Page 6 of My XOXO Holidate

His eyes sparkle. “This is my sixth time.” He shrugs and his grin is mischievous. “My parents met here, and they always hoped we’d find our significant other here too.”

“We?”

“My brother and I.”

“I assume that hasn’t happened.” I give him a flirty grin. “That you haven’t met your significant other.”

Alex points his index finger. “You must work in the jurisconsults section at the palace.”

I laugh. “One would think, right?” I wrinkle my nose. “I can be quite the sleuth.”

Too bad I wasn’t such a great sleuth when my fiancée was draining our bank account.

“Well, perhaps you’ve found your calling, my lady. You’re quite observant.” He shakes his head with a grin. “No, I haven’t fulfilled their dream of marriage and grandkids.” Alex takes a drink from his wine glass. “What about you? Single? Divorced? Separated?” He winks. “Married?”

I chuckle. “Single. Never married and no significant other.”

I don’t want to appear weak to my date, so I don’t mention the rat I was once engaged to who belongs in jail.

The waiter serves our dinner. I have chicken, asparagus, and a dinner salad and roll. Alex has steak, a baked potato, which he loads with sour cream and butter along with a dinner salad and roll.

I nod to Alex’s plate. “Care for some potato to go with your butter and sour cream?”

Alex laughs. “I’m gonna need to spend a little extra time in the gym next week.” He rubs his flat stomach.

Although he’s wearing a white dress shirt, it’s obvious he’s in shape with well-defined muscles.

You don’t get that hot body fromnotspending time in the gym. Another dallop of sour cream isn’t going to hurt that body one little bit.

He takes a bite of the steak. “Perfect.” He moans in pleasure. “Not often I have a steak dinner. How’s the chicken?”

I nod as I chew. “Good.”

“Hopefully I can fit into my doublet tomorrow after eating all this.”

I laugh. “Your doublet?”

“Yeah, you know, the Renaissance jackets the dudes wore.”

“Oh, I know what it is.”

He grins and adjusts his already perfect tie. “I had to wear this suit. My crown and doublet are being cleaned.” He winks. “Hope you’re not too disappointed.”

Love his sense of humor.

“I would think a man of your caliber would have more than one royal doublet to adorn himself with for occasions such as this. What are these?” I ask as I point to his suit.

“Clothes of a commoner.”

“A pity.” I take a small sip of wine.

“Indeed.” He wipes his mouth with the cloth napkin and sets it aside. “If I haven’t already mentioned it, your gown is beautiful on you, my lady.”

My face is hot as I fight a blush. I nod. “Thank you.”

“You’re blushing. Not used to a compliment?”

I don’t tell him that my only compliments from Collin came from buying the brand of beer he preferred.

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