The Prince's Bride (Modern Fairytales) Page 9

  “Like…” He pulled a dish down from the back shelf. “I work here once a month.”

  She pursed her lips. “How do people not recognize you?”

  “Same way they didn’t in the club.” He touched his head. “We wear hats, and I darken my hair to hide the blond so no one realizes who I am. It’s a fun little escape.”

  “I’m sensing a theme,” she said slowly.

  “What kind of theme?” he asked, perching the scoop over the rocky road ice cream and lifting a brow at her in question.

  “You’re like Jasmine, in Aladdin.” She pointed to the chocolate cookie dough ice cream on the opposite side of the freezer. “You like to pretend to be normal, like everyone else, because you feel trapped.”

  He snorted. “I’m not Jasmine, and I’m not trapped.” He shrugged, digging the scoop into the ice cream. “Though I’d look awesome in her little blue outfit and would love to have a tiger.”

  “You’ve watched Aladdin?” she asked, surprised he even knew what she was talking about.

  “My little cousins love Disney,” he replied with a smile. “Especially Jasmine.”

  “You have cousins?”

  “Yes. They’re girls, ages eight and nine.” He got another bowl. “My mother’s sister was twelve years younger than her, so it was a big age gap.”

  “What else do the girls like?”

  He winced. “Putting nail polish and makeup on me.”

  She leaned on the counter, watching him with fascination. She couldn’t help it. Picturing him playing with two girls who literally dressed him up was adorable and…enticing. “What else do you let them do?”

  He scooped out his serving of strawberry ice cream. “Whatever the hell they want. It’s a great escape—” he broke off, meeting her eyes.

  “Again, with the theme,” she said softly.

  “Yeah, I guess.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s a great way to escape the stress of the office and the decisions I have to make there.”

  “What’s the last big decision you had to make?”

  “It was against a hostile nation to the west of us. If they don’t back off on their missile testing, then we’ll be forced to respond accordingly.” He closed the freezer, his shoulders tight. “I have a feeling my warning won’t scare them off.”

  She tensed. “What happens if it doesn’t?”

  “Then the United Nations will get involved.” He lifted his head. “And that possible contract with Baker might get a lot more necessary.”

  “I hope it doesn’t,” she said, biting her lip. She wanted the deal, yes, but not at the cost of others’ lives, and not at the expense of Leo’s country, which he so clearly loved.

  “Me, too.”

  He silently opened up the fridge, pulling out a jar of cherries. She blinked rapidly, because the booze had hit, and things looked a little fuzzy, and it almost looked like he held two jars instead of one. “So, what’s the secret ingredient?”

  “Remember our date at Serendipity?” he asked, ignoring her question.

  She pursed her lips, remembering how handsome he’d looked across the table that night, staring at her as if she were the most important person in the world to him. No one had ever looked at her like that again. “We shared a ridiculously huge sundae, and drank sodas, and stayed until the shop closed and they kicked us out.”

  Every once in a while, she sat outside the restaurant.

  Relived the moment.

  It was pathetic.

  “Yep. One thing that was on that sundae?” He picked up another jar. “These.”

  She squinted at the jar. “Nuts?”

  “Not just any nuts.” He grinned, looking far too excited about nuts. “The same exact ones. I have them shipped to me once a year so I never run out.”

  A smile played on her lips. “Seriously?”

  “Yep.” He wiggled them under her nose. “This is one of my secret ingredients.”

  She licked her lips, watching him pour hot fudge on both their treats. “There’s two?”

  “Yeah,” he said simply.

  “Why go through all that trouble for some nuts?”

  He side-eyed her. “Honestly? Because every time I put them on a sundae, it takes me back to that date, and I smile.”

  He kept saying things like that.

  Sweet things that made her want to believe he actually meant them.

  It was dangerous.

  He handed her the sundae, his gaze locked on her mouth. She nervously took the bowl, her fingers brushing his. Jerking back, she walked over to the table by the electric fireplace in the corner of the room. “So you think your nuts are so good they’re orgasmic?”

  He choked on a laugh. “Uh…”

  “God.” She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t stop the smile that crept into place. “You’re such a dude.”

  “What man in all of the world, in all of history, would not pause at that question?” he asked, grinning as he came around the corner of the counter. “And, yes, my nuts are that good.”

  “Well, then…” She pursed her lips and lifted the spoon. Holding it out to him, she laughed as she said, “To your delicious nuts.”

  “To my nuts,” he echoed, laughing and tapping his own spoon to hers as he sat across from her. The drinks in the car had hit her pretty hard, and the world was spinning a little bit. Or maybe that was from the force of his laugh.

  Around him, it was hard to tell.

  She put the spoon in her mouth, licking it clean. Closing her eyes, she sucked on it, a small moan escaping her. “Oh my God.”

  “You found the other secret ingredient,” he said, his tone deep.

  She nodded enthusiastically, lifting her lashes. “What kind of hot fudge is this?”

  “Salted caramel dark chocolate nut fudge.” He leaned back in his chair, looking far too sexily casual in the face of her delight. “It’s my own recipe.”

  “Seriously?” She dug her spoon in again, shaking her head. “You missed your calling.”

  He shifted closer. “Meaning?”

  “You should be selling this stuff, with this ice cream, and your fantastic nuts.” She sucked on the tip of the spoon again. “It’s like crack.”

  He stared at her mouth for a beat, his silence filling the air with sexual tension. When he finally spoke, it was a relief. “My mother owned this shop, once upon a time, so I guess you could say it’s in my blood.”

  She froze. “She did?”

  “Yes. That’s why I work here occasionally.” He scooped up more ice cream, savoring it with a sigh. “It makes me feel closer to her, somehow.”

  Well, crap. He had to go say something so sensitive, so freaking perfect, that it blew everything she thought she knew about him out of the water. A man who missed his mother like that couldn’t be all that bad. “How old were you when she died?”

  “Twelve.” He ate another bite of ice cream, but she could see he was in another place and another time—more than likely with his mother at his side. He smiled, but it was as sad as his eyes. “She was a good woman. A great queen. An even better mother.”

  Reaching out, she squeezed his hand, locking eyes with him. He inhaled deeply, holding it in as he held on to her hand. And, though she didn’t want to admit it, there was no denying the fact that she didn’t want him to let go. “I bet she was.”

  “How old were you?” he asked softly.

  “Six. I don’t really remember her.” She swallowed, reluctantly taking her hand back. She missed his touch immediately—which was a bad, bad thing. “She was shot on the subway on her way home.”

  They hadn’t spoken about this in New York. They’d been too busy falling in love.

  “I’m so sorry.” He set his spoon down. “That’s awful.”

  “Yeah,” she said. “Death always is.”

  He leaned in and brushed a smear of chocolate off her mouth, and she froze, heart racing at the speed of light. When he spoke, his voice was hypnotic. “We’ve both lost too m
uch, Alicia. Being here with you reminds me of what we had, all those years ago. And I’m going to be honest and admit that I don’t want to lose you again.”

  She touched her lip where he had, fear pulsing through her veins instead of blood. She wanted to pull him closer, but was also well aware that she had to do the opposite, for the sake of her own heart. A heart she wouldn’t let him break twice. “Leo, I—”

  His phone rang, cutting her off, and she reclined in her seat, letting out a short breath of air. The interruption was a relief, because she had no idea what she’d been about to say…but it probably would have been something she would regret afterward.

  Something impulsively romantic.

  He glanced at the screen, frowning. “It’s my father. I have to take this. Do you mind?”

  She shook her head. “Of course not.”

  “Thank you,” he said. Then he swiped his finger on the phone, lifting it to his ear. “Dad? Are you okay?” Silence, and then: “I will. Did you get some rest before you got the call?”

  His father spoke in reply, and she swore she heard her name.

  She leaned in closer.

  “Good.” After another short pause where his father spoke, his voice too low for her to make out, Leo rolled his eyes. “Over my dead body. Bye, Dad.” He hung up and glanced at Alicia. She shoved ice cream in her mouth, trying her best to look as if she hadn’t been trying to listen in. “My father isn’t able to join us for dinner after all.”

  She paused, blinking at him. “Was he supposed to?”

  “Yes. I just hadn’t asked you yet.”

  “Why not?” she asked, cocking her head.

  “Because I figured you’d tell me no.”

  She pressed her lips together and lowered her head, playing with her mostly eaten ice cream because it was easier than looking at him. He was so handsome that sometimes it hurt—like gazing directly at the sun. “You’re probably right.”

  “Can we just—?” he started.

  “I told you, I don’t do second chances,” she said flatly, avoiding his gaze. If she looked at him, she might waver. And if she wavered, he’d end up hurting her again.

  He caught her chin and didn’t let go. “I’m not asking for a second chance. Because we’re adults now, different from the kids we were back then. I’m asking for a new chance, as the people we are now.”

  She remained silent, watching him.

  What he said made perfect sense, and that’s what terrified her.

  “All I’m asking for is an opportunity to prove you can trust the man I am now, even though the boy I was then let you down.” He smiled, running his thumb down the hard line of her jaw. His soft touch made her shiver and sent a warmth through her heart that she couldn’t deny. “I want to show you my country, the way we’d planned, and let you see why I love it as much as I do. I want you to love it, too. And most importantly? I want to be your friend, Alicia. I think we could both use one of those.”

  She licked her lips, opening her mouth then shutting it. There were so many reasons she should say no, and so many reasons to tell him to take his offer of friendship and stick it where the sun didn’t shine. But he was watching her with soft blue eyes, and he looked so freaking lonely, so very vulnerable, that instead of saying what she should, she listened to her screaming heart instead.

  “Okay. I’ll be your friend, Leo, but that’s it.”

  A grin spread on his face, and he picked up his spoon, too, looking at her like it was only a matter of time until that friendship became something else entirely…something that involved no clothing, a bed, and lots of pleasure. “You won’t regret this.”

  Funny. She already did.

  He was going to hurt her and damn if she wasn’t going to let him. Because this fantasy friendship was just that, and nothing would change the fact that they were two people from completely different worlds. He had to marry a princess, and she had a life to get back to in New York.

  She stuck another spoon of ice cream in her mouth. You’re probably laughing up there, aren’t you, Brian? He’s totally going to break my heart—again.

  One more thing to check off the bucket list.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next day, Leo knocked on Alicia’s bedroom door at precisely two o’clock in the afternoon. His heart pounded hard against his ribs when he heard her footsteps approaching the door. He tugged on his sleeves to make sure they were perfectly even, and readjusted his tie.

  Nothing but the best for Alicia.

  The door swung open, and there she was, fucking beautiful in her light pink dress, like usual. “Oh. Hi.” Smiling, she asked, “Can I help you?”

  He gave her a long look that hopefully told her he saw right through her nonchalance. Leaning on the doorjamb, he crossed his arms. “I’m here to take you on an another adventure.”

  She let out a small laugh. “What kind?”

  “One that needs sneakers along with that pretty dress you’re wearing.” His gaze slid down her body, and everywhere he glanced looked even better than the first time he’d checked her out. “And, damn, Alicia. That’s a pretty amazing dress.”

  She bit down on her lip, and he’d bet his kingdom that in her mind she was back in that hallway with his hands running over her body, and that she wanted to be there again—but was too scared to actually do it. “Thanks,” she said simply.

  “Ready?”

  “Uh…” She nodded once, grabbed her purse, and started out the door. He followed her, placing one hand on her lower back. She glanced at him, licked her lips, and asked, “Where are we going?”

  He smiled. “You know I’m not going to tell you that.”

  “Of course not.” She shook her head. “You’re having way too much fun with this.”

  “And yet you accused me of having forgotten what fun was.”

  She laughed. “True.”

  “Turns out, I remember.” He led her down the stairs, smiling at a maid as they passed. “Any time I get to spend with you is fun.”

  She cleared her throat. “How’s your father?” she blurted. “Is he still in Greece?”

  That was what the phone call at the ice cream parlor had been about. His father had been called away on business.

  “Yes.” He side-eyed her, aware of her attempt to change the topic to a safer subject. “He’s in heaven right now.”

  “How so?” she asked quickly.

  “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—?”

  She rested her hand on his knee, smiling. “I’d love to go pick roses and have a picnic with you.”