Chapter 5: Carrie
“This place is fabulous! I mean, it’s like a bonafide painting, I swear.”
I smirked as I listened to Jeanie ramble on about the city we had been roaming around today, her enthusiasm only making me happy just a little. I had to admit, the city was gorgeous, a picturesque fishing city teetering on the edge of a turquoise sea. Erik and his father had great deal to be proud of.
I sighed as I thought about my sexy prince, wishing he was here at this moment to enjoy this beautiful sunshine with me. While I appreciated the thought of the note and gorgeous flowers that accompanied it, I wanted nothing more to lay eyes on him and find out what happened last night. After he had left, I had chosen to take my meal in my room instead, the magic of what could have happened long gone.
I was disappointed, I couldn’t lie.
“What’s up with you?”
I turned to see Jeanie looking at me, concern on her face. “What?”
She sighed. “Only half of you is here with me. I think the other half is wherever your prince is.”
I scrubbed my face with my hand, looking at the palace in the distance. “What if I was wrong about coming here, Jeanie? I can’t, I-I just can’t compete with royalty.”
She took me by the arm, leading me over to an outdoor coffee shop, forcing me to take a seat at one of their tables. “Listen,” she started, looking me directly in the eye. “I know you feel like this is all overwhelming, but as your best friend, I am obligated to tell you that you are crazy.”
“What?” I laughed, dropping my sunglasses over my eyes as the sun hit them.
Jeanie settled back in her chair. “You are crazy. Do you not realize what you have going on here? I mean I would kill to have a hot, sexy prince lusting after me.”
“Hey now,” I said lightly, a smile on my face. “That’s my prince you are talking about.”
“Exactly!” Jeanie said, throwing up her hands. “I’m glad that you finally admitted to that fact.”
I shook my head. “I know I am whining about this, but what if I made a mistake Jeanie? I mean, I-I think I love him.”
Her expression softened, and she reached across the table, squeezing my hand with hers. “So, what? We all must take that leap sometime. You just happen to pick a prince to do so.” She then sniffed. “Don’t let his title get in the way of what you truly feel inside. He might be the future king of Maltan, but if I could read his mind, I would imagine he would want you to love plain ole Erik.”
Jeanie was right, as usual. “When did you get so smart?”
She grinned. “I’ve always been the smart one in this relationship. You just haven’t been willing to admit to the fact until now.”
I laughed, glad that I had brought her along on this wild journey that was my life now. Who would have thought, truly? I was in love with a prince, in his paradise country. It was crazy.
“Come on,” Jeanie said, standing. “It’s getting late, and I’m hungry.”
I rolled my eyes as I followed her down the cobblestone streets toward the palace, feeling somewhat hopeful for the first time today. I couldn’t fault Erik for having to tend to business while I was here and at least he had thought of me with the note and flowers.
“Shut up, look at him.”
I followed Jeanie’s gaze as she locked in on one of the guards outside the private gate. “What? What did he do?”
She grabbed my arm. “Not what he did but how I haven’t noticed him the entire time we have been here.”
“We’ve been here two days,” I reminded her as she sashayed up to him. Oh boy. He didn’t stand a chance with that smile on her face.
Showing the card, I had been given this morning, I walked past her and through the gate, intending on taking a nice, long bath in that great sunken tub in my suite. Just as I started toward the door, it opened, and Erik stepped out, his eyes immediately locking on mine. “Hey,” he said. “I was looking for you.”
“H-hey,” I answered as he continued to walk toward me, my breath stuttering in my lungs as he pulled me against him and placed a hungry kiss on my lips in front of the guards that were present.
“I’m sorry,” he said when we came up for air. “About this morning. Did you get the flowers?”
I wiped my gloss off his lower lip. “It’s okay, and yes they were lovely, thank you.”
He smiled. “Good.”
I studied his face, noticing the circles under his eyes. “Are you okay. I mean, is everything okay?”
“I’m just tired,” he said, releasing me. “It was a late night, and I haven’t recovered.”
“Maybe you need some rest,” I answered, my gaze lingering on his full lips. “Or something to put you to sleep.”
He growled. “What are you offering?”
I gave him a coy smile. “A sleeping pill?”
“Minx,” he grinned, looking past me. “What is Jeanie doing to my guard?”
I turned to see Jeanie sliding a piece of paper in the guard’s front pocket, the man’s face beet red at whatever she had said to him. “It’s no telling, but I think she just made a booty call date.”
“Speaking of dates,” Erik said casually. “I have one for us tonight.”
“Really?” Oh, I couldn’t wait to spend some time with him, just the two of us. Screw the romantic dinner. I wanted him in my bed, in the tub, just anywhere that we couldn’t be bothered.
“There’s this gala, and I want you to be my date, Carrie.”
My balloon deflated as quickly as it had inflated. “A gala?”
He nodded, clasping his hands behind his back. “It’s a charitable one, so no work just fun. I wish for you to attend it with me.”
I bit my lip, attempting not to look disappointed. “Uh, sure.” It wasn’t what I had in mind, but it would be time spent with Erik.
After all, I had to take it when I could.