Behind Palace Doors (7 page)

“I’ll be right there,” he said before disconnecting the call.

Stefan came to his feet, put his hands on his hips and looked down at Victoria. “Police arrived. I’m going to go talk with them.”

Still staring into his eyes, as if searching for answers about what had just happened, Victoria nodded and remained silent.

What
had
just happened? He didn’t even know himself, but it was far too much. Besides, he couldn’t focus on that right now.

“I can send someone to pick up our picnic later,” he told her. “Are you staying here or coming back with me?”

“I think I’ll stay here.”

He studied her, trying to read if she was uncomfortable or just confused like he was. Was she feeling something beyond their friendship and sexual desire?

“Then I’ll send someone down to make sure you’re all right by yourself.”

Victoria smiled. “I don’t need a sitter, Stefan. I’ll be fine. Go on and talk to the police. But you have the man’s memory card, so don’t be in a rush to press charges.”

That was his Victoria. Always wanting the good in life to override the bad. She was a special woman and for now she was not just his best friend, she was his wife. He refused to delve deeper than that.

* * *

Victoria slid into her red silk nightgown and smoothed her hair back over her shoulder. The phone calls Stefan had been receiving shouldn’t still be in the forefront of her mind, but they were, and she hated the fact she let the jealousy settle there for so long.

Stefan wasn’t Alex. Stefan was the most loyal friend she’d ever had and no way would she compare the two men because Alex didn’t even deserve the time of her thoughts.

What did deserve her thoughts were those blasted designs. Something just wasn’t clicking. She’d never encountered this before, where all of the drawings weren’t up to her own standards of perfection. Granted, they may be okay for some designers, but Victoria prided herself on flawless, shockingly stunning designs before she let anyone see them, and she wasn’t going to change her ways with this new bridal collection.

She wanted her team back in L.A. to gasp with awe when they saw what she’d come up with. Unfortunately, if she took these current drawings to the table, her associates would only gasp in fright.

On the bright side, her random drawings of various forms of the Alexander family crest were quite impressive, if she did say so herself. Too bad that wasn’t her main focus.

Soon-to-be brides around the world were waiting with high expectations to see what Victoria Alexander, Princess and almost Queen of Galini Isle, would come up with for the launching of her new line.

Maybe if she added a touch more lace. Lace said romance, but too much could scream tacky. Perhaps longer trains like so many girls dreamed of. Grown women still kept that little girl fairy tale in their mind. Their wedding day was supposed to be magical, and it all started with the dress because it set the tone.

Warm, strong hands cupped her shoulders and Victoria jumped.

“Easy.”

She turned in Stefan’s arms and smiled. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

His eyes dipped down to the V in her nightgown and a wicked grin spread across his lips. “Why cover up? Inside this room there should be a no-clothes rule.”

Victoria rolled her eyes. “I barely get them on before you take them off.”

“Exactly,” he agreed, squeezing her almost-bare shoulders. “It’s a waste of time. So tell me what had your mind so preoccupied?”

Reaching up, Victoria grabbed his forearms and held on. Sometimes it was just nice to have his strength, his shoulder to lean on. He never judged her and always listened with the compassion that only a best friend could.

“I’ve just hit a rough spot with the designs.” Fear gripped her at the thought of being stuck in a rut, at the idea that she may be tapped out at the moment in her career she needed her creativity most. “This has never happened.”

“You’re stressing yourself,” Stefan told her. “Take another day off to think about it. For that matter, take the rest of our time here off. Maybe once we get back to L.A., when you’re in your element, the ideas will flow.”

She hoped, but she couldn’t count on what-ifs to get her through her career. Idly sitting by while waiting for something spectacular to jump in her mind wasn’t how she worked. But taking a few days off couldn’t hurt. It’s not like the designs could get worse.

Offering a smile, she nodded. “You’re right. I probably just need to get home.”

Stefan slid her straps down her arms, the feather-soft touch of his fingertips she’d so quickly grown used to sending shivers all over her body. And her body never failed to respond to him since they’d first made love in the theater.

Made love? Yes, she felt confident using that phrase—though she doubted Stefan would be. She loved him as her best friend, and the special relationship they had was unique. Granted this marriage may not be like many others, but at least they had a strong bond that was lacking in so many other couples.

“Now, since we have through the end of the week to enjoy this honeymoon phase,” Stefan said, backing her toward the four-poster bed, “what do you say we continue making use of this alone time?”

And who could argue with a sexy Greek prince?

Seven

S
tefan knew he wouldn’t get out of Galini Isle without his entourage following him. While he was used to the guards being underfoot, now that he was king—or very soon to be—they took the role even more seriously.

Victoria didn’t seem to mind the extras at her impressive Hollywood Hills home. Then again, her mind hadn’t been on much else other than her designs. She’d drawn on the flight, she’d stayed up all hours of the night back in Greece, and she was still struggling.

Stefan hated to see her being so hard on herself. They’d been back in L.A. for only a few hours and she was already downtown at her office speaking with some of her staff.

The woman was a workaholic, but he admired her more than nearly anyone he knew. He also had a little surprise for her, hopefully to help get her creativity flowing in the direction she needed.

“Sir.”

Stefan turned from the view of the city and faced the open living area to see his assistant, Hector, standing in the arched doorway.

“Yes?”

The man, who had been assistant to his father before his death, stepped forward.

“If you have a moment, Sir, we need to go over your schedule of events while we are in the States.”

Stefan nodded. “Has something changed, Hector? I know Victoria and I are scheduled for the homeless shelter and a library appearance to help with funding.”

“Yes, sir, but Her Highness’s alma mater called and wanted to know if you both could put in an appearance. They were hoping to have a special dinner to honor the two of you. It won’t be for a couple of weeks if you agree, because we’d need time to set up security.”

Stefan sighed. “Let me ask her, but I don’t think it will be a problem,” he told Hector. “I can let you know by this evening. I don’t want to disrupt her while she’s at work.”

Hector bowed. “Of course, sir. I will check for a spot on the schedule that will accommodate both of you should she agree.”

When Hector quieted but remained standing and staring, Stefan smiled. “Is there something else?”

Hector’s lips barely lifted into a grin, but he merely nodded. “You know I don’t like to put my nose into anyone’s business, but—”

Stefan chuckled. “It’s your job to do so, yet you apologize for it every time you interfere. There’s always a valid reason, so let’s hear what it is.”

Stefan gestured to the wraparound sofa and took a seat. “Something is on your mind because you’ve waited until Victoria left to come to me.”

The elderly man sat, not fully relaxing because he remained on the edge of the cushions. “With Victoria gone, perhaps this would be a perfect time to call one of her brothers.”

Stefan shrugged. “I will. But, I’d like to see them in person. They don’t normally do documentaries, so I need to present all the facts before they can make a decision.”

“Have you told Victoria about your idea yet?” Hector asked.

Shaking his head, Stefan replied, “No. She’s so busy with work, and this really doesn’t involve her.”

Hector came to his feet. “Everything in your life now involves her. I wouldn’t keep this to yourself too much longer, Your Majesty.”

As was custom, Hector bowed before leaving the room.

His loyal assistant was under the illusion the marriage with Victoria was genuine, so of course he thought this idea involved her. Stefan would tell Victoria if her brothers agreed to the film. But right now she was busy and she’d already done so much by taking on this marriage and title. He wasn’t going to pile more on her plate. He had to speak to Bronson and Anthony first, and he didn’t want Victoria to feel as if she were obligated to help or caught in the middle.

Would they even go for something like this? Stefan didn’t know Anthony very well, but he knew Bronson well enough to ask if he would entertain the idea.

A documentary with the Dane and Price names behind it would no doubt kill any suspicion that the film wasn’t thoroughly researched and executed. That reputation of the filmmakers would certainly carry a lot of clout in clearing up the speculation of his father’s involvement in his mother’s untimely death.

Just because his father had admitted an extramarital affair, that didn’t mean he’d planned an accident to remove his own wife from the picture so he could be with his mistress. Nor did it mean his mother had taken her own life. The curvy roads were slick, the brakes needed changing—a fact that had come out later from the police report—and his mother had insisted on not using a driver that day. The series of events led up to a tragedy, but Stefan refused to blame his father.

Oh, he’d blamed him at the time. Yelled and cursed at him for not loving his mother enough and for going around having an affair, but once Stefan saw the grief, the anguish that his father had gone through, even up to his own death, Stefan realized that his father was only human. His father may have strayed from the marriage once, but the man had been completely in love with his wife.

Stefan came to his feet again and moved to the floor-to-ceiling window, where he admired a view of the city in the distance. Somewhere in the crazy overpopulated town was his wife, his best friend. He wanted her opinion, but she had so much on her plate already and he hated to bother her with his own issues. Wasn’t she already going above and beyond by helping him secure the crown and keep his country independent? He didn’t want to make her feel like she needed to step in and persuade her brothers to agree to the film. Besides, as of this point, taking the blemish off his father’s reputation didn’t concern her.

Right now he wanted her to concentrate on her designs, on letting her creativity flow and her natural spirit shine through. She’d already done enough for him, and he wasn’t going to ask for another favor for a really long time...unless he asked her to don a certain type of lingerie, and that didn’t count as a favor when the enjoyment was mutual.

Raking a hand through his hair, Stefan recalled that Victoria’s mother was planning a dinner party tomorrow. If the right time presented itself, he’d approach Bronson, but this wasn’t something he’d announce at the table. He really did want to keep this quiet until he knew for sure this was a project Bronson and Anthony were willing to take on.

As the next king of Galini Isle, Stefan felt it was not only his duty as the son of a man wrongfully accused, but he also knew telling the truth was the right thing to do to keep his family’s name and honor one of integrity.

And he hoped like hell that intruder on his property had taken the threat seriously, otherwise he’d have a whole new mess on his hands. He already had enough to deal with without worrying if his country was secure. So far this marriage was getting him closer and closer to his title. He couldn’t lose it now.

As he glanced around the spacious, brightly decorated living room, he couldn’t help but wonder what would happen at the end of the six-month period. Would Victoria stay with him? He had to admit, being married to his best friend was much better than he ever would’ve dreamed. And once they put in a few royal appearances now that their honeymoon phase was over and they were in L.A., Tori would get an even better sampling of what being royalty truly meant. Perhaps she wouldn’t like all the hype and responsibilities.

He moved to a built-in bookcase and gazed over the snapshots of Victoria with her family and friends through the years. There were even a couple shots of the two of them together. In one they were laughing, Victoria’s hand on his chest. The captured scene ran through his mind and he recalled that day so vividly. He’d come to visit her—it was actually one of the times he’d been about to tell her he wanted to explore a physical relationship. They’d been at a restaurant opening for a mega-movie star who had started a chain, and the media was swarming, waiting to get pictures of all the rich and famous.

He’d pulled her aside and asked her if they could skip the event. When she’d told him it was rude, he told her he’d rather be having a root canal without painkiller and she’d started laughing. Someone in the press had snapped the picture, and it had ended up in several media outlets with speculation that the two of them were more than friends.

But now fate had handed him this opportunity, and he didn’t intend to screw it up. While he may not have married Victoria for love, he did respect her, and she was a perfect match for him. After all, she’d grown up in the spotlight as well, and they knew going in that their privacy was limited.

Besides, Victoria had her own life goals and issues to keep her occupied. Which was why he’d keep this documentary idea to himself until he found out if anything more would come of it.

He hoped the opportunity would arise tomorrow night to discuss possibilities with Bronson so he could finally bury his parents in his heart with the respect they both deserved.

* * *

Frustrated didn’t even come close to describing the emotions swirling inside her.

Victoria let herself into her Hollywood Hills home and smiled at Stefan’s permanent bodyguard/assistant positioned by the door. That would take some getting used to, but she was technically on her way to being a queen, so just one more thing she’d have to deal with...eventually. Right now she’d put it on the back burner because she didn’t have the time or the energy to even think about her royal crown or any of the duties expected of her.

Her wedding gown designs were improving but still not to the point where she was ready to start whipping out her needle and thread.

Her team had bounced around ideas all day, and by the time four o’clock rolled around, Victoria was ready to strangle herself with a bolt of satin.

She bypassed the living area and headed straight up the wide, curved marble staircase that led to the second-story bedrooms. She assumed Stefan was around somewhere because his guard was at his post.

When she went into her walk-in closet, she slid off her Ferragamo pumps and sank her toes into the plush carpet. After unzipping her sheath dress, she folded it onto the shelf, where she had a pile that needed to go to the cleaners. Obviously something she’d forgotten to have done before her whirlwind proposal, marriage and step up the royal ladder.

Did royalty even worry about such mundane things as dry cleaning? Of course, people may think a member of the prestigious Dane family didn’t, either.

Bracing her hands on the shoe island in her closet, Victoria bowed her head and sighed. She’d never felt out of control, never felt so overwhelmed that she wanted to burst into tears, but she was definitely there now.

How had her life become so out of control? How had all of her decisions, goals and dreams slipped away and turned into something else she didn’t even recognize? She’d never had a problem designing before. But now that she was married and struggling with her rapidly growing emotions, she just couldn’t concentrate.

Between work and Stefan, she was a mess of jumbled-up nerves.

Tears pricked her eyes, her throat burned and she shook her head. No. Tears solved nothing and feeling sorry for herself wouldn’t help put life back on track where she was comfortable.

“Well, this is nice to see.” Stefan entered the closet, eyes roaming over her matching lace bra and panty set she was left standing in. But when his gaze landed back on her face, all joking and sexual looks vanished. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

He closed the gap between them, taking her in his arms and holding her against his chest. And wasn’t that just like him? Always ready to comfort, always ready to rescue the distressed damsel?

Victoria sniffed. “I’m just being overly dramatic today. Chalk it up to being female.”

“Well, honey, you’ve been female the whole time I’ve known you, and it takes a lot to bring a strong woman like you to tears.” He eased back, swiped at her damp cheeks and stared into her eyes with the compassion she’d always known from him. “Want to talk about it? Is it work?”

She had to be honest. He was her husband, after all, so they should share everything. And in some ways he knew her better than she knew herself, so he would most likely know if she was holding something back.

“I think everything just hit me,” she told him. “Work, marriage. It’s all moving so fast, I don’t feel like I’m in control anymore.”

He kissed her forehead. “You’re in control, Tori. You just always put this pressure on yourself to excel and be the best, which is great, but sometimes you need to give yourself a break.”

She studied his face, that handsome face that so many women dreamed about, and smiled. “Is that what you would do? Take a break?”

He shrugged. “Probably not, but I don’t like to see you upset.”

“You don’t get upset?”

“Upset? No. I do get angry, which fuels me to work harder.”

Her smile spread wider and she tilted her head.

“I get it,” he said, laughing. “Those were angry tears?”

“Frustrated tears,” she corrected. “But at this point, same thing.”

He leaned forward, kissed her gently and stepped back. “Why don’t you throw on some clothes and meet me downstairs.”

Comfortable with her body, Victoria placed her hands on her hips. “Now I know the honeymoon’s over.” She laughed. “I’m standing here nearly naked and you’re telling me to throw on clothes.”

Heat instantly filled his eyes as he raked his gaze over her. “Oh, believe me, I’m having a very hard time being noble here, but sex isn’t what you need right now. Just get dressed and come downstairs. Or wear that, but my guard will see more of you than I’m willing to share.”

Stefan turned and left, leaving her staring after him.

Some married women didn’t have a tenth of the connection she had with Stefan. And even though they married under less than traditional circumstances, she knew she had a good thing going...if she could just keep her emotions in check.

She threw on a pair of white shorts and a flowy green top. After sliding into a pair of gold sandals, she made her way downstairs. She didn’t see the guard by the door, but she knew he wasn’t far. Thankfully he did try to stay out of sight and give them privacy.

Victoria saw Stefan through the patio doors. She crossed the living room and walked out the open set of French doors to the warmth of the evening SoCal sunshine.