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“Oh, that’s cool,” I said lamely.
As a prince, I didn’t get to do many normal things like flirt with a woman, and I was incredibly bad at it. I reached over and took her hand again, and she let me, her face brightening. My heart raced, and I hoped she might be interested in me too.
“I’m only in the city for a short while on business,” I said, trying my best to keep my voice steady. I wasn’t really lying, state business was business. Still, if she didn’t recognize me as a prince, I’d rather she just treat me like a normal person. “But I want to do everything.”
She laughed and looked down at her drink. “So what else is on your list while you’re here?”
“I’ll have to have a slice of pizza,” I told her with a playful grin. “It’s compulsory.”
Harper smiled back, her eyes twinkling. “I’d have to agree with that,” she said. “Anything else?”
My breath caught in my throat as our gazes locked together. “I’ve always wanted to go to the Statue of Liberty,” I said, feeling mesmerized by her presence. “There’s something about it that I find so majestic.”
Harper nodded quietly, no longer able to take her gaze away from mine. “I know what you mean,” she said. “I’ve been a few times.”
I leaned closer. “I’ve never had this kind of attraction to anyone.” The rest of the bar and all the noisy patrons had faded away. It was just me and Harper here, and the steady beating of our hearts.
She licked her lips. “So immediate?”
“Yes,” I said, lifting her chin with my hand. “May I kiss you?”
Her head inclined slightly, and I pressed my lips to hers. I’d expected this kind of connection to come with time and slow romance, but the instant our lips touched, it was as though a torch ignited inside me and I was ablaze. My hands wrapped around her waist and I pulled her close. Her arms slid around my neck, and I could feel her breasts pressing into my chest, her breath mingling with mine.
We kissed long and deep, and I felt something awakening inside me that I didn’t even know was there. It was like she was the key that had opened a secret door inside me. This kiss felt like more than just a kiss. Like I was kissing something elemental and true, like I was kissing the one person I was always meant to.
3
Harper
My skin tingled all over and my lips felt swollen as I broke away from him. I’d never had this kind of chemistry with anyone.
He leaned in and kissed my cheek, whispering in my ear, “I can’t believe you’re here.”
I opened my mouth to say something but then stopped. What could I say? My thoughts were so conflicted. I was definitely attracted, but I didn’t even know him. Everything in me was telling me to drag him into the back room and jump his bones. A one-night stand would be good for me, right? But what if it was more? I wasn’t ready for a relationship. Not after Larry.
“I need to get back to work,” I said hastily, pushing away from his chest.
“Oh, of course,” Louis said, stepping back, hurt in his eyes. “I shouldn’t keep you from your employment.”
His burly friend appeared at his side, holding a fancy dress bag. Louis smiled.
“Wait, Harper,” he said, taking the bag and then putting it into my hands.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“I ruined your dress,” he said, pulling down the zipper and showing me the pretty fabric. “So I replaced it.”
My jaw dropped as I stroked the soft material. The dress was the same color as the one I wore but made of a much richer fabric. “I can’t . . .” I said, trying to hand it back.
“No, no,” Louis said, “I insist.”
Jed stood behind Louis and he met my eyes. “Hit that,” he mouthed.
I had to bite my tongue to keep back my giggle. There was no way I should keep the dress. The one I had could be cleaned, and it was already drying. Spilled drinks were par for the course when one worked in a bar. But there was such a hopeful look on Louis’s face, that I somehow couldn’t get the words out.
“Go put it on,” he commanded like someone very used to being obeyed. “I’d like to make sure it fits.”
I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. “I don’t know . . .” I stammered.
