Libby put a hand to her forehead, trying to think. Was she seriously considering playing the fiancée of a prince?
Alex took her hand and rubbed his thumb lightly over the back of her knuckles. "This doesn't change anything," he said, his tone soothing. "You'll just have a different label in the press. But our agreement is still the same. Once things calm down, we'll figure a way out of this situation."
"This is a lot more than I had originally agreed to," she said lamely.
"I know. But I need your help, Libby. Please."
She sucked in an uneven breath. If she didn't continue down this path, she would be in breach of her contract. Not only would she not get the money to help her parents, but she'd end up in worse financial straits than they could even imagine.
Slowly, Libby took off her ring and placed it back on her left finger. "Fine. I'll stay."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Engaged. Alex took a sip of his brandy, scarcely able to believe the turn his life had suddenly taken. How on earth was he going to find his way out of this disaster?
He shouldn't have let his family-okay, his mother-talk to Libby like that. He stared at the amber liquid, replaying the accusations Nicolette had hurled at Libby like daggers. Had she really orchestrated the whole engagement?
But no, that was insane. Libby wasn't like that-at least, he was pretty sure she wasn't-and besides, there was no way she could've predicted he'd drop down on one knee to pick up the ring. It had been a crazy accident with unfortunate consequences.
He'd make it up to Libby. And he'd prove to his family she wasn't anything like Isla Martin.
The door to his private quarters creaked open. Alex looked up, expecting to see his mother. Instead, Nicholas stood in the doorway, his wavy blonde hair silhouetted against the hall lights.
"Oh," Alex said, then took another sip of brandy. "It's you."
Nicholas padded across the plush carpet of Alex's sitting room and sank onto the couch. Alex had chosen the furniture for this room, and the overstuffed dark suede sofa focused on comfort, not style. Nicolette hated the room and was constantly asking Alex to redecorate, but it suited him. His own private oasis from the burdens of life.
"Well, well, well," Nicholas said. "If I'd known you were announcing an engagement, I would've ignored my mother's demands and insisted Kara come with me. She's going to be so disappointed to have missed it. Maybe we can plan a double wedding. Wouldn't the press love that?"
Alex snorted and took another sip of his drink. "Don't play dumb, Nicholas. It never was a good look for you."
"Hey, I'm just going off the information I've been given. You introduced Libby as your girlfriend. Now you're engaged." He put a finger to his lips as though thinking deeply. "There's just one thing I can't quite figure out-why haven't I heard you so much as mention this girl before tonight?"
"It's … complicated." Which was pretty much the understatement of a century. How did Alex explain the conflicting emotions that swirled every time Libby was near? She was paid to be his girlfriend. Drove him absolutely crazy. And yet …
"Good thing I've got nowhere else to be until the jet leaves for Galia at dawn." Nicholas relaxed against the couch cushions. "Three months ago, you were drinking yourself into oblivion over a certain heinous actress. And now you're engaged to an American nanny."
"I know." The press wouldn't miss that detail, either. Alex wondered if he'd again be a villain in tomorrow's papers. It'd feel that much worse after the last month, where he'd been reminded how pleasant life could be when Durham loved him. Alex ran a hand through his hair and muttered a curse. "I'm so mad at Maggie. This whole thing is her fault."
Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "The press secretary?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, now I really am lost. What does she have to do with anything?"
Alex thought about the last month. The lucky penny that had nearly gotten Libby arrested. Kenzie's world-famous vomit explosion. The plan to date Libby and improve Alex's image. "Maggie's the one who suggested I date Libby. And now I have to figure out a way to call off the engagement without ruining my reputation. Again."
"Now we're getting somewhere." Nicholas leaned forward, resting his arms on his legs. "Start at the beginning."
It was a relief to tell the whole story to someone who wasn't glaring at him with judgment. Alex gave a brief summary of events without glossing over the important points. Nicholas would see through any attempts at twisting the truth. "So you can see the position I'm in," Alex concluded. "There's no way out of this that doesn't end in disaster."
Nicholas gave a low whistle and rubbed his jaw. "I thought breaking into Kara's studio was bad. But I've got to hand it to you-this is quite the predicament."
"You're telling me. It's not like I can actually marry Libby. She'd never agree to it, for starters."
Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "That's your hesitation toward that plan-that she might not agree to a wedding? I'd think the fact you don't love her would be a much bigger consideration. Love aside, a marriage with her wouldn't be the least bit advantageous for the crown. And if you're not going to marry for love, you should at least marry for political gain so something positive comes out of the union ."
"I know, I know." Alex looked away. "She'd never fit in at the palace, even if a marriage did make sense. She's so … " Words failed him. How did he describe someone like Libby? Wild. Passionate. Funny. Sweet. She was a desert weed in the middle of a garden of roses, but the thought of plucking her out was painful.
"Whoa. You like her, don't you?"
"Of course not," Alex said quickly. "I mean, yeah, she's nice enough when she isn't trying to put me in my place. But I barely even know her. We only met a month ago."
Nicholas's eyes glittered. He rose and went to the wet bar, pouring himself a drink. "It only took a week for me to want Kara in my life forever. You've had five times that with Libby."
Alex drained his glass, giving himself time to think. He knew he was falling for her. But love? There was no way. "We can't all be insane like you. Rational men don't propose to their girlfriends after only three months of dating."
"Call it what you want, cousin, but Kara is the woman of my dreams. She makes everything about my life a thousand times better." He clapped a hand on Alex's shoulder, a glass of brandy in his other. "I know Isla did a number on you. But Libby has a good vibe about her."
"She's literally being paid to date me."
"Maybe she really needs the money."
Alex thought about their conversation in the Queen's Gardens after he'd saved her from arrest, where she mentioned that she hoped money would prevent her parents' divorce. The bank statements he'd seen from Finn. The credit report that said the family was in trouble. They did need money, and badly.
"You should ask her why she's dating you," Nicholas said.
"It's not like that. I drive Libby crazy. She shoved me in a pond in Castlebridge Park a few weeks ago."
Nicholas chuckled. "Kara showed me the photo. That's when I knew I'd like Libby."
"This is just a paycheck to her."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Nicholas shrugged. "You won't know unless you ask."
Nicholas's suggestion stayed with Alex long after his cousin left. Alex lay awake in bed for hours, wondering if there was even a remote possibility that Libby might feel about him like he felt about her. There was no denying the chemistry between them. That kiss had been solid evidence there was something tangible worth exploring.
But Alex was on the rebound while Libby earned a paycheck. The lines had grown blurry over the past month and an engagement wasn't going to help matters.
Eventually Alex fell asleep, and he awoke with a determination to at least make this experience as easy for Libby as possible. He owed her that much. And that meant talking to his parents.
He was both relieved and nervous to discover that the first thing on his schedule was breakfast with his parents. No doubt they wanted to talk about yesterday. He did, too. At least, he was pretty sure he did. Maybe what he really wanted was to go back in time and never date Isla Martin, so that he wouldn't have to deal with all of this now.
Then again, if he'd never dated Isla, he never would've needed to date Libby. And he wasn't sure that was something he wanted to change.
The dining room was empty except for Nicolette and Geoffrey. They sat at the white table, a spread of pastries and breakfast meats before them.
"Good morning," Alex said. His shoulders tensed as he dropped a kiss on his mother's cheek and sank into a chair.