“Our bookkeeper-slash-manager. With Haley being a mom and me hitting the road with Buck every year, Gemma keeps the lights on and the doors open. Hey, Gemstone, I found your partner.”
Gemstone? Who was this gem… The crowd parted, as if by some ethereal force, and the most graceful, stunning woman emerged. She was tall and regal with generous curves and a mane of wild, chestnut hair falling about her shoulders. But it was her eyes that captured him. Deep and blue, intense, guarded, as if no one would ever peer into her soul.
“John, this is Gemma Stone, one of my best friends as well as the shop’s manager. Gemma, this is Prince—”
“I know who he is.” She offered her hand. “Welcome to Hearts Bend.”
She held him with her gaze and it took a moment for him to move, to shake her hand. “Yes, thank you. Very lovely town. Reminds me of Dalholm in County Northton, only with a lot more sun and humidity.”
“We bottle it and sell it at the local shops if you care to take some home with you.”
“You what? You—” Her smile snapped him into reality. Of course, she was having him on, and when he laughed, it was weak and low. “I thought you Americans had come up with a secret the world had yet to discover.”
“Y’all can chitchat later. Go sign up for our heat. It’s next.”
“JoJo, don’t make this poor man run a race if he doesn’t want to.”
“Oh, he’s running, aren’t you?” JoJo leaned back to look at Gunner. “That’s his protection officer, Gunner. You don’t mind, do you?”
“He’s free to do what he wants.”
“All right you two, go see Hooley and sign up.”Hooley?JoJo pressed Gemma toward the starting line where a man in a bright orange vest, visor, and bullhorn addressed a small gathering with a large, old-fashioned clipboard.
“Look, Prince,” Gemma said. “You don’t have to—”
“I’m in. When in Hearts Bend, do as Hearts Bendians.”
Gemma peered at him and when their eyes met,ithappened. The thing no man clinging to his first love wants to happen. His heart skipped a beat.Steady, mate.
Gemma started off, a slight hitch in her step. John watched her a moment or two.
“Excuse me, um, lass. Gemma. Are you sure you are able to manage a race?”
He stepped back as she whirled around with a bit of fire and brimstone in her eyes. “You worry about you and I’ll worry about me, capeesh?”
“Capeesh.” With that, he followed her to the sign-up station.
Meanwhile, Gunner redirected curious onlookers who recognized John and aimed their cameras.
“No photographs, please. The prince is on holiday.”
However, John never minded a few candid shots. Made him seem more like an everyday chap.
Coming from a small North Sea island nation, he was used to some attention. Nothing like his British cousins, William and Harry, but enough. However between his baby brother, Gus, being left at the altar and his own wedding to Lady Holland Cunningham, the Lauchtenland royals landed on the global map.
Then Holland’s funeral four months after their wedding sent the House of Blue into the stratosphere. There were entire books and movies about them. Coloring books. Toys. Souvenirs. All of which he avoided like the plague.
“Gemma Stone, howdy. You going to race?” Hooley looked her up and down. “With that hip, I don’t know.”
“Just sign us up for The Wedding Shop. This is my partner, John.”
“John with a J?” Hooley tapped the clipboard waiting for John to answer.
“Yes, John with a J.” He made a face at Gemma who fought a laugh.How else would he spell it?
“All righty-dighty, gotcha down. What’s your team name?”
“The Winners.” Gemma picked up a gunny sack and some rope.
