Don’t Get Snowed in with the Prince (Rules of Small Town Love #1)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

T his isn’t going to be good. Gabe took a deep breath before slowing walking up the gilded staircase to his father’s chambers. He stood in front of the solid oak door and took a deep breath before nodding to his valet to open the door. Upon entering the room, all the men stood. With one swift move, they all bowed. Gabe nodded for them to stand, then he bowed to his father, who stood tall and straight, as if he were still in the army he so loved.

King Phillip nodded at Gabe, giving him the unspoken signal to relax while in the king’s company. “Nice for you to join us, Gabriel.”

Gabe grinned. “I’m sorry, sir. Had a busy morning.” He didn’t mention he’d stayed out until after four with his buddies drinking and dancing at a dive out in the city.

Phillip pursed his lips. “I’m sure you did.” He waved his hands, dismissing the staff constantly swarming around him. Once the room cleared, he led Gabe over to the fireplace, where the coals smoldered. Gabe poured himself a cup of steaming coffee from the coffee pot sitting next to the overstuffed chairs in front of the fireplace. “Sit down.” He motioned to the chairs. “I have something very important to talk to you about, so I’m just going to cut to the chase.” Phillip ran a hand over his brow. “I’m tired. And your mother... well, your mother wants to spend more time with me. Alone. Less scrutiny, less publicity.” He studied his oldest son. “I guess what I’m trying to say is, I’m ready to turn the reins over to you.”

Gabe started to swallow his coffee when it came rushing back up his throat, burning his nose. “Turn it over to me? Are you crazy?” He placed the cup down. “Father, you’re young! I thought...” I thought I’d have another thirty years to think about this . The Rafferty men had good genes. Gabe easily saw his father living well into his nineties. At sixty-four, Phillip was in great shape, partially thanks to his loving wife, Queen Gwendolyn. At sixty, Gabe’s mother was the epitome of grace and style. She made sure they both ate well, exercised daily, and took time away to rest.

Phillip’s face tightened. “You thought you'd have many more years to play around? Look, Gabriel, your mother and I want to have some time away from the spotlight. We’ll never be completely off the radar, but when you and your wife take over, it will be more on you, not us.”

Gabe coudn’t think. He tried taking a deep breath. "Wife? Last time I checked, I don’t have a wife. I don’t even have a girlfriend." How can I find a wife when all women ever want from me is a crown and a title? Gabe ran a hand through his hair, trying to get his thoughts together. As the eldest son of King Phillip and Queen Gwendolyn of Delnovia, he knew this day would come. He just thought it would be way down the line once he was old and gray and could care less either way. “What about Christian or Violet? Let’s be honest. We all know Violet would be the best to take over.”

Phillip chuckled. “You may have a point there.” His face turned serious again. “I can’t control your sister’s birth order. And your brother is more concerned about his training in the military than being king.” Phillip glared at Gabe. “As he should be, since his older brother is the rightful heir.”

Gabe studied his shoes as if they were the most interesting thing he’d ever seen. “I’m just not ready, Father.”

"You may not be ready, but I am. In six months, I’ll step down as King of Delnovia and turn the throne over to you.”

Panic filled his chest. "Six months? Absolutely not. There's no way that my life will be over in six months."

Phillip sighed. “It won’t be over. Just different.”

Gabe stared at his father. Of all people, he should understand. “I’ll lose everything. My freedom, my privacy... what little I have now anyway.”

Phillip’s face reddened. “You make it sound like you are going to prison, not ascending to the throne of one of the most flourishing countries in all of Europe.”

Gabe racked his brain, trying to come up with something. Anything. “Let’s just think on this, Father. Maybe talk it over with Mother...”

Phillip slammed his hand against the small end table. “There is nothing to talk about! The decision has been made.” He stood up, glaring at Gabe. “You’ve been preparing for this role your whole life. Now, it’s time to take your rightful place. One day, you will thank me.”

“Six months?” Gabe thought of all the things he’d planned for the year. That trip to Ireland with his favorite cousin, Daniel. Skiing in Switzerland. Holiday in Maui. Can I still do those things when I’m king? He knew his father only took two holidays a year, both of which were scheduled long in advance. “How about a year?”

“Why?” Phillip stared at him, his dark eyes flashing. “What difference would it make?” He placed a hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “Son, take this with love, but you have been spinning your wheels ever since university.”

Gabe felt his heart racing. “Spinning my wheels? Let’s see, Father. I served in our military for four years, then worked with the Commonwealth office ever since. I don’t consider that spinning my wheels.”

“You’ve done those things because we have expected them of you. Not because it was your calling or what you wanted.”

“My calling?” Gabe threw his hands in the air. “How can I even think about my calling when I’m destined to be king?”

Phillip stood and paced in front of the fireplace. He looked at Gabe. “Don’t you see? That’s why your mother and I encouraged you and your siblings to have this time for yourselves. Learn who you are. Find your place in the world, before you have to deal with this.” He smiled. “I’ve loved every minute of being king. I have. I love the power. I love the pomp. I love having my own theme song when I enter a room.” He paused. “But I also loved backpacking across Europe as a nobody the year after college. I loved going to eat in little dives with your mother when we visited New York the year after we married.” He placed his hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “Your mother and I want to make the most of our golden years.”

“Golden years?” Gabe frowned. “Father, you act as if you might go into the grave next week or something.”

Phillip laughed. “Let’s hope not. I’m getting older. It’s a fact. Your mother and I want to have less responsibility and more freedom. You understand that, right?”

Gabe nodded. I understand I’ll be the one losing my freedom, so you can gain yours. “Well, if you’ll only give me six months, then give me six months as a nobody. Somewhere no one knows my name or my title. Where I can be myself and maybe learn what my calling is. Find some hobby I can enjoy when I become king.” Gabe laughed dryly. “Like you and your painting. I sometimes think your long weekends in the country painting are what has kept Delnovia from going to war all these years.”

Phillip grinned, looking more relaxed at the mere mention of his country getaway. “I believe there may be some truth in that statement.” The seconds dragged on as Phillip stared at him, and Gabe knew he was considering his request. “Well, I think that’s reasonable. We can just say you are taking a sabbatical from the Commonwealth office and keep it under wraps that I will step down. No one will be the wiser.”

Gabe let out the breath he didn’t even realize he was holding. A wave of relief washed over him. “Thank you.” He hugged his father. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

Phillip tried to suppress a smile. He pulled back from Gabe’s embrace. “Well, it’s not like I gave you the keys to the kingdom.”

Gabe smirked. “Isn’t that the issue at hand?”

Phillip rolled his eyes. “So, where will you go on this undercover mission of yours?”

“I don’t know. I’ll do some research.” Images of thatched cottages in Ireland, sunny beaches in Fiji, and rolling hills in Montana filled his mind. Maybe I would enjoy being a cowboy. Or a beach bum.

“Well, let Fairfax know, and he will make all the arrangements.” Fairfax was Phillip’s right-hand man and could be trusted with anything.

“I will.” Gabe’s mind raced with the possibilities. This will be fun. He bowed slightly. “May I be dismissed?”

Phillip waved his hand. Gabe started to leave, then Phillip cleared his throat. “Gabe, wait.” Gabe turned to look at his father. “Be discreet. No tabloids, no drama.”

“Yes, sir.” He flung open the door and retreated before his father could change his mind. Now, if only Gabe could figure out what he was going to do with himself for the next six months.

A few hours later, Gabe paced up and down the corridor before finally giving in and entering the private-residence drawing room where his mother was sitting quietly reading a book. Gwendolyn looked up when he opened the door and smiled at him warmly. “Gabriel, what a pleasant surprise.” She placed her book down on the velvet sofa. “What brings you around for a visit tonight?”

Gabe looked away from his mother’s kind face. “Did Father tell you about our deal?”

She nodded. “He did.” She patted the spot on the sofa beside her. “Come, have a seat.” Gabe dutifully walked to the sofa and sat down beside her. He got a whiff of the amber and bergamot notes in her perfume. Gwendolyn was dressed, even while lounging around reading a book. She fixed her deep brown eyes on him. “How do you feel about this arrangement?”

Excited, hopeful, scared. Gabe sighed. “Well, I guess six months of freedom is better than nothing.” He shrugged. “I just don’t feel ready to be king, Mum.” I don’t know if I will ever feel ready.

Gwendolyn smoothed a lock of hair back from his forehead. “Gabriel, you were born ready for this job. We’ve been grooming you for it your entire life.”

Gabe stood up and paced around the room. “That’s the thing, though. My entire life has been about becoming king. When it will happen, how I will rule, who will rule with me. All anyone sees me as is the man who will one day be king.” I don’t know who I am if I’m not the guy who will be king.

Gwendolyn nodded. She waited for him to stop pacing and sit back down beside her. “Well, to some extent, that is who you are. You are the man who will be king.” She paused, looking deep into his eyes. “But you are so much more than that.” She reached over to squeeze his hand. “You are a hard worker, responsible, knowledgeable... ” She grinned. “Of course, you like to party a little bit with your mates now and then, but you know what is expected of you.”

Gabe clenched his jaw. Do I ever. “Give up my life to rule and find a woman who will make a nice queen and give me an heir. Yeah, I got it.”

Gwendolyn laughed. “Don’t be so dramatic. You aren’t giving up your life to rule. Your life is just becoming more in the public view.” She pursed her lips. “And as far as finding a wife... well, it’s time, don’t you think?”

Gabe rolled his eyes. “You know how most of the women are who run in our circle. They want a title. Or an even bigger title than the one they already have. They couldn’t care less about me.” What he didn’t tell his mother was that it was easier to have a quiet fling or two than to date someone. If there were no strings attached, then they couldn’t use him for power or position. He sighed. “I want what you and Father have. The real deal. I don’t want to marry just for the sake of having a queen.”

“And I wouldn’t want you to.” She paused. “But, you have to be open to the possibility of love, Gabriel. You can’t see every woman as someone who only wants you for a title. We expect you to marry, but your father and I want you to marry for love, not power.” She grinned. “Although King Ferdinand keeps insisting that you come to dinner to get to know his youngest daughter better.”

Gabe glared at his mother. That would be a disaster . “I’ve met Princess Luisa. She’s more interested in social media and how many times she can end up in the tabloids each week than she is in running a country and being an upstanding queen.” His stomach lurched at the idea of dating, much less marrying, a woman like that.

Gwendolyn placed her arm around his shoulders. “See, that shows me you are ready to rule. You know what is important in life.” She grinned. “I can’t wait until the right woman bowls you over. You won’t know what to do with yourself.”

Gabe smirked. Fat chance. “Good thing getting bowled over isn’t anywhere on my radar. And when I’m thousands of miles away living as a regular guy, I really won’t have to worry about women.” Just living a regular guy life. Maybe do some fishing or woodworking. Or getting a tan at the beach.

Gwendolyn gave him a knowing look. “You know what they say, dear. Love often finds you when you least expect it.”