He tipped his head slightly toward Leslie Ann and Ella. “Is that your party there? Please tell me that is not Leslie Ann Parker.” His American accent was brilliant. Perfect.
“That’s not Leslie Ann Parker, sir.Pete.” She leaned close, catching more of his clean scent. “But it is.”
Now that she was face-to-face with him, she saw everything about his appearance that made him Prince Gus. Above his beard and tanned cheeks sat a pair of unmistakable cerulean blue eyes. They were jewels mounted into a smooth piece of gleaming and golden wood.
His smile, which he’d not flashed at her quite yet, was perfection. Before the media dubbed him “Prince Pathetic” and “Prince of the Heartbreak”—or was it “King of the Heartbreak”—he was Prince Charming. The prince with the world-famous smile. It was more than his white, even teeth or full lips. It was something beyond the physical. Something true, in his heart.
“Don’t give me away, Daffy, please.”
“To Leslie Ann? She’s harmless, really. I’m sure she wouldn’t—”
“Daffy.I’ve managed a year on this quiet, private beach without press or paparazzi. The respite has nearly restored my lost dignity. I can hold my head up when I return home for John’s wedding.”
“I’m so glad you’re going home.”
“Of course. Why would I not?”
“I don’t know… I suppose we all wondered.” She locked eyes with him once again. It was him.Herprince. “I’m sure if you just said hello, she’d—”
“Have me splashed all over the news within an hour. When and if I ever go to the press again, I want it to be on my terms, with my story. Can you understand? I beg of you, keep my secret. For old times’ sake. For the laughter we shared as children.”
“Then I will. Whatever you ask.” She glanced around Prince Gus again to see Les and Ella bottoms down on their chairs, white legs stretched across the beige beach. “They’re not watching. So…this is where you’ve been hiding for the last year?” She kept her voice low. “Your American accent is astounding. I would’ve never recognized you had you not looked right at me.”
“A mate from uni offered me his beach house here, and after a week I landed a job, if you can believe it, and decided to stay awhile.”
“You’ve changed.” Her gaze drifted down to his toned legs and up again. He caught her perusal, and her face tingled again with heat. She never blushed. Never. Except around this man. “I mean, before…after Lady Robbi, you were, well—”
“Portly? Pathetic? King of the Heartbreak?” He scratched Adler behind the ears. She sighed and lay down by Daffy’s feet again. “Gained two stones?”
“I never said those things. I never eventhoughtthem.”
“Maybe not, but they were headlines. Almost daily. I did eat my way through two devastating breakups. I admit it. Then I arrived here and found some inner strength.”
“You look, um, well… Good for you, sir. Pete.”
“Daff, aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend?” Leslie Ann called from her chair.
“Shake my hand.” Prince Gus slipped his hand into hers, his skin warm. “Pat the dog’s head and I’ll be off. Tell them I was inquiring about your cottage. Possible future rental. Actually, it is quite lovely.” He peered at her for a long moment, then in a surprise of tenderness, brushed the back of his fingers over her cheek. “Be careful. I think you’re burning. The winter sun is deceiving.”
With a whistle to the dog, he was off, and this time Adler loped along behind him. Ella and Les peeked around their chairs to watch him leave.
Daffy tried to move, but her legs wobbled. She took a deep breath and collected herself. Guard up, or Leslie Ann would know something was amiss.
But goodness.Prince Gus. Here. On this beach. She pressed her palm to her cheek still warm from his touch.
Shake it off.She wasn’t a girl running ’round the castle with a crush on her friend. She was an adult. Mature. Practically spoken for by another. Note to self:Confirm with Thomas that we are officially a couple.
“Here we are.” Daffy handed out the snacks then headed for the water. “Thomas texted he wanted pictures.”
“Who were you talking to for so long?”
“Just a bloke who thought he might rent the cottage next year. The dog was sweet.”
“A long conversation for ‘Hello, is this cottage suitable?’” Just as Daffy feared, Leslie Ann’s reporter radar was honing in.
“I asked about his dog.” Daffy snapped another picture. Her face should be back to normal by now. “I love golden retrievers.”
“Why is your face all blotchy?” Leslie Ann squinted at Daffy as she twisted the cap from a bottle of water.
