Dating the Prince(31)

Alex stared out the window as the streets of Castlebridge raced past. "I  knew Maggie would never okay that conversation. Do you have time to go  back to the palace? We need to do damage control. Someone needs to make  sure none of that makes it into the final cut."

"Yeah, that's fine. I didn't have anything else on my schedule for this evening."

"Good." Alex bit back the swear words that desperately wanted to escape.  "To insinuate you have some ideal to live up to was absolutely  insulting."

Libby was quiet for a moment and Alex glanced over at her. Her hands were clasped in her lap and shoulders hunched forward.

"Isla is very beautiful," Libby said finally. "Connie and I watched one  of her romantic comedies last night. She's a very talented actress."

"Yes, she can act." She'd lied to him for months, after all. If he  hadn't seen her with the producer, he'd probably be planning a real  wedding right now instead of a pretend one. He thanked his lucky stars  every day that he'd escaped that fate. Once married, divorce wouldn't  have been an option. Not for a Somerset, and definitely not for the  crown prince.

"Did you love her?" Libby asked quietly.

Alex choked, pitching forward in his seat. "Excuse me?"

She didn't repeat the question, just stared at him unblinkingly with those soulful green eyes.

"I thought I loved her. But I didn't even know who Isla was. Our entire  relationship was a lie. You can't love someone you don't know."

"But you're still hung up on her," Libby said. It wasn't a question.

"Hey." Alex cradled her face in his hands. Libby's eyes shone brightly  with some emotion he couldn't quite name. Fear, maybe? No, that wasn't  right. Lack of confidence?

"We haven't really talked much about her, but I can tell she did a number on you," Libby said. "And not just in the press."

"I'm over Isla." Alex ran his hands up her cheekbones and she sucked in a  breath. He leaned down and gently pressed his lips to hers. He forced  himself to hold back and keep the kiss sweet and pure. When he finally  pulled away, he pressed his forehead against Libby's and whispered,  "Would I kiss you like that if I still had feelings for another woman?"

She pulled her lip between her teeth, driving him mad. "I guess not."

"Isla is a bad chapter in my past," Alex said. "Nothing more. Now let's  go talk to Maggie and figure out how to clean up yet another mess. It  seems like lately that's all we do."
         

     



 




CHAPTER NINETEEN



Libby had never seen Maggie furious, but she was positively spitting  nails when they told her what Sara Greene had done. When the interview  finally aired the next day, it had no mention of Isla Martin in it.

But the seed of doubt had been planted in Libby's mind, and she  obsessively watched every interview that Isla had given after the  breakup. She didn't believe the lies that Isla told-Libby knew Alex  better than that, at least she was pretty sure she did-but she did pay  attention to how others reacted to Isla. It was like the woman walked on  water or something. Talk about annoying.

Libby wasn't convinced that Alex was over Isla, whatever he said. Maybe  Alex believed he was. But there'd been no closure to that relationship,  and she was starting to worry that she was just a convenient rebound.

That weekend, Alex picked Libby up for a reception with the President of  the United States and his wife, who were in Durham on an official state  visit. She smoothed her pencil skirt as Alex led her toward the  reception room in a part of the palace she'd never before visited,  feeling out of place and uncomfortable.

"Are you sure this looks okay?" Libby asked.

She didn't miss the way Alex's eyes lingered on her curves and a smile  turned up his mouth. He dropped a soft kiss on her lips. "You look  beautiful, Libby."

Her heart warmed at the compliment, and she ducked her head. "Maggie said it was perfect for tonight, but I always worry."

"If you follow Maggie's advice, you'll never be led astray." He took her  hand and tugged her toward the open door. She could hear music and  laughter floating out of the room, accompanied by the tinkling of  stemware. "Things are less formal with the President than with other  dignitaries. You Americans aren't quite as proper as us Europeans." He  flashed her a grin.

She laughed. "We believe in equal footing. No man is better than another."

"I've never met this particular president, seeing as he was just  inaugurated this year, but I'm sure we have nothing to worry about.  Tonight shouldn't be much different than the prime minister's birthday  party, as far as atmosphere and decorum."

That wasn't a huge comfort. "Oh, great. So I'm going to find out I'm pregnant?"

He quickly glanced around, then reluctantly smiled. "Don't even joke about that. What if it ended up in the papers?"

Libby blushed-he was absolutely right. When would she learn to keep her  snark to herself? She felt as out of place in his world as a square peg  in a round hole. "Sorry. So, you've never met President Campbell?"

"No. Have you?"

She crinkled her nose. "Definitely not. He ran a dirty campaign and I didn't vote for him."

Alex paused in the hallway, then slowly resumed walking. "Well, perhaps it's best not to bring up that point."

"If he asks, I won't lie."

"Then let's pray he doesn't ask."

The ballroom was smaller than the one that had hosted the prime  minister's birthday party, with a much smaller crowd of perhaps three  hundred people. Alex tucked Libby's hand into the crook of his arm and  she leaned into him, feeling uncertain and insecure. She hated these  official functions. This was her sixth one in the five weeks she'd been  dating Alex, and they weren't getting any easier.

Dennis, Alex's ever-present personal assistant, sidled up to them.  "President and Mrs. Campbell are at three o'clock, Your Highness. Near  the piano."

"I see them," Alex said. "Thank you, Dennis."

Libby's heart constricted as Alex towed her across the room toward the  president. Yeah, he was a slimy creep who she hadn't wanted to see  elected, but he was still the leader of the free world. The president  was taller than Libby had expected, definitely over six feet, and his  petite and much younger wife barely reached his shoulders. She was the  very definition of trophy wife, with her slim waist and ample bosom.  Dark chocolate hair fell sleekly around her shoulders. The president's  gray goatee was trimmed short, and he had a bolo tie with a turquoise  pendant around his neck.

"Mr. President," Alex said, extending his hand. "It is such an honor to finally meet you."

"Well, howdy there, Prince Alexander." The president's booming voice  held a distinct Texas twang and his smile looked genuine. "This is a  mighty fine reception you're hosting here. We appreciate it."

"Our pleasure," Alex said.

This was so weird. Alex spoke to people who ran countries like they were  neighbors running into each other at the grocery store. Libby really  looked at Alex, trying to imagine him declaring war on a foreign threat.  He would one day run a country, too.         

     



 

The president held out an arm and his wife came forward. Her lips were  unnaturally full, as though she was no stranger to plastic surgery. "May  I introduce you to my wife, Scarlett."

Alex kissed the top of Scarlett's hand, then put a hand at the small of  Libby's back. "And this is my fiancée, Miss Liberty Claybourne."

"Ahh yes. The American who wants to become an ex-patriot," President Campbell said.

Libby's cheeks flushed, but she accepted the man's hand. "President  Campbell. It's so nice to meet you." A lie, but she couldn't very well  blurt out the truth-that he was a capitalistic money grubber destroying  the environment for profit.

"Congratulations on your engagement," Scarlett said. Her voice was high and timid, but polite. "You must be so excited."

Libby's eyes flicked to Alex's, and he set a reassuring hand on her  shoulder. A waiter passed by with a tray and they all accepted a glass  of champagne.

"Thank you," Libby said, taking a careful sip. "I never imagined I'd be standing in a palace with a prince, meeting you."

President Campbell laughed, the sound a little raspy. "Can't imagine why  you'd want to leave the wonderful US of A for Durham, nice as it is."

Alex stiffened beside Libby. "I suppose the heart doesn't care what  country it's in," he said. "I imagine having Libby join the Somerset  family will only strengthen our ties to the United States."

"Of course, of course." The president waved a hand. "A little ironic  your name is Liberty, ain't it? Your parents must be very patriotic."

"Very," Libby agreed. "As am I. But I don't think marrying Alex and moving to Durham will be disloyal to my American heritage."