“Quinn’s professed goal in this whole situation is to protect her mother from being hurt.”Heath stared out at the garden, where the pretty redhead was now taking pictures of the family as they played.One of the many things she was especially good at was candid shots.“I don’t think it’s realistic—at least, not forever.Though if the king threatens to expose the connection, it’d only tick Quinn off.If he does that, how can he then persuade her to marry this duke?”
“We agree.Lia says we should all encourage Quinn to tell her mom to help prepare her.”Coop shoved his hands in his pockets.“With that threat gone, what power could the king have over Quinn?”
“Right.But how could he know that?I think she’s making a bigger deal of this in her mind than it really is.”Heath leaned closer to the window.The first of the raindrops had begun, and it looked like the session was ending.As the family scurried back toward the castle, laughing and covering their heads, Quinn continued to click away with her camera.
“Lia thinks you’ll have the best luck convincing Quinn.”
“Me?”Heath glanced at his friend again.“Why me?”
“Because she usually listens to you when you give advice.”Coop grinned.“It must be your brainiac, computer nerd, know-it-all manner.”
“Hey, it’s not my fault that I’m usually right.”But it gave Heath pause to think Quinn might place more credence in his advice that she would Lia’s.The two women had hit it off the first time they’d met the year before and became best friends since.
“Well, I’m glad your mother assigned you to help so much with the Harvest Festival.You’ll be able to keep an eye on Quinn.”Coop turned from the window and indicated the stairs to the main floor.“Do you have a minute to go over the fence cameras on the north side?”
“Sure.”
As Heath followed, thinking about the added responsibility made his shoulders tense.When his mother had gotten the idea to partner with the neighboring farm to expand the existing Harvest Festival, Heath had supported the idea.Now it just seemed like a lot of extra work.
“Are you guys finally coming around to the issues I raised about opening that section next to the Tullis farm?”he asked as they clambered down the spiral staircase.
“I know.I know,” Coop grumbled.“It didn’t seem like such a big deal until suddenly we had foreign royalty register to attend.We’ll make sure not to schedule future high-profile guests during activities like the festival.”
Heath shook his head.He wasn’t sure his parents understood the contradictory nature of what they were trying to achieve with Wildstone.High-profile clients, as they’d taken to calling them, had security requirements that conflicted with the theme-park nature of Wildstone Village.
He hated the idea of closing off the Citadel to the public, but they’d have to do it when they had guests who required tight security anyway.They might have to resort to holding public days like those old estates in England sometimes had.
Maybe they could convincePrincess Quinnto be a tour guide.Imagining her expression if he were to call her that had him chuckling as he entered his office.
“What are you laughing about?”Coop asked, dropping into one of the office chairs.
“Still thinking about Quinn.”
“Have you been doing that a lot lately?”
Heath scowled as he typed in his password.“Haven’t we all?”
“Yeah.I guess.”But Coop was watching him with an expression which reminded Heath ominously of his mother’s matchmaker look.Heaven help them if Coop and Lia started trying to match Heath and Quinn.He’d only end up getting hurt.
Rubbing her eyes,Quinn leaned back in her chair.One bad thing about doing family sessions was she had to review and edit all the pictures.She was going to have to break down and buy some computer glasses to spare her eyes from so many hours staring at her screen.
She pulled her heavy sweater tighter around her and shuffled into the little kitchen.Quinn loved having a tiny apartment above her shop.She especially enjoyed the short and scenic commute to the castle.
While she waited for the kettle to heat, she went to the window overlooking the street.With the sound of the rain on her roof and the cozy warmth of the kitchen, Quinn felt a sense of peace and comfort in this place that she’d never known before.In so many ways, it was like living a dream.
A twinge of guilt made her shift uncomfortably.She’d enjoyed her growing-up years in Seattle, even if she’d been a little lonely.Her introverted parents had preferred quiet and solitude, which extraverted Quinn had struggled with.It was something she loved about the Savage family and the Citadel—there was always something going on.
The lifestyle here fit Quinn better.When it came time to leave, she wanted to bring that balance with her.
Her phone vibrated, and she retrieved it.Heath.Quinn’s stomach knotted.It was endearing how he, Lia, and Coop had rallied to support her, but hearing from them so often to see how she was doing didn’t help keep her from stressing out.
Dang.And she’d been having such a cozy and relaxing evening.She read the text.
Heath
Coop reminded me that we’re partnered tomorrow for the first day of the Harvest Festival.Is there anything you need me to bring?
Quinn’s shoulders relaxed, and she returned to the stove to make herself a cup of tea.She brought it with her to the single recliner her tiny living room could hold and settled in.After taking a few slow sips, she finally pulled out her phone again.
