AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They finally pulled up to the villa and he and Maisy got out. Safa led them to the door, which was open. Inside, the villa was light and airy, with billowing white curtains and a light, beachy aesthetic. Xander spotted a balcony that looked out over the ocean below. There was a small kitchen and a sitting area, along with two doors that led off the main room. It wasn’t huge, but it was very romantic. Or it should have been.
Safa stopped them at the doors and collected their laptops and Maisy’s e-reader, which she handed over with such a look of despair that Xander almost snatched it back from Safa. But the publicity specialist was just doing her job, and there was no reason for Xander to be rude to her. Maisy probably wouldn’t have appreciated the gesture from him anyway.
“Okay. Are you both clear on the rules, moving forward?” Safa asked.
They both nodded, but then Maisy cleared her throat.
“If we aren’t allowed to leave, how should we get food?”
“I’ve had the kitchen stocked with enough essentials to last a week or so. If needed, I can restock at any point — just let me know what you’re missing when you see me.”
“And can we swim?” Xander asked. “I see the ocean isn’t far, but technically that would be leaving the villa, right?”
“As long as you take the private staircase down and don’t interact with anyone while you’re on the beach, it should be all right. Obviously, the best case is that you would go together.” Safa looked back and forth between Maisy and Xander, who both had their arms firmly crossed. “But you don’t seem too thrilled about that.”
“Understood. Thank you.” Xander gave what he hoped was a friendly smile but probably looked more like a tortured grimace.
“Right. I’ll be back tomorrow for the first of your planned excursions — please consult the schedules on the coffee table if you have any questions.”
“Thank you.” Maisy’s tone wasn’t particularly grateful, but she was clearly trying to be polite. Xander admired that.
“Have a nice evening.” Safa waved, then exited the villa. A moment later, they heard the sound of the car outside start, then the crunch of tires on gravel as it pulled away.
Xander felt strangely sad to see Safa go. She was the only remaining link to the outside world, and now she was gone. “At least it’s quite a nice place,” Xander tried.
Maisy gave a sigh. “I’m not really interested in small talk, Xander.”
“Yeah. I get that.” They stood in awkward silence for a few beats, then Xander let out his breath in a low whistle. “I’m going to give you some space. But if you want to talk or anything, I’m here.”
Maisy nodded wordlessly. Xander grabbed the bag Niko had had sent ahead for the honeymoon and went through one of the doors off the hall. It turned out to be a bathroom. Xander hurriedly changed out of the wedding suit, which he’d worn on the plane ride for lack of a better option, and into what Niko had apparently packed for a casual afternoon — a pair of khaki shorts and a white button-up with a collar. Then he washed up and caught sight of himself in the mirror.
Sometimes, when Xander saw himself from the right angle or in just a quick glimpse, he thought he was seeing Niko. The two of them really were so alike, although as they’d gotten older, they’d differentiated themselves more and more in how they dressed and acted. Yet today, in Niko’s clothes, on Niko’s honeymoon, with the woman who was supposed to be Niko’s wife, Xander thought he was practically indistinguishable from his brother.
This made him think of Niko. Where was the crown prince in all this? Xander hadn’t seen the note Niko had left, but he supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised. Niko had clearly been having cold feet the night before, and Xander’s pep talk must not have helped as much as he’d thought. Still, his responsible, dutiful brother standing his fiancée up at the altar was so out of character that Xander struggled to believe it. What could have happened to make Niko so against the marriage that he’d backed out at the very last minute? And what would Niko say now when he found out that Xander was married to his bride?
Some dark, hidden part of Xander pointed out that perhaps Niko would be relieved. If their parents couldn’t figure out a way to nullify the marriage and get Niko back on board, Niko wouldn’t have to marry Maisy, which he clearly didn’t want to do. And Xander had to admit that being married to a woman as wonderful as Maisy wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
Then Xander sighed. Of course, it would be almost the worst thing. It wasn’t like Maisy had wanted to marry him. She clearly loved Niko and was more than furious about being married to Xander. She didn’t even want to speak to him.
No, the best outcome for everyone would be if Niko came around and was able to take his rightful place as Maisy’s husband. It was the only way forward. Xander shouldn’t even try to imagine any other outcomes.
With that, he turned away from the mirror, grabbed his bag, and emerged back into the villa. There was only one other door off the main room, and it had a large heart-shaped cutout through the top. Through the cutout, Xander spotted Maisy sitting on a large bed, which was covered in white sheets and ringed with billowing white curtains, her head in her hands. Xander’s heart went out to her, and he had an overwhelming urge to comfort her, but he knew he was the last person she wanted to see right now.
Instead, he headed out onto the villa’s terrace. Despite everything, his breath caught at the view before him. The waves far below were so blue they could have come from a painting. The sky was equally blue, with only a few wispy clouds far above. Straight down was a rocky cliff. Xander spotted a staircase, which must have been the one Safa mentioned. It wound down among the rocks to a white sandy beach far below. The waves lapped against the shore, looking every bit as though they’d been cut out of a postcard and brought to life.
Xander had traveled frequently. When he was younger, he’d accompanied his parents on royal visits to different countries, and as he’d grown older, he’d occasionally accompanied his brother or taken a trip with his friends. Yet this was different from any place Xander had been before — and not just because there weren’t any diplomatic teas or ribbon-cutting ceremonies to attend. Kanalea really was the most romantic place Xander had ever been.
If only he were here with a woman who was willing to look at him.
Xander sighed and leaned against the railing. A cool sea breeze whipped through his hair, and he heard the crashing of waves somewhere far below. It wasn’t Maisy’s fault she didn’t want to talk to him. Xander would give her space for now. But he needed to think of a way to make this up to her. Even if everything went according to plan from here on out, she’d still be his sister-in-law for the rest of their lives. They needed to be on speaking terms.
Xander could do this. Anyway, it wasn’t as if he could make things any worse.
CHAPTER 8
MAISY
Maisy wasn’t sure what to do. Usually, in times like this, she would call Lily and vent, or read a book, or go for a brisk walk to burn off her excess upset energy. If none of that were possible, she’d at least take a bath or listen to some music.
