Chapter 1

Chapter

One

Three monthslater

Chalisa arrived in Valencia, Spain on a commercial flight early Monday morning. She was exhausted, hadn't slept on any of the legs of her travel, and reminded herself she was only doing this for her charity and the chance to help more people through a nerve-wracking reality television show challenge.

Julie Pandoran, Mercedes Belle's assistant, greeted her as she exited the plane. Julie was a beautiful blonde and very kind. She took her to a lounge area where Chalisa was fed, showered, dressed in a fitted pale blue T-shirt and gray running pants, hair and makeup done prettier than she'd ever attempted.

She did shower and dress by herself, but she felt like a model being gussied up for this television show. Julie had explained that with last week's show, the female participant had to travel a long distance as well and Mercedes wished she'd had Julie help that lady feel put-together for the first filming and meeting of her ‘military hero'.

Chalisa appreciated the help. It was unnerving enough to think about everything she said and every move she made being recorded and that she would face unknown tasks. Let alone being paired with a former military special ops captain for the week. But it would be worth it to earn a million dollars for her charity.

If only Aiden …

No way could she let herself go there and cry off all her makeup. She'd cried plenty over him the past three months.

"You ready to go?" Julie asked.

"The shower helped me feel partially human again, but a nap wouldn't be out of order."

"Sorry. On a schedule."

"I'm teasing. I'll be fine."

Julie gave her a side hug. "You'll be amazing. Your show is going to be fabulous, and think of all the good you'll do with the money."

"Thank you."

Julie directed her out of the lounge, down some hallways, and back onto the tarmac. She squeezed Chalisa's hand. "Good luck."

"Thank you. For everything." She wouldn't have this opportunity of earning a million dollars for Nursing Kindness without Julie researching and finding her.

"Of course. There's your final travel leg." Julie smiled and pointed to a private plane with none other than the Magna royal pilot, Treck Wilder, waiting with his wide grin. Would Chalisa be on Magna and with her family soon? Nowhere in the lead-up to this week had anyone mentioned that it would take place near Magna.

"Treck?" Chalisa clutched her purse and hurried to meet him. "Thanks, Julie." She waved back at the lady and Julie returned the wave, obviously proud of what she'd coordinated.

Treck gave her a quick hug and then gestured to the open door of the small jet. "Load up. Layla is ready to cruise home."

"Layla?" His wife's name was Haven.

"I name all my planes." His grin was irresistible. "This beautiful twelve-passenger Cessna Citation X is one smooth ride. ‘Lay-la, you got me on my knees,'" he sang out. "Tourism has been going so well that Prince Quinn purchased this lovely jet for me a few weeks ago to transport tourists back and forth to the island. We now have Sunday and Wednesday flight options." He was obviously very proud.

"I'm going to Magna?" Of course if Treck was here, it meant Magna. Her jetlagged brain was really working at a subpar level. Magna. A sense of security and home filled her.

"Did you not know?"

Chalisa shook her head. Julie had contacted her six weeks ago about being on a reality television show called A Chance for Charity and possibly winning a million dollars for Nursing Kindness.

She'd been so empty after returning home to Oceanside in January. For weeks, she had prayed Aiden would come, and she'd noticed Paul the pilot trailing her at times when she went to work, to one of her charity centers, or on a walk on the beach. She should've contacted Kingston, but she hadn't told Kingston or Reagan about the attack from Jorge or her falling for Aiden in those blissful hours they'd been together. She'd even sworn Jenn to secrecy. Her family didn't need to worry. Kingston wouldn't have worried. He'd have come to watch over her himself, sent his men, or made her fly to Magna. Coming to Magna would've been a respite, but she hadn't dared leave in case Aiden came for her.

She'd also made the mistake of Googling Aiden. A horrific mistake on her part. He was as incredibly handsome and appealing as she remembered. Apparently he had also dated most of the influencers, models, and actresses in the world, if all the photos of women draped around him meant anything besides a sledgehammer to her dreams. He was every bit the charming philanderer she'd feared he was.

Aiden came from a very wealthy family, had a successful career with the Marines before opting out to work for Sutton Smith, and then started his own security firm. According to The Rising Star, twenty-eight-year-old confirmed bachelor and heartthrob Captain Aiden Porter would be the next Sutton Smith. They philosophized Aiden would only settle down for a former Duchess—or maybe only a princess would do for Aiden, the magazine's nominee for most eligible bachelor of the year.

Chalisa's heart had started to fracture in that moment. She'd stupidly believed they had a magical connection. Aiden had simply been rescuing her and having a good time while he whisked her to safety—flirting and toying with her.

Everlasting love … what a farce.

Even then, she didn't stop wearing the necklace.

Maybe all the women were in the past now that he'd met Chalisa. Not likely, but still a possibility.

The next few weeks were spent trying to convince herself Aiden was just a flashy, well-known, charismatic, and far too handsome jerk. He was not Chalisa's type, and she absolutely did not love him. She repeated those words morning, noon, and night. They didn't help. She did stop Googling him to save her own sanity.

It was almost February when Jenn came rushing into her apartment late one night, thrusting a social media post in her face. It was Aiden, wrapped around the famous actress Jezebel Noir. Jezebel was the ‘princess' of Hollywood. Maybe Aiden had finally met his match. The actress was very proud of her latest conquest—Captain Aiden Porter. Famed security expert, billionaire, playboy, and retired Marine. The pictures of them staring into each other's eyes and even kissing obviously weren't for any kind of security detail.

Chalisa had crumpled while Jenn held her and apologized for showing her the post. When Chalisa calmed down, she thanked her friend and prayed for help.

She needed honesty. Needed to move on. To realize she'd meant nothing to Aiden but a protection op. It didn't matter if she had fallen for him. He hadn't returned the favor.

And still she wore the Maquech Beetle necklace.

The very next night, Paul had approached her and told her that Jorge had been captured and she didn't need to worry any longer. She'd bravely asked if Aiden was with Jezebel Noir. He'd said yes. She'd stupidly asked if Aiden would ever come for her. As if him being with Jezebel wasn't enough of a nail in their coffin. Paul's dark gaze had been solemn and final. He'd simply said no.

Praying for strength and clear vision, she'd finally taken the necklace off, leaving it on her dresser and longing for him just like she'd said when she'd flirtatiously kissed the side of his mouth.

Her charity and work kept her busy. She'd focused on fundraising, committing more doctors and nurses to donating hours, and expanding to new cities with her clinics. The time spent on her charity and especially when she volunteered at her own clinics and helped with health care for those who couldn't afford insurance but didn't qualify for government help was her only solace. With the million dollars from Mercedes Belle, she could improve equipment in many of her centers, all of which were run on donations of money, time, and retail space. She also hoped to start expanding into third-world countries.

Unreal that she was going to Magna for the reality television show. It helped settle her nerves a bit. She loved Magna. Her family was there, and the royals all treated her like one of their own. It was very kind of Mercedes Belle and Julie to set this up for her. She wouldn't be nearly so awkward or alone on Magna, no matter who she was paired with for the show's purpose.

"My instructions are to fly you in and make you leave your purse with me. I promise I won't rifle through it." Treck winked. "And tell you to plan on a grand exit. With cameras rolling."

"Great. I'm not the type for grand exits, and I hate cameras."

He chuckled. "You'll do great."

"Thanks."

She loaded up in the private jet. It was older, with plush tan recliners and wood trim, nothing like the sleek, top-of-the-line beauty of Aiden's jet, but it was still very nice and comfortable. She sent her final texts and emails as they flew, wondering how she'd go without contact with her charity's board, Jenn, and her family.

Wait. She was going to Magna. Would the show allow time with her family? Her mom and Reagan must not know she was coming. They hadn't said anything in their texts or phone calls. Or were they trying to surprise her?

"Almost home, my friend," Treck said over the intercom.

"Thank you," she called back, wondering if he could hear her in the cockpit.

He took them straight over the island on his approach. Chalisa knew this view well, and she loved it. Magna was her second home. Being here would make the reality show so much more comfortable.

The verdant mountains rose below her, and she appreciated the contrast to the blue water and rocky coastline. The farther they flew, the coastline became soft, tan sand. She spotted the glistening castle spires and storybook town, but then they were over the ocean again and banking to land.

The jet with its experienced pilot swooped down, settling seamlessly on the runway. The plane slowed and then stopped. Chalisa peered out the window. She could see three Humvees and a smattering of people waiting for them. It looked like Kingston's dark hair and huge body with Reagan and her mom's blond hair and smaller frames, but she couldn't see their faces clearly.

Seeing her family would ease the pain of the ‘grand entrance.' Rushing out of her seat, she hurried into the bathroom at the rear of the plane, clinging to her purse, before Treck could shut down the plane and come take it. She only wanted to see her mom, Reagan, Kingston, and Hope. She'd missed all of them terribly. She had no desire to have cameras rolling and famous people like Mercedes Belle and some special ops hero counterpart waiting for her.

Using the bathroom, she washed her hands and looked at herself in the mirror. She'd been working a lot of hours between her job, helping in Nursing Kindness clinics, and dealing with all the aspects of her charity. She should look pale and exhausted, but with the makeup Julie's crew had put on her, her blue eyes seemed huge and pretty, her pink lips full and inviting, and her skin smooth and lustrous.

What did she care? Aiden wouldn't watch the show.

She grunted in frustration. Aiden. She had to get over the jerk.

Only he wasn't a jerk. He'd rescued her, made her laugh and feel safe and loved. If only he could've truly loved her.

Who fell in love in a matter of hours? Stupid, short-sighted, romantic, never to be forgotten …

Straightening her shoulders, she took her one personal item Julie said she could keep with her this week from her purse.

The Maquech Beetle necklace. She rubbed at the amber stone with the pad of her thumb. Everlasting love.

She wouldn't wear it around her neck on the off chance Aiden did see the show. It wouldn't do to have him think she was still smitten with him. But she wanted the necklace with her. It comforted her—not like Aiden's strong arms, but then nothing was like that incredible space.

Blowing out a breath, she focused on the necklace not symbolizing everlasting love and the hope and joy she'd felt with Aiden. It needed to symbolize the loss of Aiden and their quick burn of a romance. It should remind her to never fall again. Julie had said she'd be inseparable and often alone with her ‘military hero' for a week. If she couldn't be with Aiden, she'd rather be alone.

The necklace could also remind her why she loved her charity. To give of herself, forget about the pain of Aiden, and focus on helping others. She'd heard a quote that she really liked: "Forget about yourself and go to work." It was a good mantra. Work and service could get her out of any Aiden-missing funk. Her charity helped her in so many ways, and she knew it was helping others too.

Sliding the necklace into the side pocket of her exercise pants, she grabbed her purse and swung open the door.

Treck waited next to the open plane door. He smiled. "You ready for this hoopla?"

"Not really." She forced a smile onto her face. "But it does reassure me that I'll be on Magna." Her family and all the royals made the Hidden Kingdom even more special.

"Best place on earth. Now let's go so I can get to my Haven."

His wife Haven was an adorable, friendly blonde from Great Britain. Chalisa loved her accent and her British slang.

"Let's do it." She walked to Treck.

He held out his hand. "I'm supposed to take your purse."

She handed it over. Her hand was trembling.

"You'll do great," Treck assured her. "Off you go."

She forced herself to move her feet. The warm, tropical breeze blew in through the open plane door. It was early March and at least eighty degrees in the paradise of Magna.

She eased down the steps and heard two-year-old Hope's cry of "Auntie Shell," from Kingston's arms.

"Chalisa!" her mom and Reagan both called to her. They were here!

But it wasn't Hope, her mom, Reagan, or Kingston that she saw first. Her focus was yanked from her beloved family and seized by the man waiting for her at the bottom of the steps. His blue eyes were as beautiful as she remembered them.

For one instant, their gazes connected and everything came rushing back. Aiden swooping in to rescue her. Him gallantly protecting her. The unique way they'd teased and flirted. Their incredible kisses. The unparalleled connection between them.

Everlasting love.

It was happening right now. His clear, blue eyes revealed he felt their bond as deeply as she did. He'd longed for her and would never get enough of her. Finally, finally, they were together, and nothing could separate them now.

"Aiden," she whimpered.

She stumbled down the plane steps, and despite the agony of the past three months, she would've gone straight into his arms.

But in that instant, everything changed—his blue eyes shuttered, his charming smirk decorated his handsome face, and his body went rigid. She almost cried out her anguish. The wall between them hit her like an emotional sledgehammer.

Aiden extended his hand as if he would shake hers and they'd act for all the world, and most especially the camera catching this heart-wrenching scene, as if they were friends, business associates, or acquaintances.

"Auntie?"

Chalisa never ignored Hope. Never. But she could not drag her gaze or her attention from Aiden. A step away physically but miles emotionally.

"Hello, love. If you aren't the luckiest woman in the world, I don't know who is." His voice was as charming as ever, but his words made no sense.

"Pardon me?" She stared from his outstretched hand to his blue eyes, praying he'd let down his guard again.

"You, Chalisa Anderson, will have the privilege of the famed Captain Aiden Porter protecting you not once but twice, free of charge." He sounded like a talk show host as he grinned and even had the audacity to wink at her. "At least no cost to you personally."

She heard a lady laugh at that, but Chalisa couldn't draw her gaze from him.

She wasn't a spicy or violent person. Ever. She took seriously her calling as a nurse practitioner to practice her profession faithfully and heal, not harm. The only time she'd tried to hurt someone was when Jorge had attacked her and this brilliant and perfect man had rescued her.

But she stepped in close to Captain Aiden Porter. And instead of shaking his outstretched hand, she remembered everything Kingston had taught her about throwing a punch. She slugged him in the gut as hard as she could.

Aiden grunted but didn't give her the satisfaction of bending forward. He didn't even lose his smile.

"Auntie?"

"Chalisa?"

Everybody else was crying out in surprise. She wanted to run to the safety net of her family's love, but she could only focus on one man's reaction to her out-of-character violence.

Aiden arched his perfect eyebrows at her and said, "It is absolutely fabulous to see you too, love."

"Don't call me love," she shot at him. How dare he? He'd saved her, connected with her, loved her, and left her. In a matter of hours. Now he was not only dating Jezebel Noir, but he dared casually call Chalisa ‘love' and act as if nothing had happened between them. For him, it was nothing—save a helpless woman, charm her, buy her jewelry, make her feel like she's the only woman in the world, change her world with your kiss, and then send her on her way.

The Maquech Beetle necklace was heavy in her pocket. She wanted to rip it out and hurl it at his smiling face.

A growl came from her left side. Kingston handed Hope over to her mom. He stormed around Chalisa and placed himself between her and Aiden, staring down the playboy billionaire. It was obvious her brother-in-law had held back as long as he was capable.

Kingston was so huge she had to peek around his wide shoulders to keep her eyes on Aiden.

"Chalisa would never throw a punch unless it was absolutely warranted. Did you dare disrespect my sister-in-law?" Kingston hurled at Aiden.

Aiden lifted his hands innocently, but he didn't so much as flinch or back away.

Despite her anger and frustration at Aiden, Chalisa was impressed. General Kingston was not a man anybody should mess with or take lightly.

"I rescued Chalisa and protected her from a drug dealer and murderer," Aiden said, all gallant and perfect-looking. He really should audition for the next James Bond. "She did give me a life-altering kiss of gratitude." He leaned to the side to see Chalisa better and winked at her again. Then he straightened and faced her brother-in-law as if he'd done nothing amiss and had nothing to fear. "But I don't feel I disrespected her."

Chalisa's eyes widened. So ditching her wasn't disrespecting her? A life-altering kiss of gratitude. What in the world did that mean? She hadn't altered his life. He'd gone on flirting and protecting and dating and not caring about her or giving her a second thought.

She wanted to yell at Aiden to stop messing with her mind. If he was her military counterpart for this week, she was in trouble. How could she survive a week with this man? Three months ago, it had taken him less than two hours to have her wrapped in his arms, her heart securely his. She'd lose her heart and her head again, and she'd never recover when he walked away this time.

Kingston turned to her. His piercing blue eyes searched hers. "Did this man disrespect you in any way?" he asked in a tight voice.

"Dada?" Hope's sweet little voice sounded out of place and almost afraid. Chalisa hated that. She wanted Hope to feel happy and safe. Always.

"It's okay, Hope." Kingston focused on his daughter and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Dada."

Hope was happy and safe and loved.

Chalisa's gaze was drawn from her brother-in-law's straight to Aiden's. He didn't look fazed or afraid. He should be. If she said the word to Kingston, Aiden would be mincemeat.

He slid his hands into the pockets of his joggers—casual, unaffected, tough, perfect. He looked like a male model masquerading as a security expert.

Who was Aiden Porter really? She had na?vely believed he'd let down his guard and let her into his heart, but all she knew was a mask.

"You can tell him the truth, love," Aiden said, smiling at her as if he didn't have a care in the world, confirming that she, and their time together, had meant nothing to him. Of course they hadn't. She was simply another protection detail, another kiss, another woman who adored him.

Life-altering kiss? Why had he said that if he'd only been toying with her?

He was still toying with her.

She gripped the necklace in her pocket and had to keep reiterating to her heart that she meant nothing to this man. If their kiss and time together had been life-altering, he would've come for her or at least called or texted her in the past three months. It wasn't as if he hadn't known where she was. His pilot and employee Paul had watched over her for almost six weeks. She'd let herself believe that meant something, but now she knew it was only Aiden being a chivalrous protector of women. He wouldn't be dating the likes of Jezebel Noir if Chalisa had been anything more than a fling. Was he still with the gorgeous actress? Chalisa suddenly missed her phone. She wanted to Google him.

"Aiden didn't disrespect me," she said to Kingston. At least not in the way the general was intoning. Aiden had stolen her heart in under two hours, then shattered it completely, so she couldn't say he had respected her either. She was only a job for him, though she hadn't paid him to rescue her, so maybe not even a job. A diversion then? A liability? Another successful mission to add to the thousands he'd performed. Another kiss to add to the thousands he'd experienced. Ugh. She suddenly wanted to brush her teeth.

"Well, now." Aiden grinned and nodded. "Shall we get this show going? Mercedes?" He smiled at the gorgeous billionaire. Their hostess.

"Oh, my." Mercedes put a hand to the diamond necklace decorating her throat. She was in a floor-length white dress, leaning against a tall, handsome blond man as if she were exhausted or recovering from the flu. "You two obviously have some history." She grinned and beamed up at her boyfriend or bodyguard or whatever the guy was. Any weakness seemed to disappear. "Oh, Shawn, this is off the charts, and I love it! They have a rocky and romantic history. But I'm not sure how much of this we should put on the show."

Rocky and romantic? Mercedes Belle had no idea.

"The producers will do a fabulous job cutting or using whatever they need," the blond—Shawn, apparently—assured her.

"Auntie!" Hope had waited far longer than she was capable.

Chalisa didn't care about the reality show right now, and she couldn't handle looking at Aiden and his handsome smirk and closed-off blue gaze for one more second. She turned and hurried to her family, Kingston shadowing her. Hope flung herself from her grandma's arms into Chalisa's. She held the little girl tight, savoring the smell of sweet baby lotion and the rightness of her niece in her arms.

She got hugs from her mom, her sister, and a side hug from Kingston. She completely ignored Aiden, Mercedes, and the rest of the crew. She needed this sense of home, this peace, acceptance, and love. Maybe she should move back to Magna. Would the loneliness of aching for Aiden be less in this idyllic paradise with her family surrounding her? It couldn't this week. Not with him here. Oh, this was a nightmare.

"What on earth was that about?" Reagan whispered into her ear. "You looked at that far-too-handsome stud like you loved him, and then you actually hit him."

Chalisa was grateful that none of her family knew the true story. Jenn had kept her silence. Bless her. Great friend.

"Nothing. He protected me. That's all it was."

"That is not all, and I need to hear that story. You would never hit somebody, and I've never seen you look at a man like he hung the moon."

Chalisa risked a glance at Aiden. He stood next to Mercedes and the blond. His eyes met hers and, in that instant, his blue gaze was unmasked, focused on her. Lighting her up from the inside out.

The entire world melted away. The past three months had been horrific without him, but all that mattered was they were about to be reunited. She wanted to shout that she forgave him, she loved him, and they would succeed at this reality show and have an incredible time together growing closer, getting to know each other, talking for hours, kissing for hours. They'd earn a million dollars for her charity, and then they should spend a few extra weeks on Magna with her family. She could show him all the beauty and adventures on this perfect island and they'd fall even deeper in love as he grew to love her family as well.

"Auntie!" Hope grabbed her cheeks and demanded her attention, rambling on about her horse, her puppy, her dada, her mama, and her grammies.

Chalisa focused on her niece. She should be grateful for the break from concentrating on Aiden. He wasn't rushing across the space to swoop her in his arms. They had no future on Magna or anywhere else.

He didn't love her. She had to get that through her head.

She had no clue how she would be paired with him for the next week. Her heart was already breaking wide open. She hadn't known twenty minutes ago it would be possible to suffer any more heartbreak because of that enticing, misleading, handsome, irresistible jerk of a man.

Turned out she was wrong. Again.