Chapter Seventeen

 

 

The days dragged by and Jenna found herself wishing she could call Kelly and talk with her. She had played it cool when she got home from the ball, not letting Kelly know they’d decided to kind of try out a relationship out of the public eye. Kelly had made her admit that she’d had fun and the news that they had managed to get hundreds of thousands of dollars promised to their research funding was enough of a change of conversation that Jenna kept the kisses a secret.

The whole secret relationship was something that bothered her. She had understood his hesitation, especially after hearing some of the struggles his brother had gone through with dating an American, but at times, Jenna started wondering if he really wasn’t all that into her. They weren’t even serious yet, but without spending time together, there wouldn’t be any growth to a relationship. As that thought surfaced, she wondered if the reason he was so keen on keeping it to just the two of them was because he just thought it was convenient to date her when it was convenient to him.

Yet she still couldn’t really call it dating. They’d watched a movie together at his house only once since they’d decided to give things a go. He was too busy and always out in the public eye. Something she wanted nothing to do with, so that had worked out fine for her, but if he couldn’t admit it to others, there wasn’t a whole lot of hope they could make things work.

Their phone calls and texts while he was in Durham had always been regular and they’d often stayed up into the late hours just visiting until one of them finally had to call it a night. But his messages this week were fewer and further between. He’d warned her he wouldn’t be able to chat as much. Not that he’d told her what it was he had to do on his business trip, but she knew he would be spending some time with Prince Carlos and his new fiancée. And there were those official balls and black-tie events they always had to go to whenever a bunch of royals decided to get together or visit another country. Then adding all the holiday engagements that he’d have to attend as the official representative for Durham would eat away at his time.

That was one thing she could gladly do without. She’d enjoyed the one ball she’d attended with him, but she had felt brain-fried for days afterward. There was no way she could maintain his socializing pace. It was a good thing she could hide in her lab.

Jenna pulled her safety glasses down from the top of her head and adjusted them before walking into the room where she’d be implementing the newest process from Dr. Holland. She smiled at the rest of the lab workers who had already assembled themselves together.

“Shall we begin?” Jenna asked, forcing herself to forget Prince Stefan and whatever it was he was doing in Aragonia while she once again tackled those horrible cancer cells.

 

***

 

Stefan adjusted his tie and tucked his shirt in where it had come loose when he’d fixed his shoes. He should be used to these stupid tuxes since he attended these black-tie affairs at least monthly, but he wished he could be back home in the theater room with Jenna, snacking on popcorn as they snuggled together for a movie.

If she were here with him, he wouldn’t be so bored at these things. He wanted to let her see all the things he did all the time and watch her eyes light up as she discovered something new. Yet, in all the newness and things she’d never done before, she still handled herself like a champion. He was one lucky man, and he needed to stake his claim before someone else swept her off her feet and away from him.

Though she would never just go chasing after the other men that might see her as some conquest. She was too smart for that and he loved that about her.

He’d be able to go home to her soon. Tonight, he’d schmooze the right people and give all the right impressions to show the world Durham was doing just fine. Tomorrow, he’d finish up his business and fly home the following morning. He could wait that long. He’d waited twenty-seven years to find her, and he was almost certain he wouldn’t have to keep looking anymore.

When he left his rooms in the palace owned by Carlos’s family, he worked his way to his friend’s suite and knocked.

Carlos answered and gave him the once over. “Looking good, as always.”

“You’re looking a little extra tonight.” Stefan pointed out the official uniform Carlos sported with some of his medals for serving in Aragonia’s Air Force.

“Father wants to officially announce the engagement, so I have to look official.”

“Nice,” Stefan said. After a moment, he continued. “Can I ask a personal question?”

Carlos turned to him and nodded.

“What did your family and country think of you dating an American?”

Carlos studied him for a moment, not answering. Then instead of answering, he asked his own question. “You dating Dr. Owens?”

Stefan breathed out slowly. “I don’t know if I can officially call it dating. We’ve done a few things together, but there has been no time for dating. But I enjoy her company more than any other woman I’ve met.”

“So why haven’t you dated?” Carlos asked.

“I’m a little nervous about the public outcry it might bring. Alex has had such a time of it, and I didn’t want that for myself or to bring it upon my family again. Just didn’t seem fair to my parents.”

“But you like this woman, don’t you?” Carlos asked.

“Yes, of course. She’s one of the most fascinating women I’ve met.”

“So then make it official. Date her. What do you care what the media says? You don’t read the magazines anyway. And for the people who matter in your life, your parents, your siblings and cousins, what do they think of her?”

“Everyone who’s met her loves her. There is nothing not to like.”

“Then who cares what the people think? You don’t owe them anything. You should find the woman who makes you happy. The one you can see yourself raising a family with. The one that will help you in all you do and that will let you help her in what she does. It isn’t about your country, Stefan. It’s about the two of you.”

Stefan paused. His country’s opinion had always been in the back of his mind. He didn’t want to be thought poorly of. But everyone who knew Jenna, liked her. And though she wasn’t a titled woman or even from Durham, she was incredible and any country would be lucky to have her.

“How do you feel about her?” Carlos asked.

“I think I could very easily love her the way you love your Lindy.”

Carlos smiled. “Ah, I’m not sure if anyone can love someone as much as I love Lindy, but I suppose you could come close. And if you feel even a part of what I feel for mi linda toward your Jenna, then make it official. Date her for real and in public. See where it goes. And someday, you might find yourself lucky enough to get to marry the woman of your dreams.”

Carlos clapped Stefan on the shoulder. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go meet mi corazón and announce to the world my love for her.”

Stefan smiled as his friend walked out the door and motioned for him to follow. It was easy to see how happy Carlos was now, compared to even a few short months ago. Stefan himself felt happier than he had in a while, and he missed Jenna more than he thought he would since it had only been a week. But he would see her soon. He couldn’t wait.

As the night progressed, Stefan enjoyed spending time with people he hadn’t seen in years. Many who’d been invited to join Carlos and Lindy in their official announcement. He even saw his and Carlos’s good friend, Elise, from school. Stefan had dated her a little in college and though they had both felt things might work out between them at the time, it was easy to see as the years passed that they weren’t right for each other.

She was nice enough, but Elise thrived on attention and loved the little games that went along with being titled. He’d known she was befriending them so that by being with two princes it would up her status, but it hadn’t bothered him at the time. When she approached him right after the king of Aragonia’s official announcement, Stefan smiled and accepted her hug.

“It’s so good to see you, Stefan,” she said, before pulling back and smiling widely as she met his eyes. “You look amazing.”

“As do you,” Stefan said, knowing she’d need a compliment in return. “What have you been up to lately?” He didn’t want too many details, but needed to stay polite.

“Oh, so many things,” Elise said as she placed her arm through his. “Come, talk with me. Or we could dance if you prefer. I am dying to catch up.”

Stefan led her to the dance floor and placed his hand on her hip and the other in her hand.

“What have you been doing with your time?” Elise asked as she stepped closer during the turn. “I seem to recall reading something about you working with a researcher for cancer. Is that right?”

At the thought of Jenna, Stefan smiled wishing it was her in his arms instead of Elise. “Yes, I have been fortunate to find one of the most brilliant minds to work in my laboratory to help eradicate cancer.”

“Amazing,” Elise said, pulling closer to him.

Stefan tried to put a little more space between them, but this part of the dance called for a turn and he tucked his hand behind her back to steady the motion. Elsie laughed with pleasure.

“I’d almost forgotten what an incredible dancer you are.” She practically purred and Stefan knew he needed to put a little distance between them. Yet he couldn’t just leave her on the dance floor or she’d make a scene and Carlos didn’t need that tonight. They continued dancing while Stefan tried to guide her in a way that kept her far enough away she couldn’t try putting any of the same moves on him she’d tried before.

As the song drew to a close, Stefan offered his arm to Elise to escort her off the dance floor. She threaded her arm through his and leaned in close as they walked off the floor. She smiled up at him, yet didn’t actually meet his eyes. Stefan sighed internally. She wasn’t really after him. She was there for the publicity. To once again rub shoulders with people in high places so she could get what she wanted. When they reached the edge of the dance floor, they were met by Philippe Marceau and some overly made-up girl on his arm.

Elise leaned in close to Stefan, whispering in his ear. “Please help me avoid him. Philippe has been pestering me to dance all night and I really don’t think I can handle it, but my father needs to keep on his good side until the deal is finalized.”

Stefan looked down at Elise. He knew enough of Philippe from years of attending the same events with him. He’d reached billionaire status on his own after his father had given him a couple million to start a business and seemed to think any woman was his for the picking.

“Of course,” Stefan said, affectionately patting her hand on his arm. He met Philippe’s eyes as they paused a moment. “I do hope you’ll excuse us.” He smiled back down at Elise. “We’d like to catch up since it’s been so long.”

Elise tucked her head on his shoulder for a moment as a sign of affection then as they walked away from Philippe and his dance partner, Elise squeezed his arm. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He led her over to a quieter part of the ballroom, but didn’t take her outside. He didn’t want her to get the wrong impression, but as he watched her eyeing all the different people at the ball, he knew Elise had no designs on him. Something that relieved him and made him excited to get back home to Jenna. One more day, he could do that.