Dating the Prince(29)

Libby should've guessed. By now she knew that appearances were everything to the royal family.

It took a lot of effort not to stomp her way to the kitchen. "Right.  Heaven forbid we do something that's out of the ordinary. Let's give the  people of Durham exactly what they want."

"It's part of the job," Alex said quietly.

Libby banged open a cupboard and yanked out a bottle. She didn't have a  response to that, so instead she pried off the formula lid with one hand  and fished out the scoop.

"Here, let me hold her." Alex carefully took Kenzie from Libby's arms.  He'd come a long way from the man who'd had no idea how to hold a baby.

"Aren't you afraid she might have a diaper blowout that creates a national incident or something?"

"No, I'm afraid if you keep trying to make her a bottle with one hand, you'll spill everything."

Her motions slowed and she carefully put the last scoop in the bottle. "I'm not angry."

"Could've fooled me."

"It's been a stressful twenty-four hours."

"For both of us," Alex agreed.

Libby shook the bottle, then tested the temperature on her wrist. She  turned back around to reclaim Kenzie, but froze at the sight of the baby  with her head laid on Alex's shoulder. Libby's heart-maybe her  uterus-gave a squeeze. What was it about a man holding a baby that  turned her insides to mush?

She took a deep breath, promising herself she'd be nice to Alex today.  "Sorry. I just told my mom about the engagement, and I need to call my  dad and tell him in about an hour. I guess I'm a little on edge." Libby  held out her hands, and Alex handed the baby back, then followed her  into the living room.

"How did she take it?" Alex asked

"Not well." Libby sank onto the couch, and Alex sat beside her while  Kenzie sucked down her meal. "I couldn't tell her the truth, so  naturally she thinks we're moving too fast."

His lip quirked up in a grin. "Tell her to get in line. I think everyone's saying that."

"All the stuff with my dad has made Mom a bit of a cynic. She's worried you're my rebound relationship."

Alex leaned forward, his soft green eyes boring into hers. "And am I?"

She glanced down at Kenzie and gave a shaky laugh. The baby's eyes were  already drifting shut. "It can't be a rebound if it isn't real."         

     



 

"I'm not sure this isn't real."

Libby's eyes flew to his. "Excuse me?"

He reached out and gently pushed a lock of her hair behind one ear, his  hand grazing her cheek. Libby struggled to remember how to breathe. She  stared at him, transfixed. Unable to look away. There was a small scar  right above his left eye, just below the brow. She'd never noticed that  before.

"Lately I've been feeling a lot of very real things," he said. "Last night, for example. That kiss … "

"Yeah," Libby breathed.

Kenzie grunted and Libby glanced down, realizing she'd already sucked down the entire bottle.

"Uh, I'd better get her to sleep," Libby said. "I'll be right back."

Alex had feelings for her. Libby felt like her head might explode with  this information as she burped and changed Kenzie, then swaddled her and  placed her asleep in the crib. She stared at Kenzie for a long time,  scared to go back to Alex and finish their conversation. Had she heard  him wrong, maybe? Libby lifted a hand to her cheek. Imagined she could  still feel the warmth of his knuckles brushing against her skin.

"You can do this," she whispered. She closed her eyes and took deep,  even breaths. There was only one way to find out what Alex had meant.

Libby quietly reentered the living room. Alex lounged back against the  couch, his left ankle resting on his right knee and one of Kenzie's  board books open in one hand. The sight was so adorably hilarious that  Libby couldn't held the giggle that escaped.

Alex looked up, a grin lifting one corner of his mouth. "What?"

"I didn't take you for a board book reader."

"Hey, I've learned a lot from this teddy bear." He lifted the book,  showing her the cover. "I now know that sharing helps you make friends."

"A very valuable lesson." Libby sat down beside him and he set the book back on the coffee table.

"So," he said quietly.

"So," she breathed.

"I spoke to my parents this morning and let them know last night's behavior wouldn't be tolerated again."

She couldn't help herself-Libby reached out and gently grasped his hand. "Thank you. That means a lot to me."

His grip tightened. "I should've told them off last night. I'm sorry I didn't."

"It's enough to know you stood up for me now."

Alex looked down at their clasped hands and ran his thumb softly over  her knuckles. "Maggie has an interview scheduled with Sara Greene for  tonight. Will that work for your schedule? We agreed to give her an  exclusive, so it'll be the only one we have to do."

"Tonight's fine." It was hard to think with Alex so close. "Connie should be home by three o'clock."

"Perfect. I'll pick you up at five and we'll head to the interview together. It'll air during prime time tomorrow evening."

Libby scooted fractionally closer to Alex. The desire to be near him, to  touch him, was overpowering. "What kinds of questions will we be  asked?"

"Safe, general types of questions. Maggie made it clear that we won't  answer anything too personal or private. Sara will probably ask us how  we met, when we knew we were in love, what the engagement was like. That  sort of thing."

"And how should we answer?"

Alex slid along the couch cushion, bridging the space between them.  "Well, I can't speak for you, obviously. But I'll tell Sara that I was  enchanted from the moment I first saw you on the video monitor in the  security room. When I walked into the throne room and heard you arguing  with the guard, so spunky and assertive, I knew I was in trouble."

Libby melted under the influence of that accent. Her limbs became  liquid, and her heart wouldn't stop pounding in her chest. "Really?"

"Really." He reached out, brushing his knuckles along her jaw line. "A  woman who would risk arrest for a lucky penny is a woman worth getting  to know better."

She closed her eyes, leaning into his hand. "You were like my own personal knight in shining armor, rushing in to save the day."

"I wouldn't mind playing that role more often, if you'll let me." His  hand slid behind her neck and she thought she might spontaneously ignite  from the contact.

"What are we doing?" Libby whispered.

"I don't know." Alex's voice was ragged as glanced down at her lips. His  thumb ran across them, sending fire straight through her veins.

She reached up, cupping his cheeks in her hands. The bristles of his  beard sent tingles through her palms. His eyes flicked to hers, as  though asking for permission. She gave the smallest of nods. His lips  lowered to cover hers, and the entire world stood still.         

     



 

His mouth moved against hers, weaving a spell she hoped never broke. She  could feel the muscles of his jaw beneath her palms. The soft whiskers  of his beard chaffed the sensitive flesh of her skin, and still she  pressed closer, wanting more. Their mouths moved together in a dance  she'd never experienced before. Libby was flying. Soaring.

Free.

It was several pleasant minutes later when Alex finally pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.

"You are a wholly unexpected gift, Liberty Claybourne," he whispered. "And I'm most definitely falling for you."

"What are we doing, Alex?" She motioned to the space between them.  "Complicated doesn't come close to describing our lives right now."

"I know." He caressed her cheeks with his thumbs. "But I'd like to try  and navigate these next few months together. Like a real couple. Are you  willing to try?"

Fear clutched at her throat, but she gave the barest of nods, unable to  resist his charms any longer. Not wanting to resist. "Yes."





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN



Alex wanted to stay with Libby and spend the whole afternoon kissing  her. But unfortunately he had duties to attend to. He'd see her again  soon enough for their interview with Sara Greene.

He couldn't believe he'd told Libby how he felt. What was even more  unbelievable was that she seemed to reciprocate his feelings.

Despite a busy schedule of meetings, the day dragged. By five o'clock, he was more than eager to see Libby.

He knocked on her door, and a moment later she appeared in one of her  trademark sundresses. She closed the door behind her, a shy smile on her  delicious lips. "Hi."

He leaned down, greeting her in a much more desirable way. When he  pulled away a moment later, he said, "Hey." Her cheeks were pink and he  fought the urge to kiss her again.

"Maggie said to not worry about hair, makeup, or wardrobe," Libby said as he led her to the car.

Alex helped her inside, then climbed in after her. Finn shut the door  behind him, and a moment later the car lurched into gear. "Everything  will all be provided there, but you look beautiful just as you are right  now."