Royal Escape #2: Royal Escape, #2

By Renna Peak and Ember Casey

After leaving so much behind, the last thing Clara wants is for her old life to catch up with her. When she and Nick are faced with the reality she ran from, can they find a forward together?

This is the second book in a six-part serial and ends with a cliffhanger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Casey Peak Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Jun 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386044338

Book preview

Nicholas

Clara goes limp at the sight of the man standing in my driveway, and instead of her helping me stand, my arm tightens around her, and I’m very much the one helping her to remain upright.

She and the man who has barged onto my property glare at each other, making me forget for a moment about the pain jolting up my leg.

This is ridiculous, Clara. Even for you, the man says.

She lifts a brow. Even for me? What the hell is that supposed to mean?

The histrionics. This needs to end. He takes a few steps toward the porch. I’m taking you home. Our wedding is next month—

I’m very much in love, she says through a forced smile. Nick and I… It was love at first sight. Seriously. Right, Nick? She turns to me, giving me the slightest nod as she pulls me more tightly against her. I’ve found what I was looking for. What I didn’t realize I was missing.

The man takes a few more steps toward us. "You expect me to believe you’ve fallen in love with…him? In two weeks? He shakes his head. With some dumbfuck of a cowboy? What are you? In high school?"

Her grip tightens around me again, but she says nothing.

"We’re leaving, Clara. You’re getting in the car now."

Apologies. I’ve no idea what I’m doing, or why I would choose to play along with this game. Clara and I have shared little more than a kiss. And though it was one of the more intriguing kisses I’ve shared with a woman, it was still only a kiss.

Apologies, I say again, taking a tentative step forward. Pain sears through my leg. The damn thing is definitely broken. I don’t believe we’ve had a proper introduction—

"I will end you. His lip curls into a snarl. You have no idea who you’re dealing with, asshole."

I lift a brow. Clearly, he has no idea who he is dealing with, either.

"I’m Adam Bennett." He cocks his head, clearly waiting for me to react.

Nick Smith, I say, carefully trying to cover my accent.

"Did you hear what I said, dumbass? I’m Adam Bennett."

I’ve no issues with my hearing, as far as I’m aware. I turn to look at Clara, but she’s still frozen in place, the color drained from her face.

"Are you fucking kidding me? I have to spell it out for you cowboy? He shakes his head. Bennett." He draws the word out slowly, as though I might not understand otherwise.

Forgive me, is that supposed to impress me? I turn to look at Clara again, but she doesn’t look back at me.

Of the New York Bennetts, dipshit. You let my wife go, or I will take you for every single thing you own.

I highly doubt that. I slide my arm around Clara’s waist again, suddenly feeling quite possessive. And I don’t believe she’s your wife yet. In fact, I believe you just said your wedding wasn’t scheduled until this weekend. And clearly, that isn’t going to happen.

You have no idea who you’re dealing with—

"As you’ve said. Though, I do suppose you have no idea who you are dealing with, either."

He chuckles. "I have resources you couldn’t even dream about. Not even in your wildest imagination."

Forgive me, but I’ve never heard of your family. And I can assure you that whatever it is you’re threatening would be matched equally by my family. In fact, I’ve no doubt of it.

"Who the fuck are you?" His eyebrows draw together, and I realize I’ve slipped out of my carefully crafted role of ignorant cowboy.

Even Clara is looking up at me with a confused expression.

I pull her tightly against me. Leave us.

The man laughs. "Leave you? You think you’re some kind of royalty or something?"

In fact, I do. I clench my jaw tightly. This isn’t exactly how I wanted this information to come out—and perhaps neither of them will believe it, anyway. But something inside me wants to protect the woman at my side. Perhaps it was the kiss we shared, or perhaps it is merely the fact that she’s been so desperate to leave this man, she was willing to take on a role she was ill-equipped to perform.

He laughs again. Go fuck yourself, Nick Smith. Come on, Clara. He extends his hand. We’re leaving.

I…don’t think so. She places her hand over mine at her waist. I’m fine right here.

Where the fuck is your ring? He stares at her hand. "Where the fuck is your ring?"

"Well, like you just said, it’s my ring. It doesn’t really matter where it is, does it?"

You fucking asshole! He turns his glare to me. You stole her ring? Why? So you could afford this shithole of a house?

I open my mouth to respond, but Clara cuts in first. "It’s not a shithole. It’s my home. And I think Nick asked you to leave."

"Nick is a fucking idiot. Even you must see that, Clara. And I don’t believe for one single second that you’re in love with him."

Really? She smiles—and it would seem I’ve come to know this smile well. It’s the one that says ‘I love a challenge.’

She turns to me, and pulls my face down to hers, kissing me squarely on the lips. It’s little more than a peck really, but it stirs something inside me—something I wasn’t quite expecting.

I slide my arms around her again, pulling her against my body as I deepen the kiss. It hasn’t been long at all, but I can’t believe how much I’ve missed the taste of her.

It’s only a moment before I feel something pulling at my collar, and I’m yanked away from Clara. And it’s only another second before Adam’s fist lands on my jaw.

Clara

Iknew I was going to have to talk to Adam eventually, but this was not the way I expected any of this to happen. Not at all. I guess I assumed that one day, a week or a month or a year from now, I’d finally get the courage to talk to him again, that I’d call him up and explain why I had to do this. That I’d wish him well and give both of us the closure we needed.

I certainly didn’t expect to kiss another man in front of him to prove that my decision to leave him was final. And I absolutely didn’t expect for that kiss to make me fluttery all over in a way Adam’s kisses never did.

Adam always did like to point out that I can be crazy and impulsive at the most inconvenient times. I guess he was right.

I should have known better. And there’s nothing I can do when Nick is jerked away from me. Or when Adam punches him right in the face.

Stop it! I shout, grabbing Adam’s arm before he can swing at Nick again. It’s not his fault.

But Adam isn’t the only one I should be worried about. While I’m trying to drag him away, Nick returns the punch, hitting my former fiancé in the stomach.

Adam doubles over, jerking out of my grip. And before I shout at them to stop again, Nick lunges at Adam, throwing both of them off the porch.

Stop, you idiots! I yell at them, hurrying down the steps. What the hell is Nick thinking? His ankle’s already sprained—what if he makes it worse? And what gave Adam the right to start throwing punches in the first place?

Well, you did kiss Nick right in front of him, I think, my face getting hot. Rubbing his face in it was probably not the best idea you’ve ever had. What did you think was going to happen?

But I don’t want to dwell on the fact that I might be the biggest idiot of all. Right now, I have