Lone Star Princess

By Lenora Worth

Annabelle Castle is a rebel without a cause…until her stepsister, the head of the glamorous Castle Department store, offers her the chance of a lifetime. Too bad the opportunity to finally play a role in the Castle's future comes with strings attached—the man who gets under her skin.

Former cop Johnny Darrow is head of security for the Texas-based Castles. He excels at his job and nothing gets to him...except Annabelle. Even as he dragged Annabelle out of many public relations disasters with the paparazzi, he knew there was so much more to her than the headline-grabbing, rich girl. Now that she's matured and determined to turn over a new leaf, he finds her irresistible. She's smart, creative, and makes him feel things he hasn't after a personal tragedy.

When Johnny's assigned a job as Annabelle's bodyguard, he must push his feelings aside. Can Johnny keep his focus to protect Annabelle or will his feelings for her put everything at risk?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tule Publishing
• Release date: Jun 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781949068207

Lenora Worth

Lenora Worth writes for Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense. She is a Carol Award finalist and a New York Times, USA Today, and PW bestselling author. She writes Southern stories set in places she loves such as Georgia, Texas,  Louisiana, and Florida. Lenora is married and has two grown children and now lives near the ocean in the Panhandle of Florida. She loves reading, shoe shopping, long walks on the beach, mojitoes and road trips.

Book preview

Author

Dear reader,

I loved writing this book. Mostly because the whole time I was writing it, I kept hearing details about the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. While my princess Annabelle Castle is considered Texas royalty, her only title is Head of Merchandising for Castle Department Store. But her knight in shining armor is a moody loner, Head of Security Johnny Darrow. They’ve taunted and flirted with each other for years. When her sister Eleanor assigns Johnny as Annabelle’s bodyguard at a new boutique department store, they really start getting on each other’s nerves, in both good and bad ways. But they find their own happy ending in a Wild West style showdown with a bad guy. I love how Annabelle and Johnny are both scarred and flawed, they always watch out for each other. Isn’t that what love is all about?

I hope you enjoy Annabelle and Johnny’s story. I just finished the final book—Aidan’s story and hope to have it polished and out soon. Remember what Cinderella said: One shoe really can change your life! In this series, shoes changed a lot of lives.

Lenora Worth

Chapter One

"Where you headed, princess?"

Annabelle Castle cringed at being called that nickname, especially by this man. Whirling to face the bane of her existence—the new head of security at Castle Department Store, Johnny Darrow—she put on a cool face and gave him one of her I’m-so-bored glares.

That title is reserved for Eleanor.

No, she got promoted to queen. So that makes you the new princess of this Castle.

Says you, but no, thanks.

Not ready to wear a tiara?

Annabelle thought about that image. She did not want to bear that burden. No, so don’t call me that. Giving him a daring glance, she said, I thought you’d stay busier—and out of my way—now that you’ve been promoted.

Even though he picked at her relentlessly and loved to flirt, Johnny had somehow managed to get her attention when she’d first arrived at Castle’s and worked part time as a teenager. But when she’d come back from college a couple of years ago and given him big hints to take things further, he’d treated her more like a bratty sister than someone he might want to get serious with. Then the one time she’d needed him a few months ago, he’d been away on one of his Johnny adventures. Not available.

Flirty, intriguing, aggravating, and so not available.

Not that she wanted him to be. Annabelle had given up on that adolescent crush. Johnny was like a thorn in her side. She tried to ignore him, but how could she when the man watched over everyone like a superhero?

Hip and handsome with tiger eyes, golden-brown wavy hair, and a bad-boy attitude, he’d been around Castle Department Store for as long as she could remember. He’d worked his way up from a part-time security officer to head of the department, thanks to Eleanor Castle, her sister, giving him a promotion recently. Annabelle had dated a lot of men in the years she’d known Johnny. Why did he seem to be the one who got on her last nerve?

Maybe because he was just not that into her?

I happen to be working right now, he retorted. Your big sister keeps all of us on our toes.

I can’t argue with that, Annabelle said while she took in Johnny’s lightweight gray suit and crisp white shirt. And an Elvis tie. Heartbreak Hotel.

She doubted Johnny had ever been heartbroken. He was too busy being Johnny. She had to admit he did a good job protecting this iconic Dallas department store and all the people who worked here, including Annabelle.

She’s done a lot around here, Johnny noted, speaking of Eleanor Castle, the only daughter of Charles and Vivian Castle, and soon to be Mrs. Nico Lamon.

Yep, she’s a regular Wonder Woman.

Are you two fighting?

No. We’re good, thank you.

She couldn’t tell him that she felt inadequate and like a fraud. Given a new position only because of her powerful sister.

But Annabelle had made great strides in the visual merchandising department. She had to prove to Eleanor she could run with the big dogs.

But I sense a tad of resentment, he continued in his pushy way.

I do resent her. She sent my mother to prison. I have to live with that and the blowback. You’ve seen the press hovering around, trying to get the latest. My life hasn’t been a bed of roses.

Johnny stopped in the aisle to stare over at her. You live in a house that looks like a castle, and you’ve been promoted to a management position.

True, but … you know me, Johnny. I need something to complain about, right?

He shot her that look where his dark eyebrow winged up and his eyes narrowed. How is Caron, anyway?

How would you be if you were sitting in a minimum-security prison because you embezzled money and worked in-store with a shoplifting ring?

His eyes went a soft gold. Not so hot.

Okay then. She tried to walk away, but he followed. Annabelle went on talking. I admit I’m glad Eleanor took over. Things are so much better now that the long-lost true heiress to the Castle fortune has returned, but … I’m still adjusting.

Aren’t we all?

After the Valentine Gala at the store and the ball that followed two weeks later at the estate, Eleanor had hit the ground running to bring Castle’s up to date.

Literally hit the ground running, wearing an expensive pair of red satin Lamon heels while doing it. Eleanor had chased down a jewel thief, adding even more lore to her story. She’d left the shoes behind, which had then started a Cinderella-inspired search for the woman in red.

Eleanor Castle had made a grand entrance back into the world of high fashion and cutthroat retail.

She’d also fallen for Nico Lamon, of the House of Lamon fashion dynasty. Their courtship had involved a pair of shoes and lots of cat-and-mouse flirting until they finally decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. They were getting married in December. Annabelle would be one of her three bridesmaids.

So you resent her, but you’re glad she’s back? Confused, that’s what you are.

You think? Glancing around while they passed lingerie, she added, Eleanor has retail in her blood. She’s a good leader, even if she did keep you around.

Johnny tugged at her dark ponytail, his eyes moving over her black linen sundress. And she let you stay, he reminded her. Not only let you stay but gave you a promotion, too.

Annabelle made a face. Yes, now I have a real job and I know how to cut my own meat, too. Could you be any more condescending?

His smile turned into a frown. I was trying to give you a compliment.

Oh, is that what that was?

Johnny stopped near the big mural in the shoe department, but he wasn’t looking at the mural of Eleanor and her parents that had been painted when Eleanor was a girl. Did you do that sandal display?

I did, Annabelle said, proud of herself and used to his rapid-fire change of subject.

After the person doing displays had quit, Eleanor had offered Annabelle the position as manager of visual merchandising. Once a slacker, Annabelle now loved coming to work because she got to create all the displays for the entire store. Her ideas were being used in several Castle stores across the South.

She twirled around and held her hands over the full skirt of her dress, her gaze moving from the display to Johnny. What do you think?

Johnny’s shrewd gaze moved over her in a slow dance that left her feeling as if they were doing the tango. Then he studied the shoe tree she’d created. She’d fashioned what looked like a real tree with branches jutting out in various lengths, but she’d hung sandals of every color and shape over the boughs, their straps dangling down like vines.

It’s like flowers blooming except these flowers are all … high-heeled, high-classed, and a bit edgy. He nudged her with his elbow. Kind of like you.

Annabelle scoffed, but her heart did a strange little twist. Darrow, you’re such a flirt. I bet you get phone numbers from women on every floor.

You asked what I thought, and I told you, he said. I’d better get going. I have a meeting with Eleanor.

So do I, Annabelle said, wondering what she wanted.

Eleanor kept changing things, adding new employees, firing those who didn’t do their jobs, always upgrading and rearranging. Did she have something else in mind for Annabelle?

You’re sighing, Johnny said while they moved through home furnishings and headed up the antique curved stairs that spiraled to the top floor. Somehow, they’d bypassed the elevators. What’s going on in that head of yours?

You’ll never know, Annabelle replied, thinking Johnny wouldn’t settle down, promotion or not. She wasn’t about to tell him that she liked being creative, nor that she loved being in charge of designing the lavish displays that customers stopped to admire. They took pictures and shared them on social media, which brought in more customers. It pleased Eleanor … and that pleased Annabelle. He’d taunt her with that admission and play on all of her insecurities.

She’d been a rebel for so long she couldn’t admit she had grown up and settled down. Quickly at that. Watching her mother go to prison could do that to anyone. Regardless, Johnny would tease her relentlessly over that confession. He’d never see her as a grown up.

But she had other things to worry about. Like this meeting with her sister. She owed Eleanor a lot, but sometimes the old resentments resurfaced. As did the guilt of not doing more to stop her criminally minded, conniving mother.

I’m trying to make up for that, she reminded herself.

I’m going first, she told Johnny when they reached Eleanor’s office door.

I’m supposed to be here at nine. He hit a finger against his watch. And I’m never late, unlike some people.

I’m right on time, she said. And I’m going in first.

You’re both on time, Eleanor said from behind them, her golden hair in a chignon, a cup of coffee from the downstairs café in one hand and a bagel in the other, her leather purse dragging on her arm. C’mon on in. I need to talk to you both.

Together? they asked, giving each other the eye.

Eleanor turned after Johnny opened the door for her. Yes, together.

Oh, this can’t be good, Annabelle said, shaking her head. What have you done now, Johnny?

I was about to ask you the same thing, he retorted, his eyes full of questions. But he gave her wink anyway.

Chapter Two

After Eleanor was settled behind her desk, Johnny turned and waited for Annabelle to take her seat. Somewhere between the streets and this store, he’d been taught enough manners to wait until all the ladies in the room sat down first.

What’s up, boss? he asked Eleanor. Now that she’d taken over this whole system, Eleanor lived up to the image her soon-to-be husband Nico Lamon had created for her after he’d convinced her that she was the Lamon Lady.

Eleanor had won a contest, taken back her kingdom, and found her man. Not bad.

But she did look the part in her white linen slim-legged suit with a fashionable floral scarf tied around her neck.

Her three-carat diamond ring winked at him, reminding him that this woman knew what she was doing. Reminding him that her sister Annabelle was walking a thin line. But that shoe display sure showed her talents. He rarely noticed the displays except to make sure no lurkers were trying to steal anything. But since Annabelle had taken over, he noticed a lot.

Eleanor wouldn’t fire Annabelle now, would she? Not after she’d given Annabelle a position that suited her completely.

And why was he so worried about Annabelle, anyway? He’d tried to watch over her the way he did with everyone under his guard. Annabelle didn’t like being fussed over, however. A real free spirit with a high-octane attitude.

Maybe he was the one being fired—for ogling Eleanor’s younger adopted sister, something he’d tried not to do for years now. And yet, here he was, highly aware of Annabelle right this minute.

I have a proposition for you two, Eleanor said through her black reader glasses.

Annabelle slid deeper into her chair and watched Johnny watching Eleanor, her expression going cool.

What kind of proposition? she asked, some of that bad-girl attitude still intact in the way her dark eyes flared.

Eleanor took a sip of coffee and shuffled some folders before clicking her fingers against her laptop keys. Well, things are on a roll around here. We’ve cleared up all the discrepancies I found in the spring, and I’ve fired anyone who was involved with that fiasco.

She had the good grace to look at her computer instead of Annabelle, since she was referring to Annabelle’s mother—the head of the fiasco. Thankfully, they recouped most of the money her greedy mother had hidden away in the Caymans and in a Swiss bank account, and they’d put away an entire shoplifting ring.

Does that mean we’re all getting a huge bonus? Annabelle asked with a cheeky grin that made Johnny’s heart grin back while his expression didn’t change.

Maybe, Eleanor said, studying the screen. What I want to discuss today is a new venture.

Johnny wondered what that had to do with him.

I’ve been in several meetings with a retail developer who is putting the finishing touches on a mall between Frisco and Grapevine. He’s asked me to reconsider a proposition that was offered last year, but the negotiations stalled out. He and Caron worked on plans to open a Castle store there, as one of the anchor stores. Apparently, they had an agreement, but she kept stalling on the final contract due to some language that needed negotiating. He’s leasing space, and he needs to know if we want to continue since he designed the location with Castle’s in mind. He’s willing to hold the space until I sign on the dotted line.

That’s great, Johnny said. That’s a hugely populated area, and it keeps growing. Lots of traffic.

I agree, and I don’t want to waste any more time, Eleanor said. This would be a fast-track build since he’s already in the process of finishing construction and the other shops are filling the mall. Which means, even though he has space for Castle’s, we’re behind schedule.

Looking at Annabelle, she said, If I sign this contract, I’d like you to head up creating the visual displays throughout the store for the opening and the décor for the grand opening gala.

Annabelle sat up straight, staring at her sister. What?

I have architects ready to finish the building’s exterior façade and the interior, to our specifications, of course, Eleanor continued. But I need someone with attitude and a bit of edge to create the department designs.

Johnny gave Annabelle a thumbs-up. That would be you, Annabelle Lee.

Annabelle looked pale, her porcelain skin white against the black linen enveloping her. She stood and started pacing back and forth, her tall strappy sandals clicking against the grain of the old wooden floor.

Johnny sat back and watched, getting a kick out