Page 10 of The Billionaire's Royal Secret

“How does one eat a…hot dog?”

A loud laugh escaped her ladies’ maid. “Oh, Your Highness, perhaps I ought not worry about this. After you have tasted your hot dog, you may not wish to see this man again. Handsome or not.”

“We shall see,” Elena said with a grin as she scurried across the small apartment and flew out the door, slamming it behind her.

It opened a second later after she’d already made it halfway down the first step of stairs. “Your Highness?”

Elena stopped and glanced back at Caroline. “If you’re planning to talk me out of it–”

“Your keys,” Caroline said, dangling them from her hands.

Elena heaved a sigh as she climbed back to her door and grabbed them. “Thank you, Caroline. I would be lost without you.”

“Have fun, Your Highness.”

“Oh, I plan on it,” she said with a wink before she darted down the stairs and pushed into the late afternoon air. She had just over thirty minutes left before she was to meet Nathan. Her walk to the park would take nearly that long.

Her mind whirled as she tried to determine why she’d agreed to this meeting, but something about the man had intrigued her. She bit her lower lip to temper the smile spreading across her face, but she couldn’t.

She’d never had the option to meet someone for dinner. Was it merely the thrill of a normal life that she chased or was there something about Nathan?

A whirlwind of excitement and apprehension churned within her. A pang of doubt shot through her, though, as she wondered about the wisdom of her actions. Was the thrill of one normal evening worth the risk of her royal secrets coming to light?

As much as she was trying to pretend she was normal, the weight of the crown loomed heavy on her.

“Just for tonight,” she murmured to herself as she crossed a side street.

Yet, the deceit gnawed at her. Was she setting herself up for heartache?

The striking of the clock on the local university’s campus near her apartment made her quicken her steps. She’d be late if she didn’t hurry.

She pushed through the crowded park entrance and searched the area around the fountain. Nathan milled around, pacing back and forth near it.

She grinned as she approached him while his back was turned and tapped his shoulder. He spun to face her, his features breaking into a smile. “You came.”

“Well, I had your jacket.”

“I thought you may abscond with it.”

“No,” she answered with another grin, “I have not. Here you are, and thank you.” She shoved it toward him, and he accepted it, sliding it over his shirt.

“I’m very sorry to say that color isn’t the same as mustard, so you may want to stand five feet away from me when we eat.”

She glanced down at the shirt before she flicked her gaze up at him through her eyelashes. “Oh, yes, sorry. I–”

“It’s all right. It really makes your eyes stand out. They’re beautiful.”

She offered him a soft smile. “Thank you.”

His eyes lingered on her for a moment too long as the sun cast long shadows around them. “Well, I owe you a hot dog.”

“Yes, you do,” she said as he led her to the cart and purchased two.

They settled on a bench together with their small meal, and she stared down at it before she watched him bite into his.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

“No, I just…it’s my first hot dog.”

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