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“I know all about you two and how healthy you are.” Brenda grinned. “I’ll make a delicious but healthy breakfast for you.” She looked at the open bathroom door. “Would you like to freshen up first?”
“I actually would.” Ellery wanted to be as presentable as possible before she met Derek’s family. “How long until we land?”
“A little over an hour. Plenty of time to spruce up and eat. Your bags are down below, but there are plenty of toiletries and makeup in the cupboards.”
“Thank you.”
Ellery hurried into the bathroom. She wished she’d thought to keep out fresh clothes as there was a full shower in the bathroom, but she used the bathroom, brushed her teeth, and used one of the disposable washcloths to clean up. After some delicious-smelling body splash and lotion and even some of the makeup, she felt much better. She wasn’t one to put makeup on just to sweat it off and have it look horrible at the gym, but with some face powder, eyeliner, and mascara she felt pretty. She released her hair from the ponytail she usually wore it in and brushed it out. It looked silky and shiny.
She definitely wasn’t fit to be some princess in a T-shirt and yoga pants. That little girl at the store had told her she needed to wear a dress. She smiled at the memory and the fact that Derek had never seemed to care about fancy clothes. Still, she didn’t want to embarrass him or have the press saying she didn’t look like a princess. She didn’t, and she never would—and there wasn’t a lot she could do about that.
Derek was leaning casually against the wall when she left the bathroom. His eyes widened and he straightened and hurried into her space. “Elle. Do you know how beautiful you are?” His voice was husky and desirable, his compliment sincere. He treated her as if she were the royalty. She could hardly handle not throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him.
“Nope,” she teased, “but I imagine one handsome prince will do all in his power to show me.”
“Happily.” His gaze traveled over her lips, and he murmured, “but regrettably, I need to brush my teeth first.”
She wanted to tell him she didn’t care about fresh breath, but it was a good reason to slow things down. She thrived on teasing and flirting with Derek, then she’d always turn him down for a date and keep her heart safe. Right now, she was in his sphere and in his power. She’d never wanted to be in a man’s power before. Was she only a challenge, or did he care for her and want her in his out-of-her-reality life?
Brenda walked out of the kitchen with a large tray. The noise was enough to wake Braxton, who stumbled to his feet, looking rumpled and tired. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “I was out. My brain must’ve shut down knowing there’s no danger here.”
“It’s all right,” Derek reassured his bodyguard, though he did look irresistibly disappointed by the interruption. What if she shocked the whole plane by throwing caution and propriety out into the atmosphere, wrapping her arms around the prince’s neck, and kissing him?
“No danger?” Brenda grinned. “All I saw last night was danger.”
Braxton’s hand went to the pistol that never left his hip, even when he was lifting weights.
“Danger of you falling off that too-small bed,” Brenda teased.
They all laughed and even Braxton relaxed a bit.
Derek walked into the bathroom and Ellery returned to her seat. The blanket and pillow were gone and the seat was in an upright position. Brenda put up a tray for her and offered her all kinds of delicious-smelling food. Derek returned and they opened the shades as they ate. Ellery was in awe of the towering mountain peaks they were flying over, the lush green valleys far below.
As Brenda tidied up for landing, Ellery’s nerves started tingling. She hadn’t asked near enough questions. “Will your family be there to pick us up at the airport or just send a car?”
“Malik will pick us up since he has a condo in Traverse. Then we’ll drive to the castle to meet everyone else.”
“Will there be media and cameras waiting for us?” She tugged at her Under Armour T-shirt. It was a pale blue that complimented her darker skin, fit her nicely, and was her favorite. It was not what a royal would wear and next to Derek’s obviously high-quality, pale blue button-down short-sleeved shirt and gray slacks, she looked even more casual.
“No. I told Malik to fly under the radar. It’ll be tough for him, but I didn’t want you to have to deal with cameras snapping and questions thrown at you. I want you to enjoy every minute of your trip to my beautiful country.” His voice lowered and he added huskily, “So I can convince you to never leave.”
Ellery’s heart raced out of control again. Derek was thoughtful and knew her well, knew she didn’t love the cameras, answering questions about her personal life, or social situations. Yet what did he mean about never leaving? She couldn’t live away from her mom.
Oh my. What was she even thinking? Derek was flirting with her like he always did. She would tease back and it was all no big deal.
“That would be a lot of convincing.” She winked. “I’m an American.”
“America’s a great place, but being an Augustinian would look really, really fabulous on you.” The appreciative look in his eyes shot desire clear through her.
Ellery couldn’t think of anything to tease back. She looked out the window instead and gasped as the plane swooped over a pristine city set in the midst of a wide mountain valley with a sparkling blue river cutting through the old-world architecture. She pressed her face tight against the glass. She was from Boston, very proud of her American forefathers and all the history of her city. But even from the air, this city boasted history and stories.
The plane descended much slower than it had ascended. They passed the city and swooped over a green field before settling on the runway. Her stomach and ears appreciated the slower descent and smooth landing, especially as her stomach tumbled at the apprehension of walking off this plane on Prince Derek’s arm.
Prince Derek.
She’d never forgotten the man she crushed on, trained with, and flirted with was a prince, but being here in his home country drove that home like a nail through her coffin. She couldn’t be with royalty. Everybody in this nation would recognize her for the imposter she was. And trying to investigate the royal family for some lady she didn’t know in a white silk pant suit and somehow warn them and keep them safe from a vicious murderer disguised as a beautiful billionaire? What on earth had she gotten herself into?
The warm pressure of Derek’s hand on her arm brought her head around. His blue eyes were kind and full of reassurance. How did he know she needed that right now?
