Page 1 of The Prince

Chapter 1

Prince Daniel Valdez, fourth in line for the throne of Torren, viewed the world through a camera lens. If he didn’t actually have his favorite camera up to his face, he saw things as though they were lined up for a shot. And he was always looking for one specific and elusive shot.

Today he explored one of the last remaining public pieces of land on the whole island. Most people called it Cliff Bluff Park. He often came here for quiet, and to find something very particular, an image he’d been trying to capture on his camera, a glimpse of change. He called it a crossroads.

That tiny breath before a woman says yes to becoming a bride. An old gentlemen closing his briefcase for the last time, the latch, before it closes.

Crossroads.

Daniel was all about change. And he wanted to capture it in the making.

The sea offered panoramic vistas, all of it changing, but Daniel wanted more. He stepped carefully, managing not to stumble on the rocky path down from the mountain ridge. He had spent the sunrise sitting on the edge of a bluff. As he descended, the sun rose slowly over the ridge behind him, and touched the world as he walked. He snapped image after image of the tip of a wildflower just as the first ray touched its color. A ground squirrel diving into his hole, a butterfly closing its wings. He caught the shadows, the moment before the sun kissed the rock to his side.

He stepped off the path, at last at the bottom of the hill. Part of his goal today was to capture images of the surrounding area that might help convince the development committee that the park should be preserved.

King Nico, his brother, was getting increasing pressure from the business developers on the island. There had been talk of turning this beautiful land into a new resort, a world class, five star hotel, elite, exclusive, and very expensive. Nico wanted to invest in the project himself and increase their large family reserve.

If you considered the Valdez wealth as one unit, they were the wealthiest “person” in the world by many billion. Daniel saw no need to increase it by many million more.

He started clicking shots of the shoreline. The park sat along a long stretch of beach with lovely white sand, turquoise water. The green grass stretched under the shade of small pockets of trees. A field of wild flowers shivered in the light ocean breeze, their colors a muted coral to complement the blue of the water.

He moved his lens, taking in all of the surrounding majesty and a burning warmth surged through him. Particularly when taking picturesque shots, he couldn’t describe the misty eyes or the lump in his throat with any word but joy. Beauty, though pleasing to the eye, meant much more to Daniel; it filled him with an exquisite ache.

The waves were interesting this morning. He kept his lens on the water, studying the varying colors and ripples.

And then an image startled him. He fought to keep his hands steady and clicked furiously as the form of a woman exited the water, flinging back her hair, droplets spraying out all around her. She raised her hands to the sky, her expression determined, full of energy, as if she were just about to say something. She shimmered with the energy of change. He snapped continuously, madly capturing the upturn of her arms, reaching for the sky, her closed eyes, and then the movement as she opened her eyes, their brilliant color matching the water. He didn’t even notice that she turned toward him specifically, only that this creature of change flung her hair off her shoulder, her body lithe, strong, as it moved in his direction, her face, dangerous, angry. He gasped and dropped his camera to hang about his neck.

She marched, her expression aflame.

And Daniel was mortified. Her bikini was lovely, but he hadn’t noticed that during the shoot. Her face and body stunning, by any standard, perfect. And she had every right to be angry with him for snapping images.

But they were likely some of the best he had ever taken.

She arrived in front of him a dripping fury. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He held out his hands, camera hanging on his neck. “I’m sorry. I got carried away. You surprised me when you popped up out of the water and then it was so beautiful, I couldn’t stop.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Some men learn to control themselves.”

He rocked back in shock. “That’s not what I meant at all.”

“Oh no? Well, why would you have any right?”

“I-I didn’t. I know. I am sorry.” He hated to say it, hated to lose the images he had just taken. But he continued, “We can delete every one. I’ll let you watch me do it.” He held his hand out, motioning they sit on the nearest bench.”

She shivered. “You know we will. And you’re lucky I don’t ask for your camera.”

He lifted his mouth in a half grin. “I don’t think we need to make threats—”

“You don’t? What about the complete threat to my privacy? What about tomorrow when these images could be anywhere.”

“Okay, okay, I said I’d delete them.” He pointed to the bench “After you?”

She huffed. He hadn’t heard someone huff in years. Then she wrung her hair out as it hung over her shoulders.

Her skin was bare. She hadn’t stopped to grab a towel. And he was enchanted. She seemed perfectly comfortable. Poised. She held herself in such a naturally elegant way. Her posture, the angles she dipped her head. Even in her anger, she presented a stunning magnificence, and he was struck by it. “You’re beautiful, you know.”Ugh.He wanted to bite his tongue. Had he really just said such a thing to this stormy lady?

Her face paled. “Are you coming on to me now? Look, mister. I’m feeling uncomfortable with the direction of this conversation.”

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