Charming the Prince by Maddie James

Author:Maddie James
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781622375387
Publisher: Sand Dune Books

It was a little after ten o’clock that morning before Krissy had a chance to sit down, let alone take a breath. Merry, bless her heart, had taken orders and bussed tables all morning. Gladys finally arrived about eight o’clock, her grandson on the mend after the bicycle fall.

Staci was out front with the shelter volunteers and all the animals.

They’d weathered a good breakfast crowd. Cute animals, she guessed, were a big draw for business.

Merry slid onto her lap and wrapped her arms around Krissy’s shoulders. “I’m pooped.”

“Me too, girlfriend. Take a breather while you can. We still need to get through lunch.”

Her hard-working little girl laid her head on her shoulder.

The swinging door to the kitchen pushed open. Max stepped out. “Breaktime. Merry, you coming?”

She shook her head and nuzzled her mom. “Not now.”

Krissy lifted her gaze. He seemed lost somehow, worried…confused? “I’m sure Prince is ready for a break,” she said.

“We will be back in a few minutes. C’mon Prince.” He watched the sleepy dog roll out of the booth.

“Take your time.”

Gladys joined them at the table, plopping down across from Krissy and Merry. “Shew!”

“You got that right.”

“Lots of new customers,” Gladys exclaimed.

“And that is a good thing. I think.” She had to hire double the staff by fall.

“I’m tired,” Merry said again.

Krissy sat up with her. “I tell you what. We can handle the lunch crowd. I think the new girl is coming in at ten-thirty. Right, Gladys? You could sit at the counter and watch over all the silent auction items. Think you could do that?”

Merry nodded. “I can.”

“Great.”

Some commotion at the door caused all three to look that way. As Max headed out with Prince, Sylvia and Chase entered the diner. Once the couple had pushed through to the inside, Sylvia paused and glanced behind her, watching Max leave.

Turning, she took five rapid steps toward Krissy and then halted right in front of her, hands parked on her hips. “I knew I recognized him.”

Krissy blinked. “Sylvia, what?”

“We need to talk. Now.” Her friend took a deep breath, looked out the diner window again, then slowly rotated back. “Have you seen any social media this morning? Watched the news?”

“No, we’ve been swamped here. What’s up?” She had to admit she was getting a little panicked. She glanced to Merry and Gladys, then back up to Sylvia’s face. “What?”

Chase interrupted, rolling his eyes. “Just tell her, Sylvia. Enough with the dramatics.”

“But it is dramatic!”

Krissy abruptly moved Merry off her lap and stood. “Sylvia, what in the world is going on?”

Sylvia took a breath, then pointed outside. “It’s him. He’s the missing prince. It’s all over the news and social. Here, let me show you.” She pulled out her phone and scrolled while talking. “Supposedly he was lost in the wilderness on some remote hiking trail in the mountains in Europe—at least that’s what the monarchy was telling the press in Beldova—and they’ve been looking for him for weeks. Evidently, he’s been known to go off on his own, from time to time, so no biggie.

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