Chapter 3
Summer twisted in the seat of her parked car to scan the street behind her again. The little guests would be arriving soon, and she should really be setting up inside. But TJ wasn’t there yet, and she couldn’t face going to the door and telling Mrs. Feldman that she didn’t have a prince after all.
Maybe she should have asked Benjamin. He at least wouldn’t have had to worry about getting a four-year-old going.
In the rearview mirror, she saw a car turn onto the street, and she turned again, trying to make out if it was TJ’s.
But no, it was too small and . . .
Her heart jumped ahead three beats as she recognized the tiny Gremlin.
Only one person she knew drove a car like that. But what was he doing way out here? The area was entirely residential, so there was no reason to be driving here unless . . .
Her heart skipped another half dozen beats as the car pulled up behind hers. There was no way . . .
She picked up her phone and dashed off a text to TJ. I thought you said you were coming.
No. The reply was nearly instant. I said I’d take care of it. You’re welcome.
Summer clicked the phone off and blew a breath at her suddenly way-too-hot face, her eyes flicking to the mirror to double-check that her makeup hid the puffy eyes and splotchy cheeks. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do. Anyway, it wasn’t like Benjamin had any reason to look that closely.
And it’s not like you’re here for him, she reminded herself.
A light knock on her window made her jump, and she hastily opened the door, nearly taking Benjamin’s legs out before he could jump backwards.
“Sorry,” she murmured, lifting the poofy blue dress so she could get out of the car, feeling suddenly self-conscious and ridiculous in the costume. Sweat trickled down her back, but she couldn’t have said if it was from the stifling heat or Benjamin’s nearness.
His eyes were fixed on her face, his mouth lifted into a wide smile. “I hear you’re looking for a Prince Charming.”
She shook her head, and Benjamin frowned. “Wrong prince?”
“No.” She shook her head harder, trying to get her thoughts straight. “You’re the right prince.” Benjamin’s grin widened, and Summer stumbled to rephrase. “I mean, Prince Charming is the right prince, but I thought TJ was coming.”
“Nope,” Benjamin said cheerfully. “You’re stuck with me. Now where’s my costume? I don’t want to look like a schlub standing next to this beautiful princess.”
Summer rolled her eyes, praying the rosy cheeks she’d painted on earlier hid the blush she felt rising to her face. She opened the back door and ducked inside, grateful for the momentary distance. But it only took a second to grab the Prince Charming costume. She stepped out and passed it to him. He held it up and gave a long, appreciative whistle. “Now this is what I’m talking about.”
Summer laughed—he had always had the ability to make her do that—and moved to the trunk to retrieve the large plastic tote of goodies she’d need for the party.
“Here, let me take that.” Somehow Benjamin was right there, his arms wrapping around the tote before Summer could process what was happening. His forearm brushed against hers, sending shockwaves all the way up her arm, but he seemed completely unphased.
Of course he was.
It wasn’t like he was here because he wanted to spend time with her. He was simply a nice guy doing his friend’s sister a favor.
“You weren’t at church this morning,” he said softly as they started up the driveway toward the large brick house.
She looked at him quickly, but his expression wasn’t accusing. Just concerned.
“I heard about Nick,” he added. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine.” She prepared to blink back fresh tears, but to her surprise, none came.
“For what it’s worth, you’re better off without him.”
“Yeah.” Summer sighed softly. She was better off without anyone. Being with someone meant wanting them to want you. And when you found out they didn’t—well, that was worse than being alone.
Benjamin gave her a look she couldn’t read and opened his mouth as if to say something more, but Summer cut him off. “You do know Prince Charming’s part in the story, right?”
“Of course.” Benjamin grinned, his eyes traveling her dress. “You’re Snow White, so—”
“Cinderella,” she corrected.
“That’s what I meant. Cinderella. She’s the one who’s locked in the tower, right? I don’t think that wig is long enough for me to climb up.”
Panic whooshed through Summer. She had a prince who didn’t even know the fairy tale he was supposed to be from. “Cinderella is the one with the fairy godmother and the pumpkin carriage and the glass—” She broke off as Benjamin chuckled, her hand swinging out to swat his arm before she could think better of it. “Be serious.”
“Who me?” Benjamin made a goofy face. “Never.”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the twitch of a smile that threatened to turn her lips.
“There.” Benjamin smiled back. “That’s better.”
Fortunately, the front door burst open, and a little girl with blonde curls, crutches, and a contagious smile stood in front of them. “I can’t believe you’re really here,” she squealed.
“You must be the birthday girl.” Summer automatically switched to her soprano Cinderella voice—much higher than her normal speaking voice—and curtsied to the girl, feeling slightly silly with Benjamin watching. But she had a job to do. “I’m Cinderella. And this is my—” She choked a little but forced herself to say it, vowing internally to kill her brother for instigating this. “My husband, Prince Charming.”
“M’lady.” Benjamin offered a stately bow over the tote he still carried.
“You don’t look like a prince.” The girl giggled.
“Oh, well—” Summer scrambled for an explanation.
“That’s because,” Benjamin cut in with a conspiratorial whisper, “I get messy easily, so Cinderella doesn’t let me wear my uniform until we get anywhere important. She can wear her dress all the time because she’s always neat and beautiful. But I’m—” He looked around as if about to divulge a state secret. “Kind of a slob.”
The girl’s giggles pealed through the large foyer.
“Does m’lady have a name?” Benjamin asked the girl.
She nodded. “I’m Lily.”
“Well, Lady Lily—”
The name elicited another giggle from the girl.
“If you’ll but tell me where to change,” Benjamin continued, “I shall adorn myself in more princely garb fit for the celebration of your birthday.”
Lily blinked at him wide-eyed, and Summer translated in her Cinderella soprano, “Prince Charming needs somewhere to change.”
“Oh.” Lily grinned. “The bathroom is down there.” She pointed down a long hallway.
Benjamin set the tote down and scooped his costume off the top, then bowed and disappeared in the direction Lily had indicated. “I shall return anon.”
“I like him,” Lily announced. “It must be fun to live with him in your castle.”
“I— Um— Yes,” was the only answer Summer could muster as she bent to pick up the tote Benjamin had carried in for her. “Now, where should I set up?”
Lily led her to a spacious room that was probably a library but could have easily passed for a fairy-tale ballroom. Twinkle lights crisscrossed the ceiling and pink balloons floated in large clusters throughout the room. A large table held gifts and a magnificent cake, while a couple more tables had been arranged with chairs around them.
“Great, you’re here.” A blonde woman with soft laugh lines around her eyes set a lollipop bouquet on one of the tables, then hurried toward Summer with her hand outstretched. “I’m Mrs. Feldman. And I know who you are.” Her smile was warm and pleasant as she looked from Summer to her daughter. “Lily insisted that she be the one to answer the door. Does everything in here look okay?”
“Oh yes. It’s . . . amazing.”
“Oh, thanks. I may have gone a little overboard, but . . .” Mrs. Feldman smoothed Lily’s hair. “You only get a birthday once a year.”
A flash of awe and longing rippled through Summer. The most Mama had ever done for her birthday was say she could have a friend over—an offer Summer had only taken her up on once. That was enough to learn that a drunk mother and a sleepover did not go well together.
“Prince Charming!” Lily’s delighted cry pulled Summer’s gaze past Mrs. Feldman. Benjamin was striding across the room, resplendent in red pants and an embroidered white tunic with gold epaulets and gold braid and even a gold belt. The costume should have made him look ridiculous. But, combined with his wide smile and twinkling eyes, it made him look like he belonged in a fairy tale.
“Lady Lily.” Benjamin held out a hand for a fist bump.
The little girl giggled. “Do princes do fist bumps?”
“Of course. But we have a special, royal fist bump. Shall I teach it to you?”
Lily nodded, eyes wide, and Mrs. Feldman sent Summer an approving look.
Benjamin and Lily giggled and made up new fist bumps as Summer got everything set up. Soon the guests started to filter in, and Summer recognized a couple of the girls who were in her dance class. But in her costume and wig, and with her Cinderella voice, they didn’t seem to recognize her.
As soon as Mrs. Feldman said everyone had arrived, Summer gathered the girls and introduced Benjamin, who gave a deep bow. Having him there made her more nervous than usual, but once the party got going, she found herself relaxing into her role. It helped that Benjamin played his part beautifully. He gamely let the girls paint his fingernails during manicure time, made a much-too-small foam crown for himself that dissolved the girls into giggles when he put it on, joined in her storytelling—supplying all the wrong details, which the girls loved correcting—and was pretty much the star of the show.
Summer didn’t mind. The girls were having a good time. And so was she. She barely had time to think about Nick, and when she did, it was with an odd sort of detachment, as if he were part of a different world. She could almost imagine she really was in a fairy tale, this home her castle, the little girls her sisters, and Benjamin her—
No. That was where the fairy tale had to end. She could not afford to think of Benjamin as her prince.
“I got you some cake.” Benjamin strode across the room, two plates of cake in his hands. He held the plate with one slice out to her. “Unless you want two?” He thrust the other one in her direction instead.
She laughed and shook her head. “One is plenty.”
He shrugged and handed her the first plate. “One might be plenty, but two is better.” He shoved a large, very un-prince-like bite into his mouth. “So what’s next?” He nodded toward the girls, who were eating their cake as Lily opened her gifts.
“Um . . .” Summer’s cake turned to sand in her mouth. This was the part she’d been dreading all day.
“What?” Benjamin raised an eyebrow at her. “Do I have to juggle swords or something?”
“Not exactly.” Summer swallowed. “We have to dance.”
Benjamin scrutinized her. “And that’s a problem because . . .”
Summer shook her head. He knew why it was a problem.
“It’s not a problem,” she murmured, just to get his eyes off of her.
Before he could say anything else, she gathered up the length of her skirt and whisked over to the girls, who had finished their cake and presents.
“Okay, everyone.” She clapped her hands together and used her most excited princess voice. “It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for.”
“The Royal Ball,” Lily squealed, her smile so large that Summer wished she had a camera to capture the moment for her website.
“That’s right.” She directed them all to take a seat, then made her way nervously back toward Benjamin, who had polished off his cake. He held out a hand, but she swept past him to start the music. The strains of “So This Is Love” filled the space, and Summer nearly groaned out loud. When she’d told Mrs. Feldman she could conclude with a Royal Ball, she hadn’t fathomed that she’d be dancing to this song with Benjamin, of all people.
When she turned back, his hand was still out, palm up. She took a breath and, not quite brave enough to look at him, set her hand in his.
“Do you know how to waltz?” she whispered as he led her to the middle of the floor.
“I guess we’ll find out.” His smile rang through his voice, but Summer still couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
In the middle of the floor, he stopped and spun her toward him, curling one arm decisively around her waist and shifting his other hand to lift hers between them. She barely had time to grasp her long dress in her free hand, and then he was stepping off in perfect time to the music.
Summer lifted her head in surprise, her gaze going from the sparkling blue of his eyes to the playful lift of his lips—which wore a fine coat of red frosting on one side. She let her dress fall to tap her own lip. “You have a little frosting on your . . .”
Benjamin grinned sheepishly, his tongue darting out to clear it away. “Did I get it?”
“No.” Without thinking, Summer lifted her hand to wipe it away, as if he were Max. An instant before her fingers made contact, she realized her mistake. Her hand hovered in the air between them for a moment, and she turned the movement into an awkward sort of point. “Right there.” She dropped her arm as Benjamin brought the back of his hand up to swipe at it.
“My Mama would be so embarrassed. Fortunately, I don’t embarrass easily. Which is why I can do this.” He cinched her closer, then dipped her backwards.
The sudden movement drew a small shriek from Summer, but the girls all cheered.
Benjamin’s firm arm held her like that for a moment, and then he pulled her upright, the taut muscles of his arm flexing against her back.
“Don’t do that again,” she gasped, struggling to get her breath back.
“Sorry.” Benjamin’s grin said he was anything but.
“Where did you learn how to waltz?” Summer asked to keep herself from focusing on his nearness.
Benjamin didn’t answer for a moment, then said quietly, “Would you laugh at me if I said my mama?”
Summer laughed but shook her head. “No.”
“You just did,” Benjamin pointed out, but he was grinning too.
“Only because I think it’s sweet.”
“I didn’t at the time.” He made a face. “But now I’m glad she did.” He snugged Summer a little closer to him.
A hint of citrus and fresh, sweet herbs drifted from him, and Summer had to remind herself not to rest her head on his shoulder.
“So have I done okay as a prince?” he asked.
She let her eyes meet his. She owed him big for how well the day had gone. “More than okay. You were a hit with all the girls.”
“All of them?” He raised an eyebrow.
Summer pretended not to catch his meaning. “I think little Dory was afraid of you at first, but she warmed up.”
“Yeah.” Benjamin kept his eyes on hers but didn’t say anything further.
“Kiss her,” a little girl’s voice called, startling Summer. She’d almost forgotten they weren’t alone.
“Kiss her,” another voice echoed.
Benjamin glanced over his shoulder toward the girls, and suddenly they were all chanting in time to the music, “Kiss her. Kiss her.”
Benjamin’s head swiveled back to Summer, his look questioning.
She shook her head. “That’s not part of the package.”
But Benjamin’s feet slowed and then stopped altogether. The hand on her waist tugged her closer, and he gazed down at her with an expression that made her heart jump from waltz to tango.
“Benj— Prince Charming,” she said weakly.
His smile gallant, he let go of her waist, took a step backwards, and swept her hand to his lips, brushing a light kiss over her knuckles.