âWeâre here. I can get a helicopter. Otherwise itâs an hour and a half drive to my ranch.â
âThereâs no need for a helicopter,â she said. âIâve slept most of the flight. A car will be fine.â
âYouâre sure?â he asked.
She nodded, smiling. âIâm sure.â
His gaze did things to her. She looked away to gather her things. He ushered her out of the plane and down the steps to the tarmac.
Two armed officers immediately approached them. âMr. Logan, we need to question you about the kidnapping of Valentina Devereaux.â
Zach blinked. âExcuse me?â he said.
âOh, no,â Tina whispered. âThis is either my brother or my security guard. Or both.â Refusing to be a victim, refusing to allow Zach to be a victim, she went into Princess-mode. âPardon me, officer, but thereâs obviously been a misunderstanding. Mr. Logan graciously allowed me to be a passenger on his jet. I was being pursued by the paparazzi and he provided me with a safe escape.â
The uniformed men exchanged glances. âHis Majesty, Stefan Devereaux, insists you were taken against your will.â
âHis Majesty is mistaken,â she said, lifting her chin. âI am here and this is where I wish to be.â
âGive me a minute,â one of the officers said.
The two men exchanged an extensive whispered conversation, then turned toward her. One pulled out a cell phone. âClear it with His Majesty. I donât want a diplomatic incident on my head,â the man said with a southern drawl.
âClear it,â she echoed, unable to keep the indignation from her voice. âIâm an adult. I donât have to clear this with anyââ
âTina, make the call or Iâll be here all night,â Zach said.
Giving a heavy sigh, she took the officerâs phone, stabbed out her brotherâs personal cell number and waited. One ring. Two rings. He damn well better pick up, she thought.
âStefan,â the male voice finally announced. Two seconds later, he swore. âWhat the hell are you doing, Valentina?â
âIâm visiting Texas by my own free will,â she said. âI sent both you and Rolfe a text message explaining my plans.â
âThe paparazzi said you were carried out of a museum by a madman,â Stefan said.
âHe was protecting me,â she said.
âHumph,â Stefan said, disbelief oozing through his voice. âWho is this Zachary Logan?â
She paused a half beat, then decided to break the news. âHeâs the father of my baby.â
Silence followed. âSo itâs true,â Stefan said, his voice turning hard. âTina, how could you?â
She bit her lip at the disapproval in his voice. âThe usual way,â she said.
Stefan let out a litany of oaths.
She narrowed her eyes and interjected. âIâm putting you on speaker phone for the armed officers so there wonât be a need for Zachary Logan to be detained.â
The litany abruptly stopped.
âSo, Stefan, we now agree that there has been a terrible misunderstanding and I have not been kidnapped. Correct?â
âCorrect,â he said in a clipped voice.
âAnd just for the benefit of the kind officers, please state your name,â she said.
âTina,â he said, with a warning note in his voice.
âYouâre the one who pushed the kidnapping charges,â she said.
Stefan cleared his throat. âStefan Edward Henri Jacques the fifth.â
âThank you, Stefan,â she said and he hung up. âGood luck,â she whispered, thinking of her sweet, but spoiled sisters.
Zach glanced down at her. âReady to go?â
âYou have no idea,â she said.
He slid his hand behind her back and steered her toward the private terminal. âIâve heard of overprotective older brothers, butââ
âHeâs
Justine Dare Justine Davis