“I have to run some errands and get my things. Is there anything you need?”

Okay, she hadn’t been expecting that. She eyed the honeysuckle shampoo and conditioner sitting on the corner of the shower bench. She could use more of that. Oh, and groceries. Let him do the mundane things a husband would do. Things that would completely bore him and make him realize that this—them—was not going to work. “Could you go into town and get me some of my hair stuff? I get it at Carolina Dreams on Ivy Lane. Rose Holland makes it for me,” she said, stepping into the shower and closing the glass door. “And if you want stuff to eat, you’d better head to the nearest grocery store. I haven’t had time to shop.”

Christian’s hand hovered above the doorknob. The sound of the water sluicing over her body made him hard. It would be so easy to join her, pleasure her and spend the rest of the day in bed. But he had to go. And then come back.

Zoe had to realize, had to unequivocally be made aware, that he kept his word. That he wanted to be with her. “I’ll see you this afternoon, love. It might take me a while to get back.”

“Take all the time you need,” she yelled over the noise of the shower.

He lifted his eyebrow and twisted his lips in amusement at her answer. After getting a shower in the guest bathroom and dressing in the spare clothes he had stashed in his rental, he headed out the front door to find Sasha waiting for him.

His cousin leaned against a black Mercedes. A driver held open the door.

Christian raked a hand through his hair. This wasn’t the way to travel through Zoe’s hometown. Honestly, it didn’t matter. Getting her back was his number one goal and nothing would stop him. Including whatever his father had instructed Sasha to do.

“What?” Sasha asked, correctly reading his look of annoyance.

“I’m not looking for attention. I’m here to get my wife back.”

Sasha sighed. “Fine, but I’m not, under any circumstances, riding in a jacked-up anything.”

Now this was the Sasha he knew. “Will a Suburban do, your highness?”

“I suppose.”

After sending the car and their driver on his way, the two made their way to town, passing farm after farm.

“Good God, this place is bucolic,” Sasha said as they passed yet another pasture of cows grazing.

Christian couldn’t have agreed more, but that’s what he liked about Holland Springs. “Quit being such a damned snob.”

“I’m perfectly content with my snobbery and the knowledge that I will never, ever live in a place like this,” Sasha said. “Want to go cow tipping this evening? I hear it’s all the rage ‘round these here parts. Maybe if you bring Zoe the prized heifer she’ll know you’re totally serious.”

“Job security has never been a worry of yours, has it?” Christian fiddled with the radio, glancing down for only a moment.

“Brakes.”

“What?” Christian slammed on the brakes, coming to a stop mere inches from a parade of ducks and their goslings. The mothers of the group squawked at the Suburban. At the very end a black cat trotted after them, nudging the last baby duck in line with its nose.

The cat stopped in the middle of the road, staring at them with eerie blue eyes.

He felt rather than saw Sasha stiffen. “This has got to be the strangest place we’ve ever been.”

“Even weirder than Madam Flower’s?” Christian asked, referring to the week they’d spent in Monaco and in the company of some very talented women. Well, if one could call their depraved specialties talents.

Christian tapped the horn and the cat sauntered away, flicking its tail. He pressed the gas, relieved to see the sign for the town after ten minutes of driving

“A great big emphatic yes,” Sasha said. “No more of that kind of thing for you. Unless you can talk Zoe into putting a—”

“Alexander,” Christian said with a warning note in his voice. “You know, I cannot wait for you to meet the woman that makes your life a living hell.”

“Because being controlled by my uncle, your father, isn’t enough?” Sasha had him there. “By the way, I was the one who slipped your ring in your pocket. Brennen thought he was playing a fantastic joke on you, but I was trying to make it up to you both.”

Christian grinned. “I knew there was a reason I kept you around.”

“My brilliant conversation skills aren’t enough?”

Christian made a left onto Ivy Lane, pulling into an empty parking spot. He turned to his cousin and punched him in the shoulder. “God love you, Sasha.”

***

After leaving the apothecary shop on Ivy, Christian peered at his cousin who was unusually quiet. “Have all my packages arrived?”

“Uh-huh,” Sasha replied, staring out of the passenger window.

Christian stopped for a red light. “When will my piano be delivered? I would like to start playing again.”

“Uh- huh.”

What the hell was wrong with Sasha? “I’ve decided to quit acting and take up quilting.” Again, his cousin answered with the same tone. “You’ll join me of course. Collecting scraps, sewing edges. Shaving dogs for the stuffing.”

“Uh—what?” Sasha’s lips rose on one side. “Have you gone mental?”

“No, but I think you have. Anyway, what’s the status on my things?”

Sasha pulled out his blackberry and touched the screen. “Quite a few have already arrived and are waiting for you at Chesson House. The rest should be here by the end of next week.”

The light turned green and Christian drove to the town’s one grocery store. “Fantastic. The sooner Zoe sees I’m here to stay, the better.”

“Uh-huh,” Sasha said, once again distracted by something. Or was it someone?

Rose Holland, one of the owners of Carolina Dreams, had had an uncommon effect on his cousin. Sasha had been virtually silent as soon as he saw her, then rude. To a woman he’d never met before.

Christian had apologized profusely to Rose before they left, but it didn’t look like that had helped. Rose had fixed Sasha with a look so cold that even Christian had shivered. Almost as if the room had dropped about thirty degrees. At one point Christian could have sworn he saw his breath coming out.

“Rose got your tongue?” Christian teased.

Sasha rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s got more than my tongue.”

“You know her?”

“Not really,” Sasha said, then tapped his fingers against his thigh. “Let’s get the rest of your honey-do list over with. I need to fly back to London this evening.”

“Summoned by Vladimir?”

“What do you think?”

Well, that was that. “Have you found out any more information about who’s scooped the pictures of me? Currently, my agent and I aren’t speaking.” Martha hadn’t bothered to answer the last three emails Christian had sent her either, but she hadn’t ended their business relationship. Yet.

“The two bloggers that have it are holding out until confirmation. Perhaps this can be contained after all? Why don’t you let me put out a statement about you and the wife. Generate some buzz.”

The second and last stop light at the town’s only major intersection changed to red. Christian slowed the SUV to stop. “Absolutely not. I’m not using her for personal gain.”

“But this could be the end of everything,” Sasha protested, but Christian could tell his cousin’s heart wasn’t in it.

“Doesn’t matter,” Christian said. He’d find a way to keep B.T.S. funded, without them knowing about it. He didn’t need their approval anymore, only his wife’s.

His cousin clapped him on the shoulder. “Proud of you, mate.”

“Quite sentimental of you, Alexander.”

“Don’t get all watery. I think you’ve completely lost it.”

The light turned green. Christian slammed down on the gas pedal, laughing as Sasha was unceremoniously thrown back against the leather seat. “I hope to God I never find it.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

It had taken Christian longer than he’d like to get all of his errands accomplished and by the time he’d returned home—yes, he was most definitely calling Zoe’s house that—it was almost four in the afternoon.

He’d dropped off Sasha, who was still moody as hell, at the airport before driving like a bat out of hell, keeping his eyes peeled for any animals on parade.

Once again, he took some time to check out his new digs. The two-story home had gingerbread lattice work and large porches on the front and back. The siding was painted a bright white while the trim was a deep black with matching shutters. Spring flowers bloomed in wide flowerbeds along the front and side of the house. A large pecan tree sat off to the side with a sturdy branch hanging low enough for a tire swing.

He would push his children on that swing. Hear them laugh and play. And he would never pit them against each other. Never tell one that he or she was worthless. Never abuse them.

The thought of children startled him, but why shouldn’t he think about the future with Zoe? He’d done it all, seen it all (thanks to the duck and cat parade), and had it all.

With that thought in mind, he grabbed some of the bags from the back of his SUV and headed in the house. After unloading everything and still no sign of Zoe, he headed out the sliding glass door to look for her. Her black Camaro was sitting in the driveway, so she hadn’t gone that route. But anyone could have come and gotten her. She was surrounded by a family that loved her, and, most likely, wanted to murder him.

Which made them rise in his estimation.

He found her, sitting on a large quilt under a flowering tree with her hands over her face. She had flowers and ribbons sticking out of the loose braid she wore.

Zoe’s shoulders shook. The straps of her pink sundress had fallen down to rest on the each side as she trembled. It was the same dress she’d worn when they’d gotten married. Dammit, she was crying. Again. If he wasn’t the biggest ass on the planet, he didn’t know who was. He could have taken her with him instead of needing to prove himself to her. He made a move in her direction.

She jumped to her feet and yelled, “Ready or not, here I come.”

He stopped short and looked around. A little girl’s giggle sounded to the right of him and he could just make out the blonde curls that were visible over a green bush with yellow flowers. A bright pink bow wobbled at the top as the toddler moved.

He stayed hidden on the porch, watching as Zoe chased her niece around the back yard, flowers falling with each step. High pitched shrieks punctuated the air until Zoe captured her in a big hug.

“I hungry, Aunt Zoe,” the little girl said.

He studied the child. She had to be SmithAnn.

“Me, too.” Zoe grabbed the child’s hand, walking to the back porch. “I have all your favorite things in my pantry.”

So his wife hadn’t needed the groceries after all. Or she thought she was sending him off on a wild goose chase. It didn’t matter, because if that’s what it took to earn her trust, then that’s what he’d do.

He shoved his hands into his pocket and waited, a big grin on his face. The wind lifted the bottom of Zoe’s dress. She had the loveliest legs and the most tempting thighs. He sucked in a breath and thought of football. Of his agent. Of any damn thing that could put his mind to non-carnal thoughts.

Zoe opened the screen door, her eyes widening. “I didn’t think you’d be back...”—her eyes flicked down to SmithAnn—“so soon.”

He bet she didn’t. He grinned at his new niece and got on his knees. “Hi, I’m Christian.”

SmithAnn’s brown eyes mimicked her aunt’s, but for an entirely different reason. “It’s you!” She threw her arms around him, nearly over toppling him. “Prince Ian!”

Zoe grabbed her niece and pulled her away. “What in the world are you talking about?”

“I show you!” The little girl tugged on her arm, then placed a chubby hand on Christian’s. “I show you.”

As her niece led them into house, Zoe couldn’t stop glancing at her husband. He was back. Seriously in the flesh back and had brought groceries. Bags of food covered the island in her kitchen. Suitcases were piled up by her front door. He really was serious about moving in with her.

“Mind if I put my things in your closet?”he asked.

She frowned at him. “Do I have a choice?”

SmithAnn let out a cheer and did what all almost three years old could do. Turn on the flat-screen and work the DVD player. “Prince Ian and Uni!”

Zoe smacked her mouth with her hand, laughing as Christian appeared on screen. He wore a gold crown and brandished a sword at a cartoon fire-breathing dragon. The perky sparkling unicorn, Uni, appeared by his side. They worked together to rescue the princess. However, the princess ended up saving them from her pet dragon who had only needed a nap to be less cranky.

“I’ll have you know that’s some of my finest work as an actor.” Christian’s voice was in her ear, hot breath caressing as his hands touched her hips. “Want to be my princess? I swear I’ll put something harder and larger than a pea in bed with you.”

“Only you could take a children’s fairy tale and make it lascivious.”

“Only you could say the word lascivious and make me want to bend you over the dining room table.” His hands slid lower, cupping her bottom. “Have I told you how lovely your ass looks when I’m taking you from behind?”