Dating the Prince(23)

Libby's eyes darkened and a smile broke across her face. "Of course I'll marry you!"

Holy cow. What had they just done? Alex's limbs were pudding and his  heart would probably beat itself into cardiac arrest at any moment. But  he managed to slip the ring onto Libby's left hand without any visible  shaking. Hopefully any nerves would be passed off as those of an anxious  fiancé.

The entire room let out a collective sigh. Alex rose and pulled Libby to  him. She shrank into his side, body trembling. Cheers broke out across  the room. Alex was acutely aware of all the places where Libby's body  touched his. Her arms around his waist. Her head against his chest.  Their legs brushing against each other. The scent of her coconut and  ocean breeze shampoo was seriously messing with his wits.

For one insane moment, he wished this was a real engagement. That he and  Libby would really get to spend the rest of their lives together.         

     



 

And that's when he knew he was falling for her. He'd never experienced  even a shadow of these emotions with Isla. Comparing the two was like  comparing the sun to the stars. No, not even the stars. A light bulb.

"Kiss her!" someone yelled. Probably Nicholas.

Alex dropped his gaze to Libby's full lips. She pulled the bottom one in with her teeth as she inhaled.

Oh, how he wanted to kiss her. He licked his own lips, his mouth feeling  suddenly dry. But royals didn't give in to public displays of  affection. His mother would faint on the spot if she saw, Alex he had no  doubt that every member of his family was close by, watching this  entire spectacle.

"Do it," Libby breathed.

He could no more deny her request than cut off his own arm. Alex lowered  his head toward Libby's, intending to brush a brief, chaste kiss across  her mouth. The kind of kiss a future king was expected to give in  public. But then their lips touched, and he lost all sense of reason.

Her mouth was as soft as Alex had always imagined it to be. Libby's arms  tightened around his waist and she melted into him. He cradled her face  with his hands, feeling the soft skin of her jaw and neck beneath his  palms, and angled her head for a better kiss. Her lips parted ever so  slightly.

He was lost to the moment. Didn't care that he was the crown prince.  That they were at an official function. That this whole thing was all  for show. All that mattered was Libby, and the way she felt in his arms.

A catcall broke through his concentration-probably Henry, the  scoundrel-and Alex broke away. Had he seriously just passionately kissed  Libby in front of a crowd of people?

Oh boy. His parents would be livid.

Libby's stumbled against Alex, her eyes clouded with desire. He  tightened his hold, keeping her securely upright against his side.

"When's the wedding?" Sara called. Her cameraman stood beside her, the  green light near the lens proving the whole thing was being caught on  film.

Libby stiffened beside him and Alex forced himself to smile. "Give us a  moment to catch our breath. I've just barely convinced her to say yes."

A chuckle rumbled through the crowd.

"Now what?" Libby murmured.

"No idea," Alex said.

That kiss. He could still feel her lips on his. The soft skin of her  face beneath his hands. He'd never felt a kiss so deeply. Not even with  Isla, who he'd been so certain he loved.

"All hail His Royal Highness Prince Alexander!" someone called, their glass raised.

Cheers echoed the sentiment. Waiters hurriedly brought out trays of  champagne as an excited buzz filled the party. Members of parliament and  celebrities alike all pushed forward, offering their congratulations.

Engaged. Alexander's chest tightened in panic. How would they get out of  this mess? What would happen when the engagement was inevitably called  off? Flashbacks of the backlash he'd endured after breaking up with Isla  had him fighting for composure. The last month had been such a nice  reprieve. He'd almost forgotten what it was like not to deal with a  constant media circus.

Nicolette pushed her way through the crowd, her head held high and a  crown balance regally atop her blonde curls. He recognized the fake  smile on her face immediately-the one that said happy to Durhams, but  danger to her children. Geoffrey strode behind her, his expression not  quite masking his feelings. Mother always had been better at hiding her  emotions in public. Geoffrey had chosen his queen well.

"Congratulations," Nicolette said, holding out her arms.

Alex knew he had no choice, so he accepted her hug.

"Ten minutes," she whispered in his ear. He didn't have to ask where-the  family room was where all these types of discussions went down. It was  fitting, really, since that's where he and Libby had agreed to this  crazy plan. "Bring the American tart with you."

Alex bristled at the insult, feeling his neck grow hot with anger. Libby  hadn't planned this any more than he had, and now they were both stuck  in a mess.

Or had she planned this? He glanced her way, watching as she smiled and  thanked someone offering congratulations. He'd seen her family's bank  statements and knew they were knocking at bankruptcy's door. Securing  her spot as future queen would ensure they never suffered financial  difficulties again.

She's not like that, Alex told himself. He gave his mother a curt nod,  then clapped his father on the back. They made a good show of joviality,  but the undercurrent of tension wasn't lost on Alex.

Soon the crowd returned to their own conversations, eager to gossip  about this turn of events. Rumors would already be flying about the  reason for such a quick engagement. They'd have to make sure whatever  pretend wedding date they set was well in the future to dissuade any  whispers of an unplanned pregnancy. There was a boisterous atmosphere to  the event that had been missing previously. No doubt a royal wedding  would push all thoughts of Isla from Durham's mind.         

     



 

Alex wondered what they'd say when the wedding was inevitably called off.

Libby sidled up next to Alex and placed a hand softly on his arm,  sending tingles to his fingertips. "We're in trouble, aren't we?" she  said, keeping her voice low and a smile on her lips.

"Most definitely, "Alex said, patting her hand. "But I'm the crown prince. What can they do?"

Libby let out a strained laugh. "Maybe you're safe. But they might still decide to throw the commoner in the palace dungeons."

"We stopped using those decades ago. They're quite cozy now. Big screen  TV, billiards table, overstuffed couches-you'd be quite comfortable, I'm  sure."

Libby laughed again, but this time the sound was lighter. Good. No sense in letting her know just how nervous he was.

With the guests distracted, Alex watched his parents slip out of the  room, followed by his brothers, sister, and cousins a few moments later.  Alex nodded to Finn, who positioned his hulking body to shield Alex and  Libby from prying eyes. He tugged her from the room and they  disappeared down the hallway.

"Where are we going?" Libby asked as he pulled her behind a tapestry that hid a hallway only the family used.

"To be scolded by the king and queen."

She stumbled and he threw out an arm to steady her. She quickly regained her footing and quickened her pace. "Are you serious?"

"Don't worry. I won't let them drag you to the dungeons. That wouldn't help my reputation at all."

Libby raised an eyebrow, amusement making her lips turn up. "How very comforting."

For a crazy moment, Alex imagined pressing Libby up against the wall and  kissing her senseless. He clenched his jaw and paused in front of the  elevator instead, pushing the up button. "I wasn't thinking when I  picked up that ring."

"And I wasn't thinking when I dropped it."

"Well, now a crowded room of guests saw it, and we need to come up with a  game plan for the press. If we aren't careful, we'll undo all the  progress we've made this past month."

The elevator dinged open, and Alex ushered Libby inside. His arm brushed  hers as he reached for the number three. Now was not the time to relive  that amazing kiss had his body temperature spiking.

"This is so stupid." Libby slammed a fist against the elevator wall,  surprising Alex with her intensity. "I've been meaning to get that dang  ring resized for ages. I guess I was nervous, and my hands were kind of  sweaty, and, well … " She trailed off, looking up at him from underneath  lowered lashes. "It just flew off."

He picked up her hand, running his thumb over the ring. Her skin felt  warm against his, and he sucked in a shaky breath. "It's a beautiful  piece."

"Probably not what Durham imagined the crown prince would give his intended."

"It's close enough that they all made the same assumption."

The elevator slid to a stop and Alex motioned for Libby to exit. She  clasped her hands together, pressing her lips to the ring that now  rested on her left hand as they strode toward the door to the family  quarters at the end of the hallway.