Christmas at the Castle

by Melissa McClone

  The song ended, and she clapped. So did Gill, who also whistled uncharacteristically.

  The children laughed.

  She glanced his way. “How did you know I liked this song?”

  “I asked Sophie and phoned the school this morning. Fortunately, the children are singing the song at their upcoming holiday concert, so they included it for you.”

  “For me?”

  Two children climbed down and stood in front of the others. Soloists, perhaps.

  “I thought you might like your own mini Christmas concert.”

  This was all for her. Kat looked around. Her heart drummed in her chest. “Like? I love it.”

  This might be Gill’s way of saying thank you, but his effort made her feel special. A way she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

  Too long.

  She couldn’t believe he was the one who’d done this for her.

  “But…” Trying not to smile too big, Kat stared down her nose at him. “Who are you, and what did you do to Prince Annoying?”

  He laughed. “He’s around here somewhere. I can find him if you’d like.”

  “No, thanks. I’d prefer if he not make an appearance today.”

  The two children in front sang the first verse of “Away in the Manger,” and then the rest of the choir joined in. “Deck the Halls” followed, and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” was next.

  The children bowed.

  She applauded. “Bravo.”

  “Now it’s our turn to thank the performers.” He removed the red sack from his shoulder and opened it. “Grab a handful of candy canes and pass them out.”

  Bright-eyed, smiling children swarmed like bear cubs to honey. But no small hand reached forward. Each took their turn.

  “Here you go.” She handed a candy cane to a small boy wearing glasses. “Lovely singing.”

  “Thank you, miss.”

  All were so polite. Many seemed to want a minute of Gill’s time. A word, here. A high five, there. Your Highness sounded with every breath.

  His laughter grew, so did his smile.

  Gill might be Crown Prince Guillaume of Alistonia, but he looked more like a man having fun. And a…

  Father.

  Kat’s mouth went dry. The temperature seemed to warm even though she could see her own breath.

  She’d never imagined him that way before.

  Okay, he’d been a great doggy dad yesterday and last night with Max. But with the kids hanging on his every word and him doing his best to make sure no one was ignored, she could picture him with curly-haired, smiling children of his own.

  Fighting the urge to move closer to him, she handed out more candy canes, but she kept sneaking peeks at Gill. She’d asked the question already.

  Who are you, and what did you do to Prince Annoying?

  Only now, Kat wasn’t joking. She wanted to know the answer so she could figure out who the real Gill might be.

  *

  With the children inside their classrooms, Gill stood outside in the schoolyard with Kat next to him. Snow flurries continued to fall. But her wide smile was enough to keep him warm.

  As he folded the red sack into a small rectangle, his gaze kept straying back to her.

  Kat’s blue eyes reminded him of the aquamarine pendant in the royal jewel collection. Exquisite.

  But he wasn’t here to admire her. He’d wanted to repay her, and he was. But everything he thought he knew about her, everything he believed, seemed…wrong.

  Sophie said Kat was a hardworking veterinarian who had no life outside of work. Could she not be trying to find a way to pay off her loans and get out of her contract with the rural animal clinic? Or was she exactly as he and his mother had thought? A woman willing to do anything to get what she wanted.

  Africa was next on Kat’s list of grand adventures.

  That wouldn’t be a cheap trip.

  She could still have ulterior motives for attending Sophie’s wedding, couldn’t she?

  “The candy canes went quick,” Kat said, “but I think the kids love their crown prince as much as they like candy.”

  An unfamiliar lightness centered in his chest, as if buoyed with contentment. “I enjoy spending time here.”

  “You come often?”

  “I participate in a literacy program. I read to the classes, and they read to me.”

  “Fun.”

  He nodded. “My brother Jacques founded a summer reading project for libraries, and then I expanded the program into the schools.”

  “Sounds like two worthwhile programs.”

  Gill nodded. “Jacques had so many ideas. Solid ones that could be implemented without costing too much. They called him the people’s prince. Now he’s known as the people’s priest.”

  “Do you see him often?”

  “No.” Not much. Gill felt a pang. “He’s assigned to Rome, and he and my mother no longer talk.”

  Swallowing a sigh, Gill tucked the folded sack into his coat pocket.

  “I saved a candy cane for you.” Kat handed it to him. “It’s not much, but I want you to know how wonderful the concert was. Your arranging this was so thoughtful.”

  Not as thoughtful as her helping Maximillian. “Glad you enjoyed it.”

  His favorite part hadn’t been the concert but Kat’s reactions to the songs. Unlike Sophie, Kat didn’t show her feelings to the world. She acted so in control at the castle, but not out here today. Watching the different emotions play across her face pleased him and made him want to see more. He wondered what she was like at home.

  “It must be time to head back to the castle,” Kat said.

  She sounded like she wasn’t ready to leave. Good, because he had more in store for her. “We’re not finished.”

  Excitement twinkled in her eyes. “Really?”

  The anticipation in the one word made him want to tell her what they were doing next. But that would ruin the surprise, one he thought she’d enjoy as much as the concert.

  “Of course,” he said instead. “A proper thank you needs more than one part. Come with me.”

  For a weekday afternoon, the streets were crowded more than usual, but he knew others were heading to the same place as them.

  Kat stared up at a sign hanging outside a flower shop. The painted plaque hung from a metal scroll. “This street looks like something from a jigsaw puzzle.”

  “Tourism drives the economy here.”

  They turned the corner.

  She stopped. Her lips parted, and she gasped. “What is this place?”

  “Our Christmas Market. Every town in Alistonia has one.”

  Rows of booths had been set up on the closed-off street. Portable shops were decorated for the holidays with lights and garland. Some sold food. Others offered gift items. Several displayed holiday decorations, including Christmas trees.

  Excitement shone in her eyes. She rubbed her gloves together. “This is amazing.”

  Gill thought she might like this. “Where would you like to start?”

  “Let’s begin on one end so we don’t miss anything. I have a feeling I’ll be able to finish all my Christmas shopping tonight.”

  “You sound happy.”

  “I am.” Her shoulders wiggled. “Thanks to you.”

  He extended his arm. “Shall we, milady?”

  Beaming, she hooked her arm around his. “Let the shopping commence.”

  Booth after booth, they explored, examined items, and tasted food like the town’s famous Christmas cookies. She purchased several handmade Christmas tree ornaments as well as knitted items. Her looks of awe made him feel like a super hero. This was one of his favorite holiday traditions, but seeing the market and his hometown through Kat’s fresh eyes made him savor things he’d forgotten and taken for granted.

  “There’s one final booth,” he said. “This one has more Christmas items.”

  “There can never be enough of those. Oh, look.” Kat picked up a large crystal suspended by a red satin ribb
on and decorated with mistletoe. “Sophie would love this.”

  “I’ll buy it for her.”

  “Put away your wallet.” Kat removed hers from her tote bag that was crammed with small sacks and gift bags. “I’m buying this for my friend.”

  A sales clerk in a long wool coat and traditional hat wrapped up the ornament. She handed the bag to Kat and smiled expectedly. “You’re standing under mistletoe, miss.”

  Kat looked up. Her face paled, not snow white, but close. She bit her lower lip. “I’ll just pretend I’m not.”

  The change in her posture and voice bothered Gill. Fun had disappeared, and worry set in. She didn’t look like a woman wanting to kiss a prince, a marquess, or any man for that matter. Gill wanted her to relax and have fun. He knew what might do that.

  A kiss under the mistletoe would be a nice end to their wonderful afternoon.

  He leaned toward her. “You don’t want to disappoint the sales clerk, do you?”

  “There’s no one to kiss,” Kat whispered.

  Her words stung. What was he? “I’m here.”

  “You’re not interested in mistletoe kisses.” She kept her voice low, but he heard the dismissal in her tone. “At least ones with me.”

  No, he hadn’t been, but something about her tempted him now. He was immune to her charm so he wasn’t worried. “One won’t kill me.”

  Her nose wrinkled in a cute way. “Gee, thanks.”

  Gill couldn’t tell if she was joking. No matter.

  She’d mention a peck the other day. No harm in doing that.

  Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against hers.

  Soft and warm and…

  A lightning rod of energy zigzagged through him.

  What was that?

  Self-preservation made him jerk back.

  But not before his pulse roared through him and reached his ears.

  Gill wasn’t sure what was happening, but he didn’t like it.

  Her closed-mouth smile didn’t tell him if she’d felt the same thing when their lips touched. He didn’t want to ask because what if she hadn’t?

  “I hope that wasn’t too miserable for you,” she teased.

  He struggled to calm his heart rate. No kiss had ever felt like that. And they’d barely touched lips. No tongue action.

  Strange. He didn’t like not being able to explain things.

  “Not miserable.” He kept his voice steady. “Passable.”

  She made a face.

  “Joking.” The kiss had been incredible. He wanted another, but only if she did. “Prince Annoying, however, might say something like that and mean it. Now Prince Charming…”

  “If you want the charming title, you’ll have to work harder.” Her tone teased. She sounded almost flirtatious.

  Anticipation roared through his veins, “Really?”

  Kat nodded. “But you’re on your way.”

  He grinned. “Thank you, I think.”

  “No, thank you. Again.” The color had returned to her face. Her cheeks looked pink. “Now I can cross a mistletoe kiss off my list.”

  That wasn’t what he expected. “There will be mistletoe at the wedding ball.”

  “One was all I needed.” She sounded certain, and it left him strangely disappointed. “Now I can work on finding someone to kiss on New Year’s Eve.”

  He didn’t have any plans to ring in the new year, and even though he wasn’t sure if he could fully trust Kat, he wouldn’t mind kissing her again.

  Even without mistletoe.

  *

  On the drive back to the castle, Kat stared out the passenger window. She couldn’t see much in the twilight—trees and snow—but that was okay. A blur of passing scenery was better than looking at Gill behind the steering wheel. Her gaze kept straying in his direction. Any more and she’d be leering.

  “You’re quiet,” he said.

  Only her voice. Her body and her mind were still going haywire from his kiss. “Thinking about this afternoon.”

  “A good time.”

  “Yes, it was.”

  And his kiss…

  One touch of his lips had changed everything.

  Okay, not really.

  But Kat felt…different. She tried to understand the sensations—the way her five senses felt heightened—but couldn’t. She did know there was a new awareness of him that hadn’t been there before. She wasn’t sure if she liked it or not.

  She glanced at his profile. Same strong features. Handsome ones like his father’s. But those lips…

  Kat faced forward.

  A touch of Gill’s lips on hers had curled her toes and made her dream of happily ever after.

  Bad. Bad. Bad.

  The man was no prince charming. Not even close.

  Why had he kissed her?

  You don’t want to disappoint the sales clerk, do you?

  He hadn’t given Kat time to say no or anything else. Maybe he’d thought this was important to do. A tradition. Not something he craved.

  One won’t kill me.

  She couldn’t say the same. Her pulse hadn’t slowed yet. Neither had her heart rate. Worse, her lips tingled. And they’d barely kissed.

  Yet something had happened.

  A shock. A connection.

  She didn’t know if he’d felt it, but the way he jerked away told her that he might have.

  Don’t ask.

  Don’t say a word.

  Forget the kiss ever happened.

  Being curious was not a smart idea in this situation, even if she wanted to know if he’d felt something, too.

  No matter what he felt or didn’t feel, nothing more would happen.

  He was Sophie’s brother and the crown prince, and he didn’t like her.

  Kat was an American in town for only one more week and not interested in a one-sided romance. Or a fling.

  Best to put this behind her and move on.

  As he drove toward the guardhouse, the gates opened. A uniformed guard saluted, and Gill returned the gesture.

  He parked. “We’re home.”

  His home. Not hers.

  She had a good job, but home was a far-off concept that wouldn’t happen until her student loan payments didn’t take up such a big chunk of her budget.

  “Thanks again. For today.” The words sounded disjointed. The way she felt. She pressed her lips together to keep from saying anything else.

  He opened his car door. “All that shopping made me hungry. I may have to eat my candy cane before dinner.”

  His words charmed her. “I won’t tell.”

  She got out of the car.

  He did, too, removed her purchases from the truck, and handed her the bags.

  Kat reached into one of them, pulled out a smaller bag, and gave it to him. “This is for you.”

  He stared at the bag with a perplexed expression. “Today was to thank you for taking such good care of Max.”

  Max, not Maximillian. She wriggled her toes. “Now it’s my turn to show my gratitude for you taking me out today.”

  She’d made the purchase when he’d been talking to a person at another booth. An impulse buy. She’d bought two. One for each of them. A way to remember the day.

  Although, she doubted she would forget. Especially after the kiss.

  Gill looked inside. “Lots of tissue paper.”

  Kat wet her lips. The gift had been inexpensive and was kind of silly, but she wanted to do something after the effort he’d put out for her.

  He pulled out the snow globe with a dog, snowman, and Christmas tree inside. His eyes widened. “That looks like Max. I mean, Maximillian.”

  “I thought so, too. Except the dog is more brown than orange.”

  Gill turned the knob on the bottom.

  The song We Wish You a Merry Christmas played.

  His mouth opened. “The children sang that song.”

  She nodded. “A nice reminder of today.”

  “A wonderful one.” He stared at the snow globe.
“You didn’t have to do this.”

  She shrugged, though she didn’t feel indifferent about this at all. She’d hoped he liked the gift and wasn’t sure why it meant so much to her that he did. “I wanted to.”

  “I’m glad you did.” He placed the snow globe back in the bag.

  Her gaze zeroed in on his smiling lips.

  His kissable lips.

  The fluttery feeling she’d experience around him before returned with a vengeance. So much so she had to force herself not to flee to her room to get away from him.

  Confusion swirled. She had male friends from school and ones at the clinic. But none had made her feel this way. Not even close. And she hadn’t kissed any of them. Only dates or boyfriends.

  What was going on? Kat clutched her shopping bags so she wouldn’t drop anything. And how did she make it stop?

  Chapter Ten

  ‡

  In his bedroom, Gill wound the knob on the bottom of the snow globe. The music made him feel so content, as if Santa would be arriving with everything Gill had ever wanted. As snowflakes fell on the vignette inside, he placed the snow globe on the nightstand.

  Maximillian jumped on the bed. The cone around his head knocked into Gill.

  “That dog looks like you.” He rubbed his dog’s side. “I’m glad Kat bought this for us, but I know you’d rather have a biscuit.” He reached into the top drawer, removed a bone-shaped treat that Jamie had bought, and gave it to the dog. “Here you go. Don’t leave any crumbs on the bed.”

  That wasn’t likely since the dog had the skills of a vacuum cleaner.

  The music stopped.

  That song would forever remind him of Kat.

  And he was more confused than ever about her.

  Nothing she’d said or done suggested she had any ulterior motives. Jamie had hardly been mentioned today. She hadn’t asked about other royals who would be at the wedding.

  Were he and his mother wrong about Kat?

  Her actions suggested so.

  He stared at the snow globe. Not a sexy gift meant for seduction, but a sentimental one to mark a good time.

  She hadn’t kissed him. He’d kissed her, thanks to the mistletoe being there. A nice way to end their time together, yes, but there’d been other reasons for him kissing her. Curiosity. Opportunity. And perhaps, a touch of loneliness.