Page 84 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

“It’s standard practice to list a member of the security detail as the contact for any business a member of the royal family doesn’t want the public knowing about.”

“But you said you haven’t worked for my security team for over a month.”

“You must have made the appointment before you fired me.”

“With an address in the Caribbean?”

That part stumped her. He’d most likely hired a detective, someone outside of the palace, to track her down. Why was anyone’s guess.

And she didn’t care. Couldn’t care.

“Why did I fire you?”

It was too much. She’d lasted this long. But it was time for Julius to go. To return to his life and receive the care he needed from a doctor. To rejoin royal life and leave her behind.

“You’ll either remember or someone else will inform you.” She held out her phone. “You can use my cell to call in for your security check. Tell them what happened and they’ll—”

“No.”

Irritation flickered through her.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I just found out I’m a prince. A prince who is heir to the throne,” he repeated, his voice dark and dangerous and hard. “What you just described sounds unappealing at best. My every move shadowed by a security team. An engagement to a woman selected like I’m shopping for produce at the damned market.”

“What did you expect?” she snapped. “You’re royalty. Real-life royalty. This isn’t a fairy tale, Your Highness.”

“Do you know what I expected, Esmerelda?”

She stifled the stirring deep in her belly at his use of her full name. The last time he’d said it, he’d moaned it against her lips as he’d slid inside her.

“I can only imagine, sir.”

“I expected for you to be the woman I bought the ring for. That I would arrive here and find out I was a banker or a CEO, something mundane that would explain the massive amount of cash and the diamond.” His eyes flashed as his fingers tightened around the box. “I thought this was for you, not some faceless woman chosen off of a list.”

She tried to ignore the jab of the knife to her heart as he casually mentioned the possibility of having bought the ring for her. She’d known once they’d kissed, once she’d made the decision to finally share her body with him, that it couldn’t last. That at most, it would never go beyond an affair. He was a prince. Princes married princesses, duchesses, politicians’ daughters, other wealthy people who brought their own connections to the union. She’d known, and accepted, that there would be pain. To her, the year they’d spent together as prince and bodyguard, coming to know each other on a deeper level after her accident, followed by the most incredible night she’d ever spent with a man, had been worth the eventual heartache.

She just hadn’t expected the end to come so soon, nor so viciously.

“It’s not all glass slippers and champagne, sir. I’m sorry you had to find out this way, but I can’t help you anymore. I’m sure a plane can be ready in an hour to take you home.”

He stood, regarding her with an intensity that made her want to squirm. Would he suddenly remember? Would the memories come rushing back like they did in the movies, leaving her to experience his disgust and rejection all over again?

“I have impressions. Feelings. They’re faint, almost as if a shadow has been wrapped around them.”

He stepped closer. She stood her ground, willing herself not to retreat.

“But before I even heard your name, I remembered you.” His hand came up, his fingers gliding across one of her wild curls. “When Miss Smythe named you as the contact, I knew that I knew you. That there’s something important, something unfinished, with you.”

Her heart cried out at the passion in his gaze. Her mind stifled the desire.

“Perhaps it’s guilt for acting like a pompous jerk when you removed me from your detail.”

His lips tightened.

“We were lovers.”

“No.”

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