Page 6 of Royal Rising

She’d focused her attentions on King Magnus’s sons and completely forgot about the royal cousins. Lucky for them.

Mom has kept her hope alive that somehow Prince Kalle will look at me as more than just a friend someday, but I can’t see that happening.

And I don’t like to think about it because it’s hard enough watching him date every single woman in town—and many more who are just visiting.

I’ve stopped watching.

I’m used to working with Kalle. I can keep it all business, with no longing looks or hesitant sighs when he walks out of the room. As far as Kalle is concerned, I feel nothing but friendship for him. There is friendly affection between us—we are friends. He’s one of my best friends.

That’s it.

But as I give Ernie one last pet and head out for a quick stop to check in at the bar before I meet Mathias, there’s a strange sensation mixed with my excitement. There’s a tug—a pretty strong one—for me to stay right where I am. To get out of this dress and into my jeans.

Because as heady it is to be going on a date with a prince, there’s that something in the pit of my stomach that’s telling me it’s wrong. That it’s not Mathias I’m supposed to be with.

I do my best to ignore it.

2

Kalle

Collecting dirty dishes isup top of the list of things I never expected to do with my life.

But I’m not the type of business owner who never pitches in: I show up at The King’s Hat when it opens and I’m usually here when it closes. If I’m not, Edie is. I pay her well to put in the hours and take on the responsibility, but there’s the little voice inside me that makes sure I’m seen helping out when things need getting done, like clearing the pint glasses from the tables when my servers are getting slammed.

“Have you done Wordle today?”

I’ve never once tried Wordle, so I know Dillon, slumped on his stool at his usual spot at the end of the bar, isn’t talking to me. I don’t bother looking up from filling my bin with empty dessert plates, sticky with caramel sauce, from the table of the group who just left.

But my head jerks up when I hear the unmistakable click of high heels, plus a low wolf whistle from Dillon. “Jeez, woman, you lookgood.”

I glance up to see Edie. Only it’s not Edie. I look again.

It’s Edie, but it’s notmyEdie. This Edie is…

“Thanks,man, but I’m still not telling you what it is,” Edie says to Dillon, fiddling with her ear. She’s dressed in black, some shiny fabric that hugs her ass and… other areas, and leaves her arms bare. “I got it in four.”

The bar area is quiet but the tables in the rest of the place are filled with the dinner crowd, with waitresses Leah and Bethie winding their way through with trays of plates and foaming pints. The special tonight is shepherd’s pie and the scent curls in from the kitchen door and reminds me I haven’t eaten yet. It’s busy but not as chaotic as it will be later. Wednesday night is darts night, which means a good crowd.

But it’s the dark clouds rolling in from the Atlantic, warning all of the storm blowing in, and it’s going to fill up the place. A storm like that will keep in the boats in the harbour tomorrow, which means the fishermen will be looking for something to do tonight.

There are five drinking establishments in Battle Harbour, but mine always fills up first.

I make a mental note to check the kegs. Make sure Bethie gets her break after the supper rush is over. Give Tyler free rein on the bar.

It still doesn’t distract me from Edie standing before me like she’s waiting for my approval.

“Did you buy a dress?” I demand rudely because I can’t find any other words. The words I should pull forth areincredibleandstunningandsexy as hellbut no go. Edie is good-looking on a regular day, long dark hair pulled back from her heart-shaped face and the constant quirk of a smile, but when she makes an effort like tonight, she’s something else.

Edie’s mouth twists into a frown and she’s wearinglipstick.Who is this person?

Woman. This is a woman. Who is thiswoman?

“I borrowed this from my sister, but yes, I own a dress,” Edie says in a calm voice. It takes a lot to get a rise out of her, even with me being rude. It’s unbelievable how steady she is, regardless of what she’s facing down, including bad-tempered me.

I don’t mean to be rude but people are just so annoying. Not Edie. She never annoys me, but she’s around so much that she gets rude Kalle more than anyone else.

“Uis the first letter,” Edie tells Dillon, twisting her hair so it hangs over her shoulder. Her eyes are big and brown, looking more like chocolate buttons than ever.

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