Free Reluctant Prince by Dani-Lyn Alexander Page A

nodded and trudged toward the bathroom. She stopped before entering the hallway and turned back to Jackson. “Wait for me before you tell Ryleigh the rest of the story, please?”
    “Sure, you bet.”
    They both watched her go.
    “She’s a strong young lady.” Jackson’s eyes filled with admiration as he looked after Mia.
    A surge of pride rushed through Ryleigh.
    Mia possessed incredible strength for such a young girl, though most of it came from necessity. Mia had suffered far too much pain and worry for a girl her age.
    Sorrow joined the pride. Ryleigh turned on more lights as she limped through the living room toward the back of the house. “Can I get you something to drink?”
    “Sure.” He followed her to the kitchen.
    A pang of grief struck her as she entered the cozy room. She missed her parents, her grandmother. Her parents had been gone for so long, but their touch still remained in the home they’d created. The yellow paint she’d helped roll on the walls, the curtains her mother had sewn on the machine and allowed Ryleigh to help her hang. She fingered the white lace, now yellowed with age, and looked out the window into the darkness of the small back yard.
    The lamp by the door cast only a small circle of light, but she didn’t need light to see the layout. The swing set her dad had built still occupied the same corner, though she and Mia had long since outgrown it. The picnic table and the barbeque, which hadn’t been used since her father had grilled hot dogs the night before that tragic day, all still as they’d been.
    She’d only been in kindergarten when it happened, but she’d known something was terribly wrong. Her teachers, Miss Karen and Miss Lacey, were usually so happy, but on that particular day their eyes had been filled with tears, and they both carried crumpled tissues around all day.
    Grandma had come to pick her up with Mia in the stroller. Grandma’s eyes were filled with tears as well, and they had spilled over when she explained to Ryleigh that Mommy and Daddy wouldn’t be coming home.
    Not wanting to uproot the girls, her grandmother had moved into the small house and taken care of them. Recently, as her grandmother’s illness had progressed and Ryleigh took over the responsibilities of the house, she found out the house was in foreclosure. Everything her parents had worked so hard for would go to the bank if Ryleigh couldn’t find a way to save it.
    She swiped angrily at the tears pouring down her cheeks. This wasn’t the time for self-pity. She had to figure out what was going on and make sure Mia stayed safe.
    She swallowed a sob. How had her life turned so upside down in less than a week? Not yet ready to face Jackson, she turned on the cold water, scooped some onto her face and dried off with a dishtowel from the drawer. When she lifted her head, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the window and cringed. The mess that stared back at her mirrored the chaos her life had become.
    Shaking off the depression threatening to overwhelm her, she crossed the room, pulled a pitcher of ice water from the refrigerator, and poured three glasses. She handed one to Jackson, set another aside for Mia, and took a long drink. The cold soothed her throat, and she drank too quickly, sending a sharp pain through her head. “Ow.”
    “Are you all right?” His tender caress against her shoulder warmed her.
    “Yeah, just brain freeze.” And more stress than she could handle, but she didn’t add that.
    “Here, sit.” He guided her to a chair and helped her sit. He turned a second chair toward her. “Put your feet up.”
    She did as he suggested. Oh man, that felt so good. She dropped her head back against the chair. What would it be like to just cast all of her tension aside, forget about all of her problems?
    Jackson moved behind her and pressed his hands against the sides of her head.
    His touch sent a rush of heat pouring through her. She jerked upright.
    “Relax. Close