The Mail Order Billionaire (DC Billionaires Book 3) Read online

  “Your brother knows I’m coming, though…right?”

  He raised his brows and proceeded to drink from his glass.

  Deanna stared at him. Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. “Maxim?”

  He shrugged. “I may have forgotten to mention it. I’ve been busy all day, as you can imagine.”

  Deanna’s jaw dropped. “He… The king doesn’t…”

  “You remember how I said I wanted to choose my own bride?”

  She nodded, recalling the words in his letter. “I assumed that…that you would’ve warned your brother.”

  He slowly shook his head. “No need to do that. Like I said, we should just ask for forgiveness.”

  “What about disobeying the rules and death by guillotine?”

  “We’re not France,” he said dryly. “And…that punishment hasn’t been decreed in centuries. I doubt Novak could look his own brother in his eyes and order his death.” He finished his glass.

  “What makes you so sure?” Deanna popped a grape into her mouth. The fruit was amazing.

  “I’m still the spare. If the child isn’t a boy, I’m still next in line for the throne.”

  Deanna wrinkled her nose. “A girl can’t be queen?”

  “I think that’s on the agenda for parliament this year. It’s a little late in coming, I know. But every king has birthed a male heir for as far back as my lineage goes, so it hasn’t been an issue.”

  “What will our duties be?”

  “There are a number of charities that require my attention. But I was hoping to start a few business initiatives to stimulate the economy. Not sure if Novak will agree.”

  That sounded odd. Degonia wasn’t a thriving country, based on the reports Rita had gathered for her to read. It was going by the way of Greece quickly and would require a mass influx of capital. “Why not?”

  “Novak is…old guard. Very traditional. Extremely conservative.”

  Deanna frowned. “Then they won’t approve of me,” she said softly, watching the water trail off her brown forearms.

  “Not in the way you think. You’re not a princess. Not—”

  “Leonor?”

  “Exactly.”

  He finished pouring more champagne into his glass. Deanna watched as he took a sip. Her insides curled with apprehension. She hadn’t touched her drink because she wanted a clear head. Was he planning on getting drunk tonight? How would he act? Would he pressure her into more than what she was willing to give?

  “What’s on your mind?”

  “Huh?” she responded evasively.

  “Your expression. You look tense, worried. Don’t be. I’ll be there to protect you. We’re married, and there’s nothing that can change that. The last thing they’ll do is throw you into the tower.” He winked.

  “That’s not funny.”

  “It kinda is.”

  Twenty minutes and wrinkled skin later, they both emerged from their tubs. Deanna caught his gaze lingering on her as she wrapped the towel around her body. Her cheeks warmed at his perusal. “I’m going to take a shower,” she said quickly, snatching her toiletry bag.

  “Take your time.”

  She eyed him, surprised he didn’t ask to join her. He smiled gently. “I’ll ask another night.” He wagged his brows. She watched his back retreat out of the room.

  If he wanted her to feel comfortable around him, he was doing a good job. And she would have to trust him because he would be the only person she’d know in Degonia.

  Chapter 11

  Maxim would have rather slept in the bed with Deanna, but he thought not to push his luck. After taking his shower, he made a beeline back to the front sitting areas to give her privacy. Within the hour, she was asleep. He couldn’t complain; the chairs up front were high-end luxury. He felt like he was sleeping on a tailored mattress.

  In the morning, he knocked on the door to the room. Catching the curious eye of one of the attendants, he shrugged and said, “She’s shy.” The attendant raised her brows and turned away. Maxim rolled his eyes.

  He hadn’t thought this through. The people of Degonia would love a fairy-tale romance where a commoner falls in love with the handsome, wayward prince.

  But this was nothing like that.

  If they weren’t even sleeping in the same room, the palace attendants would talk. Then it would be in the gossip papers and make its way across the globe, ruining Deanna’s reputation. Neither of them wanted that.

  From now on, they’d sleep in the same room, if not in the same bed.

  Not getting an answer to his knock, Maxim peeked inside to an empty bed. The bathroom lights were on. Maxim lounged on the edge of the bed. When Deanna entered, she stopped short.

  “Good morning, princess.”

  She scowled.

  “Not a morning person?”

  “Good morning, Your Majesty.”

  He barked laughter. “You don’t have to address me by title, unless you want to.” He wagged his brows once. “How’d you sleep?”

  She stood rooted to her spot, her arms fast around her waist as though hiding. The white robe she wore covered her from neck to ankles. “The bed was very comfortable. Thank you for letting me sleep alone.”

  “Yeah, about that,” he began, flicking imaginary lint off the bed comforter. “We’ll need to sleep together.” When her eyes widened, he clarified. “In the same room. Can’t have the staff suspecting anything.”

  “Don’t they know this marriage is a…”

  He arched a brow. “Fraud? Was that the word you were going to use?”

  She frowned. “Not exactly.”

  “And probably, yeah. But we’re expertly matched, right? People would think there’s trouble in paradise if we’re only acting married during the daytime.”

  She nodded and said nothing. Her eyes scanned the room.

  “Looking for something?”

  “Nope,” she said with a shake of her head.

  Maxim eyed her robe. “Do you need privacy?”

  She tightened the belt. “I would like that, yes.”

  Maxim stood. “Good, because I’d like a shower. We land in an hour. Breakfast will be ready soon, if you’d like to eat before we land. It’s already mid-afternoon in Degonia, so I’d eat light if I were you. My brother is expecting us for dinner.”

  As he walked past, he scooped her with one arm, bringing her back firm against him. He kissed her neck. “Morning.” He released her, and she stumbled away. Color rose to her tawny cheeks, despite her looking at him suspiciously. “What? Can’t I kiss my wife in the morning?”

  She bit her lip.

  Not like I’m kissing you at night, he thought with a stab of resentment. That was unfair. They’d just met. He couldn’t expect her to act like all the other hanger-ons. She wasn’t with him for his money or his body. It was about her reputation.

  That didn’t stave off the bitterness fighting to curl around his stomach. It wasn’t unreasonable for him to expect that, in time, she’d be less rigid and more willing to…explore their relationship.

  He blocked thoughts of her while he showered. His brother was the bigger worry. Maxim practiced several versions of the argument he’d prepared the night before, anticipating his brother’s rejection of his new wife. He’d done his research on their family history and would bring up their great-great granduncle, who had chosen his own wife—a potter’s daughter he’d met while touring the northern villages. If Uncle Zivan could do it, then so could he.

  Theoretically.

  Maxim joined Deanna for breakfast.

  While buttering bread, she asked, “What is your sister-in-law like?”

  “Hmm…” What was Jelena like? He’d spent very little time with her before coming to America. “A lot like my brother with respect to traditional values and service to the monarchy. Cold, stiff, but loyal to a fault.”

  “Was she born royal?”

  “Yes. Although her country has since abolished the monarchy. In a way, Novak married the woman
he wanted to.”

  “That’s encouraging. He shouldn’t be too upset with you, right?” She bit into the bread, closed her eyes, and moaned.

  Maxim grinned. He liked her display. “Remind me to always have bread and butter around.”

  “No! It’s too decadent to eat every day.”

  “True,” he said around his own bite. “Both my brother and sister-in-law are big into protocol. I’ll have an assistant waiting for you when we land.” Her face morphed from pleased to panicked. He reached across the table and covered her hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll be there to help you every step of the way.”

  “I’d like to fit in,” she said softly.

  He smiled, admiring her willingness. It relaxed a few nerves he hadn’t noticed were tight. “I don’t know how well I fit in,” he said lightly. “But we’ll figure it out together. Our main concern is lessening the blow to my brother. I’ll highlight your academic accomplishments and my financial holdings. Between the two of them, Novak should be distracted enough not to focus on his anger.”

  “Sounds like a good plan.”

  “It’s one of my strong suits.” He briefly grinned. “When I’m not—how do you Americans put it?—winging it.”

  Deanna laughed. “That’s the expression. I’m not one for winging it…until yesterday.”

  “We’ll prove both your nemesis and the King of Degonia wrong. We know what we’re doing.”

  She gave him a sideways glance. He refused to be intimidated.

  Chapter 12

  They landed soon after having breakfast. The butterflies in Deanna’s stomach wouldn’t stop flying for all the ginger ale she drank. She’d tried to get in contact with her parents again, but she couldn’t get through. She felt bad they would be the last to know about her wedding, but there wasn’t anything Deanna could do about that.

  She could, however, make a good impression on the king and queen—at least, that’s what Maxim told her and what she kept repeating to herself. She was a well-educated woman with her own business and money. She had much to offer Maxim as his bride and future countess of some region.

  She stood at the doorway of the plane, forcing her spine to stiffen. When the doors opened, Maxim grabbed her hand, interlacing their fingers. She held on to it for dear life.

  Slowly they descended the steps. At the bottom, a red carpet greeted them, extending all the way to a regal-looking couple Deanna guessed were the king and queen. The man had a height and beard similar Maxim’s but a sterner expression. The queen’s blond hair was done up in a stiff style that didn’t budge despite the cool air whipping around them. The blond held a hand to her pregnant bump.

  Definitely the king and queen.

  Maxim squeezed her hand. He paused when they reached the red carpet. Catching her eyes, he grinned. “Ready?”

  Deanna smiled back. “Absolutely not.”

  “At least we’re on the same page.”

  They walked to greet the king and queen. Maxim had showed her the proper way to curtsy, which Deanna performed flawlessly. She said little but the formal greeting Maxim had instructed her to say. Novak regarded her with cool civility, both in the lightness with which he held her hand and the brief glance he gave her.

  Queen Jelena, on the other hand, wrinkled her nose and curled up her top lip. She refused to acknowledge Deanna beyond a once-over that left no room for misinterpretation.

  She did not like Deanna one bit.

  Deanna’s heart sank. A small part of her wanted acceptance, but she didn’t know the couple and their opinion had little impact on her self-worth. It was her desire to improve Maxim’s standing that took the hit.

  And that surprised Deanna.

  She barely knew the man. On the surface, he was someone she couldn’t see herself matched with. Now, she wanted to prove they were right for one another. Especially to his family.

  And, if she were honest, to her own. Her parents’ rejection of her ex had pierced her soul at a time in Deanna’s life when she questioned everything. Who was she and what was her purpose in life? Although Novak and Jelena weren’t Maxim’s parents, Deanna’s hope for a warm greeting was dashed. She remained invisible to Novak, and Jelena didn’t have the decency to hide her repulsion.

  “Your car is behind ours,” Novak said in a clipped voice.

  Maxim and Deanna waited until Novak and Jelena were secured in their vehicle before walking hand in hand to theirs.

  When they settled into the car, Maxim said, “That could’ve gone worse, believe me.”

  “The queen is obviously not happy.”

  “She and Leonor are friends. I wouldn’t concern yourself with her greeting. She’s never liked me anyway.”

  Deanna felt a little better about the queen’s coldness but not much. If they were going to live here, she wanted the palace to be a warm place; it was cold enough outside already. “And the king?”

  Maxim’s lips fluttered as he blew out a breath. “I’m sure he’ll let me know what he thinks later, in private.” He took her hand in his and winked. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure this one out. If anything, it’s my head on the line.”

  Deanna snorted. “The queen looked like she wanted to put my head on a stake.”

  Maxim laughed lightly. “Both our heads, I imagine. They’d go perfectly on the iron rails at castle gates.”

  She pulled her hand from his and playfully slapped him on the arm. “Be serious.”

  He slid closer and placed his hand on the knee farthest from him, allowing his massive arm to fall protectively across her torso. “We’ll focus on winning the people over. Status is everything. If the people love us, there’s nothing Novak, nor his wife, can do.” He squeezed her knee and withdrew his arm, but not before Deanna hooked him with hers.

  Her chest tightened when the palace came into view. It didn’t look like the famous one used in a Hollywood Cinderella movie rendition. It more closely resembled one that belonged to Vlad the Impaler. Sharply pointed turrets, gothic-style architecture, and not a colorful flower in sight.

  “Ah, home sweet home,” Maxim said dryly as they stepped out of their vehicles. “Guess the winter was long. Flowers should be blooming by now.”

  They walked past bowing servants into an equally cold entryway with walls decorated in dark wooden accents and heavy furs on the floors. Deanna tightened her grip on Maxim’s hand. He led her toward a staircase opposite the direction of the king and queen.

  “See you for dinner!” Maxim shouted. With a wave, he and Deanna were jogging up the steps.

  “Why are we running?” Deanna asked when they reached the landing before the second set of stairs.

  “Trying to reach safety.”

  “Where?”

  “My wing.”

  “Oh.” Made sense. Deanna allowed him to lead her to the second floor and through large double doors.

  His wing was a stark contrast to the cold, formal entryway. Light poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing intricately carved ceilings, gold-plated designs, and thick Persian rugs covering huge swaths of the floor. Opulence everywhere. “This place…”

  They passed a desk occupied by a woman who stood and greeted Maxim and then Deanna. Maxim quickly returned her greeting and then pulled Deanna into another room and promptly shut the doors. He sighed heavily.

  “Yes, this place. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “Compared to what’s on the first floor?”

  Maxim’s lips twisted lopsidedly. “Yeah, that was the doing of my great-grandfather. Neither my father nor Novak had the heart to change the decorations into something less…earthy and aggressive. But what you see here is how the rest of the palace looks.”

  Deanna eyed the sitting room they had entered. The furniture looked old, but well-preserved from some century prior to the current one. The fireplace was gold, the drapes gold-colored, the baseboards gold. Certainly the whole palace couldn’t be gold-plated? Wasn’t the country in debt?

  “I can tell by the loo
k on your face that you have some questions about how our country is spending its money,” Maxim said sarcastically.

  “Is everything gold?”

  He laughed. “Just about. Including the plates, the silverware, and the countless statues commemorating the history of the monarchy. I know, I know. A lot of stuff should be melted down and dumped into our economy, but status is everything.”

  They walked hand in hand through another set of doors. The large four-poster bed was the first piece to catch Deanna’s eye. Had to be larger than a king-sized bed. Maxim released her to walk to what appeared to be a closet while Deanna fingered the fluffy gold-colored comforter.

  “Good, our clothes are here,” Maxim commented after emerging from the closet. “We have about an hour or so before we’re expected downstairs to greet a bunch of people and then eat.” He frowned. “I’ll have your assistant give you an overview of the important stuff. Don’t bother with remembering names. I never do,” he ended with a smile.

  Deanna dropped her purse on the bed and moved to the closet while Maxim exited their room, probably in search of the assistant. Not wanting to waste any time, she slipped on the pale, lime-green dress with a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt. In the full-length mirror, she looked like a princess.

  “Grace, if you could see me now,” she whispered.

  “Wow.”

  Deanna jumped. Maxim leaned against the closet doorway, eyes unashamedly filled with longing as they took her in.

  Deanna felt like she was back at the night of her first high school prom. She’d worn a dress fit for a Disney princess and was going with a guy friend she secretly crushed on. He’d said she looked beautiful and even kissed her at the end of the night, but that was all it ever was.

  Yet, this wasn’t prom. Yes, she looked like a princess. Yes, she had feelings for her hot date. But this time, she was married to the guy.

  And he looked like he wanted to do more than kiss her.