Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
I nod because it’s true. Tickets to this damn fundraiser cost an arm and a leg, and I wasn’t intending to participate. But my girl wheedled and smiled, and in the end, I relented. It’s always like this with Leah. My sassy woman gets her way, and in the end, I’m happy to do what she wants.
I guess this is what love feels like. When my girlfriend is happy, then I’m happy too. When Leah smiles, then all is right with the world, and the truth is that my sun rises and sets with her. I know how crazy it seems because we’ve only been dating for a month, and that’s in secret too. Yet, I can already feel in my bones that this is right. Despite our age difference, Leah is the woman for me and I’m determined to make her happy by all possible means.
The curvy girl tugs on my hand, pulling me into the hotel.
“Come on,” she says with a smile. “This will be fun.”
I follow her into the boutique hotel. Wow, it’s fancy in here. The walls are covered in an ornate, paneled mahogany with red velvet swags decorating the windows. A concierge is busy at his desk, and there’s a sign with an arrow that points to the ballroom. But instead of turning into the ballroom, Leah puts on a bright smile and leads me to the elevator bank.
“Sweetheart, what are you doing?” I ask under my breath. “The sign said to go to the Hearst Ballroom.”
She speaks from the corner of her mouth while keeping a smile pasted on her face.
“Shh!” the curvy girl admonishes. “We’re early, so I figure we’d greet Prince Haakon in person before the event officially begins.”
I’m astonished.
“But how?” I ask as she drags me into the elevator. The door closes, and I turn to the beautiful brunette. “Do you know something that I don’t?”
Leah merely shrugs.
“As a member of the Junior League, I know that Prince Haakon is staying here, in the hotel,” she says with a sly smile.
“Yes, but which floor? Which room? Isn’t this a little crazy, honey?” I ask. “I thought we were here for a fundraiser. That’s what I paid money for.”
“Yes, but we can make the most of the situation, right?” Leah asks when we arrive at the top floor. “Besides, it’s easy to know where Prince Haakon is. He must be staying in the Royal Executive Suite because there’s only one suite in this boutique hotel, and that’s on the top floor. He wouldn’t be slumming it in one of the regular rooms.”
“Yes, but—”
“Don’t ‘yes but’ me,” Leah mock-scolds while dragging me into the hallway. Sure enough, there’s only one door in this narrow passageway, and Leah knocks on it confidently. “You yourself said that Prince Haakon likely wouldn’t appreciate being surprised in public, so we’re not going to do it in public. We’ll do it in private. See? It all works out.”
But then, the door opens, and before us stands a beautiful woman with brown hair and a lush figure. She’s young and dressed formally, in a purple gown and matching high heels. Both Leah and I stare with surprise because this obviously isn’t Prince Haakon.
“Yes, can I help you?” she asks in a melodious voice.
“Matilda, who is it?” a deep male voice calls from behind her. “It’s almost time to go down.”
Leah is jolted from her stupor and smiles without missing a beat.
“Hi, I’m Leah Hughes, and this is my boyfriend, Killian Jerome,” she says. “Is Prince Haakon here?”
Matilda frowns, two creases forming between her perfectly arched eyebrows.
“I’m sorry, but do we know you?”
Then, a large figure materializes behind her. Time slows to a standstill because Prince Haakon has just appeared, and with his imposing stature, dark hair, and patrician features, we look like twins.
11
Leah
“Who are you?” the huge man rasps, his eyes fixed on Killian. “Where did you come from?”
“Yes, who are you?” Matilda chimes with curiosity, her eyes studying Killian’s strong features. The resemblance is so striking that Killian and Haakon look like two sides of a coin. Maybe the prince is taller, but my boyfriend has a more imposing physique with his broad shoulders and powerful chest.
“Is this a joke?” Matilda continues. “A prank? You Americans are known for being pranksters.”
That’s when I leap in to explain.
“This is a long story, but Killian is actually your brother, Prince Haakon. Or half-brother, more accurately.”
Haakon squints with disbelief.
“I’m sorry? I don’t think so. I only have one sibling, and that fucker Ragnar is back in Lysenia. I don’t have any half-siblings.”
I nod quickly.
“Yes, but if you’d just let us explain. Can we come in? It’ll just take a minute.”
Haakon shakes his head.
“No. You can explain right here in the hallway. Out with it.”
I feel Killian tense beside me with a low growl rising from his chest. But I squeeze my boyfriend’s hand in warning and put a brilliant smile on my face.