A Royal Second Chance Summer by Viv Royce

Author:Viv Royce
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Two Hour Romance Short Reads; Contemporary Short Reads; Opposites Attract Romance; Small Town Fiction; Small Town Romance; Women's Fiction; Contemporary Women's Fiction; Contemporary Romance; Contemporary Fiction; Royalty; Royals; Prince; Prince Hero; Alpha Hero; Royalty Romance; Small Town; Summer; Summer Romance; Girl Next Door; Mistaken Identity; Mistaken Identity Romance; Bliss; Entangled Publishing; Series Romance; Viv Royce; A Royal Second Chance Summer; Stand Alone Romance; Category Romance; Popular Romance; Clean & Wholesome Romance;
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2020-05-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“I can’t decide which one is better.” Her eyes sparkled as she looked him in the eye. “Meringue or salted caramel.”

“Then try another one to make up your mind.”

She shook her head. “I’ve had enough.”

Nerves tightened his stomach. Time for the big surprise. He glanced around. Their spot was away from the others, so no one seemed to be watching them. Indeed, a lot of picnic blankets were already abandoned as parents and kids gathered to play ball or try the trampolines lined up on the far end of the field. Nobody was paying attention to them.

He got up and put out his hand to her. “Come on.”

Surprise rippled across her features. “Are we leaving?” A high color rose in her cheeks and she added quickly, “Do you want to get some more food?”

He shook his head. “I want to show you something. A surprise.”

“For me?” She clambered to her feet. “You went to so much trouble to make today special.”

“You deserve it.” He stared into her eyes. They seemed to change color all the time, one moment a mysterious, cool blue like the sea, the next a sparkling green with a hint of sunshine. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. “Come on.” Again, he offered his hand to her.

She took it hesitantly. He pulled her into the forest, away from the others. It was almost like they were a couple of teens quietly slipping away to spend time together. But he wasn’t sixteen anymore. And come to think of it, even at sixteen he hadn’t been into playing games. Maybe it had been his parents’ bad marriage or the weight of his future responsibilities pressing down on him, but he had always been aware that forging relationships was very serious, not something to be toyed with. The press attention for everything he did hadn’t helped either. Now, he just wanted to go unnoticed for once. Not to be judged.

He closed his hand tighter around hers. Why do I have this soft feeling inside, this need to wrap my arm around her and shelter her? She’d never be sheltered with me.

On the contrary, she would be exposed to a storm. Of attention, criticism, the opinions of everyone. He could tell himself that it didn’t matter, but deep down he knew it did. His father had been so in love with his mother, ready to give up the throne for her if need be, if parliament hadn’t approved his choice of bride. But it hadn’t been enough. They had drifted apart.

Or had they been driven apart? By everything that had happened around them, the ideas people had, the articles written, the advisors crowding to say this or that… You had to be very strong to get through that unscathed. The relationship had to be perfectly open, and both partners had to work very hard to stick together. Or it would be destined to fail.

In an epic way.

Her hand was warm in his. Her grasp firm. She trusted him.

Well, at least to take her to a nice surprise on this beautiful summer’s day.

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