Page 154 of Once Upon a Holidate
“Dress like a man?” he asked, his voice teasing.
She wanted to smile back and laugh with him. She wanted to know it was going to be all right, but it wasn’t. She’d put off telling the truth long enough.
“Cade, I’ve really enjoyed my time with you. More than I should have, I think. I like you a lot.” Which was the coward’s way of avoiding saying she loved him, but one confession at a time seemed the most reasonable path.
He leaned toward her and took her hand in his. “I feel the same way, Beth. I like to tease, but the truth is you’ve made a big impact on me. I know it’s happened fast and we have to get to know each other better, but I’m hoping we can figure out a way to make that happen.”
“First I have to tell you something.”
He stiffened slightly and drew back. “What?”
“It’s not bad.” Or maybe it would be to him. “I mean, I’m not married or dying or anything else. I’m exactly who I said, with one small difference.”
His phone beeped. They both glanced at the screen and saw the gate notification.
“I’m not expecting anyone,” he said, pushing the button to activate the speaker at the gate.
“Can I help you?”
“Cade? It is I, King Malik. Good morning. Or should I say good afternoon? I was in the neighborhood and thought I would stop by to check on how things are going with you and Rida.”
Bethany fought against sudden nausea. She couldn’t breathe, which was fine because if she passed out she wouldn’t have to face what was about to happen.
Cade stared at the phone in obvious surprise. “Um, okay. Let me buzz you in.” He pushed a button on his phone, then glanced at her. “Did you know about this?”
“No. I talked to my mother last night and she didn’t say a word.” Her mother had been dressed for a state dinner. How on earth could her father have attended that, then flown all the way here? He must have gotten on a plane the second she and her mom had hung up. But why? What had she said to make this happen?
She tried telling herself that she was imagining the connection, but couldn’t make herself believe it. She knew her father too well. The timing was more than suspect. He had a reason for showing up today and now she would have to deal with a lot more consequences than she’d anticipated.
“Why would your mother know if King Malik was coming here or not?” Cade asked.
Bethany glanced down at what she was wearing—or not wearing. She thought about bolting for her room, only there wasn’t time. Even as she considered her options, she heard a car pulling up in front of the house.
“You’d better go let him in,” she said quietly, willing Cade to... to... What? Believe in her? Trust her? She’d had her chance. She’d had chances every second of every day since she’d arrived. Whatever happened now was her fault and no one else’s.
Cade gave her a confused look as he got up. She started to follow, then stopped halfway as Cade opened the door.
King Malik wore a dark suit with a white shirt and red tie. He looked powerful and successful, very much the man in charge. Cade shook hands with him and said something she couldn’t hear before they both turned to her.
Her father looked her up and down, then raised his eyebrows but didn’t say anything.
In her gut she sensed he might play along if she introduced herself as Beth Smith and pretended they barely knew each other. She had a feeling she might be able to stretch out the lie a little longer—only she was done playing that particular game.
She crossed to her father and raised herself on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.
“Hi, Dad. This is unexpected.”
“Bethany.” Malik glanced between the two of them. “It seems I came at a bad time. Would you like a moment to go get changed?”
“Yes.”
She drew in a breath, grabbed on to what little courage she had left, then faced Cade.
Anger darkened his hazel eyes. Anger and something else. Something cold and unforgiving and very much like a sense of betrayal.
“I’m sorry you had to find out like this,” she began. “I’m not Beth Smith. I’m Bethany Archer, otherwise known as Princess Bethany of El Bahar. King Malik is my adoptive father.”
Cade opened his mouth but before he could respond, Malik moved to stand between them.
