Chapter 4 #2
“I barely know her.” That wasn’t true. After spending the afternoon with her, he had learned a great deal about her as a person.
She came from a solid family who cared about each other.
She was very good at her job and took her work at the ranch seriously.
She was excellent with the employees and kind to the other guests they’d come across.
She was knowledgeable and interesting to talk to.
Most importantly, she treated him like a regular bloke. Even just a few minutes ago, she hadn’t hesitated to confront him about being demanding with her. Would she be so open and honest if she knew he was a prince?
He sighed. He probably ought to tell her.
But what would that accomplish? She would start treating him differently, and he didn’t want that.
After getting a taste of what it was like to be normal, he didn’t want things to change.
For at least this week, he could enjoy being like everyone else, couldn’t he?
It certainly wouldn’t harm her to go on believing he was simply a rich man from a rich European family. After all, they would part ways when the week was over. He would return home. And they would never see each other again.
“Is she coming back for dinner?” Braun asked in a too-knowing way.
“She is.” Max finished ascending the stairs to the loft.
The sleeping quarters were more spacious than he’d expected, even with the king bed, which was made of the same pine logs as the other furniture.
Two wide leather chairs took up one corner with side tables beside them.
An enormous flatscreen TV hung above a gas fireplace.
A chest of drawers was positioned beside a walk-in closet.
Large windows with a cushioned seat underneath overlooked the river and the eastern range.
He had to admit that everything was modern and well decorated, giving the rustic feeling of being on a ranch without compromising comfort or quality. He understood now—especially after the tour—why the place was so popular.
Braun had followed him up and now strode to the closet, where he’d unpacked Max’s clothing and hung everything as neatly as always. While Braun rummaged through the selections, Max pulled off his sweater and his damp socks.
Whenever he was at one of his family’s residences, whether the palace in Vollenstadt or the castle up in the mountains or their estate on Bodensee, he always had a valet to assist him with getting dressed.
However, during his trips out of the country, he usually only brought his assistant and bodyguard, and he liked a little more independence.
He changed into a casual button-down shirt with a pair of slacks, donned casual loafers, and added a touch of cologne.
“You are certain I do not look overdressed?” He paused at the mirror near the cabin’s front door and combed his fingers through his hair.
“You look very presentable.” Braun peered over the loft railing from where he was ironing a shirt for Max to wear in the morning.
“Presentable?” Max rubbed his beard. “Should I not be more than presentable?”
“You look handsome, Your Highness.”
“You are just saying so to appease me.”
“I would never do such a thing.”
“Of course not.”
Braun tsked, the closest he ever came to laughing.
Max backed away from the mirror. “I do not know why I am so nervous. This is just a casual dinner.”
“If it is more than casual, that is okay too, Your Highness.”
Would it be okay to have something more than casual with Emberly?
He was well past those days when he’d dated offhandedly and had a new woman every month. He was at a juncture in his life where that lifestyle did not appeal to him anymore, if it ever had.
He most certainly wasn’t interested in a weeklong fling with Emberly, and she wouldn’t entertain such a notion either. She would likely be strongly against it, which was for the best.
So what was this dinner for?
Her presence was a distraction this week. That was all. It would help him as he tried to gain that perspective she’d mentioned.
At a knock on the door, he blew out a tense breath, ran his fingers through his hair one more time, then opened the door.
Two young men in servers’ uniforms stood on the porch with several food warmers between them. “We have your dinner.”
Max tried to squelch his disappointment at not seeing Emberly and stepped aside for the young men to enter. The two brought the food into the kitchenette and distributed it onto the table along with setting up the tableware.
They were finishing when the front door opened, and Emberly stepped inside with a bottle of fine wine.
“Welcome.” The knot that had been growing tighter inside Max loosened. He approached Emberly and took the wine from her. “I was beginning to wonder if you might change your mind about returning.”
“Of course not.” She shrugged out of her parka, revealing the clothing she’d worn earlier—a sweatshirt and leggings. Her hair was in the same long braid, and she was still wearing her boots. She clearly hadn’t done anything to impress him.
He was most definitely overdressed. He had half a mind to race up to the loft and change back into the clothing he’d worn earlier too. But he guessed that doing so would only make him look even more foolish.
“I couldn’t back out,” she said as she hung up her coat. “Not after you worked so hard at asking me politely.” Her voice contained a note of humor.
“Good. I appreciate that you are making my efforts worthwhile.” As he had when he’d been with her before, he could feel the weight of his responsibilities falling away.
There was something about her that was so refreshing and honest and real, that made the other things in his life seem less important. “Perhaps you shall reform me.”
“I’m used to making my brothers behave, so it comes naturally to me.”
She’d earlier mentioned that she had four brothers and that she was the only girl.
As a result, she claimed that she’d grown up as a tomboy, participating in all of the same things they did.
She seemed to have a great fondness for her childhood and her brothers, and she still enjoyed fishing and hunting and rock climbing and other activities she’d always done with them.
“So you are considering me one of your brothers, are you?” Max meant the question to be playful. But there was a part of him that didn’t want to be relegated to a brother role with Emberly, although it shouldn’t matter and was likely for the best.
Emberly was unlacing her boots. “When I told Tyler I was joining you at your cabin for dinner, he wasn’t thrilled about the idea.”
Max couldn’t blame Emberly’s brother for his wariness. If the roles had been reversed, Max would have been worried too, especially that some rich guest might be expecting her services to include more than just dinner.
“I told Tyler you had an assistant and a protection agent who would both be at dinner.” She slipped off her boots and then straightened, looking Max directly in the eyes. “And I also told my brother you weren’t a threat, but that if you did try anything, I would have my knife.”
Her knife?
Max almost grinned, but he guessed such a response would not be entirely suitable.
Nevertheless, he was strangely pacified that Emberly was not only carrying a knife but threatening to use it on him if necessary.
He liked that she was a strong woman who could take care of herself and defend herself from unscrupulous men who might take advantage of her.
“I thank you for the fair warning. I should not wish to lose any of my fingers during dinner.”
She held his gaze another moment as though attempting to see inside him and affirm her safety.
Even though her eyes were serious, they were big and luminous and beautiful.
Framed by long dark lashes, the brown of her eyes was warm and velvety, like a cup of cocoa made by Karltenberg’s finest chocolatier.
“Have no fear, Emberly.” He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
“You may count me as your newest brother for the week, and I shall regard you as a new sister.” Although he’d never had a sister, he had a sister-in-law and knew how to remain friendly with her. He would do the same with Emberly.
“Even so, Tyler will probably send people over to check on me periodically throughout the evening.”
“As he should.”
The stiffness seemed to ease from Emberly’s shoulders.
He was tempted once again to inform her he was a prince and had no need to force himself upon any woman, that he could have a dozen ladies with just a snap of his fingers.
In fact, he had a lovely duchess waiting for him to propose marriage—one who was willing to be with him in spite of the awkwardness they experienced with each other.
He swallowed the rising need to defend himself. He would let his character speak for itself.
One thing was certain: Emberly McQuaid was different from any other person he’d ever met. And he liked her that way.