“I’m having a cheeseburger.” Ella slapped her menu closed.
“Same.” Leslie Ann shoved her menu aside and took out her phone. “Snapping a picture for the mates at home. Our Florida Pub Clemency.”
Daffy smiled as the server, a young man with a surfer vibe, set down tall tumblers of water and asked if they were ready to order.
Three for three. Cheeseburger, fries, and a diet fizzy.
“If you see the chap who hit you with a Frisbee, point him out.” Leslie Ann scanned the room. “You might have a boyfriend, but I don’t.”
Daffy rested her cheek in her hand as a warm blush bloomed on her cheeks.Don’t think about him.Prince Augustus had to stop turning her cheeks into candied apples. He was a friend—no, more like an acquaintance. An HRH. Royalty. Out of her league, no matter what their past.
“Did you see the puddings?” Daffy reached for her menu again “What do you think of sharing the chocolate molten cake?”
“Daff, your face is all blotchy.” Leslie Ann pressed her hand on the menu. “I barely mention the chap on the beach and look, we could fly a sleigh by your light.”
“You exaggerate. Ella, cake for pudding?” Daffy put the menu away. “Really, LA, I’m not one of your interviewees on theMorning Show.
“Did he ask you out?” Leslie Ann came at her again with her deep, controlled reporter voice. The one she’d used when she broke the university cheating scandal. “Is that why you’re blushing?”
“Les, why are you making a deal of it?” Ella to the rescue. About time. “So she blushes?”
“Yes, yes, hedidask me out.” Thank you, Leslie Ann, for the excuse. “After he inquired of the cottage. We’re madly in love. Going to get married as soon as the law allows.” Daffy leaned to see down the aisle. “Where is our server with those fizzies? I’m parched.”
“Okay, fine, but don’t be a smarty.” Leslie Ann shoved Daffy’s tumbler of water toward her. “Drink this if you’re thirsty. Look, I’ve known you for thirteen years. I can’t recall you ever blushing. Well, except when Sprite Crandall dumped out your handbag and a tampon landed on his foot.”
“He turned into a flaming bush.” Daffy slipped from her chair. “I think I’ll go to the loo.” She shot Ella a look.Not another word!
Ella knew Daffy blushed when Prince Gus was around. It began during the writing ofMy Life with the Prince. Mum noticed it whenever Gus was around and teased her. The more she teased, the redder Daffy beamed. However, in the last eighteen years she’d not blushed once over the prince. Well, maybe a few times when she passed him at the palace. When she helped Mum with some Royal Trust function.
Following the neon light to the loo, Daffy rounded a corner just as a chap came in from the deck toting a loaded bin of dishes. She cried out, but too late. The whole lot slipped from his hands and crashed on the floor.
“I amsosorry.” Daffy dropped to clean up the mess at the exact same time as he, and their foreheads conked.
She moaned. He swore. Then hollered for someone named Carmen to bring a mop and broom.
“Please.” He raised his hand to stop her efforts to help. “I’ve got this. Go.”
“It’s my fault. I wasn’t paying attention.”
He tossed a broken piece of glass into the bin as he reached for the broom and mop brought ’round by another chap. “You should go,” he said.
“I insist—” When she looked up to plead her case, her eyes met his. “Your Highness.”
“Pete, remember?”
“You work here?” She lowered her voice to a raspy whisper.
“Are you here with your mates?” He abandoned his American accent and spoke with the full lilt of home.
“Leslie Ann insisted we come for burgers.”
“But you’ve kept my secret?”
“Of course. She knows nothing. Nor does Ella. They asked about the man on the beach and I told them you were interested in renting the cottage. Leslie Ann thinks you asked me on a date. I told her we were getting married to shut her up. You really hidhereall year?”
“Amazingly, yes.” His fingers grazed hers as they reached for the same glass. Daffy pulled away from the heat of his touch.
“Rather brilliant, I say.” She reached for the broom. “I’ll sweep, you mop.”
