ALEX

by Kate Tilney

  “You are up early.”

  “Baker’s hours. I brought pastries.” She sets the box back on the bench and faces. “I’m sorry I ran away without talking to you yesterday. Not only did I probably twist my ankle, but I didn’t give you a reason.”

  I nod. “I’ll listen.”

  “Someday I’ll tell you the full story. But right now, all that matters is I was scared. So I ran.”

  “I get the fear.” I move toward her and grip onto her shoulders, pleased when she leans toward me instead of away. “I know this life isn’t for everyone. I know I’m a lot to take on.”

  She frowns at that. “I’m not afraid of you or your life. I’m afraid of what will happen to me if I forget about my own.”

  I shake my head. “I never want you to think your life and dreams are any less important than mine or anyone else’s.”

  “I see that now.” She hesitates a moment than lifts her hand to my cheek. “I . . . didn’t have a very good example of love growing up. I’m not sure I’ll be any good at it. But if you’re willing to show me the way, I’m a quick learner.”

  My heart swells in my chest. “I love you, Nikki Somerset.”

  “And I love you.” She gives a shaky laugh. “I’ve never said that to anyone before. I love you.”

  “Then I’m all the more honored.”

  I wrap my arms around her waist and bring her lips to mine. It is our first lesson in love already. Every disagreement can be solved with a conversation and a kiss. And while we both have a lot to learn and navigate in the years ahead, I am willing and able to give it my all.

  We both are worth that kind of love.

  Epilogue

  Nikki

  four months later

  Alex carries in the newspaper on a silver tray with two glasses of orange juice, coffee service for two, and a pile of toast for us to share. Even after more than four months of living at the palace, I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to having someone deliver my breakfast in bed.

  As I steal an appreciative look at Alex’s bare, muscular chest with just a hint of hair trailing under his boxer briefs, I’m also not sure I’ll ever get used to the fact that I’m in love with an honest to God prince. More—he’s crazy in love with me too. Sometimes that love still scares me, but it also makes me stronger and better. Just like Sarah said it would.

  Catching my stare, Alex smirks.

  “Like what you see?”

  “Always.”

  Setting my cup of juice on my nightstand, he presses his lips to my temple before sliding back into bed next to me. He fills the cups with coffee adding two sugars and a splash of cream to my cup—just the way I like it. The way he treats me, I’d feel like a princess even if we weren’t living in a palace for the moment.

  I’m taking my first sip when he slides the paper to me.

  I arch an eyebrow. “What’s this?”

  “You might want to flip to the front page of the lifestyle section.”

  My heart skips a beat. “You mean . . .”

  Not waiting for me to recover from the shock, Alex slides out the section in question and holds it open. There, in full cover on the front page, above the fold, is my face. I’m doing the stupid pose all bakers seem to do when they’re photographed in their kitchens—arms folded with a hip leaning against a prep station, organized chaos behind me.

  “You look gorgeous.”

  I dismiss Alex’s compliment and reach for the paper with shaking hands. In addition to my portrait, there are a handful of others showing the front of my new bakery, which officially opens tomorrow. As a favor to the crowned princess, I agreed to give Rhodon’s biggest newspaper an early preview to drum up good press for the family.

  Now, here it is—in black and white and, well, color. My first bakery’s first review. And even though the headline sounds positive—“Celebrity Baker’s New Place is All Sweet”—I can’t quite bring myself to read the rest.

  I shove the paper back at Alex. “You read it. Summarize it for me. Please.”

  Shaking his head at me, but sparing me a playful wink, Alex does just that. I feel like the ocean is roaring in my ears, but I pick up a few phrases.

  “Somerset’s confections are divine—even without a royal connection . . .”

  “. . . a must-stop for every Rhodonian with a sweet tooth . . .”

  “. . . no doubt, Somerset Bakery will be a staple for years to come.”

  Setting down the paper, Alex grips my chin and raises it.

  “I’m so proud of you, babe.” He presses a quick kiss to my lips. “I never had a doubt.”

  No, he didn’t. Even after I insisted on securing my own financing for the bakery space he showed me, Alex never pouted. Instead, he threw himself into being my biggest cheerleader and supporter while I set up shop. While there were a few hiccups along the way—a busted sewer pipe and some shoddy construction from a previous tenant—it really came together.

  And with the love of my life there with me every step of the way, I really feel like I’ve been living a dream.

  I raise my left hand to cup his cheek, my new engagement ring sparkling in the morning light. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  “You will never be without me again.” He turns his face to kiss my palm. Then he takes my hand in both of his, smiling down at the ring he put on my hand just two days ago. “Now that we are officially engaged, we should look at getting our own place.”

  He grins, but a dark shadow falls over his eyes.

  I know he’s worried about James. His brother has been in the United States the past week for an economic forum, filling in for their sister who didn’t want to travel overseas at this point of her pregnancy. But no one has heard from him in more than twenty-four hours. Alex has tried to wave it off, saying his twin is probably on a bender, but he can’t fool me.

  I squeeze Alex’s hand. “I’m sure we’ll hear from him soon.”

  “I’m sure.” Then his grin brightens. “Let’s not worry about that right now. I think we have some celebrating to do.”

  As his hand slides up my thigh and under the silk of my nightgown, I am all agreement. I have finally found my place in this world. And thanks to my prince, I’m living a freaking fairytale. Happily ever after and all.

  THANKS FOR READING ALEX: Ridiculously Royal #2. If you want to find out what happens next in the Kingdom of Rhodon, check out JAMES: Ridiculously Royal #3 on March 4.

  Prince James

  It is never good to wake up in Las Vegas with a pounding headache and a gold ring on your finger. When you are the son of a king, it is an international disaster. The press long ago dubbed me the “Royal Screwup,” but this catastrophe takes the cake.

  Yet as I get to know the gorgeous, curvy bombshell now wearing my ring, maybe getting hitched is not a mistake. Maybe it is time to put my playboy days behind me to settle down with my bride.

  Alyssa

  My editor told me to get close to the prince of Rhodon while he was here in America. But marrying him in a quickie Vegas wedding might be going a little too deep undercover. Especially because my new husband doesn’t know I’m a reporter.

  Now it’s a rush against the clock to avoid becoming the news myself. And it isn’t easy when every part of my body aches to be with him.

  Ridiculously Royal is a series of standalone, insta-love steamy shorts about royals finding true love and happily ever afters that are anything but common. Check out JAMES if you like curvy reporters and alpha princes who accidentally get hitched.

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  Thank you for reading!

  XOXO />
  Kate

  Also by Kate Tilney

  Extra Long Weekend

  Kings of the Mountain

  BROCK: Kings of the Mountain #1

  FLINT: Kings of the Mountain #2

  RHETT: Kings of the Mountain #3

  MAX: Kings of the Mountain #4

  ZEKE: Kings of the Mountain #5

  Fall Before You Leap

  Ridiculously Royal

  SARAH: Ridiculously Royal #1

  ALEX: Ridiculously Royal #2

  JAMES: Ridiculously Royal #3

  HENRY: Ridiculously Royal #4

  About the Author

  Kate Tilney writes short and sweet steamy romances with alpha heroes and the relatable heroines who love them. When she isn't curled up with a good story, Kate can be found listening to true crime podcasts, re-watching TV shows from her youth, and dreaming up another happily ever after.