A Royal Pain
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A playboy prince Bennet Casparian was once a hard-partying, racing, playboy prince until he wrecked his racecar and ended up paralyzed. Now, he’s wounded and angry with the world. The last thing he needs or wants is some know-it-all American pushing him to recover—especially the dowdy woman his doctor recruited for the task. But if she’s so plain, why can’t he stop thinking about her? A stubborn physical therapist Harper is happy with her job at the VA, but irresistibly tempted by her ex-fiancé’s job offer to rehabilitate an injured (and spoiled) Montrovian prince. He’s already driven away two physical therapists, but she’s determined to stick it out. An unexpected connection He pushes her buttons and tries to keep her away, but she finally breaks through his resistance. The more time she spends with him, the more she wants the prince, and the attraction is definitely mutual. Their relationship is forbidden for many reasons, so why does it feel so right? An unforeseen consequence They have broken the rules, and it’s only a matter of time until someone finds out. When their secret comes to light, Harper might lose everything important to her—including Bennet.
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Chapter FourteenIt took less than a week for the DNA results to be returned, and they affirmed Fiona’s claim that she was an Casparian. As a result, they had all gathered around the formal dining table, having what could only be described as an uncomfortable formal family dinner. Harper shifted in the white lace dress she wore, wishing she had chosen something less scratchy. At least then she would’ve been physically comfortable while still being emotionally uncomfortable. The entire atmosphere was tense, and it was clear no one knew how to react.Except maybe Bennet, who continued to shoot daggers at Fiona across the table. Harper slid her hand from her lap to his thigh to squeeze lightly as she leaned closer to whisper, “Please give her a chance.”He grunted at her, but reined in the glaring after that.“Tell us about your mother,” said Sabrina, sounding imperious instead of inquisitive.“Yes, please do so,” said Barret, softening his sister’s question.Fiona reached for her wine,
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Chapter ThirteenIt took a bit of work to track down Barret, since they couldn’t call Fiona to ask where he was. Finally, they found him in the sitting room of his suite, about to have afternoon tea. He’d answered the door himself, looking startled to see them, but stepped aside to allow them entry. “I was just about to have tea. Would you care to join me?”“We don’t have time for tea,” said Bennet.Harper took a step forward, putting a hand on Bennet’s shoulder and squeezing lightly. “Thank you, Your Highness. We’d be honored.“That’s Your Majesty,” said Tucker softly.“Just Barret will do,” said the king. “Let me ring for more tea for everyone, and then you can tell me what’s on your mind.”Harper felt strange in the king’s private quarters, sitting down to have tea with him. In an abstract way, she knew he was Bennet’s brother, which meant if they continued a relationship, he might eventually become family of some sort to her as well, but the thought was just intimidating.“We’re i
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Chapter Twelve“Why did you do it?” Bennet issued the question in a stern voice as they cornered Tucker in the exercise room.“What happened to diplomacy and decorum?” asked Harper, frowning down at him.He ignored her censure as he focused his gaze on Tucker. “Well?”Tucker set down the free weight he was lifting and reached for a towel to wipe off his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, so I don’t know what answer you’re looking for here, Bennet.”“We just got back from the states,” said Harper. Her tone was much nicer than his had been. “Someone reported our relationship to the American Academy of Physical Therapists, and they summoned me for a disciplinary hearing.”He looked genuinely shocked, but he could just be a good actor. Bennet wasn’t ready to absolve him of guilt just yet. “What do you know about that?”Bennet frowned, and his confusion was starting to change to anger. “I don’t know anything about it except what Harper just said. I wondered where you two had di
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Chapter ElevenHer apartment was just as she’d left it, but with a stale odor that inevitably developed when a place was empty for too long. She moved straight to the balcony to open the door before hustling around to open the windows. She was conscious of Bennet watching her the entire time, and she couldn’t explain why was she was having such a hard time meeting his eyes. He seemed to be offering her everything she wanted, so why was she so reluctant to hear it?She was scared. There it was, and no escaping the epiphany. She was frightened of what an escalation in their relationship might mean. He already meant so much to her that the prospect of losing him made her tremble. How much harder would it be to endure losing him if she loved him even more than she did already?She stilled as the word love flittered through her brain, forcing her to turn and face Bennet. He was near the recliner, so she crossed over to it and sat down, bringing them almost to eyelevel. She was still feelin
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Chapter TenEven the admonishment to herself that she shouldn’t consider the royal palace home couldn’t make it feel less like she was returning after a long absence to a welcome homecoming. The royal family had gathered to greet them, though she didn’t fool herself into believing that they were there for her. She was simply an accessory trailing behind the prince, but she was okay with that. Having them greet her in any other, more familiar way would mean they had realized there was something more to their relationship.She was still aware of what a violation of her ethics it was to be sleeping with Bennet, even though she thought she had been fairly successful in separating her professional obligations from her personal feelings for him. They still had to be discreet.As she made her way to the servants’ quarters after parting from the prince, each step felt like a lightening of her load. It was good to be back, and she couldn’t deny that. For however long it lasted, she should just
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Chapter Nine“Are you sure you want to do this?” Harper ran a hand through her hair as she asked the question that had been weighing on her mind. “You’re making good progress, and neural implants are an invasive procedure; not to mention still experimental.”He looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. “I’m sure this is what I want. And I’d like you to come with me.”She blinked in surprise at the invitation. He was due to leave tomorrow for Geneva, and she had anticipated spending the time he was gone moping around without him, though she wouldn’t have admitted that to him. They had gotten close in the last three weeks, perhaps closer than was wise for her heart, and she’d hoped to use the time away from him to put some distance in her emotions as well.She hovered on the brink of refusal until she saw the hurt appearing in his eyes. “Of course I’ll come with you, if that’s what you want. Just know that if I have any reservations, I intend to voice them.”Bennet grinned at her.
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Chapter Eight“Why are you so quiet this morning?”Harper looked up from the water, where her feet dangled in, to meet Tucker’s gaze. “I’m not.”He smiled. “You are. You’re usually a morning person. It’s absolutely disgusting, so I can tell something is bothering you.”She shrugged a shoulder. “It’s nothing. I guess I’m just tired.” She was also a bit cranky, though she had no right to be. Just because she’d gotten accustomed to having breakfast with Bennet didn’t give her the right to feel annoyed that he had chosen to eat with his siblings that morning without telling her first.She’d shown up in his room at the usual time, prepared to eat before they started working. Tucker had greeted her in the hallway with the news that Bennet had risen early and decided to join his siblings for breakfast. When he had suggested they dine by the pool, she had acquiesced. Somehow, that had transitioned to sitting on the side with her feet dangling in the water, and not a bit of food in sight.“I d
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Chapter SevenHaving won a hint of capitulation from her, Bennet was determined to abide by the terms of their agreement. During the mornings, he yielded to her direction and put forth as much effort as he could to achieve results as quickly as possible. As a result, seven days after their first liaison in his room, he managed to take three steps with the assistance of the treadmill, though without the weight-bearing equipment. He was flush with success, though stymied in a different area.Harper had clearly meant it when she said she didn’t have sex indiscriminately. They had spent hours together, and he was no closer to having her in his bed. It wasn’t as though he was forcing himself to go through the motions of getting to know her just so he could take her. He enjoyed the time they spent together pursuing a variety of activities, but he was frustrated by the lack of progress in a sensual direction.“Are you even listening?”Bennet blinked and looked down. They were in a quiet nook
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Chapter SixBennet was done with his physical therapy for the day, and she should probably just let it go, but she was confused why his stamina hadn’t yet improved. He wasn’t out of shape by any means, but she knew he could do better. He needed to do better to give his physical therapy his all.She’d almost brought up the discussion while he was working out that morning, but he’d been so focused on his goals that she hadn’t bothered. He’d been like that for the last three days, and their sessions had been textbook perfect. He was doing everything she asked of him, and while he was not hitting his goals, he was certainly making progress. She should’ve been flush with satisfaction, instead of vaguely discontented by the emptiness of the time she spent with him.How ridiculous was that? He was her patient, and it shouldn’t have affected her on an emotional level at all, other than hurting when he failed, or celebrating when he succeeded. That was second nature for her with all of her pat
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