“No, ma’am. Donotfall into that again. I can’t bear to see you hurt again.”
I heave a sigh. She’s right, dadgummit.But why does he have to be so kind and so very sexy?
Overwhelmed, I step away to get my head on straight. I slip down a quiet hallway lined with rooms for storage, and thus infrequently used. Breathing deeply, I sip my drink, trying to get my logical brain to take over once more from the sappy, emotional side.
The door leading back to the main house opens a crack, and the noise from the party floods my temporary sanctuary. Not ready to get back to playing hostess, I step into the nearest storage room but leave the door partially open so whoever it is doesn’t hear the latch click.
A familiar deep timbre washes over me, and that wonderful feeling settles low in my stomach. I press my ear closer to the crack in the door just to hear his voice more clearly.
“Shh, shh, no, it’s okay. I told you that I’m always here when you need me.”
God, that tender tone, it makes me melt.Made. Made me melt.
“I’m on my way, dearest.”
Dearest. The word is a sledgehammer straight to the heart. I have no right to the prince anymore, but I can’t help but envy the woman he’s speaking to so sweetly.
“Yes, dear. You know I still love you. I’ll be there in five.”
My heart plummets, and suddenly, it’s hard to breathe. Clearly, he’s completely moved on and made his choice. The press will be salivating to find out who their new princess will be. I must have been fooling myself that he was flirting earlier. Actually, no, I don’t care, even as I wipe away a few stray tears. Margaret is right. That chapter of my life is closed; it’s time to start writing the next one.
