Quiet & Shy Hero

What in the world?

 

Burke Yates slammed on his brakes, skidding to a halt at the entrance to the parking lot beside Anderson Ranch B&B. As if oblivious to the presence of his silver Ford F-600 flatbed idling there, a trio of black SUVs rolled his way, appearing to have every intention of hitting him head-on.

 

He shifted into reverse and backed up until the dual rear wheels of his truck dipped into the ditch on the opposite side of the road.

 

The black SUVs careened out of the parking lot without slowing down. The one in the front came within inches of clipping his extended sideview mirror on the driver’s side.

 

Burke resisted the urge to lay on his horn. The windows of all three SUVs were darkly tinted, so it was impossible to make out more than the outline of their drivers. However, his gut told him they knew they were acting like jerks. Honking to draw more attention to that fact would only stoke their egos further.

 

Wondering if their disappearing taillights had anything to do with his friend’s emergency phone call, Burke grabbed the first parking spot he came to. Pushing open his door, he hopped to the ground and slammed it behind him. He locked it by pressing the key fob in his pocket as he jogged to the front double glass doors of the B&B.

 

His friend, Brody Anderson, was pacing inside by the massive stacked stone fireplace that graced the waiting area. The dark-haired farmer paused and glanced up at Burke while the door was still swinging closed behind him.

 

“There you are!” Relief infused his voice. He pushed his Stetson back and strode Burke’s way, but he didn’t stop when he reached him. He plowed right into him with a body slam of a bear hug. “Thanks for showing up and saving my marriage.” He sounded like he was only half joking, a detail that piqued Burke’s interest further.

 

He clapped the guy on the back. “Almost got mowed over by a whole line of SUVs on my way into the parking lot. What’s that all about?”

 

“That,” Brody abruptly stepped back, “is the problem I was telling you about over the phone. A very big problem I didn’t ask for on the morning of my kid’s first Christmas.”

 

Burke frowned in concern, his thoughts immediately flying toward Brody’s wife and infant. “Are Star and the baby safe?”

 

“Yep.” Brody’s tanned features didn’t relax. If anything, the lines in his face deepened. He angled his head for Burke to follow him toward the nearest Authorized Personnel Only door. He lowered his voice, still talking as Burke fell into step with him. “I’m not letting them anywhere near this place until I’m sure we’ve got the hatches battened down on security.”

 

He pushed open the silver swing door in front of them. A commercial kitchen materialized on the other side.

 

“Where’s Crew?” Burke gazed around in fascination at the massive chrome appliances and impeccably clean workstations. Being behind the doors of the inner sanctum that comprised Anderson Ranch B&B never failed to fill him with awe. It was impressive how the Andersons had turned a rickety three-story red barn on a failing ranch into the booming B&B and steakhouse it now was.

 

“On a Christmas cruise to the Bahamas with Grecia.” Brody let out a resigned huff of air at the mention of his younger cousin, a recent college grad who normally ran the place. “They’ve been planning it for eons. It’s a delayed honeymoon of sorts. He’s earned it. They both have.”

 

Burke nodded, knowing his friend was referring to the fact that Crew had been required to finish serving out his parole before embarking on a trip out of the country. He wasn’t a bad person. He’d just made some really poor decisions during his teen and young adult years, like hanging out with the wrong crowd during a drug bust. Though he wasn’t personally partaking of any controlled substances, he’d been hauled away in handcuffs along with the rest of them. Fortunately, his cousin had gone to bat for him and offered to serve as his sponsor. Thanks to Brody, Crew was now walking the straight and narrow.

 

Brody greeted a few members of the serving staff on his way to the massive sub-zero fridge. He returned with a pair of water bottles and tossed one to Burke.

 

“Thanks.” Burke caught it with one hand, unscrewed the lid, and tipped it up for a swig.

 

They ended up on a pair of stools at the long bar in the back of the room. It was where the ranch hands normally ate. Only one was seated there at the moment. He nodded silently at them and kept shoveling in his breakfast burrito.

 

Keeping his voice low, Brody got right to the point. “Our unexpected guest has made it clear that she and her entourage are staying here indefinitely. She gave us a hefty deposit to secure their block of rooms.”

 

“She?” Burke’s eyebrows rose. He still wasn’t clear on exactly who this unexpected guest was.

 

“The princess.” Brody gave him an incredulous look. “It’s the whole reason I’m begging for your help on Christmas day.”

 

Burke drew a deep breath and let it out. “That’s your story, and you’re sticking to it, eh?”

 

Brody snorted. “I take it you didn’t bother reading the news headlines I told you about?”

 

“Nope.” Burke finished downing his water bottle, feeling like he needed to be well hydrated for what came next. “I was with my parents and brothers when you called.” If his meeting with Brody went too long, he’d be missing the big Christmas lunch his family gathered for every year. He was still kicking himself for picking up the phone and getting pulled into whatever Brody was in the process of pulling him into.

 

Brody’s grimace held a note of misery. “Listen, I’m really sorry about—”

 

“Just lay it on me, bro.” It was an inconvenient time for everyone involved. The sooner Burke got to the bottom of what Brody needed from him, the sooner he could get back to celebrating Christmas with his family.

 

“Her name is Catarina Sophina Olivia Joy Belmont,” Brody continued.

 

Burke smirked. “Is her train-sized name the reason you think she’s royal?”

 

“Focus!” Brody scowled at him. “I’m getting to that part.”

 

“I’m all ears.” Burke folded his arms, still smirking.

 

Brody spread his hands. “Her father owns a resort called Mount Belmont. It covers a cluster of islands in the Maldives and is quickly climbing the charts as one of the world’s top choices for honeymooners.”

 

“Yippity doo da.” Burke was quickly growing bored. “Can we skip ahead to the part that involves me?” All he could think about was his mother’s fresh-baked dinner rolls and the two hams she had simmering in crockpots.

 

Brody grimaced as he hurried to complete his story. “Their claim to fame is being a royal escape. Their resort is a replica of Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, the same castle that inspired the Cinderella Castle in Disney’s animated movie and the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyworld. It’s all in the report I sent you.”

 

Burke had been too busy driving to Anderson Ranch to read his friend’s email yet. He waved a hand impatiently to keep Brody talking.

 

“Both the vacationers and locals alike have been eating up the whole royal theme. So much so that Mr. and Mrs. Belmont staged a coronation ceremony last summer to officially declare themselves as reigning king and queen of Mount Belmont.”

 

Ah. I see where this is going. Burke’s smirk widened into a grin. “Making their spoiled, entitled daughter into a princess.” He reckoned anyone wealthy enough to own a few islands could call themselves whatever they wanted.

 

“She’s an only child,” Brody clarified. “And, yes. She’s a princess no matter how you slice it. She’s been called everything from like royalty to prettier than a real princess on social media. Believe me, her family is as rich and as powerful as royalty. Folks treat them like it, too.”

 

“Are you suggesting I should bow when she enters the room?” Burke scoffed. Over my dead body! He didn’t care if she was a direct descendent of the legendary King Arthur himself.

 

“Please remain seated,” a scathing female voice answered. “I wouldn’t want you tripping over the long pointy toes of your boots, cowboy.”

 

Burke swung his head around in amazement and discovered a tall, slender woman standing behind them. Too slender. Despite the blonde hair piled regally atop her head, gleaming diamond teardrop earrings, a long blue and green plaid dress, and too much makeup for a cattle town like the one she was standing in, there was no denying how loose her dress fell over her too-thin frame. Or the small white bandage on her forehead. Or the very real shadows beneath her eyes. They were glinting at him with a mixture of pain and barely suppressed fury.

 

He leaped to his feet so quickly that he nearly knocked over his stool. Brody did the same. Neither man, however, even came close to tripping over the toes of their boots as they hurried her way.

 

Burke cleared his throat as he reached her and held out a hand.

 

“I’m Burke Yates with K&G Security. Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” He couldn’t remember her ridiculously long name that Brody had only mentioned once, so he didn’t bother trying to tackle it.

“I’m Catarina Belmont.” She tipped her elegant, fine-boned features up a haughty fraction. “Please excuse my lapse in manners. My right hand isn’t currently in shaking condition.” Her tone indicated that he was the one who’d lost track of his manners.

 

Though amused by her attitude, he eyed the plaster cast covering her arm from elbow to wrist. It was big enough that he was betting she’d suffered more than a simple fracture. “Maybe I should bow after all,” he drawled.

 

Though he meant it as a joke, her rosy lips tightened. “My friends call me Cat,” she continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “You may call me—”

 

“Your highness,” he teased, giving her a mocking bow. As he bent her way, he caught sight of a diminutive woman standing just inside the door. She was more plainly dressed than the woman standing in front of him, but her blazer was made from the same blue and green plaid fabric. She’d paired it with a white dress shirt and navy slacks. He was betting she was a member of the princess’s entourage.

 

“That works for me, cowboy.” Catarina Belmont’s voice was dry as she turned to meet Brody’s gaze. “Is he the only bodyguard the security firm could spare?” Her point was clear. After seeing him, she found him lacking.

 

“On Christmas morning? Yes.” Brody looked and sounded harried. “But I’ve known him my entire life,” he soothed. “Long enough to assure you he’s the best.”

 

“At what?” she shot back pointedly.

 

Whoa! Burke exchanged an irritated look with Brody, half-tempted to turn down the job and stalk away right here and now from the cranky, entitled woman standing in front of them.

 

“At keeping you safe,” Brody returned evenly. “K&G Security carefully vets every employee. I assure you you’re in good hands with Burke.”

 

“I’ll just take your word for it.” The snide edge to her voice made it clear that she’d yet to come to that conclusion for herself. She returned her gaze to Burke and gave him a scathing, up-down look. “Well, let’s giddy up, as the locals would say.”

 

Burke’s eyebrows rose. “To their horses maybe.”

 

“Maybe?” She gave him an exasperated look. “How else would you get your horse moving?”

 

“Like this.” He winked playfully at her and made a soft clicking sound between his teeth.

 

She wrinkled her nose at him. “Did you just blow me a kiss?”

 

“Nope.” He resisted the urge to laugh. “Would you like me to?”

 

She spun away from him. “How about you just stick to your job, cowboy?” She swept across the kitchen to the swinging silver door. Then she paused and glanced over her shoulder. “Are you coming or what?”

 

“Do I have to?” Burke muttered beneath his breath for Brody’s benefit.

 

“Please,” his friend begged.

 

“Just shoot me now,” Burke groaned quietly as he shuffled his boots into motion. He raised his voice as he caught up to her. “Where to, princess?”

 

“Follow me.” The woman wearing the blazer pushed the door open for Miss Belmont, allowing it to swing back in his face.

 

He caught it before it did any harm and joined her on the other side. “No offense, ma’am, but it’s Christmas day. If y’all will spell out what you need done, so I can—”

 

She cut him off with an upraised hand. “My staff is unpacking.” Her words were stiff. “I have some correspondence to catch up on. You’ll be keeping watch over us.”

 

“While you unpack,” he repeated carefully. Unless she had plans to leave the B&B today, he’d be hightailing it back home. There was no way he was hanging around to count tiaras and glass slippers.

 

“While my staff unpacks,” she corrected. “As I just finished saying, I have—”

 

“Emails to catch up on. I get it, princess.” So does everyone else in the world. Big whoop!

 

“Do you?” she demanded, giving him a flinty-eyed look of fury as they reached the elevator. “Believe it or not, even the simplest tasks my staff and I do can be dangerous for us.”

 

“I’ve heard.” The elevator doors rolled open, and he bodily stepped between them to keep them open for her and her staff member.

 

Catarina tossed her head as she swept past him. “Regardless of your snap judgment over my spoiledness or entitledness, this cast on my arm isn’t for decoration, Mr. Yates.”

 

He had the grace to feel a smidgeon of shame over the fact that she’d overheard his careless remarks about her. “Never said it was, your highness,” he grumbled.

 

She talked right over him. “I would’ve thought you would’ve already been briefed on the hit-and-run accident that put my mother in the hospital.” Her voice grew brittle with barely suppressed emotion. “The same accident that left my ulna and radius bones in three pieces and landed me in hiding.”

 

He was caught off guard by the fact that she knew the correct terms for the bones in her forearm. He was also less than thrilled to hear her mother was in the hospital. “For the sake of being thorough, how about you give me the highlights of what we’re up against here?”

 

“Meaning you haven’t read the first word of the report your boss sent you.” She rolled her eyes at him.

 

He resisted the temptation to inform her that Brody wasn’t his boss. “Nope.” He stepped further into the elevator and made a big show of hovering over her, while keeping an eye on the door as it slid shut.

 

“What are you doing?” She shrank back a little from him, darting a nervous look at her silent companion.

 

“My job,” he reminded dryly, flicking a look at the same companion. Unless he was mistaken, the young woman in the blazer was fighting to hide a smile. “In case you were wondering, it doesn’t include tripping over my boots. I’m very steady on my feet, ma’am.”

 

The elevator lurched upward, making Catarina Belmont totter in her heels. Without thinking, his hand shot out to gently grip her good elbow to steady her.

 

The expulsion of air from the young woman on the other side of the elevator sounded suspiciously like a snicker.

 

Burke ignored her and schooled his expression. “Why would anyone want to harm you?”

 

She bit her lower lip as she shook off his hand. “Because my father has cancer, and he’s working behind closed doors as we speak to transition the reins of Mount Belmont over to my mother. Not,” her voice shook as she added, “that any of what I’m telling you is public knowledge, and we’d like to keep it that way.”

 

“Roger that.” Yeah, a transition of resort ownership sounded like a potential motive to him. “Got any suspects?” His voice was gentler as he took inventory of the additional cuts and scratches on her face that she’d attempted to cover with makeup. Though she came back clawing like a wet kitten every time he opened his mouth, she’d been through a lot. There was no more denying it. The proof was literally right in front of him.

 

“One.” She lifted her chin. “My uncle. He’s my mother’s only brother. I don’t have any proof yet, but I’m working on it.” She shook her head at her companion. “We’re working on it,” she corrected firmly.

 

“He came out of nowhere,” the other young woman declared in a low, fierce voice. It was the first time she’d spoken. “After being gone my entire life and leaving Cat’s family to raise me.”

 

Oh? He nodded at her. “And you are?”

 

“My cousin, of course,” Catarina supplied, stepping in front of him as the elevator door swung open again. “That’s why we look so much alike.”

 

Burke stopped her by splaying his large hands against her upper arms. “Do you really think that’s wise, princess?”

 

She bristled. “Unhand me, cowboy!”

 

Oh, for the love of Mike! “With pleasure, your highness,” he snarled, dropping his hands as he swiftly stepped around her. He paused in the doorway of the elevator to ensure the hallway beyond them was clear of traffic. It was.

 

He was so annoyed by her attitude that he made a big show of bustling her and her cousin down the hallway — more than was necessary.

 

“You passed my door,” she snapped. “Wow! You really didn’t read the briefing, did you?”

 

“Why bother,” he drawled, “when I have the subject-matter-expert-on-everything by my side?” It was as good as calling her a know-it-all. Her cousin’s muffled gasp assured him that his insult had sunk home with at least one of the two women.

 

“Which won’t do anyone a drop of good if you make a habit of charging ahead of me like a bull at a stampede,” Catarina retorted acidly.

 

He pivoted in time to see her cousin wave a room key over the door panel. It flickered green as the lock disengaged. Her cousin pushed the door open and waited for Catarina to step inside ahead of her.

 

The first sound that met his ears on the other side of the door was a handgun being cocked. After growing up on a farm and shooting rattlesnakes away from livestock, Burke didn’t second-guess what he heard. He simply acted. He lunged for Catarina to shield her with his body, careful to grip her shoulders so as not to jostle her injured arm.

 

Instead of a gunshot, dead silence settled over the room. “Sorry, um…that was just me,” her cousin’s voice wafted his way. “It’s sort of become a habit lately to…be prepared for anything every time we step into a room.” She threw the deadbolt.

 

Burke’s incredulous gaze met the gaze of the woman in his grasp, noting that she didn't seem to be in any hurry to move away from him this time. On the contrary, he could feel the tremors working their way through her delicate shoulders. She was genuinely terrified.

 

He glared indignantly at her. “You’ve been shot at, too?” Why was this the first time he was hearing about it? He took a quick inventory of the room they were in and discovered it was more than a room. It was a full suite with multiple adjoining doors. Must be part of those upgrades he’d heard Brody yammering on and on about recently.

 

Her blue gaze turned glassy. “That part might not have been in the report.” Her voice shook. “It only happened once, but…” Her voice dwindled.

 

He cleared his throat to cover his burgeoning concern for her safety, hoping one guy was enough to keep her safe on Christmas day. “Lemme get this straight, princess. You expect me to dodge bullets while watching you unpack and write emails?” Though his mouth watered every time he thought of the hams his mom was preparing, it didn’t sound like he was going to make it home in time to join his family for lunch. From the way things sounded, he might not make it home at all today. Looked like Christmas was over early for him.

 

“Assuming you can handle it, cowboy.” Catarina Belmont made a face at him. “I was assured you were the best.” There was a hint of mockery in her voice. “But if this job is too much for you…” Her voice grew softer and threadier as she tipped her face up to his.

 

He wasn’t sure if she realized how much closer the movement brought her lips to kissing distance. He was, though. Very aware. Too aware.

 

He yanked his gaze away from her trembling lips, wishing it hadn’t been so long since his last date. Man, but he was desperate if he’d reached the point where he found a spoiled, bickering princess attractive. Nothing good could come of indulging in that kind of a fantasy. Their lives were worlds apart. It would be best to keep them that way.

 

“Somehow, I’ll manage,” he returned dryly. Though he didn’t want to, he forced himself to drop his hands from her arms.

 

And tried to tell himself he wasn’t looking for an excuse to hold her again anytime soon.