How on earth did a man oust a woman’s grandfather from the role of knight in shining armor? It wasn’t like he could challenge him to a duel or something. The man was family, her ancestor, and therefore played an incredibly important part of her life. It was also evident that Tia loved him very much.
There was also the factor that Aleksi wasn’t sure he could handle the whole knight in shining armor thing, anyway. That pesky little part of being the hereditary prince generally meant he wasn’t allowed to engage in dangerous exploits, which had seriously hampered his growing up years.
And likely contributed to his decision to continue his education in America; then do most of his father’s traveling since. He had hoped Americans wouldn’t care that he had royal blood flowing through his veins. He’d hoped in vain. Seemed there were hangers-on in every country. Not all of his peers had cared about his title and wealth. In fact, Tia used to stare through him. Aleksi was surprised she even remembered his name when they re-met at that conference.
Her eyes had actually bulged a little when he asked for her phone number. Like she couldn’t believe he remembered her.
As if he would ever forget her.
Too bad he hadn’t managed to talk to her while they were in school. But he felt like the timing then was bad. She had been utterly focused, even as a freshman. He had appreciated and respected that kind of devotion.
Slanting a glance at her, he wondered, now that she had succeeded in her chosen profession, if she could be convinced to hold the same devotion to her spouse and any children they might produce.
The thought enticed and terrified him.
“Your wells are making your people sick?” Rich O’Riley asked him after they settled a little away from the women in one of the main living areas.
Aleksi nodded. “We’re pretty certain it’s the wells. After the boiling decree went out, not nearly as many people have grown sick.”
“But you’re still seeing some?”
“Yes,” he said and sighed. “The medical staff suspect that those who are growing ill now haven’t been boiling their water, or haven’t done so properly.”
The admiral nodded.
Aleksi cocked his head as he peered at the older man. He narrowed his eyes. “Do you have another theory?” The man was a high ranking military official. He should have thought to utilize the admiral’s knowledge before now.
“We’re always on the alert, after 9-11, for terrorist dealings,” O’Riley said and sipped from the mug in his hand.
Something unfriendly skittered down Aleksi’s back. “We aren’t or perhaps I should say, we haven’t been on the terrorists lists.”
O’Riley’s eye brow lifted. “You’re a wealthy principality. That’s going to catch their attention.”
“Of course it will. We produce some of the world’s finest jewels in the world.”
“Terrorists need money.”
“They do. Like I said, in the past we’ve not had a problem, and from what I can gather, we haven’t been approached by any factions.”
“Diamonds aren’t only used as jewelry,” Rich quietly reminded him.
“I’ve been hiding under the assumption that our problem is bacterial and an act of nature,” Aleksi said and stared at the contents of his mug. He couldn’t hide behind conjecture because his people would be the first to suffer.
“We also hid under the assumption that we were okay.” Rich’s voice was somber, quiet.
“That one day in September shattered your innocence.”
Rich nodded. “We lost so much that day, but we also gained. We finally understood freedom isn’t free.”
“Rurikstan’s military is... adequate, but that’s one thing I’m determined to strengthen. After your lesson, I realized we couldn’t be complacent.”
“It could take you years to bring your military up to par,” O’Riley said.
Aleksi shook his head. “No. My father had an old buddy who retired from the military a few years ago. He has seen several wars. The General knows what it’s like out there, and he has kindly consented to, what’s the word? Overhaul our military.”
“He’s doing it alone?”
“Not at all. He has pulled in several of his colleagues. They have organized our men remarkably well in a short amount of time.”
O’Riley offered a silent whistle. “How’d they manage it?”
“This is a principality, and I am the leader. We are far smaller than America, we have no... red tape, is that the terminology?” He glanced at the admiral who rolled his eyes and nodded. “Therefore the restructuring was simple. We all met, talked about what needed done, why, and how to do so, then the men parted and have implemented everything. So far, we’re all pleased with our progress. My father would have been proud.”
“It takes a strong leader to understand what needs done and then chose the appropriate people to carry out the appointed tasks.”
“That was a talent my father possessed in excess. Everything I know, I learned from him.”
“He died?” Aleksi appreciated that O’Riley’s voice was muted, respectful.
“A year ago. He sank into senility quickly. We were all surprised. One day he was fine, but within a few weeks, he couldn’t remember anything, and within the year he was gone.” Aleksi shoved the pain away, trying forcefully to forget the anger, despair, and loss they had all experienced at his sire’s unexpected passing.
“The doctors couldn’t give you any reason for his death?”
“No. There were many theories, but no true diagnosis was ever made.”
“It wasn’t murder?” O’Riley’s voice turned sharp.
Aleksi started. “I don’t know how it could have been. No one had a solid motive.”
The admiral’s right eyebrow lifted.
Aleksi’s lip curled to the side. “None that I would deem a good motive. My father was very popular and while I’m certain he had enemies, I can’t think of anyone who would want to actually kill him. I had so much to learn from him, it was hard for me when he died so suddenly.”
“He was sick for a few weeks, months?”
“Eight months from start to finish.” Eight agonizing months of despair and pain.
“That’s not long.”
“No,” Aleksi answered, his mouth grim. Although it had seemed terribly long since they had to watch his beloved father wither away. He still hated thinking of those months watching Aleksandr deteriorate and weaken and knowing they couldn’t do anything to help ease his suffering.
“Did your people grow sick after he did?”
Aleksi frowned. “We asked that same question to his doctors. They saw a few cases of people who shared some of his symptoms, but none like his. The true problems started this fall.”
“You’ve had the most outbreaks recently?”
“Yes.”
Tia rose from her chair and distracted him as she ambled over to where he and her uncle sat. He watched with hungry eyes as she seated herself, amazed by her cat-like movements. Never had he seen such sinuous grace on a human being. Normally one also associated grace and elegance with a cat, except that Tia had tripped on her way to the chair. He smiled to himself. This woman would never bore him.
“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation, so I thought I’d invite myself over,” she said and smiled at both of them. Her smiles were impartial. That hurt. He wanted her to smile at him like he was her world. His mother would tell him that meant he was extra arrogant.
Probably true.
O’Riley smiled at her. “You’re welcome to comment.”
“I was at the hospital today and spoke with the patients.”
“And?” Aleksi wondered if she had discovered anything the doctors hadn’t.
“I was particularly interested in learning their various symptoms.”
“Don’t symptoms usually mimic each other?” O’Riley asked.
Aleksi frowned. “I don’t understand?”
“Most illnesses start with a headache, irritability, malaise, and can include such things as insomnia, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and a metallic taste in the mouth. Some more severe symptoms are memory problems, personality changes, ataxia, coma, respiratory problems, and renal failure,” Tia said.
“Aren’t you Miss Sunshine,” his mother muttered as she and Emma took seats near them. He shot her a repressive look which he hoped would keep her in line. If anyone had undergone a personality change of late, it’d be her. There were days he didn’t believe he knew her, and she had birthed him.
Fortunately, Tia ignored her. “The problem most doctors have to deal with is those indicators are so general. Many illnesses begin with those very symptoms. The challenge is to narrow down what is causing the problem.”
“So it could be bacterial, but it could be something else?” He didn’t like the way this conversation was heading. But then again, if she couldn’t narrow down the cause, Tia would have to stay longer. That exact same dilemma rose up in a stranglehold. More time with Tia vs more suffering for his people.
Sometimes being the prince stank.
Tia thought about Aleksi’s question and nodded. “That’s correct. In this case, you’ve already narrowed the most likely source. Your wells. And by boiling the water, you’ve managed to prevent more people from falling sick. Now we have to figure out exactly what’s in the water that’s making everyone sick.”
She cocked her head at him, wishing she didn’t find him so attractive because her attention span kept faltering. Trying to sound intelligent and professional proved difficult when confronted with such extreme masculinity. Especially when the girly cheerleaders inside took up their pom poms and began a chant. “Aleksi, he’s our man....”
This did not bode well for future peace of mind.
“You concur so far that the problem is our wells?” Even his voice sent delicious shivers up her spine.
Tia resisted the urge to arch her back, and instead tried to concentrate on the information he possessed that she needed. His mother was watching, for goodness sakes. There was a bad bacterial infection if she ever saw one. Too bad they couldn’t use an antibiotic on her.
Maybe it’d make her a little nicer.
“That seems to be the most logical explanation. What I’m wondering is if all the people who became sick used the same wells?”
Aleksi’s eyebrows shot up and he stared at her, before turning to his mother. “None of the palace residents have required treatment,” he said and frowned at her.
“No one in the newer part of town have grown ill, either, have they?” his mother asked. She stared at him as intently as he stared at her. Like they both were thinking carefully on this, wanting to help.
Tia was struck by how human the woman could be one moment and then Cruella de Nasty the next. Maybe she had a split personality.
“I think I’ll set Maria on the task of determining exactly which wells seemed most potent.” Tia bit her lip as she watched Aleksi’s mother’s face darken. She looked ready to spew venom, before his foot thumped hers gently. The woman settled down, and kept her mouth shut, but Tia wondered if there was bad blood between Maria and the princess.
Hhhmm. Something she might need to ask Helena, because that would mean kid gloves were necessary when handling both women. That’s all she needed – to bumble into the middle of their little war. People got injured that way, and since Tia was already adept at causing her own injuries, she didn’t feel it necessary to add extra opportunities.
“Jorge might already have that information,” Aleksi supplied.
She nodded. “I’ll ask them tomorrow. Probably our best course of action is to figure out the most prominent symptoms of the patients as we’re doing now, but also which wells seem to be the most problematic. Then we’ll test and see what we come up with.”
“How long do you think all of this will take?” her Aunt Emma asked.
Tia bit her lip. “I don’t know. A week, four weeks?”
“You don’t know?” Aleksi’s mother asked shrilly.
“No, there’s no way to know until we begin compiling data,” Tia said, her voice firm and her expression unwavering as she stared the demon woman in the eyes.
“You’re welcome to remain with us for as long as you wish,” Aleksi inserted smoothly and Tia turned to lock eyes with him.
She made herself tear her eyes from the liquid desire in his. Since she wanted to dive headfirst into the temptation he provided, but caution prohibited her, this time. What would happen when her normally careful self faltered? She’d attack the man. Great, then she’d be thrown into Rurikstan’s prison, and everyone would get sick and die and she’d rot in some jail cell.
What the Apes could do with that scenario made her shudder.
Maybe Admiral Rich could pull some strings to free her from her lonely cell, but she’d be marked as a prince jumper after that. Princes from all over the world would avoid her, knowing they’d have to feed her in prison otherwise.
Tia started to seriously doubt her sanity.
Now she was thinking up really bizarre scenarios, in the hopes of encouraging herself to keep her lusty little paws off the too-amazing-for-her prince. All she’d have to do was mention to one of her brothers that she had a few dreams involving Aleksi, and they were perfectly capable of weaving wacky, frightening stories.
Note to self – do not mention Aleksi to the Apes, at all, ever.
They’d pick up on her attraction, because that’s what obnoxious brothers did. Tia made another mental note. Don’t mention anything to her mother, either. Because her mother was naïve enough to not know she couldn’t say anything to the boys.
Macy knew, but she had enough sense to keep quiet. Nick sort of knew, but his attention span was severely lacking, so Tia didn’t think she had to worry. Unless he compared notes with Bryan and Josh, she should be okay.
Besides, they probably didn’t know how to make overseas calls, so she was likely safe. None of them would admit to not knowing such a thing, so they would never ask for help.
Tia’s eyes trailed to her aunt. Emma had already picked up on her feelings for Aleksi. Indeed, they had talked about him. She’d better mention to her aunt to keep that information to herself. Not that Tia feared Emma would talk, but just to be safe...
“I think we’d better turn in,” her aunt said, and smothered a yawn behind a dainty hand.
Rich nodded. “That’s a good idea. We’re feeling the time difference.”
Tia smiled. “It took me a little while to adjust, too. I should probably head off to bed. Looks like it’ll be a busy day in the lab.”
Aleksi rose to his feet and shook hands with her uncle. He kissed her aunt gently on the cheek, and Tia was heartened to see her sophisticated, savvy aunt blush discreetly under such incredible masculinity.
“You should be used to gorgeous men kissing you,” she hissed cheerfully to her aunt on their way up the stairs.
Emma sent her a knowing smile. “Aleksi’s definitely gorgeous, love.”
“You can’t mention that I’m attracted to him at home, you know,” Tia said, sending her aunt a warning glance.
“I know. Your brothers will be all over the subject and you won’t get any rest.”
“Not that any of them knows how to make overseas calls, but it’s still just as well they don’t know about my weakness for Aleksi.”
Emma laughed. “That’s not very nice.” Her scold fell a little flat since she couldn’t stop giggling.
Tia’s lips twitched. “But true,” she pressed.
“Maybe.”
“What’s not very nice?” Rich asked as he followed them up the stairs.
“Tia’s picking on her brothers.”
“I imagine she’s had a lot of practice.”
Tia loved the way his lips curved to the side and his eyes went a little hot when he looked at her aunt. There was no doubt this man loved his wife. And their love had lasted for thirty years. Apart. [The Nerd’s Pocket Pets – Book 4 – The Morrison Family Series]
She hadn’t thought such a love possible, but her Aunt Emma and Uncle Rich proved otherwise. For that matter, her parents, grandparents, and many of her aunts and uncles had solid, lasting, loving marriages.
The thought of a man like Aleksi loving her for that many years nearly blew her cell membranes. Men didn’t love nerds. Well, a Marine fell in love with her cousin, who was a nerd. And their marriage seemed solid. Lainy, after a few years of marriage to Mitch, still glowed with love.
Okay, so princes didn’t fall for nerds. Marines did.
Tia sighed as she waved to Emma and Rich who continued to the next room down the hall. Men didn’t fall for her. Maybe that’s what she should have said.
Guess it was a good thing she liked her job. Hopefully it’d keep her warm at night. Because it’s all she could see in her future.
Tia plodded into her bathroom and stroked the shower levers. When she got home, she just might install one of these babies in her bathroom. At least she’d have something to look forward to when she got home.
It was something she had to dole out a little money for, but it would keep her warm at night. Since the sexy prince probably wasn’t for sale. Too bad.