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“There are a ton of marriageable princesses and nobles lurking around.”
She stiffened where his palm rested on her back. “Maybe if he’s so fond of them, he should marry them.”
He laughed, stopping at the car, because there was no way he was mistaking the jealousy seething in her voice this time. “I told him that once.”
She slid into the car, arranging the skirt of her dress around her thighs as daintily as any princess would. Commander Jonathon watched over them, standing at attention. “What was his reply?”
It took him a second to remember what they were talking about, because he’d been caught up in how beautiful the afternoon sun made her hair and eyes look. “He said there was only one wife for him, and he’d see her again soon, so you could be sure he’d be a free man when he did.”
She glanced down at her lap, blinking rapidly. “How romantic.”
“Yeah.”
He watched her out of the corner of his eye as the car pulled away from the palace. Up until these past few days, he never could have imagined actually feeling that way about someone—loving them so much that after they died, they still held on to your heart. But now…he could see it.
And that probably wasn’t a good thing.
When this was over, he had no doubt that Alicia would walk away from him, return to America, and never look back. She barely tolerated him. Things were a little easier after yesterday, but she was still keeping her distance from him.
As soon as she was clear to do so, he had a feeling she’d be on a plane home.
And that twisted his gut for
reasons he didn’t want to examine.
He had to remember they had a short time together, days really, and he wanted them to part, at the very least, as friends. He didn’t want forever, and he didn’t want her heart…
Did he?
The car slowed down at the royal gardens, beeping playfully at the children bustling throughout the rows of plants. He leaned forward, pressing the intercom button, and asked, “Would you pull over, please?”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The driver pulled to the side.
“What’s going on out there?” he asked, smiling.
“The school is on a field trip, sir,” Commander Jonathon said from the passenger seat. “Picking roses and picnicking in the fields.”
“How wonderful,” he said, watching them all run and laugh while harried teachers chased after them. “Did they not want to come to the palace, then?”
“They were supposed to, but when your father had to leave, they cancelled that portion of the trip.” Jonathon paused. “They were supposed to meet the king.”
“Well, why didn’t they meet me instead?” he asked, frowning.
“You were in meetings all day, sir.”
That was true, but damn it, if he didn’t have time for the children, then he didn’t deserve to be a prince. He thought of the evening hike he’d planned on doing with Alicia, where they could watch the sun set on top of Mount Jevereaux. It would have been romantic, and perfect, and when the time was right, he’d want to kiss her…
But he wouldn’t.
He’d thought it over, and nothing good would come out of rushing to get her back in his bed, despite the temptation to do so. He had to show her he wasn’t the same guy he used to be, that he could be trusted. He had to go slowly.
Or she’d run.
And he might not know much, but he knew one thing: he didn’t want her to run. He wanted her to stay, he just hadn’t quite figured out for how long.
She leaned forward, staring out the window. Then he felt her eyes on him for a second before she said softly, “I love roses, too, you know.”
“Would you mind—?”
