Page 14 of The Billionaire's Royal Secret

“Perfect,” he answered as he tapped on his phone. “I texted the address. How’s six?”

“See you then.” She offered him another grin as she took a step backward away from him.

He reached for her, pulling her into another soft kiss before he released her.

“Good night,” she whispered as her hand lingered on his, their fingers intertwined.

“Good night,” he answered with a smile.

She twisted away from him, glancing back over her shoulder. The grin that spread across her face didn’t leave as the distance increased between them. She tugged her phone from her pocket again and stared down at the message of their plan for Friday.

As she traced the outline of the display, another message popped onto her screen. It made the smile fade from her face immediately.

She stared at it, her heart sinking. Her father’s text managed to ruin her evening and remind her of the complications her fledgling relationship faced.I hope you are behaving yourself in a manner befitting of your station. Looking forward to your return to Eldoria.

Elena frowned at the message, wondering if her father was having her followed. She searched the crowd for anyone watching her. Even if he wasn’t, she still worried. The kiss that had set her heart on fire may just burn her life to the ground.

CHAPTER 4

NATHAN

Nathan rolled over, the thousand count sheets gently caressing his skin, a reminder of the world he inhabited despite what he’d pretended the night before. As the first hints of dawn painted the sky in soft hues of pink and orange, the quiet stillness of the morning wrapped around him like a cocoon. His first thoughts after waking were of Ellie.

The image of her face dancing in his mind curved the corner of his lips. He closed his eyes, immersing himself in the memories he had created with her.

The soft tinkle of her laugh echoed in his memory, a stark contrast to the silence of his spacious room. Recalling how her eyes sparkled with genuine joy, he realized it wasn’t just her spirit that captivated him, it was the reflection of the person he wanted to be while around her. Someone free from the shadow of past mistakes, someone who found happiness in the simplicity of a shared moment.

He’d never met a woman like her. She was so free, so full of life. He recalled how giddy she had been over the simple pleasure of riding a carousel with him.

His mind naturally contrasted her with Chloe, comparing Elena’s vibrant laughter with Chloe’s calculated smiles. His former flame would never have lowered herself to climb onto a painted horse and sail around in circles. She preferred more extravagant things like high-end dinners, galas, yachting parties, and luxury getaways.

How had he not seen her for what she was until he’d walked in on her with another man as he’d tried to surprise her by filling her apartment with flowers? He berated himself as the painful memory twisted his heart.

The ache from her betrayal lingered, but only briefly. What had once threatened to drag him into the depths of despair, a path that invariably led to the bottom of a bottle, now no longer felt so daunting. Now, the mere thought of Elena, her smile bright even in his mind’s eye, was enough to dispel the shadows.The stark difference between Elena and Chloe made him wonder if he was finally seeing what a genuine connection looked like. He pushed aside the lingering specter of his past and focused on the image of Elena’s face, lit by the soft glow of the carousel’s lights, her laughter a melody that promised new beginnings.

He conjured the image of Ellie’s sweet face smiling up at him just before he kissed her.

The warm memory filled him, and he let himself swim in the moment before he twisted to grab his phone from his nightstand.

He stared at her name with a grin before he typed out a message.Good morning. Hope you slept well. Thinking of you.

He sent it on its way, staring at it for a moment as doubt started to creep in. Was he rushing this? What if Elena was like Chloe?

What if he was making another mistake that would leave his heart broken and him clawing to stay alive?

The doubt crushed him, constricting his chest and making it difficult to breathe. The chime of his phone tugged him back from the wave that threatened to drown him.

He glanced at the screen, the apprehension dissipating, replaced by that warm feeling. A message from Elena awaited him.Good morning, Nathan. I slept wonderfully, thank you. Your message was a lovely way to start my day. I’ve been thinking of you, too. Looking forward to our next adventure together.

He grinned at the screen, drinking in every word. His mind began to craft plans for their next meeting.

He typed a message to her as his mind spun.Funny you should mention that…I was just doing some planning.

As the phone’s display died, he pressed it against his chest, his lips curling. Normally, he’d have come up with something extravagant–he’d have been forced to or he’d have listened to Chloe whine for most of the evening.

He’d originally found it endearing. But as he looked back, he realized it was a giant red flag.

Ellie’s words from the previous night echoed in his mind.What’s so special about fancy? Pizza sounds lovely.

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