“Really?” I ask, surprised.
I’m shocked Tucker could hold back. The man doesn’t even want to be away from her for more than a few hours. He’s always sneaking in to steal a kiss from her or check on her when we’re at the ranch.
“Yep, and Tucker didn’t even date around or anything. I guess he figured if he couldn’t have Cam then he didn’t want anyone.” My heart flutters. I didn’t know that kind of love was real. “When these Justice men fall in love, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I think it makes them a bit mad, to be honest. It’s as if something gets switched on when they meet their true love.”
“They really are perfect for each other.” At first glance, you’d think Cam and Tucker would never fit. They are so opposite in a lot of ways. But once you spend a few hours with them, you see how perfectly they actually do fit. There is no mistaking their love.
Even as I think the words, I wonder if maybe that could be Sterling and me. Could we fit the same way? While it might look impossible, could we actually be the perfect fit?
“And you? Do you think Sterling and you could be the same?”
“I swear you can pluck my thoughts from my head.” Cam’s mother is so perceptive. Being here today with her has made me miss my mom. I wish she were here to have these conversations with. Maybe even to talk some sense into my dad.
“I’m only saying what everyone else is thinking.”
“Thank you.” I reach out to give Franklin’s hand a squeeze. I’m happy that I came into Dallas for the day with Cam to meet her. Now I’m not so sure how I’m going to get back. We took the helicopter from the ranch, but it looks like Cam is going to be a bit preoccupied with Tucker for the near future.
My thoughts are interrupted when my phone starts to go off over and over. At first I thought it might be Sterling, but then I remembered I’ve never given him my number. Crap.
Now that I think about it, I didn’t even tell him I was heading into the city with Cam. He went out to do some work early this morning, and I took off. I’m sure Birdie or Calder filled him in on where I went.
“Hello,” I say, answering the call, not recognizing the number.
“Maria!” Birdie chirps through the phone.
“Yes?”
“Sterling has been stomping around since he found out you left.” I can’t help but smile at that.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“About that. The helicopter is already waiting for you. I just wanted to give you a heads-up that your brother-in-law is here, and we got word that your father is going to be here in an hour.”
“Wait. My brother-in-law is there?!” Why the hell would he be there? Oh gosh, is my sister there too? I’m not ready to see her yet. Not after everything that went down between us.
“Yeah. Sterling isn’t too happy about that, either. I’m going to need you to get your little butt back here.”
“Okay, I’m coming,” I say, getting up from my seat. “Keep my papa and Sterling away from each other if you can,” I suggest, having no clue how this is going to go between them.
I should have known my father would be coming. He’s been too quiet and not his pushy self. I’m going to have to put my foot down when I get back to the ranch.
I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay with Sterling, but what if he doesn’t feel the same way? I should tell him how I feel. Lay it all out there for him.
What do I really have to lose? Except my heart.
CHAPTER 19
STERLING
“And remember to bow whenever you greet him. Don’t initiate contact. You are allowed to bow over his hand if he extends it. When he steps off the plane, into the house, when you come to the dinner table, when he leaves as well.” Edgar ticks off the list on his fingers. “Refer to him as His Royal Highness. Never use his Christian name. Remember that he is royalty and you are…” Edgar looks down his nose at us or tries to, but the Justices are all taller than him.
“Justices,” Calder fills in the blank. “The chopper is landing soon.”
Edgar gives an abrupt nod and books it out the door. Not sure why this asshole is here. He lied about sleeping with Maria. After Maria told her dad the story, he promised that the stepsister would be out of the house. Yet, here her husband is, spitting out commands like he owns the ranch.
“I’m not bowing to anyone,” I mutter under my breath to Calder as the door bangs shut behind Edgar.
“No one said you had to.”
“I’ll go and make sure the guest room is ready. A prince! I can’t believe we’re hosting a prince!” Birdie claps her hands and then bustles off toward the kitchen, I guess to make sure that the welcome pastries are ready. The kitchen has been working overtime ever since Edgar rolled up and announced that Prince Harold Costatelli of Luxemstei was arriving within the hour. He spent the first fifteen minutes listing off all the things that Prince Harold didn’t like, which included raisins, dates, plums, currants, mangos, coconut, and chocolate. He did like warm pastries and did we have any fresh baked goods? Birdie told him the cook made bread and biscuits every morning, but apparently that wasn’t good enough for His Royal Highness. HRH sounds like a right prick.
The chopper lands, and a black-suited man jumps out, pulling a long piece of red cloth behind him, and four more men, this time in uniform with white gloves and long guns in their arms. They position themselves along the red strip of fabric and salute. I half expect a brass band to descend the stairs from the bird, but instead it’s just a white-haired man wearing white linen pants and a matching shirt. He slams a boater onto his head and strides forward toward the house. The honor guard moves with him like some kind of human shield. It’s impressive but weird.
“I dare you to pull this stunt the next time you go into Dallas,” laughs Blake. “It’d be the talk of the town.”
“Tucker’s given them enough Justice fodder to last them at least a decade,” Calder replies dryly. He turns to me. “I’m not saying you should bow, but if you plan on having a future with Maria, you should remember that this is her father. Treat him with respect.”
I scrub a hand over my unruly locks, wishing I had gotten a haircut and maybe put on some new denims. I’d been out in the barn working with a new foal Blake had brought. What a time for Cam and Maria to have gone into Dallas, and now Maria was coming home without Cam who is the only person who actually knows Prince Harold. My knees are feeling a little watery.
Birdie squeezes my biceps. “Don’t worry about a thing, Sterling. You’re going to knock him dead.”
“Hope not literally, though,” Blake teases.
I shoot him a death stare, which only makes him laugh more. He slaps me on the back hard enough to make me stumble forward. “You got this, kid. I believe in you.” He flips his thumbs up and disappears down the hall. I wish I could go with him.
“Come on. Let’s greet your future father-in-law,” Birdie whispers.
I stiffen my spine—and my knees—and walk over to the door. It flies open, and Edgar appears. “Introducing His Royal—”