Dating the Prince(9)

She grunted, her eyes blazing fire. "I may be an idiot, but I'm not  blind. When I told Connie about Alex, the nice palace employee who  showed me the Queen's Garden, she showed me a picture of you. Seems like  you've got quite the reputation."

Crap. He ran a hand through his hair. "I'm so sorry, Libby. I-"

"Should've told me who you were?" Libby snorted, bouncing Kenzie up and down gently on her knee. "No kidding."

"You caught me off guard," Alex said, lowering his voice to a hiss.  "When we met in the throne room, I didn't expect you to not recognize  me."

She let out a scornful laugh, making zero effort to keep it quiet. "Oh,  I'm so sorry. Forgive me for having a life that doesn't include drooling  over pictures of you."

"You're putting words in my mouth." Frustration made his voice harsh,  and he fought for control. It had felt so nice to be anonymous for once  in his life. But he'd been stupid to think it could last.

The twittering girls from the middle of the room were scowling now. The  couple who'd been behind Alex in line were frowning as well. Even the  energetic toddler had stopped trying to stand on the table and was  watching them.

The woman from line strode toward their table, her steps purposeful,  while her date hung back, looking uncomfortable. Finn was out of his  chair and blocking their path in an instant, arms folded menacingly  across his chest.

The woman glared around Finn at Alex, then slid her gaze to Libby. "It's  obvious from your accent that you're not Durham. So here's a little  free advice, sweetie-run while you still can. This prince isn't worth  the trouble."

Libby blinked, pulling Kenzie closer. The baby let out a grunt, shoving  one fist in her mouth and sucking loudly. "Uh, thanks for the warning."

The woman gave a curt nod, then jabbed a finger at Alex. "You should  abdicate the throne for breaking Isla's heart like that. You're no  longer my prince."

Finn took a step forward, forcing the woman to step back. "I think it's time for you to go."

"My pleasure." She cast a disdainful look at Alex, then marched from the  café, her male companion slinking away with her. The group of college  girls immediately put their heads together and started whispering again.

"The tabloids weren't exaggerating your popularity," Libby said, her  tone wry. Kenzie's sucks were getting louder by the moment, and drool  dripped down her fist and onto Libby's hand.         

     



 

"Maybe now you understand why it was such a nice change to be unknown  for a moment." Alex's words were clipped. "Everything's been such a  disaster the last few months."

"I don't do dishonesty."

"I never lied to you."

Libby laughed. "Yeah, well, you didn't tell me the truth, either."

"It's not the same."

Kenzie dropped Libby's hand and let out an angry howl. "Shoot." Libby  pulled the diaper bag from underneath the pram. "I was hoping we'd make  it home before she got hungry."

Alex took full advantage of the delay. "I'm so sorry, Libby. I didn't  plan on lying to you-it just felt so nice to be Alex for a while instead  of Prince Alexander. Let me make it up to you."

She unscrewed the bottle lid and dumped in some formula, her movement  jerky. "Do you know what doesn't feel nice? Having your employer point  out that you've been fooled by a prince. I felt like a total idiot."

Alex held out his hands in a placating gesture. "I should've told you the truth."

Libby popped the top off the bottle and stuck it in Kenzie's mouth. Her  cries were quickly replaced but gulping sucks. "I wasn't going to show  up today, but Connie convinced me that I shouldn't deprive myself of the  satisfaction of chewing you out. That was totally uncool to trick me  like that. What I can't figure out is what your end goal was. You had to  know that I'd find out eventually."

In the face of her anger, Alex did the only thing he could think of-he  told the truth. "I didn't have an end goal. I was so smitten by you that  I didn't think ahead."

Libby snorted. "Right."

The bottle fell out of Kenzie's mouth and she started howling again. The  college age girls had their phones out now, and Alex wished he could  sink into the tile floor and disappear.

Libby dropped her gaze to the fussing infant and tried to stick the bottle back in her mouth.

"I would've told you soon." Well, either that or said his goodbyes forever.

"Oh, how thoughtful. I can hardly contain my gratitude."

The baby's howls grew louder. Between Kenzie and the woman who'd yelled  at him, they now held the attention of every person in the café. And  …   yup, there were the cell phones. The gossipy girls were definitely  taking pictures. Probably filming it, too.

"She must have a bubble," Libby muttered, placing Kenzie on her  shoulder. The baby arched her neck and wailed even louder. Libby patted  the small back and stood, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Shhh,  Kenzie. It's okay. Let's get that bubble out."

"You know what?" Alex stood as well, placing his hands on his hips.  "I've apologized for my behavior. I don't know what else you expect me  to do to make it right. We'd just met, Libby. I don't usually drop my  title five seconds after I say hello."

Libby's hand paused on the baby's back and she let out a disbelieving growl. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Your Majesty."

Actually, the proper way to address him was His Royal Highness Prince  Alexander, but he wasn't about to correct her. She definitely had a  sharp tongue. He wasn't surprised after hearing her argue with the guard  yesterday.

Kenzie flailed, arching her back even further. Libby supported her head,  her annoyed expression morphing into one of sympathy. "Shhh, sweetie.  It's okay. You'll feel better after you burp."

"Is she well?" Alex asked, motioning to the infant.

Libby rolled her eyes as though that was the stupidest question she'd  ever heard. "Of course not, Prince Charming. Here, make yourself  useful." She thrust the baby at him. Kenzie's face was pinched and red  as she screamed.

He did not want to hold that baby. He'd never held a baby-any baby. But  Alex instinctively reached out his arms, and Libby had nestled the  bundle of fury against his shoulder before he could protest. He clutched  the baby, heart in his throat. He'd never held something so fragile  before. He was afraid of clutching her too tightly, but afraid she'd  slip right through his grip if he didn't. "I don't know what to do with  her."

Libby's voice was muffled as she pawed through the backpack. "Just  support her head-she can't do that on her own yet-and bounce her up and  down. I'm looking for the gas drops. Poor thing. I'm hurrying, Kenzie."

Alex kept his hand on the back of Kenzie's head and stiffly swayed back and forth. "There, there."         

     



 

Loud giggles filled the café. The gossipy sorority sisters were  definitely filming him. Excellent. He could see the headlines now-Prince  Alexander is Durham's Biggest Baby. Okay, perhaps the reporters would  come up with something a bit more clever. And probably less flattering.

"Pat her back," Libby said, her voice nearly drown out by the wails.

"How am I supposed to pat her back if I'm supporting her head?"

Libby muttered something that sounded a lot like helpless man.

"I'm doing my best," he said, lowering his voice so the cell phones  wouldn't pick it up. He leaned backward, hoping gravity would help  support Kenzie's head, and patted her back. The angle was awkward and he  definitely looked like a fool. The college girls would probably have a  very nice fall break with the money they made from selling the photos.

Finn had apparently noticed the same thing, because he took a few steps  closer to Alex and lowered his voice. "Shall I confiscate the cameras,  Your Highness?"

"No," Alex said, resigned to his fate. Poor Maggie. He'd already given her so much to deal with.

"Don't be afraid to give her a hard pat," Libby said. "She's not going  to break. Where did those stupid drops go? I know I put them in here."

Alex gave the baby a slightly harder tap.

"Found them!" Libby straightened triumphantly, a small bottle in her  hand. "Okay, let me just measure this out. Keep patting her back."

Feeling more confident, Alex gave Kenzie's back one last hard pat. Kenzie let out a belch-one a grown man would be proud of.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Libby's eyes opened wide and Alex  felt something wet soak through his shirt. Kenzie let out a happy sigh  and relaxed against his shoulder, her cries gone.

The café exploded in laughter. Alex closed his eyes, a sour smell  hitting his nostrils. He took a deep breath, then looked down at his  shirt. It was covered in curdled milk. How could so much vomit come from  such a little frame?

Libby put a hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking. Was she laughing? "I'm so sorry."