19. Chapter 19
~LIAM~
I ’m putting my whole weight into it, and the fucker won’t budge.
So, I shift my stance, tighten the wrench again, and push. This time, the camera doesn’t only budge, the base cracks in two.
“Motherfucker.” I growl and toss the wrench onto the ground, then wipe my sweaty forehead on my arm.
I’m out at the Lazy K Ranch, repairing some cameras that got damaged in a recent windstorm. These particular units are made to withstand winds of up to fifty miles per hour and extreme cold, but Mother Nature laid a doozy on us the other night.
I didn’t mind it. The angry wind howling through the trees matched my mood. I’ve been an asshole since I returned from London. Even Baxter told me to fuck off yesterday, and he’s the most level-headed man I know.
In hindsight, I know I deserved it. I was riding his ass after Zack King called to tell me that some of the cameras were down and asked if we could fix them. It wasn’t Baxter’s fault that Mother Nature was a bitch the other night.
It is my fault that this unit’s base is broken in two. I’ll have to order a new one and replace it later this week.
I yank my phone out of my pocket, shoot off an apologetic text to Zack, and take the camera with me. This was the last one that was down, so I get into my car and drive over the field to a nearby dirt road that will lead me past the ranch houses to the highway beyond.
Ever since I got back to town, I’ve regretted leaving England the way I did. I should have gotten my damn head on straight and sat Ellie down for a calm conversation, rather than speaking from a place of frustration and maybe a little fear.
I know , deep in my soul, that I don’t deserve her. She’s far too good for me, regardless of her title. She’s innocent and sweet. Funny. Smart.
And I’m damaged goods. She deserves someone who hasn’t been through hell and back and still carries the baggage from it.
She deserves every damn thing.
But the more I think about it, the more I realize that despite not deserving her, I can’t live without her. I’m a shell of a man, snarling at those around me like a wounded bear.
Nothing like this has happened to me before. I’ve never experienced anything like it in my damn life. She changed me forever, and if being with her means I have to find a way to live with the constant intrusion of the press, the snide comments from strangers, and learn how to compliment Princess Eleanor as well as I do Ellie, well, then…I’ll damn well do it.
Because I’ve been miserable since I set foot on that plane, and this is no way to live.
Now, let’s hope she’ll take me back. Once I grovel, apologize, and kiss her like crazy, of course.
I pull through the gate to the house, park in my usual space, and with the damaged camera in hand, walk down to HQ.
Baxter gives me the side-eye when I walk through the door.
“I’m an asshole,” I say in greeting.
“Yup.”
I nod once and set the camera on the table. “I need to order a new base for this.”
“Were you an asshole to that, too?”
“Yeah.” I open the fridge, pull out an energy drink, rip off the top, then take a long pull of it.
Before I can apologize further, there’s a car on the camera that catches both of our attention.
“Who’s that? Are we expecting anyone?”
“No,” Baxter says, and picks up his phone to call Bartlett, who’s working the perimeter. “Yeah, vehicle at the gate. Who is it? We didn’t get a call. I’ll buzz it.”
He hangs up the phone and pushes a button, opening the gate.
“Well?”
“It’s Prince Callum,” Baxter says with a shrug. “No one gave us a heads-up.”
I frown and walk out the door and toward the main house. But before I can go inside, Callum rounds the building. When he sees me, he waves and jogs over.
“What’s wrong?”
“No emergency,” he says.
“You didn’t let us know you were coming.”
“It was a last-minute decision.” He shrugs and gestures for me to walk with him down to the water. “Let’s talk, shall we?”
“Sure.” I have a hunch I know what he’s here for, but I’m going to hear him out before I ask any questions.
I’m dying to ask him how she is. Surely, he’s seen her in the last few days.
We reach the dock. I can’t look at the boathouse. Too much happened there, and the thought of it is like a knife to the chest.
“I heard you left.”
I level Callum with a gaze that says I’m not saying shit until he tells me what’s on his mind.
“Give me one bloody reason why I shouldn’t kick your arse.”
“I can’t give you a reason.”
“I haven’t talked to Ellie much,” he says at last. “I tried to, but she wouldn’t let me in. I wasn’t aware that anything was wrong until she told me to bugger off through her door. She’d been crying.”
“Fuck.”
“So then I started asking around, and Nick said you left rather abruptly the other night.”
I nod, rub my fingers over my mouth, and wait for the verbal lashing I deserve.
“You know, there’s a small window of opportunity here to win her back.”
“You think I’m right for your sister?”
He shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders. “It doesn’t matter what I think.”
“Yes, it does.”
“I like you, Liam. I think you’re a good guy. And from what I’ve seen, you genuinely make her happy—aside from the whole crying in her flat thing. You don’t need my blessing.”
“No, I don’t. You’re right.”
“So, get on the bloody plane and go grovel for forgiveness, or forgive her, or whatever the blasted hell it takes to make you both happy again. Unless you’ve decided that you don’t want her after all. In which case, I’ll just bloody your nose and get on with my day.”
I smirk at the thought, but Callum fists his hands, and I hold mine up in surrender.
“I want her more than I want my next breath. And you didn’t have to come here to convince me of that. I’d already decided that I was headed back to London to make it right.”
“Brilliant.” His shoulders relax, and he grins. “That’s good news then.”
“You also didn’t have to make this long trip just for this conversation. We could have done this over the phone.”
“Oh, I didn’t, mate. This was a convenient side errand. I’m here because there’s a certain café owner that I can’t get out of my mind.”
“Aspen?” He nods, his eyes lighting up at the mention of her name. “You have a thing for Aspen?”
“Quite a thing, yes. She hates me.” His grin widens. “It’s freaking brilliant. I’ll wear her down eventually.”
“Something tells me you don’t run across women who don’t like you very often.”
“It’s rare. I’m going to go see her and try my hand at wearing her down a bit.”
“Good luck.”
He places his hand on my shoulder, the same way his father had just a week ago.
“Good luck to you, mate. I think you’re going to need it.”
Hopping planes back and forth between London is a pain in my ass.
The flight is long and exhausting, and it’s even more so when all I want to do is get back to Ellie. I need to see her.
I called ahead to let Charles and his team know that I’m on my way, so I won’t have any issues getting into the palace. I haven’t spoken to them since before I left last night, but everything should be in order.
I also told them not to tell Ellie that I’m coming. I need to see her face to find out if she’s happy to see me, or if I’ve fucked up so badly that it’s over for good.
Once we land and the car takes me to the palace, I hurry inside.
“Liam—” Charles says, but I wave him off.
“Later. I need to see her.”
I don’t let him answer as I hurry through the palace, following the same route I took less than a week ago when I ran away.
I pound on her door, gasping for breath. “Ellie. Open up, babe.”
I pound again, but there’s no answer.
Maybe she’s with a member of the family.
I turn to find her and run into Nina.
“Your Highness.”
“Oh, for crying out loud, Liam, it’s just Nina. What are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for Ellie. Where is she? Is she with her parents?”
She frowns, looking confused. “Liam, Ellie isn’t here.”
“What do you mean?”
“She left first thing this morning, looking for you.”
“Looking for me in Montana ?”
“Of course.”
I let my head fall back and quickly do the math. “We got on the planes at roughly the same time. She’s going to get there and find out I’m not there.”
“Why didn’t you just call each other? Why doesn’t anyone talk to each other in this family?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“That’s what she said.” She throws her hands up into the air. “And now, you’re here, and she’s there, and you’re no closer to fixing this.”
“Thanks for the rundown.” I pull my phone out of my pocket. No missed calls. So, I pull Ellie’s name up and press send.
It rings twice before she answers.
“Liam?”
“Where are you?”
She’s quiet for a moment, and I can’t stand it.
“Ellie, I’m a little impatient right now. Tell me where you are. Please.”
“I’m at the lake house.”
“Stay there.”
“I hadn’t planned on leaving.” There’s my sassy girl. “And why is Callum here?”
“Ask Callum. I’m serious, Eleanor, stay exactly where you are. I’m leaving London right now.”
“You’re in London ?”
“That’s right. And you’re not. Do. Not. Move.” I hang up and put the phone back in my pocket, then lean over and kiss Nina’s cheek. “Thank you.”
“Good luck. Tell her I said hi.”
I wave and jog back to the car. I’m going to get my girl.
I’ve never been good at sitting still. Combine two, nine-hour flights back-to-back, and I’m like a caged animal.
I’m coming out of my skin by the time we pull through the gate of the lake house. I’m out of the car before it comes to a complete stop and immediately run down to the boathouse.
I’m positive that’s where she’ll wait for me.
And as I come around the corner, and the lake comes into view, I’m not disappointed. There she is, standing on the dock with her back to the water, facing me.
She’s in those little yoga shorts and a red tank, her hair down and wild in the light breeze coming off the lake.
My steps slow. I don’t run down to her and whisk her into my arms like they do in the movies.
I’m too raw for that.
Too heartsick.
Too fucking messed up.
Her face is solemn as I slowly walk toward her, my steps slow and measured, like a cat stalking its prey.
When I finally reach her, I cup her face in my hands, not touching her anywhere else.
“There are so many things I need to say to you, Eleanor, but nothing is as important as telling you that I love you more than anything or anyone I’ve loved in my life. You’re the reason I breathe, and I was an idiot to walk away the way I did.
“You will never be away from me ever again, do you understand?”
Her eyes well with tears, and she nods slowly.
“I understand.”
It’s a whisper and a balm to my soul. I lower my head and kiss her softly. Before we give my men too much of a show, I pick her up, unlock the boathouse, and carry her upstairs.
I want to take her right to the bedroom, strip us both bare, and claim her in the most carnal way possible.
But some things need to be said first. I don’t set her down, I sit and settle her in my lap, and she pulls away, making me frown.
“I forget myself when you hold me like this,” she says and then brushes tears away. “We’ll talk, and then you can hold me for as long as you like.”
My arms long for the feel of her, but this is the most important conversation of my life, so I nod and wait for her to speak.
“I’ve had a lot of time to think,” she begins. “And I understand why you were frustrated and left the way you did.”
“There was no excuse for that,” I disagree. “I should have talked it out with you.”
“Yes.” She looks me right in the eyes. “You should have. But I don’t know if I would have listened. Maybe it took a few days apart for me to truly understand the situation.”
She rubs her hands together and then pushes them through her hair.
“My family isn’t easy. I’m used to it because I was born into it. Being a princess has been ingrained in me literally since the day I was born. It was shortsighted of me to think that you’d come to London with me and adjust in a matter of days, just because we love each other.”
“Do you still love me?”
Her gaze whips to mine in surprise. “I’m here, aren’t I? Do you think I would have come all this way if, at the end of this conversation, I was going to wish you well in your future endeavors?”
“I’d hope not, but you never know what people will do these days.”
“Well, I wouldn’t. Yes, I love you very much. And I was angry at you, but I needed to be reminded that every relationship needs communication and compromise to survive.”
“Nina?”
“Along with Anne and my mum.” She licks her lips. “So, while you shouldn’t have left, I also wasn’t sensitive to how you must have been feeling after being thrust into the life of a royal family the way you were. And for that, I’m sorry.”
“You’re forgiven.”
She offers me a small smile and then keeps talking.
“Liam, I’d never thought of myself as having two different personas until you pointed it out. Again, because it’s just always been, and I was too selfish to realize it.”
“You’re not selfish.”
“I am.” The admission is soft and self-deprecating. “But now that I know better, I can do better. Princess Eleanor, the dresses and makeup, the jewelry, it’s all a mask. It’s how I protect myself from those people. You’ve met them.”
“Yes, I have.” And now I feel like a bigger asshole because I should have seen it. It’s my job to be observant, and I was too wrapped up in my head to see it. “And it makes total sense, El. I should have realized.”
She shrugs one beautiful shoulder. “We both should have. And I should have thought to warn you. But we can should ourselves all day. I’m sorry for not thinking of your feelings.”
“You’re forgiven. Now, can I please apologize, as well?”
“You already did.”
“Sort of.” I reach for her, and she comes willingly into my lap. “I love you so much I ache with it, and leaving you was pure hell. I regretted it the minute I left your apartment. I won’t leave you again, not like that. If we’re angry or hurt, we need to talk it through. No exceptions.”
“Agreed.” She cups my cheek, and I close my eyes at her sweet touch. “But, Liam, I enjoy being a princess. It may sound silly and privileged, but I’m quite fond of my family. I’m proud of my lineage, and I hope you won’t ask me to give them up.”
“No.” I drag my fingertips down her cheek. “I wouldn’t ask you to do that. I haven’t been close to my parents since I went into the Army, so I sometimes forget that family is important to others. I like yours. They’ve been great to me, and I wouldn’t ask you to walk away from them for me. That’s never a choice you should have to make.”
“But it makes you so uncomfortable.”
“It did. You’ve given me a new perspective today, though. I can learn to like a tux and be nice to the mean girls.”
She giggles, and I breathe a little easier now that the storm has passed. “They won’t be invited to events anymore, by order of the queen.”
“Really?”
“Oh, yes. She wasn’t pleased when she heard how Gretchen and Vivienne behaved. They’ve been ostracized.”
“I can’t say that I’m sorry.”
“I’m definitely not sorry in the least.”
I take her lips, finally sinking in and kissing her the way I’ve longed to do. There’s no time to pick her up and head for the bedroom. Ellie tugs my shirt over my head and kisses my shoulder, starting a flood of uncontrollable lust.
“You haven’t touched me in days, Mr. Cunningham.”
I grin against her lips as I lift her and tear the yoga shorts off her body, delighted when I find that she’s not wearing underwear beneath them.
I unsheathe my cock from my pants and push up inside of her, making us both moan in pleasure. I want to take it slow, to savor every movement, but she’s riding me fast, rubbing her clit against the root of my dick with every downward motion.
My eyes want to cross and roll back in my head at the same time.
“If you don’t slow down, I won’t last.”
“Same, and it’s brilliant.” Her cheeks are red, her eyes glassy as she watches me, riding harder until, with my name on her lips, she succumbs to the orgasm she’s been chasing.
I fall over right behind her and tug her down so I can breathe her in as I try to catch my breath.
“I don’t know where you learned that one,” I say, panting hard, “but I like it.”
“I just made it up.” Pride is thick in her voice. “I’m glad you liked it.”
“I loved it.” I kiss her chin. “Eleanor.”
“Yes?”
“Marry me.”
Her bright eyes whip to mine, hope shining through them.
“Today?”
I chuckle, wrapping my arms around her waist. “Any day you want, sweetheart. But I think you’ll want to check with your father on dates. If that’s a yes.”
“Yes.” She hugs me close and then kisses me hard. “A thousand times yes. It’s a bloody good thing I like paperwork and can organize like nobody’s business. And that you’re worth it, of course.”
I press my forehead to hers. “Yes, it’s a bloody good thing.”