Leaning forward slightly with a narrowed gaze meant to intimidate, her father barely said above a whisper, “Otherwise, we chose someone for you.”
Jumping from her seat, startling both her father and mother, Kerry shook her head in denial. “No, you can’t do that. I’m not the freaking prince in Cinderella. I deserve the chance to choose who I want to spend my life with.”
“We have given you plenty of time to choose someone, but as usual, you’ve floundered about without a care in the world. Well, now your time is up. I suggest you spend the rest of the evening meeting the elite gentlemen we have invited instead of gossiping with your friends.”
“Mother,” Kerry pleaded, hoping the woman would sympathize with the child she gave birth to, but she wasn’t shocked as her mother subtly shook her head.
“We expect word tomorrow of your choice so that the courting process may begin. And, Karolyna, I strongly suggest you choose wisely because you are not going to be happy with the alternative.”
Kerry spun on her custom heels without a word and left the room in a fury, the red silk dress appearing like a flame behind her swift movement. There was no backward glance as she headed toward the other end of the palace, the opposite side of the ballroom. No, Kerry had better things to do than follow her parent’s demands without retreating to her safe haven first.
“Miss, can I get anything for you?” her assigned servant and friend Mary asked as Kerry swarmed into the luxurious bedroom Kerry claimed as her own.
“No, Mary. I’m just going to touch up my makeup and then I’ll make my way to the party.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes, I just need a moment alone, if you don’t mind.”
“Yes, your highness.”
Once Mary left the room, Kerry swiped her fingers beneath her eyes, removing the black smudges from the threatening tears that pooled against her lower lids, and gazed at her reflection in the mirror.
She couldn’t help but wonder if this was what she wanted, if this life was what she wanted. A life that had been handed to her on a platter the moment she was born. The tiara surrounding the pile of blonde waves piled on top of Kerry’s head shimmered in the evening sunset shining through the windows.
Kerry had a choice to make, one that was going to define her life, and she wasn’t sure she was ready. Not that her parents were going to allow her the alternative. Either she chose someone to rule beside her, or her parents would make the decision.
Grimacing at that thought, Kerry reached for the small bottle of perfume she favored and spritzed herself one last time. Regardless of what her parents wanted, Kerry had to make an appearance at tonight’s gala. There were important dignitaries in town and she needed to schmooze them for her charity.
As she set the bottle back onto the top of the antique piece of furniture, a picture tucked into the corner of the mirror caught her eye. She had forgotten about the location that she had driven into by happenstance. Lifting the photo of the small town sign, a smile grew on her face for the first time that day.
A knock sounded on her closed bedroom door followed by a soft voice, “Your highness?”
Kerry placed the image down and took one last glance at herself in the mirror, then made her way to the door, opening the heavy wooden structure with flare.
“I’m ready,” she lied but masked it with an air of confidence she didn’t feel. “Let’s go find me a husband.”
Chapter One
Landon glanced around the cavernous room that he had painstakingly altered from ramshackle shop to high-end bar over the last two years. It had been a disaster when he walked into the building with the rotted wood siding and critters that had affectionately called the place home. Most people would have barely stepped foot past the entrance before turning around in disgust, but not Landon. He had seen the beauty that it could be. Hell, for all intents and purposes, the place had reminded him of himself and the journey he had been on. Just as fate had finally turned in his favor, he had given the building the hope it deserved.
With the rag in hand, Landon mindlessly rubbed the glossy finish of the bar top, remembering how far the bar had come, how far he had come. He wasn’t really sure what had drawn him to the small town of Carson to begin with. He liked to think his car breaking down on the interstate as he drove away from Georgia, coming to a halt just before the Carson sign, had been all the signal he needed. But actually, calling the town home took a lot of convincing – on his part. It reminded him too much of his past. Too much of the home that haunted his memories. Luckily the few friends he had made had convinced him quickly that Carson was a town unlike any other.
Hell, Landon still wasn’t sure how he was able to get a business license and have his permits approved to open the bar with the background he had. But he wasn’t about to stare a gift horse in the mouth. This was his chance to find himself. This was his chance at redemption.
Taking one last look around the space, Landon recollected that he had about another two weeks or so of work remaining. The booths, tables, and chairs were scheduled to be delivered the following week while he had already started stocking liquors, the glassware and all other small items were scheduled for the week after.
He supposed that he should probably plan an opening of sorts and hire a helper or two. Landon had every intention of working whenever the bar was open, but he knew based on the amount of business that Horizon’s, the other bar in town, did on a daily basis, he would need some help.
Moving to the corner of the bar, he located the yellowing piece of paper he had kept tacked in place. This was his list of things to do to complete the project and Landon took a moment to admire all the scratches through items. Gripping the pencil in his hand that he kept conveniently beside the paper, Landon added one more task to the list.
Hire Help.
Just as he set the pencil back on the counter, the bar's front entrance opened, and a petite dark-haired woman walked in. She smiled warmly at him and Landon couldn’t hold back his returning grin. Alexis was his friend Cliff’s woman, the woman he moved heaven and earth to save and they’d been inseparable since. She also held the town deputy position. Despite her warm and feminine appearance, she was a warrior through and through, and Landon tried not to let on that she scared him half of the time. The woman was stealthy, unlike anything he had ever witnessed before.
“Looks good around here. How close are you to finishing up?” Alexis asked as she ran the tips of her fingers across the glossy finish of the bar.
“Another couple of weeks. Probably need to decide on a date. Of course, you guys are welcome here anytime.”