Page 36 of The American

“He wasn’t checking you out—”

“Ha, oh no, your face. Thad, are you jealous?”

“I’m not.” He folded his arms, but Sage laughed and refused to believe him.

Then she quieted and squeezed his fingers in her own. “I have a confession to make.”

“Another one?”

“Last night I googled you all and I realized I was wrong. I have a whole new favorite.”

He harrumphed. “Well, I hope so.”

She leaned across him. “Absolutely. In fact, I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. The best Torren Prince is sitting right next to me, only he looks more like an American.”

He held out his shirt. “It’s the Mickey Mouse. I get that a lot.” He reached out and ran his hand through her hair. “Americans don’t wear enough Mickey.”

She laughed, but stayed close, her mouth just a breath away. “I have a Mickey hat.”

“Oh yeah?” He smiled and then he pressed his lips to hers. “I’d like to see it.” His lips mumbled, covering her soft mouth with his own.

After one of the most enjoyable times Thad ever had on his jet, they landed, and the car took them to the palace. When they pulled up to the front, Sage’s gasp made him smile. “I don’t know how you ever leave.”

Now that she was here, his heart jumped at the thought that he didn’t have a reason to. And the thought made him stumble, so surprised at the completion and the peace that filled him just because Sage stood on the front steps of the palace.

Chapter 18

Sage fell in love. With the view out her balcony. They put her in a lovely suite of rooms on the west side of the palace. She could see all the way to the blue of the sea. Thad was raised in this paradise? Everyone at the palace was so lovely. Every staff member, his family, all of them. Sage had never felt more at home.

The sliding glass door opened behind her. “You make this view look good.” Thad came up behind her and wrapped her in his arms.

“Nature is doing just right on her own. I’ve never seen anything so heart achingly beautiful.”

“And now you sound like my brother, Daniel. He’s always got a camera around his neck, trying to capture everything.”

She leaned back into him and enjoyed the feeling of being in his arms. “This is nice. I already don’t want to go back.”

“We could spend more time here.”

She turned to face him. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying. I love you here. I want to see where this goes, me and you, and part of that can be coming back home as often as we want.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a shy smile, something she didn’t think she’d ever see on his face, but her heart melted.

“I want to see where this can go too. Thanks for bringing her here, Thad.”

“Much nicer than our cramped New York penthouse.”

She grinned inside. Only a Prince of Torren would consider that spacious three bedroom flat with only one person living in it, cramped.

Music started on a set of speakers above them. She should stop being surprised by anything where Thad was concerned. He turned her around and pulled her into a slow dance. “I’ve always wanted to do this.” Thad rested his chin on her head. “You fit just right.”

Her cheeks ached from the constant smiling. As he spun her around and laughed and flirted, she gave up her last feathers of resistance and fell for Thad Valdez, Prince of Torren. She stepped closer, ran her fingers down his arms, and ached to be even closer.

He slowed their steps and whispered, “What am I going to do with you?”

Before she could answer, he reached for her hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

He picked up his pace, gently tugging her after.

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