Page 35 of Not-So-Perfect Princess
Maybe for him. “I’ll help you stow the sails.”
“Good idea.” Alejandro stood on the luff side of the mainsail. “We’ll get out of here faster with two pairs of hands.”
Her shoulders slumped. She should have offered to do the sails on her own. Getting out of here faster was the last thing she wanted.
She took the leech side. Together, they flaked the sail, layering the fabric across the boom. He secured the main with ties.
“What about the jib?” she asked.
He turned off the boat’s running lights. “I’ll take care of it when I get back.”
Back? He was going out after this. To a club? The thought made her spirits sink lower. She should forget about it. Him. But she couldn’t. “Where are you going?”
“I’m walking you back to the palace.”
His chivalry pleased her, but she’d found her way to the dock on her own. She didn’t need to be escorted back. A slow walk through the park on the way to the tunnels would keep her free a little while longer. Jules wanted as much extra time outside the palace as she could get. “I can find my own way.”
“I know you can, but I’m going to escort you back.”
“Okay.” Jules caved like a house of cards. Truth was, she liked being with Alejandro and wanted to spend more time with him. Oh, she’d see him around the palace, at events and during meals. But given his relationship with Enrique, this might be their last chance to be alone.
She felt a pang in her heart.
The moonlight cast shadows on his face. With his strong jaw, nose and high cheekbones, he did look more pirate than prince. Too bad he wouldn’t kidnap her, sail away with her on his boat and ravish her…
A smile tugged on the corners of her mouth. She couldn’t help herself from daydreaming and fantasizing.
Alejandro was a hottie. He’d come to her rescue more than once. He might consider himself a black sheep, but black knight might be a better term after the sail tonight. He’d gone out of his way for her. Jules would be eternally grateful to him.
If only she could thank him, not with words, but a…kiss. A kiss would make tonight’s sail more perfect. She stared at his full, soft-looking lips. A kiss under the full moon.
“Julianna?” Alejandro asked.
Desire flowed through her veins. “Yes?”
“You okay?”
“I’m just thinking.” Of kissing him. All she had to do was rise up and touch her lips to his. Tempting, undeniably so. But the rebellious act of sailing was more than enough for the evening, for a lifetime really.
At least her lifetime. Jules took a deep breath.
“About our sail.” She touched the boat’s wheel, running her fingertips over the smooth edge. “I want to remember everything about tonight.”
Everything except Alejandro.
Forget about kissing him. If she was to be Enrique’s wife, she needed to bury all memories of Alejandro deep in her heart. Otherwise she would make herself and her marriage miserable, wanting what she couldn’t have.
Not that Jules had real feelings for him or vice versa. They’d just met. She was getting carried away after a lovely evening with a fellow sailor. Alejandro hadn’t flirted with her. He’d barely noticed her beyond her sailing abilities.
The setting with its full moon, starry sky and ocean breeze was perfect for two people to connect, to kiss. Yet he hadn’t gotten caught up in the romantic atmosphere. That was a little…annoying. Maybe he didn’t find her attractive.
What was she thinking? She shouldn’t want him to hit on her.
“It’s too bad we couldn’t take pictures,” he said.
“Yes.” But having a photograph of tonight was too big a risk. If Enrique found it…
Enrique.
Maybe he was the reason Alejandro hadn’t made a move on her. He might be the black sheep of the family, but he was an honorable man and not about to kiss his brother’s fiancée.
She respected that. Respected him.
If only Enrique was more like his younger brother… Jules swallowed a sigh.
Alejandro double-checked the ties. “Ready to go?”
She took a final glance around. Everything had been stowed or secured, but she was in no hurry to leave.
