Prince Incognito

Chapter Two

Luc unlocked the door to his own room and went inside, tossing the white cowboy hat onto the bed. He was still thinking about the latest guest to arrive at the Benedict Ranch.

She amused him, did Miss Carly Carpenter, with her quick wit and baggy attire. Not the usual woman of his acquaintance, but that was the appeal, he thought. She hadn’t simpered and fawned over him.

Probably because, to his enormous relief, she had no idea who he was. For once he was in a place where not one person—other than his old college mate, Carson Benedict—had even a hint of who he was.

Never in his life had he been out of the limelight, though he’d lived in the shadow of his brother for most of the time. But since Philippe’s death, the European paparazzi had turned into blood-sucking leeches, draining every moment of peace from his life. The American press, while fascinated by him during his brief time at university, had yet to discover his presence this trip.

He could thank Carson for that. His friend had graciously agreed to protect his privacy and in effect hide him out for this last summer. His summer of decision.

He rubbed at the little knot of tension in his neck and went to the computer on the small desk next to the window. Though he wasn’t picky about accommodations, the room was pleasant and sparkling clean.

Knotty-pine walls surrounded an ample-size bed covered in a colorful red-and-blue Americana quilt. A large area rug was beneath his feet, and a small bathroom opened off to one side. He knew from conversations with Carson that the baths had been added when the ranch had opened its doors to visitors.

He felt for his old friend, a quiet loner of a man who must be constantly annoyed to have strangers running about his land. Carson had been as much a misfit at Princeton as he, though for far different reasons. They had become such good friends because they’d both sought solitude and peace where there was none.

Flipping open the lid of the laptop, Luc typed in his password and opened his e-mail, checking for word from the palace in Montavia. He’d promised his father, King Alexandre, that he would be in frequent communication should a crisis arise and he needed to return home—something he didn’t want to do anytime soon. Oh, he loved his country and the warm, gentle people living there, just as he felt the strong call of duty upon his life.

But when he’d come to Oklahoma on spring break with Carson during that one year Father had allowed him to attend a foreign university, he’d been free of the conventions and diplomacy that ruled his life—or tried to.

That one glorious year when he’d fallen in love with a country other than his own and had completed a degree in resort development. A degree that he had hoped to use as a means of strengthening his small country’s role in the global economy, though the press had mocked his interest as an excuse for the lesser prince to play.

“The playboy prince,” they’d called him. And though he was much less the playboy than the tabloids had indicated, he’d done his share of playing. He made no excuses for enjoying life. Race cars, fast horses, ski competitions. He’d gloried in them all.

Then, only days before his twenty-seventh birthday, Philippe, crown prince of Montavia, had died. His brother, his best friend, killed during Christmas vacation while they’d skied in the Alps.

With great effort Luc closed off the thought of that day, of the flash of red on white snow, the utter silence that had come after and the terrible knowledge of his own culpability.

Then he, Luc Jardine, the playboy prince, the second son, had become the heir apparent. And life had never been the same again.

He’d been reared to serve, reared even to reign should that become necessary, but no one had ever believed anything would happen to Philippe. Mother and Father had trained both sons in government, but Luc had resisted more than he’d cooperated. He had skipped as many international summits and state dinners as he’d attended.

Philippe, so serious and intellectual, had never taken his responsibility lightly, not the way Luc had. Philippe would have made a strong and able king, just as he’d been a steadfast and loving brother. Even now Luc’s heart bled with missing the best friend he would ever know.

He rubbed a hand over his suddenly misty eyes. Philippe had been the right man for the throne. Luc, the playboy prince, felt he never would be.

And that was where the indecision lay. Could he rule?

When Father had shipped him off to the military shortly following Philippe’s death, Luc had been too stunned and grief-stricken to argue. The experience had strengthened his character, taken the edge off his wildness and made him a better man, but had it made him a king? He didn’t know. And until he did, he could not accept the crown from his father.

A tiny computer voice announced that he had mail. The post was from his sister and only remaining sibling. His fingers tightened as he highlighted the e-mail. If Anastasia found out where he was, word would spread all over Europe—and America—by morning. Anastasia, much as he adored her, had never kept a secret in her life.

Luc! the post screamed. Wherever are you? Count Broussard is in an absolute frenzy over your disappearance.

Luc frowned at the screen. Count Broussard, royal counselor and personal advisor to the crown prince, was the main reason he had eluded his entourage of bodyguards and come to America.

From the time he was a boy and more so since Philippe’s death, the count had hovered over Luc like an overprotective mother—or a vulture. Luc could make no decision, go nowhere, do nothing without Broussard’s input—and frequently his disapproval. Nothing Luc did was right in the eyes of the royal advisor. Even his father had noticed and agreed with Luc’s decision to spend some time alone, away from the pressures of the palace, the press and the count.

Shaking off a sense of unease, Luc continued reading.

That wicked old Peter won’t tell me anything, and Father only shoos me away like some annoying insect. I will surely perish if I do not hear from you soon.

Anastasia’s flare for the dramatic triggered a smile. Next to Broussard, his little sister was the last person who could know his whereabouts. She loved to talk, especially to the Montavian press.

The next post was from his valet and confidant, the dependable Peter. Newsy and warm and full of humor, the post made Luc wish for home. One paragraph, written to bedevil, reminded Luc that Lady Priscilla was still miffed at him. He laughed aloud and dashed off an answering note.

Lady Priscilla, Count Broussard’s daughter, was a constant source of agitation and teasing between the two men. Luc’s father, as well as the count, would like nothing better than to see a match between the crown prince and Lady Priscilla. Time was passing. The unspoken pressure to marry an appropriate woman and produce a male heir grew stronger all the time.

He splayed four fingers through his unruly hair. He had no desire to settle down with one woman.

His thoughts went to the endearing bag lady he’d met in the lobby, Carly Carpenter. She was nothing at all like Lady Priscilla. But he had a suspicion that beneath the oversize shirt, floppy skirt and hiking boots there could be a lovely woman.

He shook his head, smiling. Perhaps not. Either way, his interest had been piqued. He had enjoyed the contradiction of her snappy attitude and bag-lady looks with her sexy drawl and full, lush mouth. A man could fantasize about a mouth like that.

Suddenly he was looking forward to Carson’s birthday party.

Carly had tried resting in her cute country-style room, but she wasn’t tired. She was, however, fighting an annoying bout of depression. She, who did not believe in allowing her emotions to run her life and who hadn’t even cried over her breakup last month with Lester, was in danger of becoming morose.

Lester the Molester, as she’d called him after threatening to amputate both his hands if he didn’t keep them out from under her skirt, was not worth her tears. Her career, however, was.

Sad to think that her job had been her life and now she didn’t even have a job. Maybe she’d never work again. Maybe she was washed up at the age of twenty-eight and would spend the rest of her life living in boxes behind Burger King, investigating half-eaten sandwiches and cigarette butts.

No, her sweet sister, Meg, wouldn’t let that happen. She’d wine and dine good old Eric, give him a few of her pretty pouts and hot looks, and soon enough Carly would be back to work.

Maybe. And then again, maybe Meg’s charm wouldn’t work this time.

Carly snapped off Court TV and looked at her watch. Nearly time for the evening’s entertainment, a diversion at least from her worries. She hitched her camera strap over one shoulder and headed down the hall toward the stairs.

Nearing room six—the drugstore cowboy’s room—she paused. Would Luc Gardner attend the barbecue?

Before she could think better of it, Carly lifted a hand to knock and ask. Hearing a tap, tap, tap, she hesitated and then decided against disturbing him. Silly idea anyway. Even if she was only being friendly.

The tapping continued, and true to her nosy inclinations, she pressed an ear to the door. Not that she was interested in him otherwise. But her instinct had been titillated by that accent of his and she aimed to find out more about him. What was he doing in there? Typing? Doing computer work? Was he a workaholic businessman who couldn’t leave his job behind even for a vacation?

Sheesh. She was a fine one to ask that.

Suddenly the tapping stopped and chair rollers clatered against the wood floor. Before she could be caught snooping, Carly rushed down the curving stairs. On the very last step she twisted her ankle and was forced to hop on one foot across the wide wraparound veranda.

Though she had yet to learn her way around the ranch, it didn’t take a detective to follow the scent of mesquite smoke. Stomach growling, ankle throbbing, she limped down a red brick walkway that snaked around the house to the wide backyard.

A recreation area of sorts sprawled out in all directions. She spotted a swimming pool at one end, horseshoe pits and a volleyball net at the other. In the center was a smoker the size of a tanker and enough men in cowboy hats to fill Dodge City. The women were outnumbered ten to one.

She should have been giddy at the opportunity to hang out with so many of the opposite sex. But not Carly. She was resigned to the hideous truth that men did not find her attractive. There were women with beauty and there were those with brains. She would never fit into the first category, so she darn well intended to claim the latter.

“Carly.” The effusive welcome committee, Teddi Benedict, danced toward her. Carly had visions of gypsies circling a campfire, tambourines a-jingle. “Come and meet everyone. Supper is almost ready.”

Over the next few minutes Carly was pulled from cowboy to cowboy for introductions. Head swimming with names like Slim and Dirk and Heck, her thoughts went to the one cowboy who looked more like Rodeo Drive than a real rodeo.

She glanced around. No sign of the intriguing Luc.

Teddi led her toward an enormous shade tree where a man and a small boy stood apart from the crowd. The ugliest dog on the planet sat between the two, never taking his spooky but adoring eyes off the child.

“And this,” Teddi announced with glee, “is my big brother, Carson, the birthday boy.”

“Happy birthday, Mr. Benedict,” Carly said. “Thank you for inviting me to your party.”

A tall, dark cowboy with black eyes and a blacker expression glowered at her.

“Welcome to Benedict Ranch,” he growled.

Carly blinked. Mr. Carson Benedict, birthday or not, was not a happy camper.

“And this little man is Gavin,” Teddi went on, indicating a smaller spitting image of Carson Benedict, complete with boots and hat and a belt buckle that covered his entire belly.

The darling boy stuck out a hand with solemn politeness. “Welcome to Benedict Ranch.”

Charmed, Carly bent from her considerable height to eye level with the child.

“Why, thank you, sir. I take it you are the owner of this fine ranch.”

The child beamed, and the real owner even managed a grudging reply. “Gavin will own this spread someday no matter what I have to do.”

Thinking his was an oddly defensive remark to a total stranger, Carly mumbled something and moved away. Carson Benedict was about as friendly as a rattlesnake. And he didn’t seem the least bit thrilled to have all these guests on his land, though he was the owner and must have the ultimate say in what happened here. And if he was in a celebratory mood for his birthday, she didn’t want to be around when he was ticked off.

Weird.

“Pay no mind to Carson,” Teddi said, catching up to her. “His bad attitude is just an act.”

“Well, he’s good at it. Has he ever thought of a career on the stage?”

Teddi’s musical laughter rang out. “Too busy worrying about this place, I think.”

No doubt operating such an establishment did require a great deal of work.

“How many guests can you accommodate?” she asked, taking in green pastures and barbwire fences that spread as far as the eye could see.

“Thirty at the most.” Teddi Benedict was never still, and in the evening sun her brown hair glinted with red highlights. “Other than the house, we have two bunkhouses—one for guests and one for the cowboys.”

“Ah. A real working ranch, then? Just like in the brochure.”

“Absolutely. If you want to ride out and work with the hands, you can do that. Or you can go for the planned events, trail rides, whatever you want.” Teddi did one of her mercurial shifts, hazel eyes dancing. “This place is perfect for the single female. You are single, aren’t you?”

“Uh…yeah.” Permanently.

As if Carly’s unattached status was something to celebrate, Teddi clapped her small hands and nearly did a jitterbug.

“Wonderful, Carly. You are surrounded by men.” She swept a hand toward the gaggle of cowboys who now held paper plates and chowed down on pork ribs. “Find one. Have a romantic holiday. Maybe even discover your one true love. This place can make it happen.”

Carly held up a hand to stop the tirade. “Thanks, but no thanks. Romance is the last thing on my mind.”

And would likely stay that way forever. She didn’t need a man; she needed to successfully investigate something and prove to her brother-in-law that she really could solve a case without screwing up.

As if that was going to happen out here in cowville.

At that moment Luc Gardner came strolling down the brick walk, thumbs in his belt loops, looking mouthwateringly delicious. Carly forgot what she was saying.

“Luc!” Teddi gushed, jewelry clanking like a ghost in chains. “I’m so glad you decided to join us.”

“The scent of Western barbecue could drive a man to madness.”

“Exactly the result we were going for. Tell you what. You met Carly earlier, right?”

Luc turned those Mediterranean-blue eyes on Carly and smiled. “Lovely seeing you again, Carly.”

“Yes, lovely,” she mumbled weakly. She was salivating, but it had nothing to do with the spicy barbecue.

Before she could make a bigger fool of herself, Teddi stepped in. “So, Luc, sweetie, will you be Carly’s dinner partner tonight and help her get acquainted?”

“That isn’t necessary.” Now that she’d found her voice and had shaken off the annoying attack of weak knees, Carly was embarrassed at Teddi’s machinations.

“It would be my pleasure,” Luc replied over her protestations.

Teddi squeezed his bicep, setting her bracelets a-jingle. “Oh, I just knew you would. You are such a sweetheart. If y’all will excuse me, I really should go say hello to the new family from Ohio.”

Like a will-o’-the-wisp, she danced away, leaving Carly alone with Luc. How embarrassing. And how awful for Luc to be put on the spot this way. All her life her family had played matchmaker, dumping her on unsuspecting guys—and it never worked out.

“Really, Luc,” she said, liking the way his name rolled off her tongue but not particularly fond of her sudden propensity for stuttering, “I can fend for myself.”

“But I am alone here, too. I would enjoy sharing dinner with you.” He made it sound as though they were dining on caviar and champagne at the Ritz. “That is, if you are in agreement.”

Agreement? Ecstasy was more like it. Not because he was far more handsome than any man here. And not because his accent made her stomach flutter. But because she wanted to know why a man like him was here, alone, on an Oklahoma dude ranch a million miles from nowhere. That was all. Mere P.I.’s curiosity.

“You do not mind, however, if I greet our host first?” Luc went on. “Would you care to accompany me?”

After their initial meeting, she had no desire to play chummy with the dour rancher.

She grimaced. “I’ll pass.”

Luc looked at her quizzically. “Have the two of you met?”

“A few moments ago. And I have to tell you, the birthday boy isn’t the friendliest host around.”

“Carson?” Luc’s blue gaze flickered to the rancher now sitting at a picnic table with the small boy. The incredibly ugly blue-eyed dog sat on the bench, too. “Carson is all right. A bit too private to run a bed-and-breakfast but a good man nonetheless.”

His answer surprised her. How would a guest make that kind of evaluation in two days’ time?

“Then why don’t you go say hello while I get us a couple glasses of iced tea.” She pointed to a table covered in red-checkered vinyl. “I’ll meet you under that tree over there.”

Like a king honoring his subjects, Luc inclined his golden head. “Excellent idea.”

As Luc strolled away, Carly headed for a shaded area where Macy, the ranch’s receptionist, manned a spigoted container of sweet tea. Behind Macy an angelic-looking toddler sat on a quilt, gnawing a banana.

“Who’s the cutie-pie?” Carly asked.

Mousy Macy, as Carly had secretly termed her, lit up like the night sky on the Fourth of July. “That’s Hanna, my little girl. She’s two.”

The child, all blue eyes and curly blond hair, waved a chubby hand at Carly. “Hi.”

“Hi, yourself,” Carly said before glancing back to Macy. “She’s adorable.”

Macy filled a large plastic cup with tea and handed it to Carly. Her voice was soft and shy. “Thank you. I think so, too.”

Once upon a time when she had believed in fairy tales, Carly had thought about having kids. But that was before she’d grown up and discovered she was better at poking around in other people’s business than in forming lasting relationships.

After collecting the drinks, Carly headed for the shade tree and sat down. Sipping at the icy, sweet beverage, her attention drifted to Luc and the unfriendly rancher. Her curiosity hitched a notch. In Luc’s company, the grumpy Carson was laughing and relaxed. He clapped a hand on Luc’s shoulder as if they were old friends.

How would a remote Oklahoma rancher become acquainted with someone who oozed European class? Interesting question that Carly intended to answer.

“So,” Carly said a short time later as she sat across the table from Luc stabbing a fork into beef chunks loaded with spicy-hot barbecue sauce. “Are you and Mr. Benedict old friends?”

Nothing like going straight to the source with a direct question. She was much more adept at interviewing than conversation anyway. Concentrating on business would erase the discomfort of being thrust upon Luc like some wallflower at the junior prom.

Luc hesitated, lifting his napkin.

If possible, he looked even more fairy-tale handsome tonight in a chambray shirt that turned his eyes to a rhapsody in blue. And if that wasn’t enough to make her drool like a sick dog, he’d rolled back the sleeves to reveal muscled forearms that looked strong enough to take on anything. So interesting. Both muscles and manners in one stunning body.

To make matters worse—or better, depending on one’s outlook—he had removed the white cowboy hat. Carly had nearly choked on her barbecue. That wild bad-boy hair, like some sexy movie star or European racer, wreaked havoc with her imagination.