Page 7 of The King's Fake Bride

Thankfully, the beach is private, with guards at either end keeping out the rest of the world.

Except today, it seems. There’s a lone woman sitting in a dress that hugs her gorgeous curves, clinging to her like it was madefor her. Strands of smoky auburn hair catch the dying light, showing off deep strands of mahogany.

When the woman looks up, it feels like her sea-green eyes are staring straight through me. I take a deep breath, wondering if she’s one of those women who pursue members of the nobility, begging for anything they can get from them.

It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been out taking some time to myself and a woman hunted me down.

“Sorry,” she says, her voice soft and lilting, even when it cracks. Based on her accent, I assume she’s American. “I know it must look pathetic for me to be crying on a beach, but believe me there’s a good reason for it.”

I study her for a moment, but there’s not an ounce of recognition that shines in her eyes.

She has no clue who I am.

And that might make her the most intriguing person in the world right now.

Nearing her, I tuck my hands in my pockets. “I’m sure there is. Nobody comes to a beach to cry unless they’re really heartbroken.”

The woman wipes the end of her bright red nose on the back of her hand, her laugh awkward. “I’m really sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for.” I sit down beside her, digging my bare feet into the sand. “Want to talk about it? I’ve been told that I’m a good listener.”

She snorts in the most unladylike fashion, and it only makes her more attractive. Yes, she’s beautiful, but from what I’ve seen, theway she carries herself is nothing like any of the other women in the castle.

Would she act differently if she knew who I was?

Her freckled cheeks flame a red nearly the same shade as her hair. “I’m making an idiot of myself.”

I chuckle, leaning back and bracing myself on my hands, looking up at the colorful streaks that dart across the sky. “Not at all. I think you’re coming across as someone who’s had a really hard day.”

Her head tilts to the side before she holds out the hand that she didn’t wipe her nose with. “I’m Amy.”

“Xander.” I shake her hand, the corner of my mouth twitching as she pulls away. “So, tough day?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe.” She pulls her knees to her chest, the fabric of her dress stretching tight over the top of them. “I’m supposed to be at my best friend’s bachelorette party in Mykonos right now, but obviously, I’m not.”

“How come? Did you fall out or something?”

“No, nothing like that, though it should be coming.” Amy rakes her fingers through her hair before sliding an elastic band off her wrist and tying the curls back. “I missed my plane because I thought the flight was in the evening, not in the morning. Then I tried to get another flight. Got on a boat and ended up here with no way to get to Mykonos over the next day or two. Even if I did, the party would be over.”

I trace a foot through the sand, building it into a small pile. “I wish I could help you with that.”

If I really wanted to, I could. Right now, I could march her up to the castle with me and arrange for my helicopter to take her to Greece.

But I’m not going to.

There’s something about her that makes me want to get to know better.

What kind of woman would trespass on a private beach and then spill her issues to the first person she saw?

Amy sighs, squeezing her eyes shut before opening them and looking at me. “And that’s not even the start of all the things going wrong in my life. It’s just the icing on the cake.”

“Doesn’t sound like a good cake.”

She chuckles darkly. “I’ve spent the last few years of my life working as a pastry chef at a fancy hotel, and I still can’t seem to get through my life properly. Money goes too fast, days aren’t long enough, and all my friends are moving on while I seem to be staying in one place with no sign of ever advancing in life.”

My eyebrows rise as I try to figure out what to say to all that. “You know, from what I hear, that’s a pretty normal way to feel.”

“Yeah, sure. If I was twenty-four instead of twenty-seven. I’m counting down the days until I’m thirty at this point. And it seems like by thirty, you’re supposed to have your life together.”

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