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I didn’t know how I felt about being the first woman he had ever painted. Honored? Terrified? The more I learned about Oliver, the more fascinated and intrigued I became with the man. Not only was he handsome but also generous, funny, and now mysterious.
Adriana was right.
He was just my type.
Oliver would be perfect for me, if it weren’t for the tiny fact that he was getting married to Veronica and would eventually become the future king of Verdana. I couldn’t help thinking about our dart game and what he’d said to me.
You have the most captivating eyes, Grace.
I could get lost in them forever.
I knew his little flirts were just a ploy to distract me, but why had my body had such a visceral reaction when he gave me a compliment or whispered in my ear? And why did I want him to do it again?
Wait . . .
Did I have a crush on the prince?
It certainly felt as if I did.
Oh, no . . .
How could this have happened?
The man was getting married! Having a crush would mean pain and torture for me because there would be nothing I could do about it. I had to get distracted and erase that thought from my head immediately.
“Grace?” Adriana said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I cranked my neck in her direction. “Huh? Yeah?”
“I said I think you should try this on,” she said, holding up an elegant strapless purple dress with intricate stitching and a silk band around the waist. “I think you would look fabulous in it. Try it on!”
“Okay . . .” I nodded and took it from her. “Be right back.”
I slipped into the dressing room, took a deep breath, cleared my head of those ridiculous thoughts of Oliver, then tried on the lovely garment.
Emerging moments later, I had to admit I felt like a princess in the elegant dress. As I twirled around in front of the mirror, the bottom flared out gracefully, making me feel like I was floating on air.
“Grace, you look absolutely gorgeous!” Adriana gushed, clapping her hands with delight. “And that color is perfect on you.”
“Thank you,” I said, then glanced down. “You don’t think it’s too low-cut for the portrait?”
“Heavens no,” Adriana said. “It’s the perfect combination of sexy and elegant. You have to get it.”
I nodded and smiled. “Okay then.” I changed out of the dress, then we took a break with a glass of wine as we chatted more about men on the couch in front of the dressing rooms.
“What about you?” I asked. “Do you have a type?”
Adriana grinned. “This may sound a little odd, but I’ve always had a thing for American firefighters. Who knows? Maybe one day I will marry one.”
“Seriously?” I asked.
“Must be from watching all those episodes of Chicago Fire,” she said. “I love the courage, strength, and selflessness that firefighters embody, knowing that they dedicate their lives to protecting others and the community. And the uniform certainly doesn’t hurt.” She laughed and clinked my glass.
That was when I noticed Demetrio casting furtive glances at Adriana from across the room. It wasn’t the first time either.
I leaned in closer to Adriana and whispered, “I’m sure Demetrio will be sad to know you want to marry an American firefighter. He seems to be enamored with you, unless he is one of your mother’s secret spies.”
Adriana’s eyes widened in surprise, but then she let out a soft laugh. “Oh, I don’t know about that. He’s always been very attentive when I visit. He treats all his customers like royalty.”
