Chapter 2 #2
Alex wasn’t as ambitious or outspoken and was a gentler soul with an artistic side.
He was in charge of the Prince of Karltenberg Foundation, which helped maintain the family’s castles, cultural assets, collections, and museums, and did a fine job of ensuring the future of the important historical and artistic artifacts that belonged to the royal family.
Alex had married when he was twenty-four, and now, at thirty-one, his oldest son was six years old, healthy, strong, and smart.
Parliament liked Alex, liked his family, and liked the stability he brought to the royals—unlike Max, who, at thirty-four, was still unmarried, had no heirs, and had no prospects.
Even his youngest brother Joseph, at twenty-eight, was engaged and planning a wedding to take place later in the year.
Over the past several years, Max had attempted to form serious relationships.
Most recently, he’d tried for at least six months with Sarah, the Duchess of Bavaria.
At twenty-three, she’d been a bit immature and hadn’t liked him overly much but had stayed with him because she was enamored with the prospect of becoming queen.
His father and mother had been frustrated when he’d walked away from Sarah.
While they understood he didn’t want to enter a marriage that would make him unhappy, they were also upset that he wasn’t doing more to make the relationship with Sarah work.
They thought he should be focusing all of his attention on finding another woman who would make him happy, which was easier said than done.
Perhaps he had been rash to end his relationship with Sarah. Perhaps he should have considered marrying her regardless of his concerns. After all, he was far from perfect himself.
He understood his father’s push. His father had just turned sixty and wanted to appoint him prince regent and hand over the duties of ruling the country.
His father would still remain head of state, but essentially, he wanted to retire from the many demanding responsibilities that came with being king.
However, he couldn’t retire if he didn’t know which son would take his place.
Since Max was first in the line of succession, the choice was ultimately up to him.
Whether he married or not, he could become the next king.
Yet he also understood the dilemma and difficulties that would arise if he didn’t marry and remained childless.
Max leaned his head back against the couch cushions. This was why he craved the solitude of this trip and why he’d agreed to come in place of Mr. Milton. He needed time to sort out all his options away from the constant pressure.
Suddenly feeling a swell of anxiety in his chest, he pushed to his feet. He’d been restless too oft of late, and he wanted to finally find peace and contentment. Yet even here in this rustic wilderness, peace and contentment seemed to be elusive, and the frustration inside was swirling faster.
He stalked across the room to the sliding glass door leading to the enclosed back porch.
He opened it and stepped into a room that was filled with windows, allowing a panoramic view of the outdoors and the nearby river.
A heater was blowing out warm air so that the room was pleasant.
The furniture and decorations, like the rest of what he’d seen of the house, were also rustic-themed.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets and peered out at the river, which was frozen over on the edges but still held rushing water in the center.
The snow on the pine trees made them bow low as if paying homage to the river.
It was a spectacular vista, especially with the mountain peaks rising in the distance beyond the river.
What was wrong with him that he couldn’t be happy here, even in this beautiful place?
“Max?” came a voice behind him.
He shifted to find that Emberly had joined him in the enclosed porch.
“Would you like to plan your schedule out here?” She started to close the door.
He actually didn’t want to do any planning. He just needed to get out of the cabin and forget about the pressures for a short while. Maybe then he could settle his thoughts and plunge back into the mounds of work awaiting him. “Let us go for a hike.”
She studied her clipboard and tapped a pencil against it. “I have a guide available tomorrow at one o’clock. I’ll make sure you’re the only one—”
“I should like to go now.”
She shook her head. “The guide has already left with a group.”
“You can be my guide.”
“That’s not one of my duties.”
“I thought your duty was to ensure that my stay at the ranch is unforgettable?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then you shall take me on the hike yourself.” He liked the idea the more he proposed it. “I did make it clear that I would like privacy, and having you guide me would be about as private as I could ask for.”
Emberly lowered her clipboard and leveled a stern look at him. “Well, let me make something clear to you.” Her voice had an almost sassy note to it that surprised him. When had staff talked to him in such a tone? He couldn’t remember anyone, ever.
“My job is to arrange your activities,” she continued, “not to do them with you.” She cocked her head and braced one hand upon her hip as if daring him to defy her.
A strange thrill shot through him. Not only was this woman speaking freely with him, but she wasn’t trying to impress him or defer to him or even show him courtesy. She was simply being herself.
He liked the interaction. In fact, he liked it a great deal. Perhaps this was what it was like to be an average person. Could he be that this week?
Yes. Having a week of being a regular man was just what he required. “What if I insist on having my personal concierge accompany me during my activities this week?”
“You can insist, but that doesn’t change my duties.”
“I shall pay you double your salary for the week.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Triple?”
“This isn’t about the money.”
“Four times the amount.”
She released an exasperated sigh. “My father owns the ranch.”
His thoughts came to an abrupt halt. That made sense.
After all, she had introduced herself as a McQuaid.
He didn’t know much about the McQuaids except that the famous country music star, Brock McQuaid, called the ranch home.
Not that Max was particularly fond of country music or a fan of Brock.
However, Brock’s engagement to supermodel Venus Vargas had recently been splashed across the front page of most major news outlets, and Max hadn’t been able to avoid seeing the pictures of the happy couple.
Maybe Emberly was being truthful that she didn’t need the money. The McQuaids likely were very wealthy. Even so, as a McQuaid, she probably knew the ranch better than almost anyone else and could do anything she wanted.
He couldn’t hold back a smile. “The matter is settled.”
She didn’t smile back.
For a reason he couldn’t decipher, he liked her attitude, liked her resistance. “That means you are the perfect one to accompany me this week. Since you have grown up on the ranch, who better than you to show me everything?”
“The trained guides are better.”
“I disagree. Family is always more passionate and invested than a paid employee.”
She narrowed her eyes upon him, but not before he saw that he’d hit on the truth. She needed this week with their group to go well. Even though she didn’t necessarily want to act as his personal tour guide and accompany him to the various activities, she would do it for the ranch.
“I shall make the effort worth your while,” he added.
He wasn’t sure why he was pushing her so hard when she clearly didn’t want to do it.
Perhaps because he was accustomed to getting his way.
Perhaps because he appreciated a challenge and saw one in her.
Perhaps because he already liked her for being so real.
She pressed her lips together.
The movement drew his attention there. She had a beautiful mouth with naturally full lips, the cupid’s bow adding a pucker in the middle that looked like it would be delectable.
One of her brows quirked. “You’re willing to strike a bargain?”
“Within reason.”
“I’d love your group to spread the word about our ranch to your friends and colleagues.”
“That will be no trouble.”
“Fine. I’ll go with you and be in charge of your activities.”
His smile widened. “Then let us be on our way.”