Page 54 of Not-So-Perfect Princess
“True.” But the freedom he craved did. Her marriage to Enrique would give Alejandro what he wanted. No more pressure or orders to fulfill his royal duties and obligations. Yet was marriage to his brother what Julianna wanted?
“Your castle may be a fantasy, but if that’s your dream I don’t understand why you want to marry Enrique.”
“It’s my duty.”
“You have a duty to yourself.”
She stopped digging in the sand. “I was raised to do whatever is best for Aliestle. I’ve always known a marriage would be arranged for me. That is the custom. And marrying Enrique is what’s best for my family and my country.”
She sounded genuine. Patriotic. Alejandro’s respect for her grew knowing the sacrifice she was making. “You hold duty in a much higher esteem than I do. You’re ready to dive headfirst into an arranged marriage knowing you’re sacrificing your dreams. I can’t wait to escape the demands of palace life. We are very different.”
Her gaze met his. “You want what’s best for your country.”
“Yes.”
“So do I. We’re just going about it differently.”
Julianna might think so, but he knew better. She was far more worthy than him. “My brother doesn’t deserve you.”
She shrugged. “He would say I don’t deserve him the way I’ve been sneaking around behind his back.”
Alejandro sprung to her defense. “You’re helping the island. Once we place—”
“Win.”
Her confidence pleased him. “Yes, win, I’ll be able to draw more attention to the sailing and tourism here. But my father and brother…”
“They have different ideas.”
“They have taken a completely different path,” Alejandro said. “Enrique thinks my efforts are too radical. He believes a royal wedding will accomplish the same thing as my plans.” Alejandro drew lines in the sand. He wanted to make his own mark somehow. “But I’m not going to let them stop me. I’ll turn this economy around and show them.”
“I’m certain you will.”
He appreciated her confidence. He also liked how her blond hair shone beneath the afternoon sun. So beautiful.
One of the garden staff sprinted across the beach with his arms loaded with colorful buckets, shovels and other sand tools. He placed them on the sand. “Compliments of Ortiz, Your Highnesses.”
Julianna’s grin lit up her face. “Please thank him for me.”
The young man bowed before walking away.
She shot Alejandro a suspicious glance. “You sent a text to Ortiz asking for all this.”
“Sometimes being a prince comes in handy.”
The gratitude sparkling in her eyes made it difficult for Alejandro to breathe. “Thank you.”
He ignored the quickening of his pulse and handed her one of the shovels. “Let’s see if we can build you a castle that will last.”
CHAPTER TEN
THAT EVENING, Jules floated down the staircase on her way to dinner. Her sling-back heels felt more like ballet slippers as she descended and the hem of her cocktail dress swooshed above her knees. An afternoon with Alejandro had been exactly what she needed. Building a sand castle had been fun, but being with him had made her heart sing. He’d told her about growing up on the island and listened when she spoke. Something men in Aliestle, including her brothers, rarely did.
Jules wondered if he was in the dining room. Anticipation danced through her. She couldn’t talk to him as freely as she had on the beach, but being with him during the meal would be enough.
Realization dawned. She had a huge crush on him.
She giggled like a schoolgirl. That would explain her growing affection toward him. Though crushing on her future brother-in-law probably broke every rule in the princess handbook.
Well, she never claimed to be perfect. Besides, she’d never let the crush go anywhere.
She entered the dining room to find Alejandro and Enrique involved in a heated discussion. As soon as they saw her they stopped talking.
She saw three place settings on the table large enough to seat twenty-four. “Is no one else joining us?”
Enrique kissed the top of her hand. He seemed big on that gesture. But he’d made an effort. She shouldn’t complain.
