A Royal Christmas Proposal. Leanne Banks

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      “I’d like to check your home security system first,” Mr. Walker said.

      “Excuse me,” she replied, unable to hide her disapproval.

      “Yes,” the overly tall, overly muscular, overly American man, said. “I’ve been hired to protect you. I need to make sure your home is adequately secure.”

      “I have a security system,” she told him.

      “Then you won’t mind me checking it,” he said.

      Actually, she would, but she couldn’t say that. She shrugged and opened her door widely. “Don’t wake my baby.”

      He lifted his eyebrows for a half-beat then stepped forward. “I’ll do the best I can, but I will need to test your alarm system.”

      Ericka stared at Rolf. “Please tell my brother I’ll be in touch,” she said.

      “Yes, Your Highness,” he said before he dipped his head and walked away.

      “I’m a done deal,” Mr. Walker said to her. “Your brother has made his decision.”

      Ericka tried to look down her nose at him, but he was too darn tall. “Nothing is a done deal.”

      Mr. Walker shrugged. “Good luck. I’ll check your system.”

      Ericka frowned at him as he swaggered through the hallway. “I told you not to wake my baby.”

      Mr. Walker paused and turned to look at her. “How strong is his hearing disorder?”

      Ericka could have cried at his question. If only she knew how extensive his hearing loss was. Even the doctors had told her the measurement for his hearing disorder could change. “Profound. He’s been awake most of the night.”

      Mr. Walker nodded. “I’ll check the house. I’ll have to test the alarm system some time. You let me know when I can do that without startling him.”

      If only he could startle Leo, Ericka thought. If only she could make a sound that would startle him. Ericka stared after Mr. Walker, hating him and liking him at the same time. What could he possibly know about having a child with special needs? Nothing, she suspected. His life had probably been perfect. No troubles. No trials.

      Leo’s future was full of trials. She stiffened her back. She needed to cushion her child in his infancy and make him strong for his future years. Her job was to provide the perfect amount of support and hope. Whatever that was.

      A flash of fur passed between them.

      Mr. Walker frowned. “Was that a cat?”

      “Yes. The doctor said Leo would benefit from a pet.”

      He frowned in confusion. “A cat? Don’t they sleep twenty-three out of twenty-four hours a day?”

      “Sam is awake much more than that, plus he watches after Leo.”

      “You mean, he stalks your baby,” Mr. Walker said.

      She blinked. “He does no such thing. Sam protects Leo. He’s probably studying you right now to make sure you won’t hurt the baby.”

      Mr. Walker lifted a dark eyebrow. “This is one more challenge for implementing a sound security system.”

      She lifted her head. “Sam stays. We brought him back from Texas. My brother insisted he was neutered before we arrived. Stefan doesn’t want any more potent cats on the island. He’s afraid Chantaine will end up with too many cats.”

      “Understandable,” Mr. Walker said. “Practical.”

      “Mr. Walker, you need to understand that you’re dealing with a very human element. My son. I know that the people of Chantaine don’t hold a grudge against me. They’re delighted I have returned.”

      “But there could be one person who’s not delighted,” he said. “And I’m here to protect you from that person.”

      Ericka stared into his dark eyes and knew he would protect her from anything. She held his gaze for a long moment and saw a flash of tenderness. It surprised her. How could a man who appeared so hard be kind?

      If he couldn’t be kind to her son, she had no use for him. If he couldn’t tolerate her cat, he would be dismissed.

      * * *

      Treat Walker looked into Princess Fredericka’s disapproving blue eyes. He’d read her file. She’d been known as the teenage wild-child beauty. She’d even made a few trips to rehab before she’d gotten herself straightened out and married a French film director.

      Although the princess had returned to Chantaine frequently for public and family events, she’d seemed to prefer life out of the limelight. With the exception of red carpet appearances with her husband, Fredericka had focused more of her time on studies in fine arts.

      When her husband fell for a younger actress, Fredericka’s life began to fall apart. The combination of the scandal and her pregnancy had been overwhelming, so she’d disappeared to live in Texas with her older sister during her pregnancy.

      At first glance, she looked a little too perfect. With her aristocratic bone structure, she could have modeled for a Renaissance sculptor. Although she was trying to hold him in cool contempt, he glimpsed humanity and a little bit of fear in her eyes, a hint of purple shadows that showed she wasn’t sleeping well.

      Taking care of an infant with serious hearing loss could be hard on anyone, especially since she appeared to be trying to do most of it on her own. “Your son,” he said. “He’s lucky you have the resources to give him the best help he needs. Not everyone can get their child the right kind of help.”

      Her eyebrows knitted slightly. “Money can’t solve everything. The choices may be difficult,” she said before she turned away from him.

      * * *

      Ericka spent the day juggling caring for Leo and planning her work schedule. Since the nanny had gone to market, Ericka carried Leo in a cloth baby carrier against her chest as she talked on the phone. Leo quickly drifted off to sleep and Ericka answered a few calls. When he began to drool against her collar, she suspected he was ready for genuine nap in his crib. Just as she pulled him from the cloth carrier and set him in his crib, he let out a squeak of protest.

      Wincing, Ericka immediately placed her hand over his tummy. Her sister had taught her this trick. Leo didn’t like the abruptness of being detached after being held. A little more of a human connection seemed to soothe him and he gave a little snorty baby sigh. Ericka held her hand on him for several more moments, staring at his rosy, plump cheeks and dark eyelashes against his perfect skin. Pride and love welled up inside her. He was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen in her life.

      Carefully backing away, Ericka turned around and pulled the door partway closed behind her. Then she walked straight into a wall. Or, it felt like a wall until it swore under its breath. Her heart hammering in panic, she opened her mouth to scream at the same time she looked up into the hard face of Mr. Walker.

      She slumped in relief and he immediately СКАЧАТЬ