Once Upon a King

“You were coming back?” she whispered.

“Of course. You were in my room, after all.”

Oh, no. He hadn’t left her. He hadn’t used her then discarded her. Her hand fell to her stomach. Her baby’s father wasn’t a scum-sucking Casanova.

Another thought occurred to her.

Her baby’s father was a prince.

Even worse, he was the heir to the Eliason throne.

Cara groaned as she realized that her baby was, in fact, royalty as well.

Oh, no, what had she done?

The blood rushed from her head and Cara did something she’d never done before. She fainted.

Two

There wasn’t much in life that scared Michael.

All right, he wasn’t overly fond of heights. But although he always avoided the window seats in planes, he dealt with the fear and never let on that he was bothered.

But at this moment, he didn’t know how to hide his fear, much less deal with it. Cara collapsed in his arms and it was a thousand times worse than any height he’d ever experienced.

He eased her down on the ground without releasing his hold on her.

“Call an ambulance,” he barked.

Marstel was on his mobile before he even finished the sentence.

Satisfied help was on the way, he focused all his attention on Cara. Her eyes fluttered and then opened.

He inhaled deeply and finally felt as if he could breathe again.

“Cara,” he whispered.

“What happened?” she said, trying to sit up.

“Stay still. You collapsed. Marstel is calling for an ambulance.”

“No. I don’t need an ambulance, I’m fine. It was just a long flight. I’m sure that’s all.”

“If your collapse was due to just a long flight, I suspect more of the people on the plane would have collapsed. But as far as I can tell, yours is the only body on the floor. You need to see a doctor.”

“I don’t,” she said, sitting up, even though he tried to keep her down. “Let go.”

“Cara, you’re seeing the doctor.”

She struggled to her feet, looked a bit unsteady for a moment, then stood firm and glared at him. “I won’t.”

Michael stood as well and faced her.

This Cara, spitting mad and glaring at him, didn’t quite match the mental image of the sweet woman who’d spent one passionate night in his arms. It was clear Michael had things to learn about Cara.

“You will see the doctor,” he said just as firmly. It was a tone he rarely used, but it had always produced the desired result, in the past.

Obviously, not this time.

Cara crossed her arms over her chest and said, “Listen, Your Highness, just because you’re a prince, doesn’t mean I’m going to play the loyal subject. I’m not seeing a doctor.”

She glanced past him and noticed Marstel, phone still in hand. “Call off the ambulance, I won’t get in it. They’d be wasting a trip, and it could endanger someone who really needs help.”

Marstel looked from Cara to Michael, who just shrugged. “Fine, call it off. I’ll have Dr. Stevens meet us at home.”

Cara shot him a small, brittle smile. “I hope you’re having him meet you for tea, because he’s not touching me.”

She whirled around and started down the hall toward baggage claim.

“Are you always so stubborn and argumentative?” Michael asked, easily matching her pace.

Her expression softened. “Believe it or not, no. I’m generally quiet and easygoing.”

“So, it’s only me who is blessed with seeing this side of you?” He shot her a grin.

She shrugged. “Guess so.”

She wore a small smile, though he could see her struggle against it.

It wasn’t much of a smile, just a brief upturn of her lips, but it was a start. A quick reminder of the woman he’d known.

“Lucky me,” he said in a teasing voice.

“Why are you following me?”

“I’m your ride home, remember?” he said. “You have decided to come home, right? I mean, you don’t want to let your friends down, do you?”

The smile was gone now along with his gentle cara mia. The real Cara Phillips was back and said, “I am going to the castle, but only because I love Parker and Shey. But I’m not going with you. I’ll take a taxi.”

“There you go, being argumentative again.”

“I wouldn’t have to be argumentative if you weren’t annoying.”

“And I wouldn’t seem nearly so annoying if you weren’t so stubborn and argumentative.”

“I guess we have a stalemate,” Cara said.

“So, why don’t you simply get in my car and let me take you home?”