Chapter Fourteen #2
“Was that really them?” the young woman asked, breathless, staring out the window, and looking dangerously close to swooning. “I’m not being pranked, am I?”
Gabriela smiled. “It was really them.”
“I can’t believe it. I’m going to call my sister right this second.”
“I know this is going to be difficult, but if you could not say anything, we might be able to come back another time. Prince Enrique did notice how protective you were of the store’s clients.”
What Gabriela was weighing was, if Darla did say something, did call someone, how fast would word spread? Even with the island’s archaic cell phone system, it would be like a wildfire. How long would they have before the two princes were mobbed?
It felt as if, if there was an incident, it would be her fault for pooh-poohing royal security measures and protocols.
The girl stared at her, obviously thinking about the choice between basking in the glory of her brush with the island’s royal family and having them come back.
“Their visit will remain my secret,” she decided, raking her hair back off her forehead. Her hand was trembling.
How did Enrique live like this? How did it feel to be worshipped by complete strangers? By people who didn’t really know the first thing about you, but were completely bowled over by your status, by the station you’d been born to?
He’d handled it so well—out of long habit, no doubt—but didn’t he ever find it tiresome?
As Gabriela gathered up the packages, the girl said, “Could you tell those men I’m sorry? I practically accused them of being perverts. And the younger one was so handsome! Just standing there, letting me go on and on, not saying a word in his own defense.”
“I’ll tell them,” Gabriela said gently, and she was almost out the door when she stopped.
She looked back at Darla. A love of children. A degree in early childhood education. Protective. Loyal. Able to make good decisions under pressure. Able to offer an apology when she was wrong.
The star-struck factor could probably be overcome.
“The royal family has just had a nanny leave their employ,” she said. She went quickly back to the counter and asked for a piece of paper and a pen. She wrote down her name and the cottage phone number. “Give me a call if you think it would interest you.”
She had the fleeting thought that William and Darla would make the cutest couple. But then she was amused with herself. Who was she to be matchmaking? What about her own life would qualify her for that?
Gabriela went out the door to catch up with the two princes, who were sauntering down the street, enjoying the gift of their anonymity for a little while longer.
She passed on the apology to the security detail, as they returned to the car. A few minutes later, they pulled up at the house where Henri lived.
“I’ll go to the door with him,” Gabriela said. Newly aware of the security predicament she might have put them in, she said, “Stay in the car. Don’t take off the hat, or the sunglasses.”
“I’m a little scared,” Cello said, as they went up the steps to the house. He was clutching his gift to him as if it was a shield.
She realized this was a brand-new experience for him. She crouched down in front of him, and straightened his shirt, ran her hand through his curls.
He’d been in her care less than a week.
She loved him madly, already. She was not going to spoil the day by asking herself what that would mean when she had to leave him. Guido would tell her that was the wrong question.
“It’s just the boys you’ve been playing with in the garden. You are going to have so much fun!” she assured him.
And then the door opened, and she was relieved that it was Henri’s grandfather, Angelo, who was standing there. He would know to keep the visit in absolute confidence. Plus, Marcello knew him, of course, from the palace.
Angelo took in the situation in a glance, and mouthed to her, I’ll take care of him. Out loud, he said, “Welcome, Prince Cello.” And to her, “Come back around four.”
She turned back to the car, to find Enrique standing outside it, fanny leaning against the door.
“I told you to stay in the car,” she said to him.
He lifted an eyebrow at her, a reminder people did not tell him what to do.
Even in his disguise, he was unreasonably attractive, like a film star.
There was no way they could hang out here without someone noticing him.
He was that kind of man. He had the kind of sheer presence that would attract attention no matter where he went.
Gabriela realized how lucky they had been to escape the village square with only Darla figuring out who he was.
“It was too hot to stay in the car. I’m dying, Gabriela.”
“Unaccustomed to the discomforts of us commoners,” she said with an unsympathetic sniff.
“You could save me,” he said, with an easy smile, not rising to her attempt to bait him.
Oh, that smile! It drew her eyes right to the full, sensuous curve of Enrique’s lips.
For some ridiculous reason, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation came to mind. Her heart was starting to pound way too hard.
“How?” she squeaked.