had never had women friends before Parker and Cara, but if she’d been asked who’d she’d pick as friends, she would never have said a princess and someone like Cara, a quiet, soft-hearted woman.
Truth be told, when it came down to it, she hadn’t picked Parker and Cara at all…they’d simply meshed. Three people who’d connected and become friends. Friends who were closer than most families.
The prince’s arms tightened ever so slightly, reminding Shey of her unwanted passenger, jolting her from her thoughts.
* * *
Tanner Ericson knew that coming to Erie and collecting his fiancée was going to be a challenge. Marie Anna’s father had told him she might be a bit reluctant.
He’d prepared himself for all kinds of scenarios. But never in his wildest imagination had he thought he’d be whizzing down the city streets on the back of a motorbike driven by a most intriguing woman.
Short, spiky red hair and an attitude that screamed back off. This Shey Carlson was a tough, beautiful woman.
He inched a bit closer and tightened his arms around her waist, not so much because he was worried about falling off her motorbike, but because he liked the way she felt against him.
Eventually she turned off the four-lane street they’d been riding on, and much too soon they were pulling up to the curb.
She cut the motor and Tanner climbed off the bike. He took off his helmet and handed it to her.
“This is it,” she said.
He could hear in her voice that this place, with its small brick storefront, was special to her. The building had two doors. Over the right-hand one was a sign that read, Monarch’s Coffeehouse. It had a small crown tilted over the M.
The other sign read, Titles Bookstore. The same crown was over it, as well.
“Marie Anna’s here?”
“Parker owns the stores, along with Cara and myself. We’re all partners.” Shey started toward Monarch’s. “Come, on, Your Highness.”
He was accustomed to being called Your Highness but he preferred going by Tanner. Of course, he understood the necessity of his title or a more formal means of address when in Amar. But he was in America now. There was no need to stand on formalities here. Not with this woman.
“Tanner,” he said. “Call me Tanner.”
She didn’t say anything, just kept right on walking.
There was nothing for Tanner to do but follow.
He entered Monarch’s and found a blond woman talking to a dark-haired man.
It had to be her—Marie Anna.
He studied the woman he’d pledged to marry.
She hadn’t changed all that much. Yes, she looked less styled: her blond hair was pulled into a messy ponytail and she had on a pair of neat khaki pants and a light blue top.
This was the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with.
Tanner still had a hard time swallowing the fact that he had agreed to marry a woman he really didn’t know. But it was for the good of Amar.
He’d been lectured since birth that his first obligation was to his country. Small principalities like Amar and Marie Anna’s Eliason, could easily become lost in today’s world. By joining forces, the two small countries might have more clout. So in the age-old custom, he’d allowed himself to become engaged for political purposes.
At least, in public that was the reason he gave. In truth, he was just tired. Tired of women who merely wanted his title, his money. Women who thought they wanted to play princess, until they realized being a princess entailed very little play and an awful lot of hard work.
He was done.
After Stephana, he’d realized he’d never have a normal relationship with a woman, one built on mutual respect and—well, he wouldn’t admit it out loud, but the romantic in him craved a relationship based on love. But he’d simply come to the conclusion that it wouldn’t happen. That’s why he’d agreed to marry Marie Anna—Parker. She understood the intricacies of being a royal in modern society. Their union would be good for their countries.
If he couldn’t have what he wanted, then he’d settle for doing something that would be beneficial for Amar.
“Princess Marie Anna,” he said.
She stared at him and frowned.
“It’s Parker,” was her reply. “It’s been a long time, Tanner.”
“Too long,” he said, smiling at her.
There was no answering smile, as a matter of fact, her frown deepened to a scowl.
Two beautiful women had scowled at him in the last hour. Tanner didn’t like it.
“Not long enough,” she muttered.
Okay, so the pleasantries had been dealt with, time to lay his cards on the table. “Your father sent me to bring you home.”
“I am home.”
Tanner didn’t remember Marie Anna—Parker—as being so stubborn.
“Back to Eliason,” he clarified.
“You’re welcome to go back to Eliason or Amar on the very next plane out of Erie. But I’m staying here.”
“That’s it?” he asked. “I flew all this way to see my fiancée—”
“I am not your fiancée.”
He could hear the finality in her voice, but ignored her comment altogether and continued. “—and all you have to say to me is leave?”
“That’s about the shape of things. And speaking of leaving, I’m on my way out. You don’t mind closing up, Shey?”
“Of course not,” Shey said.
Tanner had almost forgotten about his bike-riding escort.
Almost, but not quite.
He was pretty sure that having met Shey Carlson, no one could ever entirely forget her.
Shey nodded in his direction and asked Marie Anna, “What about him?”
“Would you give him a ride to whatever hotel he’s staying at?” she asked.
“Sure,” Shey said with a shrug.
“Hey, watchdog, are you coming?” Parker asked the dark-haired man who’d been silent till now.
“Uh,” was his terribly articulate response. “Sure thing,” he said. “How about I drive?”
“Sounds good to me since I took the bus.”
