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The Brave Prince and the Teacher
The Doctor Prince and the Outsider
The Ninja Prince and the Investigator
The Charming Prince and the Single Mum
The Crown Prince and the Traitor
The Police Chief and the Musician
The Royal Major and the Personal Trainer
The Impulsive Princess and the Soldier
1ST CHAPTER - THE CHARMING PRINCE AND THE SINGLE MUM
Chapter One
Sophie Pederson hustled around the tented area of the gorgeous courtyard out front of the royal castle of the family of August. Every item of food had to look almost as fabulous as it would taste before it was sent out to the crowd celebrating the marriage of General Raymond August and his bride Macey Clifton. The American turned Augustine princess proclaimed she was a ‘geek’, but Sophie thought Macey was smart and impressive. At least what she’d observed from afar. She wished they could be friends. Prince Raymond’s new wife appeared as sweet as Prince Raymond was tough.
She’d gotten some tender glimpses of the gorgeous couple as they circled the party, received congratulations, and stared at each other so lovingly it stirred the repressed longing inside Sophie for a man who looked far too similar to Prince Raymond. Malik was younger and not as thick through the chest as Raymond but all the brothers looked far too much alike for her unsteady heart.
If social media was to be believed, the General Prince had stolen the gorgeous computer specialist from his formerly-identical twin brother Crown Prince Tristan. Sophie would love to know the true details. The August family was as gracious and friendly as any family she’d met, but they were royals and wisely kept details sparse and positive where media was concerned. If she could let down her guard and spend more than half a minute in the glorious presence of the ‘Charming’ Prince Malik she could probably ask him. He’d share the story with her. He’d once shared his heart and his kisses with her.
She found herself creeping to the tent opening and peering out. Her gaze zeroed in on Malik so quickly it was as if he was a magnet and she was a piece of metal that needed to soar through the air until she was firmly attached to him. Luckily her feet stayed planted and she only feasted her eyes on his handsome face.
As if sensing her gaze, he looked away from the beautiful blond flirting with him and zeroed in on Sophie. His blue eyes were instantly full of her. His generous mouth curved in a cautious but welcoming smile.
She could never forget the day she’d met him. She’d just graduated secondary school and was working for the summer as a waitress in downtown Traverse before she started culinary school. Prince Malik had walked in to Shady’s Grill with some friends, locked gazes with her with his beautiful blue eyes, strode right up to her, and said, “Pardon me. I seem to have my lost heart; I’m certain you stole it.”
She’d laughed, almost dropped the load of food she was carrying, and lostherheart to him in one fail swoop. “Would you like your heart back, Prince Malik?” she’d asked.
“No.” His blue eyes had swept over her and his voice had dropped to a husky whisper, “Just keep it safe for me, will you?”
She smiled at the remembrance. As if he was remembering as well and her smile was a signal, Malik’s cautious look turned to determined and he started toward her. Sophie’s heart raced and she found herself leaning forward, ready to run, or fly, to his side, where she would always belong.
Prince Derek and his girlfriend walked up to Malik. The connection was broken as he focused on the pair. Sophie wondered if all the rumors about the American Ninja Warrior stars Prince Derek and the ‘adorkable’ Ellery Monson were true.
Shaking her head, she backed into the tent and tried to dampen thoughts of Malik and royal drama as she sent a steak kabob tray back for more chunks of tender steak on each kabob. Her instructions had been six pieces of steak on each kabob, not four.
It seemed the royal family had a lot of drama recently with Prince Tristan being burned by a bomb; Prince Curt protecting a Southern America beauty from killers and then marrying her; Prince Steffan falling in love with a murderer,theinfamous billionaire heiress Hattie Ballard, before Hattie was killed; and just today, in the midst of the royal wedding celebrations, Prince Derek’s girlfriend being kidnapped by the scum Treven Rindlesbacher.
She shuddered just thinking of that man’s name, feeling sympathy that the American Ninja Warrior star Ellery had to endure Treven’s presence. Sophie prayed the evil masochist hadn’t touched the beautiful Ellery before she was rescued. Her own thoughts turned dark, remembering.
Focus on the positive. Her mum’s voice. She took a deep breath and tried:Thank you Heavenly Father that Treven Rindlesbacher is back in prison where he belongs. Thank you that my darling Sunny is safe with my mum and dad and such a delight to all of us. Thank you that Malik is still single and I might get to stare unabashedly at him tonight while he isn’t looking or if I’m unreal blessed grant me one more moment of staring into those blue eyes that I love.
She stopped her prayer, gasping and hurrying back to the prep counter. She’d help assemble hors d’oeuvres or check if they were running low on anything or taste test … something.
Anything to get her mind off the charming prince she’d never be blessed to tangle glances or lips with again in this life. They’d dated and fallen in love that blissful summer, in no hurry, their entire lives and happiness secure in a future together. Or so they thought.
Once upon a time she thought their love story would go down in the tales of time, but then Treven had found her walking the streets of Traverse alone late one night, daydreaming of Malik who’d been off in Spain studying outdoor recreation while she finished up culinary school in Traverse.
She’d never told anyone who the father of her baby girl was. Treven had explained to her in vivid, terrifying, and revolting detail what he’d do to Prince Malik, and to her parents, if she ever revealed that he had raped her. To call the man a nefarious psycho was putting it far too mildly. Sadly she believed him and knew even from prison he could hurt those she loved, his demonic parents would do anything for their insane son.
The other problem was Malik was such an honorable gentleman and protector of her she knew he would’ve gone after Treven. Malik could’ve landed himself in prison or put a target on his back as the Rindlesbachers were nobody to mess with. She didn’t even want her parents to know who Sunny’s father was, lest it somehow slip or they act off around the William or Naomi Rindlesbacher. She couldn’t risk any mistake that could lead to that horrifying family getting anywhere near her daughter.
She’d accepted an engagement with her close friend Jonathon Lathum shortly after she’d told Malik she was pregnant. Jonathon knew she was heartbroken over lying to Malik and pushing her love from her life but he’d promised to take care of her and the baby and claim her child as his own. Her heart had ripped in two promising herself to anyone but Malik but Jonathon was safe, Treven hadn’t threatened him, and she prayed it would keep Malik safe from Treven.
