His Convenient Royal Bride. Cara Colter

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       CHAPTER ONE

      “LOOK, MADDIE, IT’S THEM.”

      “Sorry, who?” Maddie asked, distracted. The Black Kettle Café opened for the day in—her eyes flew to the clock—thirty minutes.

      She checked inventory. The glass-encased shelves were lined with an abundance of scones, in six different flavors. The scones were her idea. She felt her stomach knot with familiar anxiety. What if it was too early to put out so many? Should she have waited for the weekend concert crowds? What if she had spent all that money on something that wouldn’t sell? Wouldn’t it have been better to chip away at some of the overdue bills?

      And then there was the ever-present voice of self-doubt. What kind of an idiot thought scones could save a business? And deeper yet, Was there any point in saving a business in a town that was probably going to die, despite her best efforts?

      “Those awesomely attractive men I told you about. A perfect ten on the ooh-la-la scale. Both of them. Don’t you think that’s unusual? Two perfect tens together?”

      Maddie bit her lip in exasperation. The weight of the whole world felt as if it was resting on her not-big-enough shoulders, and her young helper was rating every male she saw on an ooh-la-la scale? Sophie probably wouldn’t be nearly as excited about the awesome attractiveness of the visitors, if she knew Maddie was worried about how the café was going to pay her wages!

      It was Sophie’s first day working the coffee shop in the remote town of Mountain Bend, Oregon. Sophie, just out of high school, was the summer help and she was easily distracted and resisted direction. She had not wanted to put on an apron this morning, because it “hid her outfit.”

      Though technically Maddie was the café manager, there were several problems with reprimanding her. Sophie was the owner’s niece. And she and Maddie had grown up practically next door to each other in the small village. Maddie felt almost as if they were sisters—older and younger.

      “What men?” Maddie asked reluctantly.

      “I told you! I saw them last night. They’re driving the sports car. A Lambo in Mountain Bend. Can you believe it?”

      Maddie had no idea what a Lambo was and, unless it was fueled by scones, she didn’t really care.

      “They’re jaw-dropping,” Sophie decided dreamily. “I like the big one. He’s got a certain formidable look about him, doesn’t he? Like he might be a cop. He wasn’t driving, though. The other one was driving. They’re right outside the door. For heaven’s sake, quit scowling at me and look!”

      Against her better judgment, Maddie followed Sophie’s gaze out the large, plate glass window. The quaint main street—and all her troubles—faded into nothing. Maddie was not aware of the loveliness of overflowing flower baskets, or that the stone-fronted buildings were, like the house she had inherited, showing signs of disrepair.

      Maddie was aware, suddenly and intensely, of only him. Some energy, some power, shivered around him, and it dimmed even the extraordinary morning light that lit the lush green forest that carpeted the steep hills that embraced Mountain Bend.

      The day’s menu was posted, and two men were studying it. It was true, the bigger of them was memorable—large, muscled, redheaded, with a thick beard that matched his hair. The man was definitely a throwback to some kind of Gaelic warrior.

      But regardless of his obvious power, he was not the one who had made the entire world fade into nothingness for Maddie.

      It was the man who was with him. A full head shorter than his companion—which still would have made him just a hair under six feet tall—the other man radiated power and presence, a kind of rare self-confidence that said this man owned the earth and he knew it.

      Tall and well built, he was stunningly gorgeous. His thick, neatly trimmed hair was as rich and chocolaty as devil’s food cake. He had high cheekbones, a straight nose, a chin with a faint—and delicious—hint of a cleft in it. He glanced away from the menu, through the window and straight at Maddie.

      Her thought was to duck, as if when he saw her, he would know there was something weak melting within her, like an ice-cream cone that had toppled onto hot pavement. But she found herself unable to move, in the grip of a dark enchantment. All her sensations intensified as his gaze met hers. His eyes were deep blue, ocean water shot through with sapphires. A hint of pure fire sparked in their endless depths.

      She was shocked by the reappearance of a demon within her. But there it was: pure, undiluted, primal attraction to a gorgeous man. Good grief! How many times did a woman have to learn life’s most unpleasant lessons?

      There was no one riding in to the rescue.