Despite being full, both women cleaned their dessert plates. “I would lick this plate, if I didn’t think it would be frowned upon in present company,” Mo joked.

The prince seemed surprised by her brash statement, but he raised his brows and said, “If we were alone, I would be delighted to see that.”

Taking the hint that their company was no longer welcome, Sebastian said to Tess, “May I accompany you on a walk down by the sea?”

“Absolutely,” Tess answered, thrilled not to have to sit alone and bored in her room while the prince wooed Mo.

Although Tess was fairly certain that Sebastian was only entertaining her to keep her from intruding on the prince’s time with Mo, she was still happy for the company.

The warm, salty breeze that wafted in off the water was refreshing. The stray strands of hair that escaped Tess’s classic chignon whipped around her face.

They paused and pulled off their shoes at the end of the cobblestone path that led to the pristine white sandy beach. Sebastian gallantly offered his elbow to steady her balance while she removed her heels. The briny scent of the air served as an immediate mood booster for Tess. She had always loved sea breezes, but on this tiny, isolated island, it seemed especially fresh and aromatic.

The cool granules of sand felt like a luxurious loofa on Tess’s bare feet. She was certain this beach would be better than any swanky spa treatment for softening her tootsies.

Walking along in comfortable silence, Tess wondered if she should tell Sebastian that he didn’t have to keep her company. He likely had better things to do than keep her entertained and away from Mo and the prince. But she didn’t really want to be alone, so she refrained from offering to occupy herself.

When Sebastian suggested they rest on a flat piece of driftwood that looked like it had been purposely placed on the deserted beach as a place to relax, Tess quickly agreed.

Breaking the silence, Sebastian asked, “Is it bothering you to see how much the prince cares for Mo?”

Tess thought it was an incredibly odd question. “Why would you think that?”

Giving her a knowing smile, Sebastian responded, “You weren’t shy the other night after the gala about revealing your lifelong dreams of marrying a prince.”

Tess hid her face in her hands, shocked that she had revealed so much to this man. “No!” she exclaimed, before peeking out at him and asking, “I told you about that?”

“You did,” Sebastian confirmed, nodding and smiling at her. He seemed amused by her horror. Increasing her embarrassment, he added, “You also told me that Mo is a tomboy and that you are much better suited to be a princess than she is.”

“What?!? Oh, no! That was just the alcohol talking.” Tess tried to explain away her bitter reaction to Mo catching the prince’s eye, but she knew there was a kernel of truth to what she had admitted to him.

Seeming willing to let her off the hook, Sebastian said, “Prince Pierce does have unique taste when it comes to the fairer sex. I’m sure that most royals would have chosen you.”

She appreciated that he was trying to make her feel better, but guilt overwhelmed her as she realized that she had shared her innermost private and hateful feelings with this man. He must think her to be a terrible person. “I don’t begrudge Mo happiness at all.” Her voice sounded rather intense, but she wanted to make it clear to him that she was being sincere.

“I know,” he reassured her.

Still feeling like a heel, Tess said, “It’s just that Mo has never had any interest in anything girly or fancy. I never would have pictured her even considering marrying a prince.”

“But you have a scrapbook filled to the point of bursting with your royal wedding dreams,” Sebastian filled in, making her wonder exactly how much she had divulged to him in her drunken state.

“I do,” she confirmed.

When he said, “Yes, you tried to get me to come inside your condo to look at it,” she buried her face in her hands again.

“No, I didn’t,” she pleaded with him, trying to ease her mortification over her appalling behavior when she was tipsy.

“You did.” She could see his bright white teeth gleaming in the moonlight. It dawned on her then that he was immensely enjoying making her squirm.

Swallowing her pride, she turned to face him. “Is there anything else I need to know about that night?”

“You mean how you tried to kiss me repeatedly and refused to accept no for an answer, or how you insisted that I come inside with you?”

Tess felt a flash of burning shame redden her cheeks. She was never that forward. To learn that she had thrown herself at this man and been shunned was utterly humiliating. She dropped her head into her lap and mumbled, “I’m never drinking again.”

Slinging an arm over her shoulders, Sebastian leaned in and said, “You were adorable. I just wouldn’t have been able to live with myself, if I had taken advantage of you when you weren’t quite yourself.”

Gently lifting her chin, until she was once more sitting upright, he said, “Now, if you were to decide you wanted to kiss me tonight, I wouldn’t put up a fight.”

“Gee, thanks!” Tess spluttered, feeling stung by his word choice. He wouldn’t put up a fight if she tried to kiss him?!?

She couldn’t help but wonder if she was some sort of consolation prize. Was it his responsibility to keep her busy, so the prince could spend some quality alone time with Mo? Did he actually want to be out here with her, or was it part of his job? She felt fairly certain that she was being ‘handled,’ and she didn’t like it one bit.

“Well, that’s never going to happen,” she hissed. “So, you can go back to whatever it is you do when there are no ‘stupid Americans’ invading your precious island.”

“I always do whatever the royal family needs me to do,” he answered her unasked question.

Feeling outraged, Tess snarled, “And right now they need you to do me?!?”

He had the audacity to laugh, which only served to increase her anger. “No, I’m not a gigolo.” He tried to appease her, but it was too late.

She stood in a huff and said, “I’m going up to my room… alone.” With that, she spun on her bare heel and stalked back towards the path to the palace. In her fury, she couldn’t be certain, but she thought she heard his amused laughter echoing out over the sea.