by Leslie North
“That’s not all it is.”
“It’s a matter of the roles we play.” His hazel eyes on hers made her feel like she was going to fall right into them. “I’m playing the role of the sweet prince, rather than the party prince. Aside from that, if I actually did date all these women, the journalists will only say that I’m still the same playboy I’ve always been.”
“But—” She wanted to argue that once he found the right one, she would—of course—cancel the rest of the dates. But she doubted that would matter to him when he was determined to give none of the women a chance. “The networking is still a serious aspect of this tour. You’re uncovering real problems that the citizens have, and the only way you can fix them is if you know they exist.”
“You’re right about that.” He rubbed the pad of his thumb over the back of her hand, which threatened to become a real distraction. “I’m still enjoying the idea of you taking all this feedback and talking through possible solutions with me.”
“I will,” she said. “And we can start by going on today’s date.”
“Today’s tour,” he said, and she couldn’t help it—it made her laugh.
The tour for the day was actually a fair. It was Stolvenia’s longest-running fair, and it featured hundreds of stalls of products and foods and an area stuffed to the brim with thrill rides. The tour guide, a woman named Inga, seemed pleasant and engaging and was even game to go on a few of the roller coasters. Amy stood at the bottom, waiting for Artur and Inga to come back. They both looked windblown and happy, and even though she had no true desire to ride a roller coaster—even if it would be allowed in her condition—Amy’s stomach did a jealous turn.
Still, Inga’s expression turned serious not long after the pair rejoined her. “It was fun, but there are still...issues.”
“With the technology?” Artur’s eyebrows shot upward. “Surely, we didn’t—”
“No, no.” Inga held both hands up. “We are unmatched when it comes to the safety of our attractions. But the thing is, my family’s business is...limited here.”
“Limited in Stolvenia?” Artur frowned.
“Yes. My father has been at the helm of the family corporation for decades. We run parks all across Europe and have high standards for quality. But we’re prohibited from expanding in Stolvenia. There are tax levies in place that make it impossible even to purchase additional land. We want to stay and grow, but—” She lifted one shoulder helplessly. “Something has to give. There’s no way to get the government’s attention on the issue.”
“Do you have any...suggestions for how we might fix that?” Artur leaned closer to Inga, his expression hopeful.
“Oh no.” Inga laughed. “I wouldn’t be the right person to comment. I can only say that I feel my father’s frustration. He’s tried and tried to get a foothold here, but without the ear of anyone with the power to make a change, it’s nearly impossible.”
Artur nodded. “Thank you for your input, Inga. It’s been...very illuminating.”
The reporters Amy had chosen to cover the day’s event converged then, and Amy stepped aside as Artur and Inga repeated some of their conversation for the benefit of the press. They smiled, shook hands, and spoke about how exhilarating the roller coaster had been.
Amy’s feet ached. She shifted her weight from one to the next, trying to get comfortable. The shoes she’d chosen were usually her most comfortable professional flats, but every day that passed in her pregnancy, new changes were surprising her. It was too early to be pestered by her own shoes.
They moved toward a rope line that had been set up to contain the crowd. The photo op went on, and Artur turned back to Inga, who gestured with her hands in front of her face, then up toward the roller coaster, and over the rest of the fair. At least all the photos were done, and then they could—
The younger couple was first to approach, hovering by the velvet rope, right in front. They couldn’t have been more than thirteen or fourteen, and the girl, with a flower in her blonde hair, was blushing furiously. They stood just next to the security guard, who was doing his best impression of an absolutely neutral guard with a stone face, until he looked down at her and nodded. They moved underneath the rope line and approached Artur.
Artur greeted the two like they were old friends, and Amy saw once more how his talents really did lie in entertaining people. Though—was this really entertainment, or was it just genuine kindness? She tended to think it was mostly the latter. The anti-royalist press had made him out to be a cynical playboy who tore through resorts and countries like his own personal playgrounds, but that’s not who Artur was.
By the time they’d had a chance to snap pictures with the Prince and Inga, who laughed the whole time and looked utterly charming even from this distance, a woman with a baby in her arms had also approached.
That was when Amy knew it was no act.
Artur gestured her forward by himself, and all his attention seemed to lock on the baby. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he looked delighted. The mother shyly offered the infant to him, and Artur took the little bundle with an ease that made Amy’s heart twist. How did he know how to hold babies? No, that was absurd. Of course he knew how to hold babies. They probably had a training course for all the royals. Even Inga leaned in, cooing over the infant.
The press pool ate it up. They snapped picture after picture, getting every angle. The young mother’s face glowed with pride. Artur beckoned the woman to stand in a photo with him and Inga. Amy’s stomach tightened at the sight. There, leaning over the baby together and grinning at the camera, it was impossible to deny: Artur and Inga made a gorgeous couple.
It didn’t matter, in that moment, that Artur had said he wasn’t interested in any of these dates. She thought back to the conversation they’d had before the trip, when he’d told her he didn’t love her. Maybe she was entertainment for him. Hot sex did not a stable relationship make.
That was what she was thinking of when the moment broke up. Artur waved off the cameras, said something to Inga, and turned away, back toward Amy.
She felt herself straighten as he came closer, and the look on his face…oh, it made her pulse race.
“You look beautiful,” Artur said. “In the sun like this—I never want to forget the sight.”
“Oh, that’s—that’s kind.” Amy found herself blushing. She might as well be naked in front of him, for all she could hide the way she felt.
“Would you do me a great honor?” Artur held out his arm.
“What’s that?” She took his arm, laughing.
“Ride the Ferris wheel with me.”
It was a giant thing, towering over the rest of the fair, and Amy hesitated.
“I’ve been assured that the safety is top-notch,” coaxed Artur. And it would be nice, wouldn’t it, to soar over everything with the breeze in her hair?
“It would be my pleasure.”
Within minutes, they were in a car headed toward the top of the wheel. From here, the fair looked tiny and quaint beneath them, the red and white flags flying above the attractions, fluttering in the wind.
“This is what I wanted out of today.” Artur said the words softly into her ear, his arm around her shoulders.
That was when she felt it.
A kick.
And a sturdy one, not the gentle flutter of a bubble popping, not something that could easily be mistaken for something else. A real kick.
“I just felt the baby,” she said, her breath short. “I mean—I really felt her.”
“You did?” Artur’s eyes were bright. “Can I?”
Amy took his hand and guided it to her belly. “Here. Just—just wait.”
They were both totally still as the car crested the top of the wheel and started its descent.
Another kick.
Artur gasped. They were almost to the ground, and he didn’t move his hand. His face was the picture of awe and fatherly delight. “Oh my god,” he said, his voice full of emotion
. “That’s incredible. That’s just—” There was another kick. Amy laughed.
“She’s a strong one,” she said. For some reason, the moment had her eyes brimming with tears. She flicked them away.
That was how they spent the rest of the ride. Every kick brought more and more joy to Artur’s face until they were both laughing, unable to catch their breaths.
“Look at you,” she said. “You’re so—you’re so—”
“I’m over the moon,” he said. “I’m simply over the moon.”
So was she, even though things were complicated, even though things still hadn’t become clear between the two of them. It didn’t seem to matter, there on that Ferris wheel, with their daughter kicking away underneath Artur’s hand.
That first kick—Amy would remember it for the rest of her life. The shock on his face. The surprise. The delight. She wished she had a photo.
She had no idea that it had all been caught on camera.
11
It was far too early in the morning to be awake.
Amy stretched in bed, her body aching. It seemed a little silly, to be this worn-out by a couple of weeks of traveling, but here she was, pregnant and tired. Honestly, it was a surprise how tired she felt. She’d hit the ground running after college, and life in New York City never truly slowed down. She’d loved that pace.
Now she wanted a nap all the time.
And if she was being truthful, it wasn’t even that early. She’d had grand plans to go to the gym in the hotel this morning, but it was after eight and she was only now giving up the snooze button.
There was a full day ahead of her, so she hauled herself out of bed and into the shower, trying her best to ignore the nagging nervousness that had settled in the pit of her gut. It was the last stop on the tour, and the one she’d been dreading since it began.
Not because of the location—no. As tired as she was, Amy could appreciate the beautiful old city and the palace it had been built around. Here in the center of the country, they were visiting a property that was technically still part of the royal family’s holdings, but it was administered by another noble family and used for big events. One glance at the grounds from the front entrance would tell even a casual observer that it was ripe for weddings, and, in fact, it was Stolvenia’s most popular wedding destination. You couldn’t get a booking for three years.
Not that Amy needed a booking. It was true that Artur had been pretty insistent about not dating on the trip, but she didn’t necessarily think that meant he was going to repeat his marriage proposal to her.
Today, Amy was more worried that he might swing in the opposite direction.
She stepped out of the shower, toweled off, and set about drying and styling her hair.
The fact was, Tatyana Morozov was perfect.
Amy had been no slouch when it came to planning the dates, but now that the day had come...
Had she done her job too well? Tatyana was not only beautiful. She was not only beloved by the press. She was not only funny and smart. She had not only started one but two philanthropic organizations—one that raised funds to renovate homes and public buildings for people with disabilities, and another that offered tutoring and career mentorship for teenage girls.
All that, and she had been Artur’s high school sweetheart.
The two of them would already have a natural chemistry. He’d seemed to be able to charm all the women so far, but Tatyana would be a different story entirely.
Amy pulled on a coral maternity dress and a pair of low pumps, studying herself in the mirror. She looked as chic as she could. She looked good. But would it be good enough to outshine Tatyana?
Amy laughed out loud. The point was to not outshine Tatyana. Her job was to blend into the background while she set Artur up with a woman who would be perfect for the public spotlight and help to repair relations between the royal family and the people of Stolvenia. Amy couldn’t do that. Did she even want to?
She wanted to lie in bed next to Artur and run her fingers down the ridges of his abs. That’s what she wanted to do.
But that didn’t matter when there was a day ahead of her crowded with things she needed to accomplish.
There was nothing left to do but face it.
They’d have meetings and tours of the palace in the morning, then lunch, and then a break to prepare for the gala. The gala would only highlight all the brilliant work Tatyana had done while also raising funds for her charities. She’d be a shining star, beginning with the photo op Amy had planned for the opening ceremony.
It had seemed like such a good idea when she planned it.
Nothing seemed like a good idea by four o’clock.
Amy had showered again, since touring the palace and grounds had been more of a workout than she’d anticipated. Wrapped in one of the hotel’s fluffy robes, Amy sprawled on the sectional in front of the balcony doors.
There. Now that she’d caught her breath, she could cancel her appointment with the hair stylist. She’d hired one for the event, knowing that it would be the most photographed two hours of the tour, but no.
She wasn’t going to go.
Her soul lightened at the thought of not having to see Artur and Tatyana together any more. She didn’t have to go. This would be about Artur and Tatyana, who had chatted like old friends all day. They’d be perfect for the party without her supervision. But where was her phone?
Amy stood up from the sectional and spotted it on a side table across the room.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
“Be right there,” she called.
Amy pulled the door open to reveal none other than Artur. The grin on his face when he saw her gave her a full-body blush.
She opened the door wide. “Coming by for some last-minute PR tips?”
He laughed. “Hardly. I wanted to see if you were still getting ready.”
Amy grabbed her phone from the table and went back over to the sectional, sitting down with her legs primly crossed. “We have another hour, but since you mention it, I decided not to go.”
Artur crossed in front of her, the smile still playing across his face. “But you must. The most gorgeous woman ever to grace Stolvenia has to appear at this event. You know that.”
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Yes. Me, the white whale.” It was meant to be a joke, but her tone made Artur’s expression shift into something more serious.
He knelt down in front of her and ran his palms up her bare legs and under the robe. “There’s not a whale in sight. Only the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“Artur, you don’t have to say that to me.” Amy had been trying to keep this embarrassing feeling at bay, but now it swept over her. “We’ve both been standing next to Tatyana all day. She’s the one who should be at the party with you.”
Artur didn’t answer. He had pushed up the robe a few inches and was staring down at Amy’s thighs, running his palms over the smooth skin. He made a low noise in the back of his throat. “You’re a masterpiece.”
She put a hand out to stop him, and he caught it midway and brought it to his lips. “You don’t have time,” she protested. “And I’m—”
“Let’s see how you are,” he said, his eyes darkening. He slipped a hand farther up under the robe. Amy’s body reacted to his touch, her nipples tightening under the fabric and heat gathering between her legs. By the time he reached all the way up her thigh, she was more than a little wet. “Oh yes.” He stroked his fingers between her legs and Amy let her head fall back on the sectional.
“You shouldn’t,” she said, not meaning it at all.
“I must.”
Artur unwrapped the robe from her body like he was opening the greatest gift of his life. She could see from the front of his pants that he was reveling in the sight of her, and it sent a burst of pride rushing through her. All the insecurity she’d felt all day melted away under the heat of his gaze.
“Let me—” His voice was thick.
She spread her legs, arching her back.
Amy had never seen a man reach for his belt as fast as Artur did in that moment. He was naked before she could count to three, climbing between her legs and lowering his face to hers. God, it felt so good to be devoured by a man with strong hands and a perfect body, with eyes like Artur’s...it felt good to be held by him, and touched by him.
Her own desire ran down the inside of her thighs as Artur positioned himself above her, pressing kisses to her shoulders, her neck, her lips. He drew her bottom lip between his teeth and she shivered. And when he pushed inside her—
She didn’t care if anyone heard the sounds she made. No. She felt like a queen, like a goddess, and Artur felt like a king moving between her legs, strong and powerful, taking her as if she was his to have forever and ever and ever...
He fit his hand between their bodies to tease at her clit, urging her on. “Come for me, you gorgeous thing, come—”
And she did. Once, then twice, and when Artur coaxed the third orgasm from her, she thought she might fly away from the surface of the earth and all the way into space. It was all she could do to hold on tight as he rode her through his own release.
It took a moment for them to come down.
Artur ran a hand through her hair. “I want a photo of you like this.”
“Like this?” She laughed. “No, I’m a mess.”
“You’re the best kind of mess with your pink cheeks, all sexed-up and satisfied.”
She was satisfied, and for a moment she saw herself the way he must...and wow. What had she been worried about?
“Come with me,” Artur said. “Don’t stay alone in your room for the gala. It’s the last event of the trip, and you should be there. You deserve to be there. At my side.”
She shook her head, tracing his perfect lips with her fingertip. “I am not coming as your date. Don’t you remember? You’re not dating anyone on this trip.”
“Except for you.” He looked down between them and grinned. “And I wouldn’t exactly call this dating.”
“I’ll go,” she said finally. “But only as a member of your entourage. You’re the one who needs to be in the spotlight.”