Page 123 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

“I believe so.” She sighed. “I wouldn’t want my husband’s former lover still around. It was an understandable move.”

Jealousy seized him at the mention of her phantom spouse. The thought of any other man touching her the way he had, saying vows to cherish and protect, having a family with her, made him want to hurl his mug at the wall.

“No, it wasn’t.”

“But—”

“No buts, Esmerelda. I treated you horribly after everything you did for me. Not just saving my life, but serving me selflessly for over a year.” She opened her mouth, probably to utter another protest. “Don’t let my slightly better treatment of you than how your parents treated you eclipse the fact that I handled things the wrong way.”

Her lips parted as her eyes widened. She sat back in her chair, eyes blinking rapidly.

“Well,” she finally said, “that was profound.”

“And accurate.”

“To a point.” She held up a hand to silence his own protest. “One bad deed does not deserve another. I could have simply put you off instead of lying.” She glanced out toward the sea, her expression turning pensive. “But it did help. I don’t think I would have ever left if you hadn’t given me a reason to.”

“Do you think staying in Rodina would have held you back?”

“I’d like to think not. But I was always living my life for someone else. The love my parents offered me was conditional on doing what they wanted for me. What they thought was best.” Her chest rose and fell on a soft sigh. “I didn’t realize how much I needed to make a choice for myself until I was on that plane flying away.” She turned back, her smile glowing. “I’ve already grown so much these past few weeks. Imagine what could happen next. I could be anyone I wanted to be. Not something someone else wants for me.”

His chest twisted into a hard knot. The right thing to do was be happy for her, be glad that she had found purpose amidst pain. Yet as he looked at her, the confident tilt of her chin, the slight smile on her lips, all he felt was something dark and desolate, a hollowness that rivaled the emptiness in his mind.

He stood, set both their mugs on the table, and pulled her to her feet, indulging in a long kiss that seeped into his veins and banished the heaviness that had settled on his shoulders.

“What were you thinking you wanted for breakfast that made you blush?”

“Oysters.”

He arched a brow. “Is that meant to be foreplay?”

She laughed. “No, I’ve just always associated oysters with vacations and indulgence.”

“Did I eat them?”

“I don’t know. I was paying more attention to the crowds and possible assassins instead of watching what you had on your plate.”

He lightly swatted her on the rear for her impudent answer before swinging her into his arms, enjoying her gasp of surprise before he set her back in her chair.

“Well, I don’t know if I enjoy them or not, but I’ll try them.”

He texted Aroldo. Fifteen minutes the butler brought out a silver tray laden with eggs Benedict, fresh fruit, a variety of cheeses and in the middle of the tray a silver bowl with raw oysters on ice.

Aroldo glanced between the two of them, a small smile on his face as he set the table.

“Enjoy, Your Highness...miss.”

He bowed his head and disappeared back into the villa. Esmerelda made a soft noise that sounded like a strangled laugh.

“Do you think he knows?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, God.” Her hands flew up and covered her face.

“He’s seen far worse than some rumpled sheets, believe me.”

“I know, but he seems so...fatherly. It’s like getting caught naked.”

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