Page 36 of Not-So-Perfect Princess
Waves lapped against the hull. The boat rocked with the incoming tide. The sound and motion comforted her. She ran her hand along the deck, a final farewell to La Rueca.
Regret mixed with sadness. “I’m ready.”
She exited the boat without taking Alejandro’s hand. She didn’t need his help. Not anymore.
Touching him again, feeling her small hand clasped with his larger, warm one, would make putting tonight behind her harder. Being with him made her feel so different. She didn’t know if that was freedom calling or not. But real life beckoned, or rather would with the sunrise.
Tears stung her eyes. Blinking them away, she headed up the dock. Her nonskid shoes barely made a sound against the wood.
Would the memory of tonight fade into nothingness as she embraced her role as Enrique’s fiancée and wife? Jules hoped not.
She glanced up at the sky. A shooting star arced across the darkness.
I wish this didn’t have to end.
The thought was instantaneous, and her entire body, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, felt that way. She kept her gaze focused on the sky. The star and its tail vanished.
What a waste of a wish. Jules should have wished for Enrique to change his mind instead. She blew out a puff of air.
Time to stop pretending. She wasn’t living a fairy tale, but it wasn’t a Gothic novel, either. She needed to face up to her responsibilities.
Climbing the steep hillside, she ignored the burn in her thighs.
Alejandro caught up without sounding winded or breaking a sweat. He walked alongside her, shortening his stride to match hers. “I hope you enjoyed your sail.”
“I did.” She forced the words from her tight throat. Making small talk wasn’t going to be easy. The walk back made her realize how prisoners at the Tower of London must have felt on their way to the executioner. Though Jules faced a life sentence, not death. A sentence she’d chosen for herself, for the sake of her brother, her children and her country. “Thank you so much for tonight.”
“I should be the one thanking you.”
Alejandro’s easy smile doubled her heart rate. She wanted to scream and cry. If he’d been the firstborn… No, a man like him would never need an arranged marriage to secure a bride. No matter what the amount of that bride’s dowry.
“Watching you sail tonight has been a true pleasure, Julianna,” he continued. “You’re very skilled. Amazingly so.”
His words made her stand taller. She needed to focus on the positives, not wallow in what-could-have-beens or what-ifs. “Plying me with compliments, huh?” she quipped.
“I’m telling you the truth.”
The sincerity of his words lifted her burdened shoulders and lightened her heavy heart. “That means more to me than you can imagine.”
His gaze locked with hers. Seconds turned into a minute. The way he looked into her eyes made her think he was going to kiss her. Jules wanted him to kiss her. Anticipation surged.
She leaned toward him and parted her lips. An invitation and a plea.
“You should be at the helm of La Rueca in the Med Cup,” he said.
Her breath caught in her throat. “What did you say?”
He repeated the words.
A strong yearning welled up inside of her, a longing that didn’t want to be ignored. She started to speak then stopped herself.
What he said was impossible. In fact, he looked as surprised at his words as Jules did. He must have been joking.
She pushed aside her disappointment and laughed. “Oh, yes. That’s exactly what I should do. Princess Julianna of Aliestle, helmsman.”
Alejandro didn’t joke back. His smile disappeared. His eyes darkened.
“You’re not laughing,” she said.
His jaw thrust forward. “I’m not kidding.”
Of course, he was. Jules reached the top of the hill and continued along the paved path through the park. “It’s been a lovely evening. Please don’t spoil it by teasing me.”
“I’m serious.” The determined set of his chin made him look formidable. A lot like his father. But she remained unnerved by that. “If La Rueca places in the top five, the resulting publicity will boost my boatyard’s reputation and raise the island’s standing in the eyes of the yachting world. To do that I need you steering the boat.”
