Page 48 of Royal Rising

I haven’t asked if that’s her real colour, but I want to.

“Yeah,” I grunt.

“You’re in your own little world over there.”

I take another piece of focaccia and dip it in the saucer of garlic oil. “I’m right here,” I assure her.

I’ve never brought a date to Nonna’s. I’ve been told I’m a bit of a romantic when it comes to dates. My go-to spots are the castle garden—asking the kitchen staff nicely to set up a table with champagne and dinner so we can eat in the moonlight—or in the fields behind the tennis courts where you can lie on the grass and see the stars. I took one woman to Stella’s pet rescue when she saidshe loved cats and borrowed a friend’s fishing boat for an evening sail for another.

Or I just take them back to my place.

But I take Fenella Carrington to Nonna’s, so that should say something.

But I’m not sure what I want it to say.

“Kalle.” The snap in her voice pulls me back to reality. “One more time and I’m out of here.”

Those full lips twisted into almost a frown, violet eyes narrowing. She looksalmostannoyed.

I wonder if Fenella has trained herself not to show emotion when she’s in public or if that’s something her family taught her. “Have you ever walked out on a date?” I ask.

“Do you really have to ask that?” she counters.

That gets a smile out of me. I can picture her sweeping out of the best restaurants in Paris and New York, leaving a half-eaten dinner and a date who happened to say the wrong thing.

Fenella is fun and feisty, her good heart countering the spoiled and indulged side. She makes me laugh, she makes me think—not always a good thing.

I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve spent with her. But something is missing.

“I’m leaving as soon as this horrible storm lifts,” she announces.

“Not enough to interest you here?” I offer her a lazy grin. “I can see about offering more amusement.” I dip into flirtatious charm—at least that’s what I’m aiming for. Icanpull it out as easily as I can growl out a monosyllabic sentence. It just depends on who I’m with, and who’s watching.

Everyone is watching us at Nonna’s, so it’s all smiling eyes and flirting banter. The restaurant is surprisingly busy with the storm still raging. Some people just don’t want to stay at home during a storm.

I’d rather be at the bar. Make sure everything is quiet, with no outbursts of fighting. Edie can control things, but I want to make sure she has enough help.

I want to make sure she’s not mad at me.

I know the night will not end how the diners think it will. I can put up a good face, but my heart isn’t into this tonight. My heart isn’t into Fenella, period.

It’s too bad, really.

“It’s not happening with us, Your Highness,” Fenella says echoing my very thoughts.

Which gets my full attention. I might know something is missing but that still doesn’t mean I can’t show her a good time. “What?”

Fenella smiles kindly, like the babysitter letting down her ten-year-old charge with a crush as gently as she can. “You know it, too, Kalle. You’ve been playing for a long time, same as me. But you’re ready for something real now. Same as me. And—” Fenella waves between us. “This isn’t real. Might end up being fun, but it wouldn’t last.”

This is a new one for me. “I don’t understand.”

“Have you never had a girl break it off with you?”

“Uh… no?”

Fenella gives a peal of laughter. “Oh, to be a prince with no kingdom.”

“I have a kingdom.”

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