Chapter 6
Helen rubbed a hand over her forehead. Dinner had been a challenge. Angela and Raj chatted easily away, eager to get to know each other. It was painful to watch father and daughter laugh together, while her precious daughter did not know she was chatting with her real father.
They were so alike it was almost scary. Their features were so similar. And Helen noticed they laughed at the same things, were mathematically brilliant, both eager to learn, and even their body language mirrored one another.
She didn’t like the idea of keeping these two away from each other. But who was this charming man who was talking so seriously with his daughter one moment, then making funny faces the next, making Angela giggle helplessly.
Helen’s experience with Raj was that he was a charming, but serious man. Yes, he’d teased her, but that had all been to get her into bed. He’d been a rich, powerful playboy with charm and intelligence. He’d been an intoxicating combination, and still was! Helen couldn’t stop her thoughts, and her body, from considering what it would be like to reach out and pull him in for a kiss.
Would he slap her hand away if she ran a finger along his jaw? Would his eyes cut her to the bone if she ran a hand over his strong, muscular chest?
Her body burned with desire that only intensified as she watched Raj interact with their daughter.
And Angela. How was Helen supposed to tell her that the man she was laughing with was actually her father? How did one say, “Hey, you know the man who cut up your chicken tonight? Well, he’s actually your daddy!”
That was a conversation that needed to be eased into, Helen supposed. Maybe, if the two had more time to get to know one another, the news would go over more smoothly. Maybe Angela would understand. Helen had always told her daughter that her father lived in a country far away. At the time, Helen hadn’t known exactly where that country was. And even now, she wasn’t exactly sure where Raj was from.
So, who was the real man? Who was the guy behind the charming mask?
Helen was surprised when Angela smothered a yawn. Glancing at the time, Helen was startled to see that it was well past her normal bedtime.
“We should go,” Helen announced, bracing herself for Angela’s protests.
She’d already started to stand up, prepared to gather her things and find Angela’s day care backpack. It was going to be a rush to organize everything for tomorrow morning.
However, Helen hadn’t been prepared for Raj’s immediate objection. “You’ll stay here tonight,” he stated firmly.
Angela’s fatigue lightened and she bounced slightly in her booster seat. “Can we, Momma? Can we?”
Helen wasn’t sure what to say. They had a nighttime routine that Helen followed religiously. Angela had a bath, then put on her pajamas, and then they snuggled in the big rocking chair in Angela’s room while reading stories. Sometimes Helen read the stories and other times Angela chose one that she could read. Helen wasn’t sure if her daughter was actually reading the words or if she had memorized the story. Either was possible.
But tonight’s schedule was completely shot. And it wouldn’t get any better if they were to stay here tonight.
“No, honey. We need to go–”
“Helen, may I speak with you?” Raj interrupted.
Helen hesitated, seeing Angela’s hopeful expression. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and Helen knew that was a bad sign for getting her to settle down for the night. Angela’s usual bedtime rituals eased her into a calm state that ended with a goodnight yawn and a kiss.
But Raj…he’d asked her for a moment. She couldn’t deny him.
“Sure,” she replied and stood up, smiling at him. She looked at Angela and touched the top of her head. “I’ll be right back.”
Helen walked to the other side of the room with Raj, wondering why he was being so secretive. Helen worked hard to have an open, honest relationship with her daughter.
“What?” she demanded, startled by the sharpness of her tone. But Helen couldn’t ignore the heat emanating from Raj’s muscular body, nor could she pretend that the scent of him didn’t cause memories to come rushing back.
Helen knew that she was acting like a coward. So much for openness and honesty, she silently admonished herself. If she were being completely honest, she’d admit that she wanted to step into his arms and beg Raj to tell her that everything would be okay. Right now, Helen was terrified about how she was going to find a new job, pay the mortgage on her condo, pay next month’s day care costs, not to mention provide food, electricity, heat, and so much more. She rubbed her forehead, trying to remind herself that she’d been saving money for a while now. She and Angela would be okay for a few months, at least. Long enough to get a decent job.
Unless Paul and Nathan spread the word that she’d failed on her first and only project. Movie directors were only as good as their last movie. Investment brokers were only as good as their last deal. Today could be viewed as nothing more than an abject failure, even though it hadn’t been her fault. Apparently, Paul and Nathan were liars! Liars and scam artists!
Darn it, she should have looked deeper into their firm before handing in her resignation at her previous employer! She should have been more careful with her and Angela’s future!
“You need to stay here tonight, Helen.”
His words yanked her out of her contemplation of her miserable future.
Helen blinked and shook her head. It took her a long moment to understand what he was saying. When his words finally broke through to her muddled brain, she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Angela needs to stay on her routine.”
Raj stuffed his hands into the pockets of his slacks, shaking his head slightly. “She’s going to have to get used to a different routine going forward.”
“But–”
He lifted one hand, stalling her protest. “I refuse to be banished to the outskirts of her life, Helen,” he told her firmly. “I want to get to know my daughter and be a part of her world. I can’t do that if she’s not with me.” He sighed and glanced at her, smiling when one of his guards told her something that made her wrinkle her nose. “There’s also a security issue. Angela is a royal princess.”
Helen heard that last word and blinked, not sure what he meant by it. “Huh?”
He glanced at Angela again, then back at Helen, obviously looking for the right words to help her understand. “I am a member of the royal family of Lativa.”
There was a long silence after that. Helen wasn’t sure how to respond. Royal? Princess? Her daughter was a princess?
Helen let out a near-hysterical laugh, shaking her head. “No, she’s a little girl!”
“She’s my daughter, Helen. I’m Prince Raj Al-Sintra. My brother is the ruler of Lativa. At her birth, Angela became a member of the royal family. She is Princess Angela.”
Helen’s jaw dropped. “You are not !” Another brilliant argument, she thought with the few cells in her brain that were still working. Then she remembered Nathan and Paul referring to him as “Your Highness”. Why hadn’t that occurred to her until now?
His eyes remained hard and unyielding. “She’s my daughter, correct?”
“Well, yes, but–”
“Then she is a member of the royal family. She is Princess Angela. I am acknowledging her paternity and, as such, she is my daughter and the title conveys to all of my…our…children.”
Helen couldn’t deal with the “all of our” part of that statement. It implied that they would be having more children. She just needed to get through tonight, and then she could figure out everything else. Tomorrow.
“Raj, she’s just a little girl.”
“Yes. A royal little girl.”
“But…!”