His Secretary's Surprise Fiance

“Because when you have a sibling, you enjoy irritating them. Trust me, I understand that part a little too well.”

As an only child, Adelaide hadn’t. She wished she’d understood because she’d handled the attention all wrong.

“One of them decided they should have a race to see who was fastest. On that particular day, fastest was synonymous with best.”

“I would bet Gervais won because he was eldest.” Erika sipped her drink, adjusting her blue-and-white sundress around her legs as she shifted to her side.

“Well, he would have, except Dempsey tripped him.” She’d been so disappointed he’d cheated that she’d failed to see the significance of him needing to win for her. At least, that was what she’d decided it meant later.

“Of course he did. You were his friend.” She stirred the ice in her glass with the red straw and waved over a maid who had emerged from the house to pick up the dishes from their dessert. “May we have some waters?” she asked the server, passing off her glass. “And the men are in Gervais’s study. I believe he keeps brandy in there, but will you see if they need anything?”

The woman nodded before disappearing into the house.

“I didn’t really understand how competitive they were at the time. I just thought it meant Dempsey had turned into a bully and I spent the party being kind to Gervais.”

Erika laughed. “So he won after all.” Her blue eyes sparkled. “What a clever clan we are marrying into, Adelaide.” She reached to squeeze her hand. “I’m so glad I will have a new sister here.”

Adelaide swallowed, her throat and eyes suddenly burning. Tricking nice people did not sit well with her. She blinked fast.

“I’ve never had a sister.” She cleared her throat, grateful for the maid’s return so she could accept a fresh glass of sparkling water with lime. “Let’s not be competitive, though,” she added.

“Deal.” Erika clinked her water glass with Adelaide’s. “Now, will you order me some of your earrings? And whatever else I need to be a stylish sports fan?”

“Of course.” Flattered, Adelaide wondered if she would still want the items once her engagement was broken. “Thank you.”

“But I’ll need some things in blue and white, too, in addition to the Hurricanes gear.”

“Blue and white?” Puzzled, she turned to see Gervais and Dempsey headed down the steps from an outdoor deck on an upper story.

“Some days I’ll have to root for Jean-Pierre’s team, of course. He is family.” She pantomimed zipping her lips and throwing away the key.

The princess was a firecracker in couture clothes. It made Adelaide happy for Gervais, who seemed as if he could use more fun in his life. But as they said their good-nights and walked back across the landscaped properties separating their homes, she couldn’t help a hollow feeling in her chest.

“Thank you for spending time with my family.” Dempsey slid an arm around her waist as they passed a line of Italian cypress trees and rounded a courtyard with a fountain at the center.

“You don’t have to thank me. I had fun.” She held her hand out as they neared the fountain so she could feel a hint of the cool spray drifting on the breeze.

“Did you?” He halted their steps on the gray cobblestones and tipped her chin up. “You look troubled.”

She took comfort in his concern. “Erika was so kind to me. It feels wrong to deceive them about us.” She searched his expression for clues to what he was thinking.

“An unfortunate necessity,” he admitted, his handsome face revealing nothing while his hands smoothed down her back in a reassuring rub. “What do you think of Erika?”

“I like her. She’s witty and sharp. I think she will liven up Gervais’s world, and I bet she’ll be a fabulous mother.”

“That’s good. He deserves to be happy.” Palming the small of her back, he turned her toward his house again.

“Why? What do you think of her?” She knew Dempsey well enough to understand when he wasn’t saying everything on his mind.

“I didn’t get to speak with her one-on-one the way you did, but I trust your judgment. I researched her when Gervais announced the engagement, and her family—for all that she’s royalty—has come close to bankruptcy in the past. So I wondered—”

“That’s a horrible thought.” Defensiveness surged at the insult to their lovely hostess. “And incredibly cynical.”