Page 23 of Redemption of a Prince

“Even more than the beach?” she asked, glancing at him.

“Definitely. It’s much more tranquil up here.” He’d spent a couple of weeks at the beach house earlier in the year when his younger brother, Caleb, was recovering from surgery following an auto accident.

Caleb had loved it.

Zeke hadn’t.

But he wasn’t the one who’d nearly died due to an auto accident, so it was Caleb who needed to be where he preferred.

The SUV glided to a stop in front of the stairs leading to the entrance. Two members of the household staff waited to open both doors.

He noticed Nikki climbed out then turned to get her own things, her long coat, which she threw over her arm, then a large purse and her attaché case.

By then, he was already to the base of the steps, having left his things behind, knowing someone would bring them to his office or rooms.

She wouldn’t know someone else could take care of it though.

Zeke frowned to himself. Did he take too much for granted?

Most likely.

But it was the only life he’d ever known.

Perhaps he should see what he could do for himself that he didn’t normally.

“What?” Nikki asked when she rejoined him.

“Just thinking. Someone would have brought your things to you.”

She shrugged. “I don’t mind. One of the cardinal rules at my house growing up was ‘don’t make more work for other people.’ It’s not always possible, of course, but I was taught that, whenever possible, you do your best to look after yourself.”

He started up the stairs. “So you’d feel more comfortable taking your own luggage in?” He hoped his question came off as it was meant to - genuinely curious and not condescending.

“Not necessarily. I had them most of the way downstairs when the guy from the palace met me coming out of the elevator. If I hadn’t been quite ready and was still rushing to get things done, and he’d shown up at my door, I gladly would have let him help.”

She stopped at the top of the stairs and turned, looking out over the trees in the front of the property. “It’s more about picking up after yourself, cleaning the kitchen if you make food, things like that. Not getting pregnant at sixteen and causing your parents all kinds of extra work.”

Before he could respond, she turned toward the house. “But I didn’t put my coat on, and I’m getting cold.”

As promised, the lazy snowflakes hadn’t amounted to much but had put a dusting in her hair and on the shoulders of her knit jumper.

The door opened from the inside.

The house manager, a man Zeke had known for many years, greeted him with a bow. “Your Royal Highness, Ms. Major. Welcome to Mt. Paloma Manor.”

“Thank you,” Nikki said before Zeke could. “This place is amazing.”

The house manager smiled. “I’m only responsible for the upkeep. It’s been here over a hundred years, so the one responsible for its magnificence is long gone.” He closed the door behind them then turned to Zeke. “Shall I show the lady to her room, sir, or would you prefer to?”

He changed his mind a thousand times in the two seconds he thought it over. “I’ll show her. Which room is she in?”

“The queen thought perhaps she would enjoy the northwest turret room, sir.” He bowed his head in Nikki’s direction. “There are instructions on the desk if you need anything, ma’am. Please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you,” Nikki told him again.

Zeke found himself letting his hand rest on the small of her back as he started for one of the staircases nearby. “We’ll take the stairs this time. It’ll give you a better idea of how the house is laid out, but I’ll show you where the elevator is, too.”

“There’s an elevator?” she whispered as they started up the stairs.

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