felt as if he’d placed her in that category, along with his biological mother. “Look, Adan, I don’t agree with Elena concealing the truth for such a lengthy period of time, but on some level I did understand why she was afraid to reveal it. Seeing your reaction only validated her fears.”
He paced back and forth like a caged animal before pausing before her. “How would you wish me to react, Piper? Should I be celebrating the lies I’ve been told my entire life? Or the fact that you knew the truth and concealed it?”
“Believe me, keeping it from you wasn’t easy.” A colossal understatement. “But it wasn’t my place to tell you, although I would have before I left if Elena hadn’t.”
He narrowed his eyes into a hard glare. “It wasn’t your place to go on a bloody fact-finding mission, either.”
No matter how hard she tried to see it from his point of view, his condemnation hurt like the devil. Time to fight fire with fire. “Sometimes it’s necessary to set a lie into motion to protect those you love, just like you’re protecting Samuel by lying about our marriage.”
“You are absolutely correct,” he said, taking her by surprise. “And I plan to put an end to that fabrication immediately. Now that Talia has relinquished her rights, you have no cause to remain here any longer. I will make the arrangements for you to fly home as soon as possible.”
As she came to her feet, she seriously wanted to cry, maybe even beg, but instead called on fury to give her strength. “So that’s it, huh? I’ve served my purpose and now you’re going to toss me out into the street like refuse?”
“I am not tossing you out,” he said. “I am giving you back your freedom.”
And he was going to hold her emotionally captive for a very long time. But deep down, hadn’t she known all along this would happen? And she’d been an unequivocal fool to believe otherwise. “Shame on me for believing I meant more to you than just a quick fix to save your sterling reputation. And shame on you for leading me to believe you were honorable.”
She could tell by the harsh look on his face she’d delivered a knockout blow. “I would be less than honorable if I kept you here any longer when we both know that I will never be able to give you what you need.”
Battling the threatening tears, Piper snatched up the book and clutched it to her heart. “You’re right, Your Highness. I need a man who can let down his guard and take a chance on love, even though I’ve recently discovered love is a risky business. But just remember, there’s a little boy who’s going to need all the love you can give him, since, like his father, he’s never going to know his mother. Don’t fail him because you’re too afraid to feel.”
Without giving him a chance to respond, Piper stormed down the hall to the make-believe lovers’ hideaway, slammed the door behind her and started the process of packing. Only then did she let the tears fall at will and continued to cry until she was all cried out, though she inherently knew she was only temporarily done with the blubbering.
Not long after Piper finished filling the last of the suitcases, a series of knocks signaled a guest had come calling, the last thing she needed. Unless... On the way to answer the summons, she couldn’t help hoping Adan had somehow come to his senses and decided to ask for a second chance. That he would appear on the threshold on bended knee with his heart in his hands and a declaration of love flowing from his gorgeous mouth. As if that fairy-tale scenario was going to happen. Most likely she’d find Abdul standing in the hall with his head slightly bowed, a live-to-serve look on his face while he declared his unwavering need to carry her luggage.
She discovered she’d been wrong on both counts when she opened the door to the ever-smiling Kira. “I’m so sorry to bother you, Your—” She sent a quick glance over her shoulder. “...Piper, but the art shop didn’t have any canvases available and they only had colored chalk. They did offer to order the supplies for you.”
She’d forgotten all about the painting she’d planned to give Adan. “That’s okay. I won’t be needing those supplies now.” Or ever.
Kira appeared sorely disappointed. “But you seemed so excited over surprising your husband.”
He’s not my husband, she wanted to say, but opted for a partial truth. “I probably shouldn’t mention this, but you’ll know soon enough. The marriage isn’t working out, so I’m returning home this afternoon.”
Kira hid a gasp behind her hand. “I am so sorry, Piper. I was so certain seeing you and Adan together today that you were completely in love.”
“Love isn’t always enough, Kira,” she said without thought.
“I know that all too well, Piper.”
She sensed her newfound friend did, at that. “Oh, well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say. And I’m going to miss having the opportunity to get to know you.”
“Surely I’ll see you when you bring the baby to visit his father.”
If only that were the case. Leaving Sam would be equally as difficult as leaving his father behind, never knowing what might have been. “Adan is going to have full custody. I travel a lot with my job and we both think it’s important Sam grows up in his homeland with his people.”
“But you’ll be coming here to see him often, right?”
And now for the final, and most painful, lie. “Of course.”
That prompted the return of Kira’s smile. “That’s wonderful. We can still have those smart-remark sessions when you’re here.”
“I’d offer to have one now, but I want to give Sam one last bottle before I go.”
As Piper stepped into the hall to do that very thing, Kira drew her into a hug. “Goodbye for now, Piper. I wish you the best of luck.”
“Same to you,” she replied as she started toward the nursery, before she gave in to the temptation to tell Kira the truth.
As much as she wanted to see the cherished baby boy, Piper dreaded telling him goodbye. That didn’t prevent her from lifting the sleeping Sam from his crib and holding him for the very last time. He opened his eyes slowly and didn’t make a sound, as if he understood the importance of the moment. She walked around the room as one more time she sang the lullaby she’d used to put him to sleep. If only she could be his mother. If only his father had loved her back. If only...
“The car is waiting, Your Highness.”
Piper wanted to tell Abdul it would just have to wait, but she saw no use in prolonging the inevitable farewell to the second love of her life. She kissed Sam’s forehead, laid him back in the crib and managed a smile. “I love you, sweetie. I know you’ll forget me once I’m gone, but I will never forget you.”
Or the man who had given him life.
After one last look at Sam, Piper turned to go, only to discover Adan standing in the open door looking somewhat remorseful. “I did not want you to leave before I expressed my gratitude for all that you’ve done for myself and Samuel.”
She truly wanted to tell him what he should do with that gratitude, but she couldn’t. She honestly wanted to hate him, and she couldn’t do that, either. “You’re welcome, Your Highness. It’s been quite
