If we were actually in love, this would be a little easier. If we could convince his parents we were enamored of each other then maybe they’d soften to the idea of our marriage. But while we’re getting decent at pretending to care for each other, I’m not sure the act would work on his parents.

  I’m putting the final touches on my makeup when I hear Caspar return to the room.

  He stops when he sees me, the hint of a smile briefly flickering across his otherwise serious expression.

  “You look beautiful,” he says.

  The words are missing his usual gushing charm, but somehow that makes them feel more authentic. My cheeks warm, and I start to utter my thanks, but he’s already preoccupied with something else. He’s holding a small stack of papers.

  “I should have said something before,” he tells me, “but if we still want to go through with this my father insisted on a couple of changes to our contract.”

  “You told your parents about the contract? So they know about our arrangement?”

  He nodded. “It was the only way. But arranged marriages aren’t that rare among royalty, so they understood.”

  “They did? Really?”

  “Well, as I said, my father requested a change or two to our arrangement.”

  My gut tightens, though I’m not sure what I’m afraid of. “Can he do that? Isn’t the contract legally binding as is?”

  He pauses. “Yes, it is.”

  “But you think we should sign the new one?” I ask, reading between the lines. “So that he’s on board with everything?”

  Again, he seems to have to drag the words out of himself—he clearly detests having to appease his father.

  “It would certainly make things easier,” he says. “It’s my fault for doing things this way—I should have been upfront with them from the start. This is a lot for them to take in on such short notice.”

  “I get it.” Relief sweeps through me, now that I see where this is going. “Legal or not, you want your parents to be fully supportive of your heir.”

  He nods. “And you as well, Renae. I know this didn’t start as a traditional relationship, but—” He pauses, then finishes, “But I want the best for you, truly. And I want you to be welcomed in this family.”

  My eyes flick to the papers in his hand. “So, what does your father want? I’m assuming that’s the new contract for me to sign?”

  He nods again. “He wants… well, first of all, he added a few provisions to the morality clause. Essentially, he wants your consent to hire a company that will scrub the internet of any questionable photos or posts from your past.”

  “That makes sense,” I say. Frankly, I’m surprised there wasn’t one in the initial contract. “And don’t worry—I don’t think there’s anything for them to scrub.”

  “Then he added a few lines to the confidentiality section, tightening it up,” Caspar goes on. He flips to one of the pages and shows it to me, and I skim the new lines. They make sense, too.

  “Is that it?” I ask, feeling more relieved by the second.

  “There is one more thing…” A slight crease appears on his brow as he flips to the second-to-last page. “He, uh…” Again, I see that flash of reluctance. “He also added a couple of sentences in the section where you give up your claim to certain decisions about the child’s future.”

  This time, I feel a slight pang in my chest. The deeper I get into this, the more I’m coming to understand the sacrifice I’m going to be making.

  But that’s part of the deal. I think of my dad—of the life this will be giving him—and remind myself that this child will be in wonderful hands. He or she will be a royal, for god’s sake. I can’t offer my child any better than that.

  “Do you have a pen?” I ask him. “I’ll sign it right now.”

  He pulls one out of his pocket. “You’ll need to initial every page to confirm you agree to all the new terms. And they’ll be signing this new one as well, so everyone is officially and legally on board.”

  “Fine, that’s fine,” I tell him, wanting to get this over with. I can’t be second guessing this decision now—I won’t. I stride over to a side table and quickly flip through the pages, initialing them without even glancing at the terms. I’m afraid that if I linger too long on this decision, I’ll be forced to face all the emotions I’ve gotten so good at shoving down.

  When I get to the final signature page, though, Caspar is suddenly beside me, his hand coming down over mine and stopping me from moving the pen.

  “You don’t have to do this, you know,” he says softly. “We don’t have to do this. We can tear up this contract right now.”

  “And do what?” I can hear the desperation in my own voice. “I need this money, Caspar. Don’t worry—I’m not backing out. I’ll do whatever it is your father wants. I don’t care. I need this.”

  He looks at me for a long moment, like he’s studying something deep inside me—something I don’t want him to see. I tear my eyes away from his, shrug his hand off mine, and sign the contract before he can stop me again.

  “There,” I say. “It’s done.”

  He looks down at the papers. “Yes, I suppose it is.”

  CHAPTER 31

  Caspar

  I might be the world’s most horrible man.

  My heart races at the knowledge Renae will be mine—for the next twenty years, at any rate—and she didn’t even hesitate. Not that she read that teeny, tiny little passage near the end of the contract, of course, but it wasn’t as though I kept her from looking at it.

  But what will she do when she finds out?

  I try to assuage that small voice in the back of my head by reminding myself that she at least appears happy—her smile is as wide as I’ve seen it since we’ve arrived. She seems almost…relieved.

  “Shall we, then?” Renae asks, placing her hand on my arm as she guides me to the door. “We don’t want to keep your parents waiting.”

  I can hardly believe she’s real. I should say something—tell her about that twenty-year clause, warn her that there’s more to those papers…

  But I don’t. I can’t. I don’t know if it’s that I’m stunned silent by her beauty or just the fact that she was willing to jump so blindly into a contractual marriage with me.

  Of course, I haven’t really considered that part of it yet, either. I also could have told her that my father stripped out my portion of the contract that said I could continue to see other women. Certainly, when Renae finds out that part, she’ll be pleased, even if it does mean having to live twenty years with me.

  Twenty years. I gulp. I can’t even contemplate how long that truly is. How old will I even be in twenty years⁠—?

  My thoughts are interrupted with an elbow to my ribs.

  “Earth to Caspar.” Renae grins up at me. “Are you all right? You look like you’re a million miles away.”

  I give her my most charming of smiles. “Only because I’m with the world’s most beautiful woman.”

  She lifts a brow. “I already signed the papers. It isn’t like you need to woo me, you know. I’m a sure thing.” Her cheeks flush. “You know what I mean.”

  “But it’s true.” If I wasn’t so distracted by what I’d just done, I might have gone back on my promise of not touching her. She’s breathtaking—I’m sure my cousin loaned her the cocktail dress she’s wearing, but it couldn’t be more stunning on her figure, hugging her in all the right places.

  “You’re so full of it,” she says, giving me a playful roll of her eyes. “What are you so worried about? You look like you’re about to have your last supper.”

  “Ah, well…” We’ve neared the entry to the dining room, and I stop, turning to her.

  I should tell her now, I think. Tell her what she just signed enjoins her with this family for the next twenty years. Surely that’s not a prison she wants to commit to.

  “Well?” She grins up at me. “What is it? They can’t be that bad. Your father agreed to our contract. We won.”

  I look into her eyes. I want to tell her. I do. I open my mouth to tell her we can still tear the damn contract up—that I won’t hold her accountable for her signature if she doesn’t want me to—but instead, I’m jabbed again in the ribs.

  This time, it’s by my brother Benedict.

  “Is this her? My new sister-in-law?” He gives her an overly royal bow. “It’s good to meet you, my lady.”

  Renae dips into a proper curtsy. “And you as well, my lord.”

  “Renae, this is my brother, Lord Benedict.” I swat the back of his head as he rises. “Where is your lovely wife?”

  “Ah. Quinn is unfortunately upstairs with our daughter. She seems to have caught a stomach bug somewhere between here and Wilderly Springs. You’d love it, Brother. There’s vomitus everywhere.”

  “My favorite.” I give him a polite smile. “Shouldn’t you be upstairs assisting?”

  “Quinn has a handle on it.” He grins. “Besides, it’s her turn. I took care of diarrhea day last month, so I got a get out of jail free card on this one.”

  “That seems fair,” Renae smiles at him.

  “Just think, Brother.” Benedict drapes his arm across my shoulder. “In a year or two, you and Renae will have a routine down, too. She’ll get to clean up the puke, and you’ll be the one cleaning up the⁠—”

  “Oh no,” Renae interrupts, shaking her head with a laugh. “That’s all on Caspar.”

  “Really?” Benedict turns to look at me. “You’ve come to that arrangement already?”

  “Yes, definitely,” Renae says, nodding. “All baby eruptions will be taken care of by Caspar. Or the nanny.”

  “Ha!” Benedict slaps me on the shoulder before turning to the door and leading us into the dining room. “A nanny. That isn’t going to happen.” He laughs before he turns to Renae. “Do you really want a nanny?”

  “No, of course not.” Her smile falls. “I mean, if it was up to me, I’d raise…” She puts on a plastic smile. “You know what? It really doesn’t matter. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to work all of that out after our child arrives.”

  “Which I hear is to be within the year,” my father says in a near-booming voice as he enters the dining room, motioning for us all to sit.

  Renae takes the seat next to me, and I take her hand in mine.

  There’s no way I’m going to come out of this dinner alive.

  CHAPTER 32

  Renae

  Caspar’s father spends most of the meal silently watching me over the rim of his wine glass.

  I was as prepared for this as I could be, given the circumstances, but that doesn’t make his study of me any less disconcerting. Caspar’s mother is a little chattier—but just a little. At least she seems like she’s trying to be friendly, though I can tell she’s taking her measure of me, too. I understand why—I’m the weird American who agreed to a contractual marriage and surrogacy. In her mind, I’m either crazy or secretly trying to steal her son’s money. But hopefully the newly signed contract will clear the latter up, at least.

  Lord Benedict, on the other hand, is much friendlier. He asks Caspar dozens of questions over dinner—everything from how we met to our plans for the wedding. Everyone seems to have mutually decided to pretend this is a normal marriage, at least in a formal setting like this. I guess the dirty business details of arranged marriages are considered “impolite dinner conversation” for these Montovian royals.

  “And what about the honeymoon?” Benedict asks with a big grin. I can’t quite get over how much he looks like Caspar—albeit a few years younger. And his hair is more of an auburn shade, while Caspar’s is a lighter red-gold. Otherwise, though, they’re clearly cut from the same cloth, down to their bright blue eyes and charming smiles.

  “We haven’t had a chance to book anything yet,” Caspar says. “But I was thinking Paris.” He glances at me. “What do you think?”

  Even though I know it’s all bullshit, I can’t help the little leap of excitement in my chest. “I’ve always wanted to see Paris.”

  “You’ve never been?” Benedict leans toward me. “Then Caspar, you definitely have to take her.”

  “I plan on it.” Caspar takes my hand beneath the table. “Unless there’s somewhere else you’d rather see first, my love.”

  Even though I know the endearment is an act—as does everyone sitting at this table—my cheeks warm. “No, Paris sounds perfect.”

  “Good.” He gives my fingers a little squeeze. “Then it’s settled. I’ll get started on the arrangements in the morning.”

  “I still can’t believe it,” Benedict says, leaning back in his seat. “Caspar’s getting married. Never thought it would happen like this, but still.”

  “That’s what we all said about you,” Caspar tells his brother. “And Xavier.” Their middle brother is sitting on Benedict’s other side and has been mostly silent during the meal. While he’s been friendly to me during my stay here so far, I get the feeling that usually, like tonight, he’s happy to sit in the background and let everyone else talk. Lauren, like Benedict’s wife, has also managed to escape this dinner tonight, and I wonder how long I have to be married to Caspar before I can get out of formalities like this as well.

  Not that it really matters, I remind myself. You’ll be out of the picture long before that point. And if I have to endure a few stiff dinners with Caspar’s parents awkwardly staring at me the whole time…well, I guess there are worse things I could do for a million dollars.

  “Let’s get back to the wedding,” Caspar’s mother says. No one’s bothered to tell me her name yet, so I get the impression I may just have to refer to her as my lady forever. “There are still a number of arrangements that need to be made.”

  Caspar speaks up. “I assure you, Mother, I have everything under control. But if you insist on taking part⁠—”

  “I do.”

  “Then go wild. I’m sure neither Renae nor I object.”

  I quickly nod, adding my agreement. “We’d welcome the help.”

  “You need the help,” she corrects me.

  “Thank you, my lady.”

  She gives a small, satisfied smile, though her eyes on my face are still sharply observant as I pick up my fork—the correct fork—to continue eating. She doesn’t seem as cold or calculating as her husband—I’d swear I even detect a bit of kindness in her eyes—but I can tell she still doesn’t trust me yet.

  It doesn’t matter. The contract is signed. We’re in this together whether she likes it or not—but honestly, I hope she does end up liking me, just a little. It would make all of this so much easier. I might only be entangled for this family for a year or so, but I’d prefer to spend this year surrounded by friends, not enemies. It will be hard enough without having to watch my back all the time.

  The rest of dinner is, thankfully, uneventful.

  It’s only when everything has been cleared away and everyone is taking their leave for the night that I find Caspar’s mother next to me suddenly, her hand on my arm.

  “If I may steal you for a moment, my dear.”

  I shoot a panicked look in Caspar’s direction, but he’s been detained by his father, and there’s no one to rescue me from being pulled aside.

  “You don’t have to look so frightened, my dear. I don’t bite.” Her eyes are kind, but there’s a slight edge to her words that makes it clear she’d cut me to shreds if she needed to. “You’ve signed the contract and agreed to the new terms, so I’d like to believe you mean no harm to my son or this family. If that remains the case, I’m satisfied.”

  I nod. “Of course I don’t mean you any harm.”

  “I just want to make sure you understand what you’re getting in to.”

  “Believe me, I understand,” I assure her. “I’ve given this a lot of thought.”

  “Forgive me, but it couldn’t have been that much thought, given how quickly everything has come together.” Her eyes, still kind and sharp at the same time, bore into me. “Caspar is my firstborn son. And this isn’t the sort of marriage I imagined for him. But it appears he’s committed to this. I don’t understand why, when there were other options available, but I can’t make his decisions for him. So let me be clear—you’d better be entirely sure of your commitment to this, or my husband and I will do what is necessary.”

  I don’t even want to think about what that might mean. “I’ve signed the new contract, my lady. I am committed.”

  “You had better be.” Her eyes still haven’t released me. “I’ll give you the rest of the night to make your final decision. If you change your mind in that time, my husband and I won’t sign the new contract and you’ll be released from its terms. But after that⁠—”

  “That won’t be necessary.” My voice is firm. “As I told you, I’m committed. I’ve already signed the dotted line, and nothing short of an act of God will stop me from fulfilling my end of the bargain. I swear.”

  Her eyes search mine for a long moment, but whatever she finds there seems to satisfy her.

  “Very well,” she says. “It’s done. I suppose that means I have a wedding to finish planning. Welcome to the family, Renae.”

  Royal Surrogate 2 will be released on March 26, 2024. Sign up for the Royal Heartbreakers newsletter for a notification on release day.

  ROYAL HEARTBREAKERS

  Royal Heartbreaker (Leopold and Elle)

  Royal Mistake (Andrew and Victoria)

  Royal Arrangement (William and Justine)

  Royal Wedding Fiasco

  Royal Disaster (Sophia and Pax)

  Royal Christmas Baby

  Royal Escape (Nicholas and Clara)

  Royal Christmas at the Ranch

  Royal Wager (Benedict and Quinn)

  Royal Secret (Xavier and Lauren)

  Royal Surrogate (Caspar and Renae)

  ROYAL HEARTBREAKERS READER TEAM

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12