Free Royal Holiday Baby by Leanne Banks

accepted the sandwich she gave him and took a bite. “Touché,” he said after he swallowed.
    She took a sip of her water and studied his face. “What made you fix the fence? That task is pretty low on the totem pole.”
    He shrugged. “I have a ranch manager and I sometimes do the menial stuff to free him up to stay on top of other tasks. I also often have to go into Dallas for our other companies, so I can’t commit to ranch duty all the time.”
    â€œYou sound like a busy man,” she said.
    â€œI’m lucky to have several successful businesses,” he said with a shrug of his powerful shoulders that distracted her.
    She shook her head. “I don’t know how you do everything,” she said.
    â€œYou do what you need to do to get the job done,” he said and remembered what he’d learned about how much of the load Tina had carried for the rest of her family. “Maybe you do know what that’s about.”
    Seeing the light of recognition in her eyes, he felt his gut lift a little. “I’m just about finished here. If you like I can take you for a tour of the ranch when I’m done.”
    â€œI’d like a tour of your kingdom,” she said with a smile that flashed a dimple at him.
    He couldn’t help grinning in return. “Kingdom?” he echoed. “That’s a pretty term for a few acres of scrub and brush.”
    She shot him a look of disbelief. “You’re doing that thing Americans do so well,” she said. “Understate. Play humble.”
    â€œNo play,” he retorted. “I’m humble.”
    She gave a low, not-quite-ladylike chuckle that got under his skin. “And I’m a runway model.”
    â€œYou could be. With your body,” he said.
    Her eyes widened in astonishment. He liked that he’d taken her by surprise.
    â€œYou are full of—” She took a breath and her lips twitched. “Flattery.”
    â€œNot really,” he said. “Meet me back at the house.”
    â€œI’d rather watch you finish the job,” she said.
    He felt a forbidden thrill at the idea that the princess wanted to watch him flex his muscles. He wanted to flex a lot more with her. “Go right ahead,” he said and stepped out of the car.
    Deciding to give her a show worth watching, he stripped off his shirt and finished the repair job. Fifteen more minutes and he was done. He sucked down the rest of his bottle of water.
    Strolling to the driver’s side of her car, he tapped on the window. “Did I do an okay job?” he asked.
    She pressed the button to lower the window and shot him a look of grudging appreciation. “You should leave your shirt on,” she said. “It protects you from the sun.”
    â€œAre you saying you don’t like my body?”
    She gave a huff of impatience. “You’re insufferable and not at all humble.”
    Zach chuckled. “You still want to see the ranch?” he asked.
    â€œYes. I’ll meet you at the house,” she said and the window slid upward. Seconds later, she spun away, leaving him in her dust. Her speed made him a little nervous, though he wouldn’t tell her that. Winning over a princess wasn’t going to be the easiest job he’d undertaken, but he was determined.
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    Zach grabbed a quick shower after he returned to the house and Tina took the apples and bottles of water Hildie offered. Zach descended the stairs with damp hair and wearing fresh clothes.
    Her heart stuttered at the sight of him so strong, carrying his muscular frame with confident ease. He was so different than every other man she’d ever had in her life. He wasn’t at all intimidated by her position, but he also seemed to respect her as a person. He was protective, but he hadn’t forced her into anything. True, he’d pretty much told her he wanted them to get married, and she’d nearly lost her dinner