The Jaguar Prince

Chapter 23

“We need to keep a low profile,” Callie told Rogar as he pulled in front of the country club.

“I understand.”

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”

“Too late.”

The valet opened their doors. She tried to smile, but knew she didn’t quite pull it off.

He squeezed her hand as they walked down the sidewalk. “Have courage, Callie.”

Callie could’ve told him all her bravado had left about an hour and a half ago, but she bit her tongue. He was right. She held her head high as they walked inside the club. A man in uniform silently appeared and took her wrap, then handed each of them a paddle with a number boldly printed on it and a sheet of paper so they could sign their name next to their number.

Rogar looked as though he didn’t know quite what to do with the paddle.

“It’s so you can bid during the auction.” Not that they would be bidding or anything. She figured once around the dance floor, and they could sneak away.

As soon as she signed her name, she handed the paper to Rogar and he did the same. While he signed, she turned, catching her reflection in the full-length mirror. She hadn’t dared to look while they were at the cabin. At least, not at everything altogether. She’d been afraid she would see a flaw, then lose her nerve.

“You’re beautiful,” Rogar whispered close to her ear.

“Is that really me?” The woman in the mirror looked nothing like the woman who usually dressed for comfort, throwing on a pair of sweats or shorts, depending on the season.

No, the woman staring back at her looked as though she belonged. The black dress molded to her body, the strappy heels hurt like hell, but they were sexy, and they made her feel so feminine. She could stand a little pain for one night.

But the diamonds at her throat, and on her wrist, sparkled with the colors of the rainbow, pure and clear. They were the icing on the cake. This is what Cinderella would have felt like. If only she could have this all the time.

You can.

She jerked her head around, looking at Rogar.

“Did you say something?”

He shook his head. At that moment, Constance glided into the foyer. She took one look at Callie and her mouth dropped open.

Callie had read stuff like this happening in her romance books. The heroine would get her revenge, but it never felt quite as sweet as she had thought.

The books were wrong.

This felt oh so sweet. “Constance.” Callie’s gaze skimmed over the other woman. From her creamy-white dress, to the tiny string of pears at her throat, and the white heels. She met the other woman’s gaze. “Did we overdress,” she asked innocently.

“No, you look…is that a Versaci?’

“Yes, it is.”

“I’ve always wanted…”

“Wow, Callie, nice ice. You know, you clean up really well,” Freddie said as he joined them in the foyer.

Constance glared at him. “Don’t be crude.”

“Rogar, are you sure you want to go inside?” Freddie grinned. “It’s kind of like sending you into the lions’ den. They’ve all heard there’ll be royalty here tonight.”

Callie inconspicuously squeezed his hand when she saw his puzzled look. Instinctively, she knew he was about to ask if they could shapeshift. “I’m sure they’re not lions, nor will they eat us.”

“No, but watch out. There are some catty women who show their claws occasionally.”

Constance’s laugh was so cold it almost cracked when it hit the warm air. She sauntered over to Rogar and took his arm. “Nonsense. Freddie is exaggerating.”

Before she could protest Constance’s easy way with Rogar, Freddie hurried over and took Callie’s arm, and they all went inside.

The dining area was packed. Tables that sat four to six couples were draped with white cloths and set with white dishes. Sparkling chandeliers sprouted from the ceiling like upside-down mushrooms, bathing the room in bright light.

A band played an unobtrusive melody on a raised stage. In front of them a dance floor was polished to a high shine. It looked as magical as the time she’d joined DeeDee and her parents. She’d been sadly underdressed. Tonight, she was Cinderella, and this time she’d brought her prince.

Except Constance had draped herself on him. Callie didn’t care for the way she pressed her body against Rogar, either. In fact, Callie didn’t like it one bit.

“And that’s the biggest cat of them all,” Freddie leaned over and whispered in Callie’s ear.

His voice startled her, she’d been so intent watching Constance flirt with Rogar that she’d zoned out on everything around her. Freddie’s words sank in, and she laughed. Rogar glanced over his shoulder and frowned. Callie thought he might have been about to say something, but Constance tugged on his arm, effectively drawing his attention back to her.

“Methinks someone might be jealous.” Freddie whispered close to her ear again. “Not only do you have a prince, but one who is totally taken with your charms. Smart man. Unlike the fool that I was.”

Startled again, she looked at him.

“Oh yes, fair lady, I had a huge crush on you when DeeDee brought you with her that summer. You didn’t even look in my direction.”

“You had a crush on me?” No, surely he was only joking.

“Remember the flowers in front of the cabin door every morning?”

“They were for DeeDee. That boy she liked so much…”

He shook his head. “Nope, completely my idea, and he got the credit. Then we left, and I never saw my true love again.”

She was more than a little shocked. Then she remembered something. “Didn’t DeeDee tell me you got engaged a few months later?”

“Rebound.” He sighed deeply. “I was settling for less. And now it seems as though I’ve missed the boat again.”

“I’m sorry.”

But she had a feeling he wouldn’t take to the bottle and drink himself into oblivion since his gaze was already straying. Even while speaking to her, he checked out a petite blonde sitting at a nearby table.

“I really hate to see you suffer so much,” sarcasm dripped from her words.

“What? Oh.” He grinned, and didn’t look a bit embarrassed that he’d been caught checking out the other women.

“You can sit at our table, Rogar,” Constance announced.

Callie looked around and saw there wasn’t room for her.

“Freddie, why don’t you take Callie to the table over there. I’m sure you two have a lot of catching up to do.” She waved her hand toward the only table that was still empty. Probably because it was in the far corner.

“This table seems a little too crowded,” Rogar said. “I think I’ll join them at the other one.” He bowed, then tucked Callie’s arm in his, and they walked away.

Freddie grabbed his drink. “Outsmarted again, old girl.”

“Shut up, Freddie,” Constance hissed.

Callie couldn’t resist looking over her shoulder. Definitely a Kodak moment. Constance looked as though she was about to blow a gasket. Callie hoped she did.

“She’s a bitch,” Freddie said nonchalantly.

“So why do you hang out with her?” Callie asked as Rogar pulled her chair out. As soon as she was seated, they followed suit.

“I love watching just how much of a snob she can be. It’s kind of like a train wreck as it’s happening.” He turned to Rogar. “Get ready for a lot of train wrecks tonight. I want to apologize ahead of time because they’re too stupid, and too full of themselves, to know how cruel they can be.”

Rogar leaned back in his chair. “But not you.”

“Touché. But you see, I only live on the fringes of this group. I do have my moments, though. It comes from the people I keep company with.”

She’d always thought of Freddie as one of the nice ones. There were a few at the Camp in the Pines that she could stomach being around.

Freddie leaned back in his chair. “My mother was my father’s secretary, so I’m not a pure blueblood. He divorced his socialite wife, and married my mother. It was true love until a few years later, when my father found someone younger, and divorced my mother. She had thought it would last forever. One day, she hung herself. Checked out without even saying good-bye. No note, nothing.” He twirled the olive on a toothpick around in his glass.

“I’m so sorry, Freddie,” Callie said. “I didn’t know.”

“Depressed people are not always aware of what they do,” Rogar said.

Freddie suddenly smiled. “It would seem that I’ve depressed everyone.” He frowned. “Not sure why I opened up like that. Don’t normally. I guess I wanted you to know I’ve felt their barbs, too.” He downed his drink, then motioned for a nearby waiter.

“Then walk away from them,” Rogar said.

“When my father kicked the bucket, he left me a considerable fortune, since he was between wives at the moment. The only thing he didn’t bother to teach me was how exactly to live.” He waved his arm. “This is all I know.”

The waiter took their drink orders. Callie had a feeling she knew why Freddie had opened up—he was drinking double martinis, and she doubted that had been his first. She and Rogar ordered wine.

Ms. Crane walked to the center of the dance floor. She wore a poofy-pink dress that sparkled almost as much as the chandeliers, and like deer that had been caught in headlights, everyone shifted their attention to her.

Her hair was almost as poofy as her dress. All that might not have been so bad, but her bony shoulders were bare, her rouge too dark, and it looked as though she wore false eyelashes. She reminded Callie of a scarecrow coming off a week of hard drugs.

“That’s enough to give everyone nightmares for a few weeks,” Freddie murmured.

Callie snorted, then quickly covered it with a cough.

“Is she ill?” Rogar asked.

Freddie shook his head. “No, that’s how she usually dresses for these things. She just has more money than everyone else, so no one has the nerve to say anything to her face.”

One of the waiters handed Ms. Crane a microphone. She tapped it once, the sound bouncing off the walls, followed by a loud screech. The waiter hurried to turn it down, then handed it back.

“It works,” she said, stating the obvious. “Before we get started tonight, I want to let everyone know that we have royalty with us tonight.” She beamed like a lighthouse on a foggy night. “Prince Rogar Valkyir. Please give him a warm welcome. We’re so happy to have him join us.” She waved her arm toward him.

Callie felt as if she might as well have faded into the wallpaper. Why was she even here? She didn’t even like these people. Sure, she was wearing fancy clothes and expensive jewels, but she was still the same Callie.

Rogar stood, bowed slightly, then held his hand out for Callie. She really wished he hadn’t done that, but she smiled and stood.

“Oh, yes, forgive me. And his fiancée is also with him,” Ms. Crane said nervously.

They sat back down as their drinks arrived. Freddie took a long swallow of his. “Notice how they accidentally leave us unimportant hangers on out of the mix? Ah, yes, they are taught from birth how to let the undesirables stand on the fringes of their circle.” He grinned and winked at her. “While we just sit back and enjoy their antics. Great sport, really.”

Callie laughed. She couldn’t help it. Freddie had a good sense of humor.

“I’m sorry,” Freddie spoke to Rogar. “You obviously have wealth, and prestige, and here I am putting down the bluebloods. I apologize.”

“We don’t have class distinction where I’m from,” Rogar said.

“But you’re a prince. I find that hard to believe.”

He shrugged. “Everyone works toward the common good of all the people. We’re a simple…country.”

“It sounds like paradise.”

Rogar’s gaze fell on Callie. “It is.”

As warmth crawled up her cheeks, she quickly took a drink of her wine.

“Enjoy your meal, because as soon as it’s over,” Ms. Crane spoke into the microphone, “—we’ll start the auction. I expect to raise a lot of money for the local zoo.”

Zoo? Callie perked up. Okay, maybe this wouldn’t be a total loss. She liked the idea the money raised tonight would actually go for something good. Not that they would stick around long.

Their food was brought out. Since it was catered, they didn’t have a choice, but it tasted a lot better than the food they’d been eating. She wasn’t much of a cook, and Rogar had already shown his talents in the kitchen, which she’d just as soon he not repeat.

Rogar and Freddie talked during the three courses, and she mostly listened.

“So, you have a lot of brothers and sisters?” Freddie asked.

Rogar grimaced as though it pained him to talk about them. “More than I like to think about.”

She cocked an eyebrow.

“I have two brothers and three sisters. They’re all very stubborn,” Rogar said.

“Oh, much like you then,” she said with wide-eyed innocence.

“I think you’re making a joke at my expense,” Rogar said.

Had she offended him? Nope, there was that twinkle in his eye again. “And I did it very well, too,” she said. She started laughing. Rogar and Freddie joined in.

Callie reached for her wineglass, glancing around the room as she did. Constance was looking straight at her, venom spitting from her eyes, but she quickly glanced away when their gazes locked. After tonight, Callie had better watch her back. Not that she planned on associating with these people again.

As the waiters cleared the tables, Ms. Crane made her way back to the center of the dance floor. One of the staff wheeled out a cart that was covered with a pretty blue silk scarf.

Callie leaned closer to Rogar. “We can sneak away any time,” she whispered.

“I’d like to see what happens.”

“All they’ll do is bid on stuff that is brought out, the highest bidder wins the item, then the money will be donated to the local zoo.”

“It sounds interesting.”

Did it really matter if they stayed a bit longer? “Okay, then we’ll hang around for a while.”

Ms. Crane removed the scarf to reveal a vase. “First up we have a lovely china vase donated by the Burberrys.”

As Ms. Crane continued to extol the quality of such a fine vase, Freddie leaned over. “Everyone cleans out their attic for this event. It’s a good way to get rid of junk they don’t want anymore,” he whispered, then shrugged. “But it is for a good cause.” He raised his paddle. “One thousand.”

Ms. Crane beamed. “Going once, twice, sold to Freddie Danbury!”

“Well, I’ve done my duty for the night.”

Several more pieces were sold. Then another item was brought out. Ms. Crane whisked off the scarf. Callie sat straighter in her chair, drawing in a breath. It was a beautiful tawny statue of a jaguar, and it looked just like Sheba.

The bidding started. How much did she have in her savings?

“We have one thousand, one thousand five, are there any more bids? Going once.” Ms. Crane looked around the room. “Going twice.”

It was a shame. She would’ve really liked to have the jaguar. Her savings account was practically nil. Besides, she’d promised herself that she would never touch it for any reason, even if it meant eating tuna every day until she got her next paycheck.

But it was a really beautiful piece. She sighed, wishing for once in her life that the fairy tale was real.

Rogar raised his paddle. “One million dollars.”