Page 29 of Tabloid Princess

He nodded. “I know. I’m understanding that now.” I shifted closer to him. When he spoke, it was a whisper that travelled right to my chest. “Do you think I’m a terrible prince for not seeing what goes on around me?” His face remained guarded.

“I’m an exceptionally negative person. And you shouldn’t listen to what I say. It’s ninety-eight percent nonsense.” I could count his freckles.

Up to six, he broke my concentration.

“I think there’s a chance I might like your brand of nonsense.”

I snapped back, sitting up straight like a rubber band that had been pulled too hard. “Don’t.”

A flicker of confusion flashed across his face. He cleared his throat just as the door opened and he also pulled back. We’d been too close together. Too close for propriety.

I taunted a smile and forced my legs to work. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

His eyes flashed with fire as they scooted across my face, but his lips twitched. “The honour is all mine, I assure you.”

Seven

“Leia!” Molly’s call woke me from my distracted thoughts. I say woke me. Strictly speaking, sleeping at your desk isn’t considered a good work ethic. “It’s lunch time. Do you think we can go out?”

I peered over my shoulder. I’d kept my hair down all morning so I could use it as a curtain to peer through. He really was staying in the office. I had no idea what he was doing here.

What did a prince have to gain from spending the day in our office? The only thing I could assume was that he didn’t have enough royal duties to perform at this point in time.

“I don’t know.” I turned in my seat to find Molly watching me. “Why?”

“We need to go shopping again.”

“Nope. Nope. I refuse to go back there with you.”

“Leia. I’m your best friend. I can’t let you be on show, in throwing distance of a royal prince of all things, looking like that.”

I glanced down at my patterned leggings. There was nothing wrong with them that I could see.

“Look at Freya; she’s cool and collected in her dresses.”

“I’m nothing like Freya, and why would I want to be?”

“Because when she stands next to Prince Oliver’s side at a press conference no one gives her a second glance. You look like you’ve jogged in from the street.”

“I’m not going to be on television,” I scoffed. Oh my god, was I going to be on television? A cold shiver ran through me—nothing could be worse.

“Your legs could be. And right now, you are wearing leggings with stars on them. How did you even go into that meeting this morning and get taken seriously? For God’s sake, Leia, it looks like you’ve just rolled out of bed.”

I stood from my chair and wiggled my legs. “But look how comfy they are.” To prove the point, I squatted a few times. “You couldn’t do this in a shift dress.”

Molly snorted and without turning around I knew we were being watched. I walked sideways like a crab and grabbed my handbag and then walked the same way to the door.

Outside Molly doubled over clutching her stomach. “You’re a liability, do you know that?”

“Shut up. Are we going shopping or not?”

“Yes. Then I reckon we can fit in some wine before we have to come back.”

My eyes opened wide. “I can’t drink at lunch time.” I pointed at the office containing the heir to the throne and his super-efficient press secretary. “There are people in there that actually know what they are doing.”

“Maybe wine will help you?”

“Maybe.” I stared at the door of the office for a moment. “Is it me or is this week turning into a bit of a weird one?”