the group homes she was raised in, but it was a burning point of pride that she show them—at least in her own mind—that she could excel, overcome the sins of the past.
A past where nobody had cared enough to ask if a little girl had dreams.
As a teacher, perhaps she could make a difference in just one child’s life. Be the type of role model she’d always wished had been there for her. Help a young girl or boy realize that they could reach for a dream.
Her heart thumped in her chest and her nerve endings tingled as she headed back to the counter where Jace Carradigne sipped a beer and waited for her. She wasn’t afraid of the man himself. She was afraid of what he made her feel. What he could easily make her forget: that she’d sworn off relationships until she’d graduated from college and accomplished her teaching goals.
He stood when she approached. “Ready?”
“I really should go home and study. I’ve got a psychology test on Monday.”
“See there? You’re in luck. I’m the perfect guy to help you out in that area.”
A bubble of laughter tickled its way up her throat. “I’m afraid to ask how.”
“I excelled in psychology classes in college. Had to actually, just to save my sanity. You see my sister, Kelly, was one of those gifted kids. She’s only twenty-six, but she’s already a scientist. She’s got multiple degrees in various fields of medicine.”
“And why did that compel you to study psychology?” They made their way toward the door and Vickie waved good-night to Tiffany.
“Because she used bigger words than I could understand.”
Vickie rolled her eyes. “I doubt that. According to your friends who’ve so helpfully given you references, you’re a self-made success story. The king of cell phones. A man like that’s not intimidated by a few big words.”
“See? Great guys, my friends. The king title’s a little over the top—even though I am related to a royal family. Was it my buddies singing my praises that made you decide to go out with me?”
She wanted to smile at the way he teasingly claimed a connection to royalty. She knew he’d deliberately put his friends up to giving him “references.” And they’d had great fun doing it. “I haven’t really decided to go out with you.”
“Too late. We’re out.” He gestured around to the crisp night where quaint wrought iron streetlamps illuminated the sidewalks in front of restored buildings that had stood since the 1870s. “And you’re with me.”
She shook her head. “Literal, aren’t you?”
“I can be. Think of me as your study aid. We’ll exchange information, delve into each other’s psyche. I’m an open book. Anything you want to know, just ask.”
Hiking the strap of her purse over her shoulder, she shoved her hands in the pockets of her denim jacket. The October air was brisk and invigorating. “Are you always so…”
“So what?”
“I don’t know. Happy?”
He laughed. “It’s called being positive. It’s an energy. Very effective business tool.”
“And personal one as well.”
“Is it working?”
“I think you know it is.” She glanced at the sidewalk tables outside a café. “Where are we going, anyway?”
“Well, it’s your call, but I’ve got a great condo across the bay. Incredible view. And I make a killer omelet. Decent coffee, too.”
“And I suppose you have some etchings you’d like to show me, as well?”
He slapped a wide palm to his chest. “Victoria, my love. You wound me. I’m a perfect gentleman.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. The man inspired it. He also made her nervous. Especially when he used those endearments so casually. “I think I’m a little overwhelmed by you.”
“Can’t have that. We’ll save the view for next time. How about the coffee shop around the corner. They’ve got a great caramel apple pie.”
“Now that’s just flat-out not fair. I’m a sweets nut.”
He leaned in close. “Mmm. I figured that about you. Will it scare you off if I warn you I’m dying to take a bite?” His eyes caressed her hair, her lips. “Of you.”
Desire washed over her so swiftly her head swam. Not good. Don’t backslide, Vickie.
She cleared her throat, took her hands out of her pockets and fiddled with the strap of her purse. “Um…yes.”
“Okay. We’ll ease into that.”
“Jace—”
He paused, put a finger over her lips. “You’re safe with me, Victoria. I joke around a lot, but I’m a nice guy. Honest.”
The warmth of his finger against her lips made her want to taste him. In his eyes was sincerity. The problem was, she’d been taken in before. She wasn’t too sure about her own judgment when it came to men and their intentions.
Oh, she wanted to believe him. Wanted to let down her guard and be a normal woman who could take life as it came and not worry about appearances or mistakes or anything else. But the past was always there. Lurking. A reminder.
“You’re thinking too hard,” he said.
“I’m a little rusty at this sort of thing.”
“What, going for coffee? It’s a snap.
Just follow my lead.”
Just like that he could put her at ease. She decided he was right. She was thinking this to death. For once in a very long time, she was going to go with the flow and simply relax in the company of a nice man.
“Then lead on.”
JACE CHOSE a corner booth at a trendy coffee house, and watched as Vickie slid onto the sea-green, vinyl bench. He wanted to scoot in next to her, feel the warmth of her body against his, but sat opposite her instead. He didn’t want to scare her off when she’d finally agreed to come out with him.
It was crazy really. He’d never reacted this way to a woman before. But the moment he’d seen her serving drinks at Diamond Jim’s he’d been hooked. Maybe it was the innocence of her sweet smile, or the dimples in her cheeks, or the soft music of her voice, or that intriguing glimpse of the little tattoo he’d seen on the small of her back when her sweater had ridden up as she’d bent over to wipe a table.
Or maybe it was something deeper. She touched him on a level he couldn’t quite define.
He didn’t know her, but wanted to remedy that. She was beautiful in a wholesome way, fresh and intriguing. She didn’t give much away, and he’d tried like mad to get her to open up. Instead, like a woman of mystery, she’d just smile and glide away—intriguing him all the more.
He’d teasingly gotten his friends to vouch for him and found himself suddenly nervous over her opinion. What had started as a friendly lark, a flirtation with a pretty waitress, had become soul-deep important.
He watched as she tucked her mink-colored hair behind her ears. He’d come to know the gesture as a nervous one.
What he was experiencing was more like a gut instinct—an incredibly strong gut instinct. And he’d made millions in the business world relying on his hunches.
He had an idea Victoria Meadland was going to change his life.
“Relax,” he said.
“I told you, I’m out of practice.”
“There are no expectations, here. I’d like it if we could just be ourselves.”
“Is that a rarity in your business life?”
He shrugged. “Not really. I’m the kind of guy who figures you might as well take me as I come.”
“I admire that kind of self-confidence.”
“Anybody can have it. In fact, I give miniseminars on positive attitudes to my employees. It’s amazing what it does for closing a deal.”
“Maybe I ought to sign up for one of your classes.”
“Are you kidding? You could probably teach the class. After watching you this past month, I’d say you’ve got more self-confidence than my whole company put together.” For some reason that caused her eyes to light with pleasure. Hmm. Had someone told her she wasn’t good enough sometime in her life? In his book, that was inexcusable.
“It’s called giving the customer what they want without letting them step over the line,” she said.
“Like holding me at bay for over a month?”
She grinned. “Something like that.”
The waitress stopped by their table. Jace hadn’t even looked at the menu. He wasn’t really hungry, but apple caramel pie was almost as much of a temptation as Vickie was.
“Did you guys want to order something?” the waitress asked. She was young and looked like she’d rather be anywhere else but here.
Jace grinned at her, and noted that she perked up a bit. “Absolutely. I’ll have the specialty pie and a cappuccino with extra cream. Vic?”
“Cheesecake, I think. And a decaf, white chocolate latte.”
The waitress scribbled the orders and left. “Decaf?” he asked. “I thought you were going to study.”
“I will. But I don’t intend to be up all night doing it. What’s your excuse?”
“Caffeine doesn’t keep me awake.”
“Lucky you.”
“Sometimes. So, Victoria Meadland, tell me all about yourself.” The withdrawal was subtle, but he noticed it, noticed the slight flush of her skin, as though he’d put her on the spot. He decided to change directions. “Wait. We were supposed to be studying psychology, weren’t we?”
She smiled, relaxed a bit. “I don’t think discussing our life stories is going to help me on the exam.”
“I can use big words if it’ll help.”
She laughed and he sat, transfixed. She had a wonderful laugh that lit her face and eased the little worry lines between her brows.
“No?” he said when she just shook her head. He liked that she was easing into his company. “So, what are you majoring in?”
“Human development and English. I want to be a teacher. I have one more semester before I’ll get my B.A. degree. Then another year to get my teaching credential.”
“You can teach without the credentials, though, can’t you?”
“For a while, yes. And I will, but I’ll also keep up my education and go for my master’s degree. That way I could go into counseling.”
“You’d be good at it.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I’ve watched you at Diamond Jim’s. You’ve got a special way of giving the person you’re talking to your complete attention. That’s a good quality for a potential counselor.”
“Thanks.”
“So how come you didn’t just major in education?”
“California doesn’t offer it.”
The waitress brought their coffee and dessert. Vickie picked up her fork and took a bite of cheesecake.
Jace’s mouth watered as he watched her eyes close, watched the pure, unadulterated pleasure wash across her face. “Good?”
Her eyes opened, locked onto his. “Delicious.”
He was sweating. Desire streaked through him and howled for action or release. For the longest time, their eyes held. Then she glanced down as though she had just realized the sizzle and was embarrassed by it.
“Um…” She stopped, cleared her throat. “How about you? Where did you go to school.”
He tasted his own pie, but even though it was excellent, it didn’t compare to the look that had come over Victoria’s face only moments ago. He imagined she’d wear that same expression in the throes of passion. “Virginia Tech.”
“Virginia? Is that where you’re from?”
“Nope. Born and raised right here in San Diego. But I knew I wanted to capitalize on the cellular telephone industry and at the time, Virginia Tech offered the best courses on wireless technology.”
She laid down her fork, gave him her full attention. “How long was it before you started your company?”
“Right out of college. I built Carracell Inc. from the ground up and surrounded myself with a great group of co-workers. That was almost ten years ago, when the cellular business was really starting to boom. Seems I was at the right place at the right time.”
“I imagine you put plenty of hard work into it.”
“Sure. But working at something I love is like taking a vacation every day.”
She sighed. “That’s so neat. Especially that you figured out what you wanted to do and were able to accomplish it while you were young.”
He frowned, realizing she was comparing herself to him. “You’re not exactly old. What are you, twenty-five?”
She laughed. “That’s the nicest compliment I’ve had in a while. I’m thirty-one. And attending college when you’re over thirty can be a humbling, aging experience.”
“Or keep you young at heart.”
“That, too.”
“Can I ask what made you wait to go to college? You seem pretty determined in knowing what you want.”
She shifted against the vinyl seat, scooted her coffee mug back and forth across the crimson tabletop. Then she looked him square in the eye, her chin lifted as though she expected someone to take a jab.
“I ran away from a group home when I was sixteen, which meant dropping out of high school. Since I was on my own, I had to work to support myself. Then I had to get my GED and build up a cushion of funds. I was young and didn’t realize I could work and go to college.”
“It’s a heavy load.”
“But it’ll be worth it.”
He shouldn’t ask about the group home. It was none of his business. But he seemed to have an insatiable need to find out everything about her. And coming from a close, happy family, the idea of not living within that circle of safety was unthinkable.
“This…uh, group home. Was it like a foster family?”
“No.” She twisted the two rings on her middle finger. “I lived in a few of those. Some of them were nice, some of them just okay. The group home was more along the lines of what you’d call an orphanage for kids not yet old enough for emancipation. It was called Helen’s Home. We called it Hell’s Home.”
From the set of her shoulders and the dare in her eyes, it was clear she wouldn’t tolerate pity. And he didn’t intend to give it.
But questions could easily be misconstrued. If he had his way—which he generally did—there would be plenty of time to delve into all the facets of Victoria Meadland.
He also made a mental note to himself to check into this Helen’s Home. If kids were being mistreated there, he had the connections to do something about it. And he would.
“Well, from living in Hell, you’ve definitely evolved into an angel.”
She gave a short laugh. “You’re nuts.”
“About you.”
“Would you stop saying stuff like that?”
“Can’t seem to help it. I take one look at you and the words just tumble out.”
“Did that fancy college also offer a class in smooth lines to use on your dates?”
He reached over and touched her hand, made sure he had her attention. “I don’t give lines, Victoria. You’ll find that my word is my bond. And I don’t use my words, or my promises, lightly.”
Her thumb tentatively touched his finger, then retreated. “What is it you want, Jace?” she asked, her voice so quiet it was a mere puff of breath.
“You.”
She started to shake her head.
“Give me a chance. That’s all I’m asking.”
“I don’t have time for a relationship.”
“You’d be surprised how much time’s available when you schedule it.”
“Between working and school, my schedule’s pretty full.”
“I know. And I don’t intend to stand in your way or keep you from your goals. All I want is some of your time.”
“Jace—”
“You feel it, too, don’t you?”
She took a deep breath, let it out and nodded. There was no coy game-playing. She knew exactly what he was asking.
“Yes. I like you a lot, Jace Carradigne. But you might find out that I’m not what you’re looking for. And in that case, the risk for me is just too great.”
