Jules hurried down the path, eager to hop onboard and set sail.
A figure stood in the cockpit of the boat. A man. Alejandro. Her heart gave a little lurch of pleasure.
He waved.
Jules waved back.
Alejandro reached below deck. The running lights illuminated—red on port, green on starboard and white on the stern.
Exhilaration shimmied through her. She could forget about duty and obligation tonight. She could be herself and sail on the ocean like a bird set free from its cage.
With Alejandro.
He motioned for her to join him in the boat.
Shoulders back. Chin up. Smile.
This time it came naturally. No effort required. Jules turned off her headlamp. She no longer needed the light with the lamppost on the dock.
Tingles filled her stomach. She couldn’t imagine sharing tonight with anyone else.
As Julianna walked along the private dock with a clear spring to her step, the tension in Alejandro’s shoulders eased. He’d planned her escape from the palace with the precision of a military operation. His efforts had seemed to work. With one foot in the cockpit and the other on the rail, he waited for her to come to him.
She stopped two feet away from the boat. “Your map was spot-on, Alejandro.”
He liked the way his name rolled off her tongue. She might sound like the same elegant princess he’d met yesterday, but she looked nothing like the woman who had stared down her nose at him, cried in his arms on the beach and prompted him to rename his cat. The disguise had completely changed her appearance.
He looked beyond her to the path leading up to the cliff, but only saw a few trees. Anyone who ventured out here on this late night would be trespassing. He’d picked this secluded spot for that reason. “Were you seen?”
“Not that I know of,” she said. “Though I doubt anyone would recognize me if they saw me.”
A satisfied smile settled on his lips. “You’re right about that.”
Baggy clothes covered Julianna’s feminine curves and round breasts. A short, brown wig and America’s Cup baseball cap hid her luxurious blond hair. With all the makeup scrubbed from her face, no one would mistake the fresh-faced kid for fashion icon Princess Julianna of Aliestle.
“You look like a teenager,” he added.
“A teenage boy,” she clarified. “You picked an excellent disguise for me.”
She sounded appreciative, not upset. That surprised him a little. Most women wouldn’t want to look like a boy. But then again, she hadn’t wanted to get caught. A good disguise had been necessary.
“I had no problems, except Ortiz might want to reconsider his claim about no rats in the palace. I saw mice, and something…larger in the tunnel.”
“Ortiz doesn’t know about the tunnels. Only the royal family knows of their existence and an architect long dead,” Alejandro explained. “The tunnels were built by pirates to hide treasure. When the king had them attached to the palace, a hand-selected crew was used. They were blindfolded and had no idea where they were working.”
“How did the royal family find out about the tunnels?”
He grinned. “Supposedly my great-great-great grandfather was a king and pirate.”
She laughed. The intoxicating sound floated on the air and made him want to inhale.
“You think that’s funny.”
“A little,” she admitted. “But I’m not surprised you come from a line of pirates.”
“Not a line,” he clarified. “One pirate.”
Amusement gleamed in her eyes. “If you say so.”
“I do.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” she teased.
It was his turn to laugh. Alejandro liked knowing he wasn’t the only black sheep in his illustrious family line. He’d embraced the fact he had a pirate ancestor and thought others might, too. The island could capitalize on the colorful past except his father and brother didn’t want the knowledge made public. “Ahoy, matey.”
With an eager smile, she inspected La Rueca from bow to stern. “Lovely boat.”
“I’m pleased with how she turned out.” Alejandro touched the deck. He’d put everything he knew about boats and a fair share of money into her design. “Though she is untested in an actual race. The Med Cup will be interesting.”
“You don’t sound concerned.”
“I’m not.” If he were, he wouldn’t have entered La Rueca in the race. “I’m confident she can perform and be competitive with the right wind and crew.”
Julianna looked at the boat’s name written in script on the stern. “La Rueca.”
“The Spinning Wheel.”
“Interesting name.”
He stared at her slightly annoyed. “I already caved on the kitten. Are you going to challenge me on my boat’s name, too?”
“No, but I’m curious if it has a special meaning.”
“Most boat names do.”
“What’s the meaning behind yours?”
Alejandro remembered how persistent she’d been about the kitten’s name. He had to tell her something. “La Rueca is a reminder that I haven’t been spinning my wheels when it comes to boatbuilding.”
“Spinning your wheels?” she asked.
Wanting to put an end to this topic of conversation, he lowered his one foot to the floor of the cockpit, reached back and started the outboard motor. He left it running in neutral. “Now is not the time.”
“Later?”
“Do you always pester so much?”
“I’m sorry.” Julianna raised her voice to talk over the idling motor. “Occupational hazard.”
“Of being a princess?”
“Of having four younger brothers who never tell me anything unless I pester and pry. They are the only males, men, I’m allowed to be alone with for any extended period so they get the brunt of my curiosity.” She looked around, not meeting his eyes. “Being out here with you like this…”
His annoyance disappeared. He appreciated her honesty. He also acknowledged the risk she was taking.
“It’s okay. I’m not used to having a sister around.” Though he didn’t feel brotherly toward Julianna at all. “This is new for both of us.”
She smiled softly. “I hope La Rueca turns out to be everything you wish for.”
“Thanks. It’s looking pretty good.” And it was. A new sailboat design, a full moon and a beautiful woman to share a sail with tonight. She was so easy to talk to. He liked how she laughed.
Remember, sister-in-law. Julianna belonged with Enrique, not Alejandro. The realization left him feeling adrift.
Time to set a new course. They’d spent enough time talking. The longer they were out here, the more likely they were to be caught.
Alejandro extended his arm from the cockpit. “Climb aboard.”
Julianna’s hand clasped and melded with his. Heat shot up his arm. The reaction startled him, but he didn’t let go. Truth was, he liked how her hand fit in his.
Her disguise might fool others, but not him. He knew she wasn’t a teenager but a grown woman with lush, feminine curves. He’d held her in his arms and smelled the sweet fragrance of her shampoo. He wouldn’t mind doing that again.
She stepped onto the boat and released his hand. As Alejandro flexed his fingers, she inhaled deeply. “I love the salty air.”
“Wait until you get a taste of the sea spray.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Gratitude shone in her eyes. “Thank you for going to so much trouble. Not many people would do this for a total stranger.”
“It’s my pleasure.” And it was. Julianna looked so young, eager and pretty. Very, very pretty. “Besides you’re not a stranger. You’ll be family soon. My sister-in-law.”
Alejandro said the words more for his benefit than hers. He waited for her to respond, but she didn’t.
Julianna stared up at the clear, starry sky. The moonlight made her ivory complexion glow. Enrique didn’t seem to understand the lovely princess from
Aliestle. She was more than a showpiece, more than her dowry. She was a stunning, intelligent woman… Alejandro wondered why King Alaric had picked Enrique to be her husband. His brother had some admirable qualities, even if they disagreed over how best to help their country. But Julianna could do so much better.
“The weather is cooperating with us tonight.” Her voice sounded lower, a little husky…sexy. Desire skimmed across his skin. “Lucky,” she added.
Getting lucky tonight would be the perfect end to a midnight sail. Not that she would. Or he…
Yes, he would. The thought brought a lump of guilt to his throat.
“Let’s get underway. I’ll cast off.” He motioned to the wheel. “Are you comfortable steering while we motor away from the dock?”
“Yes.” She made her way toward the wheel. He moved out of her path, but her backside brushed him.
Heat burst through Alejandro. What the hell?
He didn’t understand why he kept reacting to Julianna. She was his ticket to an independent life. He needed to control himself. A mistake could cost him his freedom from his father and the monarchy.
Some distance from Julianna would be good. Alejandro walked forward to the bow.
Maybe he should hit the clubs later tonight and connect with a pretty young thing. That would be the fastest way to get rid of whatever tension had built up and was stirring inside of him.
He pulled up a bumper, removed the bowline from the cleat and tossed the line onto the dock.
She stared up at the wind indicator. “Won’t it look weird to be sailing at this hour?”
“No.” He stepped over the lifeline, jumped onto the dock and moved to the aft section of the boat. “I always take out my new boats at night so people can’t see the designs.”
Julianna touched the wheel. “Sounds like boatbuilding is a competitive field.”
“Everyone is looking for an edge.” Alejandro pulled up the other bumper and unfastened the line from the boat’s stern cleat. The rope fell to the dock. He stepped onto the boat with his left foot, shoved the boat away from the dock and hopped aboard with his right foot. “I’d rather they not steal mine.”
“Confident.”
“If I wasn’t, I would crew on someone else’s boat for the Med Cup. A boat that was a top contender.”
Julianna reached back, shifted the motor to forward and twisted the throttle. She steered clear of the dock and headed out to open water. “Do you race a lot?”
“Not as much as I would like due to my royal obligations, but I hope that will change in the near future.”
And it would. After Julianna married Enrique and they had a baby, Alejandro would have as much time as he wanted for business and sailing.
“Looks like there’s a nice easy breeze tonight.” She shot him an expectant look. “Ready for the mainsail.”
It wasn’t a question.
Interesting. She knew what to do without him saying a word. He hadn’t expected that from her. Saying you enjoyed sailing while sipping a glass of wine and knowing what to do when you were onboard were two completely different things. Alejandro hadn’t known what kind of sailor the princess was. So far, he was impressed by her knowledge. “I’ll raise the main.”
As he moved forward to the starboard side of the mast, she turned the boat head to wind.
Pointing the bow into the wind wasn’t something instinctual. That took experience or good instruction. Whichever the case for Julianna, his respect increased.
“You know what you’re doing out here.” Alejandro yelled to be heard over the motor. He raised the mainsail with the halyard. “How long have you been sailing?”
“Since I was seven.” She tailed the halyard and secured the line at the cleat on the top of the cabin. “My grandparents taught me how to sail on the Black Sea. Best vacation ever. How long have you sailed?”
“As long as I can remember.” Alejandro shifted to the port side of the mast to hoist the jib, a triangular sail set forward of the main. He saw no other boats on the water. “Both my parents sail.”
Julianna turned the wheel right to ease the bow starboard and trimmed the mainsail so it filled with the wind. The boat steadied and glided forward through the water. “I can’t imagine anyone not sailing if they lived here.”
The awe in her voice made him smile. “Me, neither.”
She throttled down the motor, shifted to neutral and killed it.
The sudden quiet gave way to the sound of the hull cutting through the water and the breeze against the sails. Better get to it and make the most of the time they had out here.
Her sailing skills impressed him, but he wasn’t going to assume what she knew or didn’t know. “Ready for the jib.”
She held the starboard sheet in her hand. One step ahead of him again. “Ready.”
He hoisted the jib while she tailed the jib halyard. She secured the sheet by wrapping the rope around a cleat.
Alejandro moved aft to the cockpit. “Nice work.”
With a wide smile, she gripped the wheel. “Thanks.”
He gave her a compass heading.
Her eyes widened. “You want me to take the helm?”
She sounded like a teenager who’d been given the keys to a brand-new car. He almost laughed. “You’ve got the wheel.”
“I do, don’t I?” Her grin was brighter than the full moon. She repeated the heading and turned toward the dock.
“Want to go back?” he asked.
As she shook her head, the cap didn’t budge. “I want to make sure I have my bearings and know what the area looks like for our return.”
Smart thinking. “You’ve sailed at night before.”
“A few times, but I’d do the same thing if it were daytime.”
His respect for her sailing abilities went up yet another notch. Alejandro trimmed the jib, adjusting the sheet to match her course and ensure the sail filled properly. Julianna adjusted the mainsail to match the heading.
He reached back and raised the motor out of the water. Now they would really move.
La Rueca accelerated through the water. Julianna kept her course, making minor corrections as she headed upwind. She seemed to have a feel for the boat as well as the wind.
“I love it out here.” The look of pure joy on Julianna’s face took Alejandro’s breath away. “This is heaven. And you’re an angel for doing this for me.”
No angel. Not when he was getting turned on watching her sail. The gleam in her eyes. Her smiling lips. Her flushed cheeks.
He focused on the sails. They had filled perfectly, no trimming necessary.
“We’re going to need to tack,” she said.
He held onto the jib sheet. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“Tacking.”
Alejandro bent over to avoid the boom as it swung across to the other side. The sails luffed, flapping in the wind. He pulled in the sheet. She trimmed the main.
Julianna sailed at a forty-five-degree angle to the wind.
The boat heeled. She leaned over the side to stare at the bow.
As the boat headed upwind, she tacked back and forth to keep the boat moving. With each direction change, the two of them worked together managing the sails with the sheets. Words weren’t necessary. They both knew what to do. Perfectly in sync, like they’d done this a hundred times together. Alejandro continued to be amazed by Julianna’s knowledge and skill.
He’d never seen someone with such a natural talent. She handled the boat as if it were an extension of herself. She seemed to know when the wind was going to change, and the perfect course to set to maximize the boat’s speed.
With the wind on her face, she stared up at the full moon.
His heart lurched. She was truly stunning.
“This is even better than I imagined.” Julianna’s gaze met his. “Being out here on the sea like this… It’s intoxicating.”
He felt the same way being around her. “You steer like you’ve been sailing on the sea your entire life.�
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“Thanks,” she said. “I love the way your boat responds.”
“I love the way the boat responds to you.” He wondered how she would respond to him, to his touch, to his kisses.
She eyed him curiously. “I’m sure she responds this way with any helmsman.”
“Guess again,” he admitted. “You handle La Rueca better than anyone else.”
“Including you?”
“Yes.”
She laughed. As before, the sweet sound carried on the wind. Alejandro wanted to reach out and capture it, a song to remind him of this perfect sail.
He wished the evening wouldn’t have to end. As much as he’d like to keep Julianna out here all night, he couldn’t. They’d sailed longer than he intended.
“Come about,” he said. “And head downwind.”
“Can’t we head up a little farther?”
“It’s time to go back.” The disappointment in her eyes knotted his stomach. “You don’t want to sneak into the palace when it’s daylight. If your maid finds a blond wig and pillows in your bed…”
“That would be a disaster.” Julianna gripped the wheel until her knuckles turned white. “Coming about.”
The boat turned around. They sailed with the wind at their backs, running with the wind.
But Julianna no longer smiled. The sparkle disappeared from her eyes. She looked so…resigned.
Alejandro didn’t like the change in her. Being out here on the water had set her free. The sailor with him tonight was the real Julianna. He didn’t want her to put on a princess mask and have to wear it for the rest of her life. “Perhaps another time we can—”
“There can’t be another time.” She sounded dejected, sad. “This is my last sail. At least until Enrique changes his mind.”
Her words echoed through his brain. He firmly rejected them. “I know it’s forbidden and you can’t risk being caught, but you’re so happy out here.”
“It’s my fate.”
Screw fate. Happiness was important, too.
Her last sail?
Not if Alejandro had any say in the matter.
CHAPTER SIX
WITH THE BOAT secured to the dock, Jules stood in the cockpit. She checked a sheet and wrapped it in a figure-eight pattern around a cleat. No way was the rope coming undone. Too bad her future couldn’t be secured as easily.
Not-So-Perfect Princess Page 8