The Prince and the Pie Maker Read online

  “I believe in us, in our business,” Alex continued when she remained mute. “We will be profitable. We won’t have to go through with it. I’m willing to take the risk because I believe in us.”

  “I’d be engaged to you?”

  “Yes.”

  “But we wouldn’t go through with it in the end?”

  “No. Of course not.”

  “Of course not.”

  She stared off at the exit door. Something crossed her features that Alex couldn’t quite pinpoint. Regret? Longing? Resignation? But it was gone before he could pin it.

  “Sure.” She shrugged. “Why not? Wouldn’t be the first time.”

  Chapter Ten

  The last time Jan had packed for a trip to the kingdom of Cordoba, she’d had five hours to do it. This time, Alex hadn’t given her much more time than that; a full day. This time she wasn’t just packing for a long weekend. She was packing up her life.

  Looking around the apartment over the pie shop, Jan was saddened to see there wasn’t much to take with her. She’d already emptied her entire wardrobe into two suitcases. Being a pie maker didn’t lend too many wardrobe changes. She mostly had jeans and T-shirts or cargo pants and cotton shirts. Her aprons were more plentiful than the number of dresses she had. All her shoes were practical; save the one pair of heels she’d purchased just to drop off a pie at her ex-fiancé’s parents’ anniversary party.

  Never one for nostalgia, Jan hadn’t saved her yearbooks. She didn’t have photo albums. And thank goodness for that. She didn’t want constant reminders of her past. But had she ever looked far into the future?

  Most of the furniture had been there when she’d taken the place over from the previous tenant. All her time was spent in the kitchens down below. This was mostly a place to sleep. She knew for a fact that the palace guest rooms had nicer mattresses than the one she’d tossed and turned on for the last couple of years.

  Other than the two suitcases of clothes, all that remained were her cookbooks. But she knew all of those recipes by heart. This new adventure wasn’t about the past and tried recipes. No, this would be a brave, new culinary future.

  Not to mention a new social adventure as well. She was engaged to a prince. In name only, not for real. But they’d need to keep up the farce in order to get the funding for the restaurant.

  The scheme was something out of one of Esme’s romance novels. Jan detested those kinds of books. They were entirely unrealistic, predictable, and impractical. Everything that she wasn’t.

  So why had she agreed to the farce?

  The knock at her door jolted Jan out of her thoughts. Was it time to go already? No, she still had time left. But Alex was unpredictable.

  At least he was knocking this time and not sneaking up on her. Jan opened the door and wished she had looked through the peephole first. Instead of seeing a prince with a glint in his eyes and a grin that Jan now knew the taste of, she was confronted by two displeased, gray-haired people on her stoop.

  “Mom. Dad.”

  Her parents barged past and her into her home.

  “Come on in.” Jan shut the door with a quiet snick.

  “What’s this we hear about you running out on Chris?” her father demanded.

  Jan looked over her right shoulder, then her left, but there was no one standing behind her. Her parents, the ones who had paid for someone else’s daughter’s wedding on their own daughter’s wedding day were accusing her of running out on the man who was the cause of it? She had to have heard them wrong.

  “Really, Bill,” sighed her mother in her usual tone of disappointment. “Didn’t we raise her better than that? Chris supported her in this crazy pie making scheme, and now she’s leaving it all to him?”

  How did he do it? How did Chris make everyone rally and flock around him even when his behavior was irredeemable?

  “I knew we were right to be worried about her.” Her mother took a tissue from her purse and dabbed at her eyes.

  Jan’s own eyes began their telltale tick. But almost instantly it stopped. It wasn’t a tick. She blinked. The rapid opening and closing of her eyes washed something away inside her soul.

  It was as though she’d been looking through a foggy glass window. But now, with that one blink, the clouds had been wiped away. Jan saw the world crystal clear.

  “She’s just too modern,” her mother was saying. Her mother had just turned fifty last year. “I know women these days can take care of themselves without a man.” Her mother looked skyward as though she didn’t know how that happened. “But how can she expect to do that without a job?”

  “She has a new job,” Jan spoke up for herself. “I’ll be a chef in a new restaurant.”

  “What is this new restaurant?” asked her father.

  “It’s going to be called The Prince’s Palate.”

  It was clever. It certainly would bring in more of a draw than Peppers’ Pies. Jan had thought the name of her restaurant was clever, but no one knew who she was. The whole world knew who Prince Alex of Cordoba was. They’d likely be booked solid for months before the doors even opened.

  “I’ve never heard of it,” said her mother.

  “Where is this place?” said her father.

  “In Cordoba,” Jan said.

  “Where’s that?” asked her father, looking to his wife.

  “It’s an island nation between France and Spain.”

  “I didn’t know there was an island between France and Spain?” said her mother.

  “It’s where I was a couple of weeks ago. It’s where Esme lives now. Remember, she’s marrying the king.”

  “I’ve never heard of this place or any king but the one in England.”

  “Mom, there are other kings and queens and princes in the world outside of England.”

  “Sure there are. Make believe princesses in Disneyland and Disney World.”

  Why was Jan even arguing with them? They’d never believed in her, never supported any of her decisions other than the one to marry Chris. Jan’s clear vision told her that one thing remained the same. It would be a waste of breath to try to explain this to her parents. Their view of her would never change, and there was nothing she could do about that.

  “Listen, mom, dad, my business partner bought Chris out, for a very fair amount.”

  When she’d told Alex the value of her share, he’d doubled it without blinking. Jan had balked, but not loudly enough to stop him. Her freedom was worth the fat check Alex tore from his checkbook.

  “Chris can choose to find someone new—he’s good at that—and keep the shop open. Or he can sell the business and keep all the profits for himself. Either way, I’m leaving.”

  Her mother looked as though she were in the depths of despair. “Bill, talk some sense into your daughter.”

  Her father opened his mouth, but the doorbell rang. Jan was more than happy to interrupt the conversation that was going nowhere because she had places to be. She opened the door to reveal Alex who was grinning ear to ear.

  “Hey,” he said. “You ready to do this?”

  She was. She just had to clear out the rest of the baggage from her home. “My parents are here.”

  Alex’s grin fell flat. “I don’t do well with parents.”

  He went to take a step back, but Jan grabbed a fistful of his shirt and dragged him inside. “Mom and Dad, I want you to meet Prince Alex of Cordoba. My business partner and fiancé.”

  Her parents blinked and then blinked again. Maybe the fog had cleared from their vision of her? Maybe they were finally seeing her clearly, for who she was, who she’d always been, and now the woman she was meant to be?

  “Mr. and Mrs. Peppers, what an honor to meet you.” Alex bowed.

  A silly grin spread across her mother’s face. “Truly? A real live prince? Our Jan?”

  “Why, I never would have imagined it,” said her father.

  “Gee thanks, guys,” Jan said under her breath. Nope. Her parents didn’t see her anew. Th
ey still didn’t believe in her.

  “I certainly never imagined a creature like Jan could be real.” Alex pulled her into his side and gazed lovingly down into her eyes. “Surely, you must’ve known from an early age that your daughter was the most extraordinary thing to walk this earth.”

  Jan forgot how to breathe. For someone who didn’t do parents well, Alex was acing this particular interlude.

  “If not as a child,” he continued laying on the charm, “then certainly the first time you tasted something she pulled out of the oven.”

  “Well,” said her father, “she does make good pies. Although a little weird.”

  “No, they’re not weird at all,” Alex insisted. “She told you she won my country’s pie making contest last month.”

  “You won a contest?” said her mother. “Jan why didn’t you tell us?”

  Jan remained mute. The twitch in her eye threatened to start. But even that nerve was too tired to be bothered. So, she simply closed her eyes.

  Alex pulled her even closer until she was in the crook between his shoulder blade and his chin. He turned his head and planted a kiss on the top of her head. Jan felt the soft pressure of his lips at the crown of her head, and her stress melted away.

  “I’m sorry for sweeping her away on such short notice,” he said, sounding entirely unapologetic. “But there’s much to plan. We’ll be delighted when you come for a visit.”

  “For the wedding?” said her mother.

  Jan felt Alex gulp. His Adam’s apple worked against her temple. “Of course,” he said. “But first for the restaurant we’ll be opening together.”

  “A restaurant? What a brilliant idea,” said her mother. “I’ve always said couples who work together stay together.”

  Jan could hear the hinges in her neck creaking as she craned her head to gape at her mother. But her mother didn’t see. Carol Peppers only had eyes for Alex.

  “Oh, believe me,” said Alex. “I intend this partnership to last a lifetime.

  Jan knew he was referring to their business relationship and not the fake one. But something in her heart did a flip. She quickly told it to hush up. She would not be walking down any aisle that wasn’t inside a kitchen. She would never make the same mistake twice.

  Chapter Eleven

  Alex snuck glances at Jan who sat beside him in the backseat of the hired car. She chewed her lip and thrummed her fingers on the door handle, right over the lock button. The door was currently secured as they maneuvered through New York traffic on their way to the airport. Every once in a while, Jan’s index finger would tap the button, disengaging the lock, and setting the gears free.

  He wondered if it was a subconscious move. Was she trying to get out of their deal? Was she trying to flee?

  He had nearly run away from the scene with her parents. But he’d planted his feet and stayed. After she’d dragged him inside. He had to admit, he’d put on an impressive show.

  Maybe it had been too impressive? He knew, that like him, Jan had no interest in marriage. That’s what made her a perfect business partner. As well as a perfect fake fiancée. Their goals were entirely in alignment. At least he thought they were?

  “I can send someone to pack up the rest of your things if you like,” he said.

  “Hmm?” Jan’s thrumming stopped. When her fingers came to rest, they unlocked the door. She turned as though remembering he was in the car with her.

  Alex had never been a second thought to any woman. He always had their full attention. Whether he wanted it or not.

  He wanted Jan’s attention.

  “Oh, no,” she said. “I have everything I need from there. If Chris wants to trash or donate the rest ...” She shrugged instead of finishing the sentence.

  Her entire life was packed into two suitcases. If he thought about it, he could probably pack the things that mattered to him most in a couple of suitcases, too. Material things had never mattered much to him. Perhaps because he knew he could replace them. He had the money to buy whatever he wanted wherever he was.

  Relationships, those he couldn’t pack away. There was only a handful that he treasured. His brother and Pen, of course. Now Esme was added to his family circle. There were his friends, Zhi, the Duke of Mondego, and Carlisle, the soon to be Baron of Balansya. Other than that, there was no one Alex cared to carry around in his life.

  He looked again to Jan and realized he could now count her in amongst that small circle.

  Her fingers resumed their thrumming on the door handle. Alex reached over and reengaged the lock. Before removing his hand, he captured her fingers in his palm and brought her hand into the cradle of both of his. For someone who worked with her hands on a daily basis, Jan’s hands were surprisingly soft. She blinked up at him when he pressed his palm into hers and laced their fingers.

  “How are you doing?” he asked.

  Her gaze narrowed on him. Her right eye began to twitch as though there were something inside it.

  “Whatever you’re feeling, I want you to know that we’re in this together.” Alex gave Jan’s hand a squeeze. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner. I know it’s going to be a huge success.”

  The twitch stopped as her gaze widened. Her lips parted, but she didn’t say anything. Her gaze dipped to his mouth, and her pupils dilated. She swallowed, her throat working as though his words were hard to take in.

  Alex knew it was difficult for Jan to trust men. She had to be after what he gathered her ex had done to her. Then he’d met her parents, who didn’t seem to believe in her. All the people in her life were blind and had no taste. Alex was staking his life on this woman, and he didn’t have a doubt in his mind that it would all turn out for the better.

  A flash made him turn from her. Then there was another flash followed by another. He’d been so focused on Jan that he hadn’t realized the car had stopped. They’d pulled up to the private airfield, and the press had found them.

  Alex let go of Jan’s hand. It was a knee jerk response. Anytime a woman was photographed with him, both their names got splashed across tabloids.

  But it was inevitable with him and Jan. He’d already announced that she was his fiancée. It had only been to the three investors, her ex, and her parents. But that was a large enough group that someone would’ve contacted the media. Alex’s money was on the pretend-player Cody Walsh.

  He turned to Jan, re-lacing their fingers. “You ready for this?”

  “Ready for what?”

  He didn’t have time to explain. “Just remember that you’re in love with me and you adore me.”

  Jan made a sound of disbelief in the back of her throat.

  “Okay,” he acquiesced. “Just be quiet and look at me with puppy dog eyes.”

  “I’m a cat person.”

  He couldn’t help but laugh. He liked this woman so well. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. Just follow my lead.”

  The driver opened the door on Jan’s side. Alex had wanted to hand her out himself, but he’d have to come around the other side of the car to do that. Unfortunately, Jan stepped out of the car on her own accord. They’d have to work on that.

  The flashes blinded him as he rounded the car. The calls of the reporters with their questions deadened his ears. He reached Jan’s side to find that she stood frozen, catatonic before the cameras and the shouted questions.

  His hand came to her back. She was as stiff as a board. He tried to urge her forward, but she would not budge. She only stared in abject horror at the crowd of press before her.

  “Jan?” he whispered in her ear.

  Her right eye was twitching again. He wondered if she were about to cry?

  “Jan, my darling?”

  She blinked, but her eyelid still twitched. She turned to him. Slowly, he saw the life coming back in her eyes. The twitch in her eye settled down.

  Wherever she’d gone, she’d come back to him. Alex wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. He had no idea what had just happened, but he
was determined not to let her go.

  “Prince Alex, is it true? Are you finally off the market?” It was Lila Drake.

  Alex wasn’t surprised that the rag paper had the funds to send their ace reporter on a continental journey. Stories about him were The Royal Times’ bread and butter.

  “Ms. Peppers.” Lila turned her attention to Jan. “Tell us how a woman like you landed one of the world’s most desirable bachelors?”

  All mics pointed at Jan. But she remained mute. Alex seethed at the comment, but he didn’t lash out. He knew that would only play right into their hands.

  He laughed to cover up the silence. “I never imagined in all my years that I’d find a woman such as Jan Peppers.”

  All cameras, microphones, and heads turned to him. Including Jan’s.

  “I’ve traveled the world for years. Have been to the most exotic places, met some of the most glamorous women. Meanwhile, the woman who would capture my heart was right here in the Big Apple.”

  Jan raised her eyebrows. Her lips parted as though she were going to say a quip, likely something about the only organ she had captured of his was his stomach. Alex took advantage of the moment to plant a brief kiss on her lips.

  Partly to keep her quiet. Partly because, well, he’d been craving another taste of her since the other day. The scent of honey on warm bread met his bottom lip. But there was a hint of something more—there always was with this woman. Today there was also the spicy taste of ginger on her upper lip.

  Alex had only meant the kiss to distract her. But he found himself sidetracked when the brief kiss lingered a second longer than he had planned for it to.

  He couldn’t help himself. There was something more on her upper lip. His culinary brain begged him to hold still, to take another swipe to figure out the component. But the flashes brought him back to reality. When he pulled away, he still wasn’t entirely clear what the ingredients that made Jan uniquely Jan were.

  Jan’s eyes had stopped twitching. Her lips were still parted. Her body was warm in his arms.