I glance at the Prince, who seems to be going through the same turmoil I am. In a whisper, I say the question that keeps plaguing my mind. “What about Luca?”
“What about Luca?”
“You know what I mean.”
“All I know is my brother lost his chance with you when he pushed you away. You don’t have to marry me, but I don’t want you to keep torturing yourself over my brother’s mistreatment of you.”
I chew my lip. Gathering my courage, I force myself to drag my gaze up to Theo’s. “Is this a bad idea? Pretending to consider this engagement? We just kissed, Theo. And I’m going to leave when we get back. You’re going to be King. It’s too complicated. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
Theo lets out a breath. His eyes are clear, and after a pause, he just shrugs. “Maybe it’s best that you’re leaving afterwards. Whatever happens between us, we know there’s an end date.”
I nod, gulping.
The Prince sighs. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you, Cara. Whatever happened on that sailboat, it hit me hard. But no matter how much I want you for myself, I don’t want you to give up your dreams for me. So, it might seem complicated, but it’s really not. I just need your help. No strings attached.”
I wish those words didn’t have an effect on me. I pride myself on being adventurous. Independent. Thrill-seeking. But having a future King tell me that he wants me?
That does something to me.
And it does something to my panties, too.
This is a Bad Idea, with a capital ‘B’ and a capital ‘I.’ He might think it’s no strings attached—that I’m just buying him time and doing him a favor—but I know the truth. My heartstrings are already tangled. I’m already confused.
I already want him, too.
“Can’t you find some other girl, if any woman will do to buy you time? Someone more noble?”
“I don’t want someone more noble. I want you.”
There it is again. That declaration.
Theo arches an eyebrow, running his thumb over his lip. I follow the movement, my thoughts flicking back to the kiss we just shared.
I nod. “Okay. Just for the tour.”
The Prince nods. “Yeah. Just for the tour.”
“We don’t let our parents push us into this. I still get to leave and chase my dreams on my own.”
“Exactly,” Theo says, stepping toward me. “I may only be the Prince, but I still won’t let my father dictate everything to me, least of all who I choose to marry.”
I nod. “Yeah,” I agree, even though I’m not sure exactly what I’m agreeing to.
Theo ducks his head down and presses a soft kiss to my lips. Heat ignites in my core again, and I know that things definitely won’t be as simple as he claims.
9
Theo
Walking back to the Shoals’ living room, my heart is thumping and my palms are sweaty. I know that this plan has the potential to blow up in both our faces in a spectacular fashion. I know that this could backfire. I know that things could go wrong.
But I don’t have a choice. I need time to figure this out.
The only way I can think of to keep my father happy and give Dante some time is to tell my father I’m considering this engagement. The only way to keep Cara away from external pressure about this engagement and to safeguard her plans to leave Argyle is to take her with me.
Cara leans over toward me, nudging me with her elbow. “That’s three times I’ve saved your life.”
I grin. “At least this time didn’t include a dislocated shoulder. Being saved by you is dangerous.”
“Careful, Your Highness,” Cara grins. The glance she throws my way is indecipherable. I can’t tell if she’s worried about what we’ve agreed to do or excited about it.
One thing I do know is my pulse quickens whenever she’s around. From the moment things shifted between us on the sailboat, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about all the things I want to do to her.
As we walk into the living room, all eyes turn to us. Cara’s parents and sisters stare at us expectantly. Cara stiffens beside me, and I can almost sense the regret flowing off her.
I clear my throat. “Thank you for having me. I have to get back to the palace, but I’d like to ask your permission to take Cara on a royal tour that leaves the day after tomorrow.”