Dating the Prince(6)

Alex brought a hand to his eyes and sighed. "I'm not sure of anything  anymore. Did you let the guards know she's leaving? I don't want her  detained again."

"Yes. They won't give her any trouble."

"Thanks, Finn."

He nodded, his expression still severe. "I'll have to pull a complete dossier on her before tomorrow."

"I'm sure that nothing concerning will come up."

"Of course, Your Highness. I'll make sure the security detail is ready  by two-thirty tomorrow afternoon. Will that give you sufficient time to  make the appointment?"

"Yes. Thank you."

Finn nodded again and Alex headed inside. There were a million ways that  meeting Libby again was stupid. The likelihood of walking into the The  Queen's Café without being noticed was beyond minuscule, which meant  he'd have to find a way to tell Libby who he really was. She'd probably  be furious he hadn't told her sooner and storm out of the café in a  huff, which would just result in more bad publicity. Not that anything  could come close to matching the storm Isla had rained down on him.

He should tell Finn to get Libby's number and break off their date now, before things went any further.

But something about Libby made Alex eager to take the risk.





CHAPTER FIVE



Libby quickened her pace, practically jogging the last few yards to  Connie's flat. She didn't wait for the elevator and instead took the  stairs to the third floor two at a time as Kenzie's cries grew more and  more insistent. Next time they went on a long outing, Libby would pack  more bottles. Of course, she hadn't planned on a private tour of the  off-limits gardens with a way-too-attractive man.         

     



 

"Holy cow," she whispered to the baby. Kenzie let out a howl in  response. "I know! Can you believe what just happened? Your momma is  going to think we're making up stories." Connie would freak out. She'd  never been a big fan of Cedric and had been pushing Libby to find a  rebound guy ever since she arrived in Durham.

Libby fumbled for the key as Kenzie struggled against the carrier and  quickly let them into Connie's flat. The baby had given up all pretense  and was positively wailing, her little face red and screwed up in  displeasure.

"I'm hurrying," Libby said. She dropped her keys on the kitchen counter  and flipped on the faucet, letting the water warm as she grabbed a  bottle from the cupboard. "I'm sorry, sweetie. But you would've lost  track of the time, too, if Alex kept giving you knee-melting smiles."  Every time he looked at her, Libby had fought the urge to run a hand  along that neatly-trimmed beard, then pull his lips down to hers.

Ridiculous. It was that delicious accent that turned her into such an  idiot. Maybe she should start wearing earplugs every time she went out  in public. Did you become immune to the Durham accent after a while?  She'd have to ask Connie.

As though summoned by Libby's thoughts-okay, probably by Kenzie's  cries-a click echoed near the back of the flat. Libby stifled a sigh.  Connie had struggled relinquishing her mom duties since Libby arrived,  and frequently checked in on Kenzie and Libby when she should be working  in her home office.

"We're fine," Libby called. "Kenzie's just hungry. I didn't bring enough bottles."

Connie arrived in the kitchen, her smile bright but eyes tired. She was a  children's book illustrator for a big publishing house, which meant she  mostly set her own hours and worked from home. But it also meant she  insisted on doing all the nighttime feedings while Libby slept. "Poor  baby."

"Go back to work." Libby filled the bottle with water and set it in the  warmer, patting Kenzie's back soothingly as she did so. She'd always  loved helping out with the new babies at Ocean Meadow and thought that  being Kenzie's nanny would be an easy adjustment. And it had been  …   mostly. There was just a lot more multitasking involved than she'd  anticipated.

"I just finished up for the day." Connie ran a hand through her dark bob, then held out her arms for Kenzie.

"Connie," Libby said warningly.

"Hey, I put in seven hours. I'll illustrate for a few more after she  gets to sleep. I needed a break anyway. Here, let me take her."

Libby sighed but unbuckled the side strap and lifted Kenzie into her  mom's waiting arms. Her back instantly let out a sigh of relief and  Libby arched it, trying to work out the kinks.

"Hello, sweetheart," Connie said in a high-pitched sing-song voice. She  kissed the baby's head and nuzzled her close. "Shhh, dinner's almost  ready. Libby's taking care of it."

"You're paying me to take care of these things during work hours, you  know," Libby said in a tone of mock severity. There was no father in the  picture, and Libby was supposed to help bridge the gap that created.  She unbuckled the side straps and pulled off the carrier. Cool air  rushed over her sweaty dress and Libby let out a happy groan. "Man, it's  hot out there."

"The heat surprised me when I first moved to Durham, too." Connie  sighed, kissing Kenzie again. "I know I should be working, but I didn't  realize how hard it would be to leave her, even for a few hours."

"We're doing just fine. I've got everything under control." The words  felt like a lie and Libby inclined her head to the side. "Well, thanks  to a knight in shining armor."

"Something happen today?" Connie bounced Kenzie up and down as she tried  to convince her to take her pacifier, but the baby wasn't having it.

"Your little princess almost had to take a drive downtown with me."

The warmer beeped. Libby grabbed the bottle and dumped in two scoops of formula.

"Are you trying to tell me you almost got arrested?" Connie asked over Kenzie's howls.

Libby nodded as she quickly shook the bottle and tested the temperature  on her arm. She handed the bottle to Connie and the kitchen was soon  filled with the baby's hungry gulps.

"You're exaggerating, right?" Connie's voice sounded too loud in the  suddenly quiet kitchen, but there was a hint of amusement underneath,  just as Libby had known there would be.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. He certainly acted like he was going to arrest me. Detain us at the very least."         

     



 

"At the palace, you mean? There's got to be a story there."

Libby inclined her head to the side and grinned. "A pretty good one. I think you're going to approve."

Connie headed into the living room and Libby followed. "I'm listening," Connie said over her shoulder.

Libby followed Connie into the room and sat down on one of the  comfortable gray couches. Libby told her about the lucky penny and the  stern and angry guard who most definitely didn't approve as Kenzie  gulped down dinner. By the end, Connie was laughing.

"I always knew those lucky pennies would get you in trouble," Connie  said. "You can't just leave things at the palace and not get in hot  water."

Libby rolled her eyes and began stacking the board books strewn about  the glass coffee table. "Well, I know that now. But at the time it  didn't seem like a bad idea. There were dropped brochures and coins and  who knows what else all over that palace. It didn't seem like a big  deal."

Connie laughed again, the baby clutched close. "Oh, Libby. You always were impulsive."

"I was totally panicking for a minute there," Libby admitted. She ran  her bare feet along the plush white rug, feeling warm at the memories.  "But then Alex saved me."

"Alex?"

Just the name sent butterflies through Libby's stomach. Pathetic. Sure,  he was amazingly attractive and had really gone above and beyond when  saving her today. But he was still just a guy, and she was done with  them. "Yeah. He works at the palace and made the guard back off and  leave me alone. We talked for a while. He even showed me the Queen's  Gardens."

Connie's eyes widened and she leaned forward, popping the bottle out of  Kenzie's mouth. The baby let out a wail of displeasure that Connie  quickly silenced with the formula.

"The Queen's Gardens? As in, Queen Nicolette's private gardens? The ones that most definitely are not on the tour?"

Libby nodded, the wonder of the moment seizing her again. "They were  absolutely beautiful, Connie. There's an entire section of edible  plants, and the whole thing is laid out in these beautiful geometric  designs. The photos seriously don't do it justice. I wish you could've  seen it. I'm so mad I forgot an extra bottle for Kenzie, because I  would've loved to stay longer." She relaxed into the couch, watching as  Connie gently swayed her daughter. Kenzie's hunger appeared to have been  satisfied finally. She was sucking much slower now, at least, and her  eyes were drooping closed.

"Alex," Connie repeated. "A palace employee who just happened to have access to the royal family's private gardens."

"Well, I don't know if they're private exactly. I mean, I know they're  called the Queen's Gardens, but how often does she actually walk through  them?" They hadn't run into anyone else while there and the gravel  pathways had been pristine, with no rocks kicked out of place.