Chapter Eighteen #2
Alara met his gaze and said, "I hate putting Faye out like this. I know it must have taken her by surprise, having to put together a tray for me. She never usually forgets anything."
He perched on the edge of the bed. "Want to know the truth?"
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
"That she never forgets anything. If there's no butter, it's because she wanted Zia to have to go back down for it."
"Aww. That's so sweet of her."
"Yeah. She might not be all warm and fuzzy, but she cares."
Alara reached for his hand. "I'm glad she wanted us to have a minute alone."
He leaned across and kissed her forehead. "Me too. But it doesn't have to be just a minute. I'm here for the day. I'll stay with you as long as you want me—or leave you in peace, if you want me to."
She stared at him for long enough that he started to think she wanted him to leave. Then she patted the space beside her. "Want to join me? I'd like to be able to lean on you while I try to eat some of this. And you can have most of the muffins. I can only manage one."
He didn't need to be told twice. He kicked his shoes off and sat next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. When she turned to smile up at him, he dropped a kiss on her lips.
He pulled back, startled, when Zia cried, "Prince Daddee!" from the doorway.
He gave Alara a worried look, but she just smiled as Zia ran across the room and climbed up onto the bed.
"You just kissed Mom!"
He swallowed. He should have been more careful. Should have talked to Alara about how she wanted to handle this. He shot her a quick look, but she didn't look worried. She was still smiling.
Zia crawled up onto his legs. "Was it a real kiss?"
He looked to Alara again, but she didn't help him out.
"What's a real kiss?" he asked.
"You know! A real kiss is when the prince finds the princess and he kisses her because he loves her."
He could feel himself starting to smile. This wouldn't be the worst way to finally confess his feelings.
"Ye—" he began, but Zia spoke over him.
"That's when the book ends, but the happily ever after begins. They kiss, they get married, and then they live happily ever after." He didn't think he'd ever seen her smile so big. "You're our happily ever after. Isn't he, Mom?"
Alara gave him an apologetic shrug. "That's only how it works in fairy tales, Z. Not in real life."
Seeing Zia's little face fall made the decision for him. He tightened his arm around Alara and winked at Zia as he said, "Sometimes it happens in real life too."
Alara's gaze snapped to his, and he shrugged. "It's true. It does. And I mean—if it's going to work out that way for anyone, you'd think it'd be for the guy who grew up in a castle, right?"
Zia nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! That's how it works. I knew you were a prince." She slid down off the bed. "I'm going to get more berries from Mrs. Faye. She said I should come back if you guys were busy."
Reaves let out a short laugh, and Alara gave him a rueful smile.
When she reached the door, Zia turned back. "It was a real kiss, wasn't it? You love Mom, don't you?"
He turned to face Alara as he said, "I do. I love you."
Her eyes grew wide. Zia shouted, "Yes!" and then scampered off downstairs.
He rested his forehead against Alara's and looked into her eyes. "That probably wasn't the most romantic way to tell you how I feel."
"I… Reaves, you don't have to say that just to make her happy."
His hand came up to cup her cheek. "No matter how much I love her—and I do—I'd never say those words unless I meant them. It's probably not fair to spring it on you like this, but…" He pressed his lips to hers. "Here we are."
"Here we are," she repeated. "And, Reaves? I…" She stopped and shook her head at herself. "I love you too. I tried very hard not to."
He chuckled. "But I proved irresistible?"
"You did."
"I'm glad."
"But what do we do with it?"
He held her gaze, knowing she had so many questions, and that they'd all need answering. But they'd all work themselves out. He kissed her again. "I vote that we roll with it. Does that work for you?"
She nodded slowly. "Yeah. I think that's the best we can do."
He sat back and pointed at the forgotten tray. "You should eat."
~ ~ ~
The sun was setting when Alara opened her eyes.
She lay there staring out through the window, trying to figure out what was going on.
She knew it was sunset rather than sunrise from the way the light fell on the vines—and because she couldn't remember seeing a sunrise since she arrived here. She always slept through it.
She struggled to sit up, and that was when it all came back.
It was Saturday. Saturday evening, by the look of it, and she must have spent the whole day in bed. She covered her face with her hand.
Reaves had been here, bringing her food, checking on her.
The last thing she remembered, he'd been sitting with her.
And that had been… wonderful. Peaceful. She didn't know how to describe it.
They'd chatted for a while, but she'd been too tired, and he'd told her to lie down if she wanted.
She'd been honest for once and told him that she didn't want to, because she didn't want him to leave.
And he'd just smiled that gorgeous smile of his and asked who'd said anything about him leaving.
He wasn't here now. But she wouldn't have expected him to stay for hours, and she must have been asleep for a couple of hours at least.
She pushed herself up, and even that small effort left her exhausted. She had to believe Dr. Ambrose was right, and that this would only last a day or two. She hadn't felt this bad in weeks. Maybe months. Definitely not since she'd arrived here at Charles's place.
She smiled. The castle.
She hugged her knees to her chest, hoping she hadn't just dreamed what happened earlier. But the way that warm feeling in her chest glowed when she remembered was proof enough.
Reaves had told her that he loved her.
She hugged her knees tighter. She loved him right back. She'd known that for a while now, but she hadn't thought she'd admit it to herself, let alone to him. She didn't know what it could mean. No matter what he'd said to Zia, she knew damn well that life was no fairy tale.
Although…
She made herself a promise there and then. If her life wanted to try to turn into a fairy tale at this point, she wasn't going to fight it. She'd always thought of herself as an optimist. It was just that life had spent a long time arguing with her.
She moved to the edge of the bed. She should get up. Move. Make herself look presentable.
Reaves had suggested this morning that she should just accept she was going to be resting today—put her pajamas back on and make the most of it.
He'd been right, of course, and she was glad she'd done as he suggested.
But now she wanted to get dressed. She ran her hand through her hair.
Her curls were like Zia's, unruly at the best of times.
She should see what she could do with it.
And probably put some makeup on. That thought made her smile.
Reaves had told her that he loved her when she looked her absolute worst. She shook her head. He must really mean it.
In the bathroom she had to sit on the edge of the tub again—but not before she'd seen her reflection in the mirror. She looked terrible.
"Knock knock." She could hear Reaves calling from the bedroom door.
"Come in. I'm in the bathroom."
"Are you okay in there?" His voice was louder now. Closer.
"I am. I wanted to freshen up. I'll be out in a minute."
She got to her feet and stared at the mirror again, faced with the choice of trying to make herself look presentable, or going out there and just being who she was. She chose the latter. And almost second-guessed that decision when she opened the bathroom door and saw the look on his face.
"Hey. Are you okay? Sorry I left you. You were sleeping so soundly." He wrapped one arm around her, hooked the other behind her legs, and picked her up.
She let out a surprised little laugh. "Do you think you're taking this prince business a little too seriously now?"