“GOOD MORNING, PRINCESS.”
Kostas’s words wrapped around her as she rolled over in the massive bed. Their massive bed. He’d slept better than he had in forever. Having Calla next to him was the best feeling in the world.
“I’m not a princess, at least not yet. No matter what Christos and Georgios said yesterday.”
Running his hand down her side, he kissed her. It wasn’t much of a kiss. Not passionate, but it felt special. The world looked for passion, for the big moments, but it was these little ones that made for a happy life.
Now that he’d found it, he’d do anything to protect it. To protect her and their child.
“It’s a term associated with royal fiancées in Palaío too. You aren’t Your Royal Highness until after we wed, but you became a princess when we got engaged. The best way to protect the baby and you.”
“So you told the staff we were engaged before you asked me?” Calla blinked. “What if I’d said no?”
Kostas held up her hand, enjoying the sight of the large ring on her finger. No one would doubt that he cared for her if they saw this. The ring screamed princess.
But his stomach pinched at the tone in her voice. “Calla, I assumed you didn’t want to announce the pregnancy, at least not yet. Though we won’t be able to keep it quiet much longer.”
“Meaning?” She sat up, pulling the covers with her.
He moved with her, trying to find the right words. “I can’t give palace protection to my girlfriend. Ioannis is not my father, but a full-time staff and security, who you’ll meet shortly, is not possible unless we announced your pregnancy or our engagement.”
“So this way we protect my privacy and the baby.” Calla swallowed. There was an underlying thread to her statement, but he couldn’t quite understand what it might be.
“I will keep you two safe. I promise.”
“Safe? What—”
A knock at the door interrupted whatever she was about to say. It was lost as Natalia and Angeliki entered. “Good morning. Sorry to interrupt, but there are a few things we should get ahead of before the event tonight.”
“Event?” Calla rolled off the bed and grabbed her blue robe, covering her tank top and short shorts. Putting on her glasses, she pushed her hair out of her face.
“The king and queen are holding a small reception to properly announce your engagement.”
He understood why Calla was focused on the word event, but it was the beginning of the statement that sent chills down his spine. “What ‘things’?”
He saw Natalia’s gaze shift to Angeliki. The woman was Calla’s assistant, and the fact that she adjusted her shoulders as she met Kostas’s and Calla’s looks confirmed his suspicions. “What does the news say this morning?”
“They are saying the princess was rude to a bodyguard and a pregnant woman yesterday. That she is already giving orders and acting like a diva. And that she will ruin you. The language is less flattering than that.”
Kostas sucked in a deep breath. None of that was fair. Eleni was the loved one, and they’d cast Calla in the opposite role. The truth failing to matter.
Calla laughed. The sound echoing off the walls of the room. The women seemed as stunned as he was at seeing his soon-to-be bride’s mirth at the situation. She clapped and walked to the closet.
“Look at that, Kostas. We’ve rehabilitated your image.” She winked as she opened the door. “You just had to fall for a diva. I’ve had a few rows with patients, but even in the throes of labor pains, no one has ever called me a diva.”
“This isn’t funny, sweetheart. If they are making such statements, it means they are making you the villain. The roles they choose in the first few weeks will stick.” Kostas kept his voice even though he wanted to dictate a forceful response and demand its immediate publication through their social media.
“If you’re the villain, then so is our child.” He pushed again. “We have to respond.”
“No. We don’t.” Calla kissed his cheek as she emerged from the closet with a pair of worn blue jeans and T-shirt. “Do you see me as the villain?”
“Of course not.” Kostas felt his head pop back at the ridiculous question.
“Do either of you?” Calla asked the assistants, who both shook their heads no. “Do you think Alexa or Kali will think me the villain, or Ioannis or Eleni?”
“No,” Kostas muttered. “But that doesn’t mean that we just let this stand. We need to make sure they see us as above this. Know that we won’t stand for lies.”
“Kostas, you can’t fight every battle.”
“For our child—” for you “—I certainly can.”
He hated the exasperation he saw dripping from Calla, but she needed to understand. Ignoring the mistruths didn’t make them go away. His mother and Maria hadn’t had someone to respond for them. Calla would...always.
“Fine. If you want to issue a rebuttal, go for it. But I doubt it fixes anything.” Calla held up her jeans then looked at the assistants.
“I hate to be a diva they’re accusing me of being on day one, but any chance Eleni has some belly bands? You know, the stretchy bands most women wear early when their pants get a little snug? I should have thought to order some, but everything’s been...” Calla blew out a breath as she forced a smile. “Would hate for the press to get a picture of my unbuttoned pants and jump to any conclusions. Even if they were right, this time.”
Her tone was playful, but he could hear a hint of fear. She was putting on a brave face, but Calla was nervous. That, he understood.
“We’ll find something, and we have a few dresses, too, for tonight’s party for you to choose from. Nothing in your closet works for the function,” Angeliki stated as she made a few notes on the tablet identical to the one Natalia carried around.
Kostas saw Calla blink and he reached for her hand. “Angeliki meant that, for a royal function, we need formal wear, and you understandably didn’t bring that with you.”
“Of course.” Calla offered him a tight smile. “Not a lot of room in my bag for long gowns.”
He squeezed her hand before turning back to the assistants. “I’ll work on the reply for the media, run it through the press secretary, and I need to swing by the clinic and check on Dimitra.”
“I’ll come too.” Calla brightened.
Before he could say anything, Angeliki rushed in. “We have some things we need to get set up here, Princess. It’s your day off, correct?” She looked from the tablet to Calla to Kostas.
“It is.” She hesitated and Kostas pulled her to him.
She softened in his arms and leaned her head against his chest. “I know this is a lot, sweetheart.” He squeezed her tightly. “But we’ll be fine. Promise.”
“We’re a team, remember.”
“We are.” Kostas nodded. But team or not, he would not allow the public to make the woman he loved a villain. She would not suffer the way his mother had. He’d protect her at all costs.
Kissing her again, he let her go. “I can’t wait to see the dress you pick out for tonight. You’ll be perfect. Everyone will think so.”
Calla rolled her eyes. “I’m not trying to be perfect, Kostas.” She kissed his cheek then let Angeliki direct her to the door.
“Champagne or hors d’oeuvres, Princess?”
Calla waved away the waiter for what felt like the hundredth time. The room was full of people snacking and drinking. She couldn’t consume any alcohol and the small trays of food turned her stomach.
So far, she’d rarely had issues with morning sickness, but her stomach was tossing too much at the moment to put anything in it.
“How are you holding up?” Eleni’s voice was quiet and only for her ears as Calla stood in the crowded room.
In theory, this was the party celebrating her and Kostas’s impending nuptials, but she’d chosen nothing. No input on the flowers, the food, drinks, the messaging. Even her dress was the only one from Eleni’s closet that had fit her petite frame. It was not how she’d imagined an engagement party. Though, she’d never anticipated marrying royalty. Perhaps this was just the way it was.
Pursing her lips, she resisted the urge to shrug, knowing tons of eyes were trained on all her movements.
“Overwhelming.” Calla offered Eleni what she hoped was close to a cheerful smile to cover the unsettledness tugging at her back.
Eleni slid her hand through Calla’s as they started toward another area of the party, casually making conversation with a few people as they walked past. Eleni was an expert at making others feel comfortable without actually saying anything too deep. It was a skill Calla had seen Kostas use too. But it felt wrong.
At least for her.
She understood the need to guard herself. But she wanted to be genuine. There would be days where she was happy, others where she was cross. She didn’t want to wear a royal mask. She wanted the people of Palaío to see her exactly as she was.
A midwife, a soon-to-be mom, a wife who loved her husband...even if they fought occasionally. She wasn’t interested in the fairy tale. She wanted the real thing.
Kostas found her across the crowd, saw she was with Eleni, and nodded. She’d had no time alone since she’d been in her apartment putting on makeup to prepare for the rabid press outside her door. How had that only been a day ago?
“He’s talking to one of the television anchors...”
“No doubt reiterating the palace’s line regarding me. Trying to make me seem perfect.” Calla bit the inside of her cheek as the words left her lips. “Sorry, Eleni.”
“Don’t be.” The queen hugged her. “This is a lot, Calla.” She paused, checked their location, and then motioned for Calla to follow her.
They stepped into a small room, and Eleni squeezed her hands. “Are you sure about this?”
Calla hesitated. She wanted to say yes. She was sure about Kostas. It was the prince she wavered on. He claimed they were one and the same, but they weren’t. The mask he wore around others, the buttoned-up man trying so hard to prove that he wasn’t the rebellious teen, was hard to watch.
He deserved to be who he was, the kindhearted, playful man who enjoyed silly coffee mugs and had come home to ensure the people of his island had access to a great OBGYN. He cared what they thought of him...and what they thought of her.
What if the press never changed its thoughts on her? Calla didn’t mind, as long as Kostas didn’t treat her differently. But could he separate the two? She didn’t need protection from poisoned pens—at least, not all the time. She just wanted his love.
“I don’t know.” It was honest, but she saw Eleni’s eyes dip. Calla hated disappointing her, but she would not pretend things were fine if they weren’t. She’d sworn not to do that again after her last relationship. It was hard, but she’d stand in her own truth. Even if it wasn’t what others wanted to hear.
“I lo—” She caught herself, though she suspected Eleni knew she’d been about to say she loved Kostas. He deserved to hear that first.
“A marriage of convenience...” she continued, “well, it’s just not the way I envisioned things.” Her stomach rumbled and she laughed. “Guess I should have eaten something.”
“That is easily rectified.” Eleni grinned, but it didn’t quite meet her eyes. She reached for the door handle then paused.
“Calla...” She sighed as she seemed to weigh her words. “Life is too short not to be certain of your place. I think you are, but Kostas ran away rather than force the island to accept who he truly is. He came home because Ioannis asked him, though I suspect Kostas saw it as an order. He’s seeking outside approval, and he may never get it. I don’t have an answer for any of that, but wanted you to know.”
“I do.” Calla nodded. She knew who she was, what she would accept; now she had to hope Kostas would accept that person, as well. And maybe step into his true self full-time too.
“There you are.” Kostas beamed as she and Eleni stepped from the room. “I thought maybe you were hiding. This is a lot.”
“Do you want to hide?” Calla offered. “We can for a few minutes.”
“It’s our party, Calla.”
“Is it?” She raised a brow.
“Of course.” He gestured to the room as Eleni made a silent retreat. “Our names are even on the cake.”
“What’s the flavor of the cake, Kostas?”
He blinked at her question. “What?”
It was a small thing. But he’d told her yesterday that it mattered that she liked her blue robe. He’d meant it then too. But did he give himself the same grace? The same ability to choose his likes based on what he wanted?
“The flavor of the cake, Kostas. That big, beautiful cake. My favorite flavor is a white cake with raspberry filling, and yours?”
“Dark chocolate with chocolate icing.”
“Well, that cake certainly doesn’t have chocolate icing. And I suspect there is no raspberry filling.” She gestured to the decorations and food. “This is an experience for others, not our party.”
Kostas brushed his lips against hers. “I told Natalia and Angeliki to make sure everything was perfect. That no one could find fault with it.”
And there was the crux of the problem. He was still terrified of anyone finding fault, or people he didn’t know thinking he was the prodigal or rebel prince. “Kostas, people are going to find fault. You—we are public figures. You can’t stop the tongues wagging. All you can do is find happiness.”
With me. Those words felt like too much in the crowded ballroom, but she held them tight within her.
“I am happy.” He squeezed her.
She wanted to believe him. But as his eyes wandered the room, she saw the need for approval, the desire to control the story. She knew he wanted to protect her, but was it really for her?