Page 91 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

And when the boat had pulled up to the private dock of the Dove Villa, it had been almost like a fairy tale. Cinderella’s coach, or in this case sailboat, pulling up to the palace.

The villa was beautiful. No, not just beautiful. Stunning. An architectural wonder. Gleaming ivory walls offset by white pillars guarded the two-story front door. Yet instead of appearing so expensive she was afraid to step inside, the red tiled roof had added a touch of relaxation to the otherwise austere exterior. Inside met outside with the sliding walls of glass that could be rolled into recesses in the wall and open the massive rooms to blue sky and ocean breezes.

Julius had reached out a hand to help her off the catamaran onto the dock. She’d walked off herself, regretting the petulant move when he’d simply turned away and walked up the path to the villa. A butler, Aroldo, had met them and given them a tour.

The furniture was understated, a mix of whites and blues, yet of obviously high quality. More white pillars held up soaring ceilings and made room for large fans that rotated silently as they kept the villa pleasantly cool during the hot afternoons. Tiles faded to a soft red dominated the main rooms, while weathered gray hardwood added both elegance and relaxation to the bedrooms.

Julius had thanked Aroldo and asked him to show Esme to her room before bowing his head to her.

“Perhaps I’ll see you at dinner.”

But she hadn’t. She hadn’t seen him all evening. Restless, she’d unpacked, then re-sorted how she’d hung up her meager clothes. She’d prowled online job listings, waiting for something to click, to feel right.

Waiting for a knock at the door. She’d waited in vain.

She’d tried to focus on the beauty of her room. A large bed stood in the center, thick white pillows arranged perfectly against a light gray headboard. Opposite the bed sat a couch, this one covered in the same gray material as the headboard, with a large window just above the back that overlooked the expansive grounds. To her left lay the bathroom, with a freestanding white marble tub in front of a wall covered in mosaic tiles of emerald and scarlet red arranged into a tropical flower against a brilliant blue sky. To her right, the entire wall was comprised of glass, including two massive doors that opened onto a private terrace with steps descending to the infinity pool.

The rooms balanced elegance with relaxation, quality with comfort. Yet the location and the investments in furnishings, from the lamp stands fashioned of gold to the crystal vase overflowing with red roses, made it clearly known that this was the kind of place only the wealthiest could afford.

But even the loveliness of her surroundings could only soothe for so long. Growing edginess had driven her into the kitchen shortly after sundown. A bowl ofpelauhad been left for her in the fridge with heating instructions, along with a note from Aroldo inviting her to help herself to anything in the kitchen and to call if she needed something. The chicken and rice dish, made heartier with a mix of carrots, celery, beans, red peppers and a dash of brown sugar, had assuaged her physical hunger.

Yet still she felt hollow. Empty.

It wasn’t just Julius, although he certainly played a significant role. She had questioned her decision to follow him so quickly, how a simple “please” had led to her changing her mind, and her plans, for the next two weeks. All for a man who had broken her heart.

Part of it, she was coming to realize, was because in some twisted way, Julius had tossed her a lifeline. Two more weeks of something else to focus on other than what she was going to do with the rest of her life. How she was going to shape it just the way she wanted, without outside pressure. Without bending to the whims of someone else.

“Good morning.”

Her lips firmed into a frown even as her heartbeat quickened at the sound of his voice. The second time in less than twenty-four hours the man had snuck up on her.

“Good morning, Your Highness.”

Tension rolled off him as he sat in the lounge chair next to hers.

“Please call me Julius.”

“Saying ‘please’ isn’t going to get you everything you want.” She glanced at him then, her chest tightening as the sun added golden highlights to his dark blond hair. “I spent a year referring to you as ‘Your Highness,’ ‘sir,’ et cetera. Hard to break that habit.”

“It’s odd,” he mused, staring out over the ocean, “but when you use those titles, it makes me feel...distant. Almost tired.”

Surprised, she glanced at him fully. He wore a white shirt unbuttoned at the collar with the sleeves rolled up, dark blue pants and... She blinked. Barefoot. The Crown Prince of Rodina was barefoot. Julius almost never went anywhere without a tie. He certainly never went barefoot.

Except for Paris.

She pushed the thought away.

“You carried a great deal on your shoulders.”

“Did I?”

“Yes. You sit on multiple committees, including finance and transportation. You were also involved in military operations and, your personal cause, education.”

“Given how little you seem to think of me as a man, I’m surprised by the respect in your voice.”

She shrugged.

“Great leaders can be very different behind closed doors.”

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