Page 6 of The Princess Home for Christmas

Chapter 3

Thomas was infuriating! And Dahlia felt like a bumbling shrew when he was around. Why could she not behave normally? What did it matter that she knew this man as a child? Or that he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen up close? And worked to save refugee villages and helped her mother with literacy. Was he weedling his way into her life on purpose?

She placed a finger at her neckline, loosening her suddenly stifling turtleneck. A part of her felt as impressed as she was smothered—and drawn to him. How do you get to know someone again when they have changed so much since you were young? Since she saw him yesterday these frustrating thoughts had plagued her. And she felt guilty for letting him walk away, feeling unappreciated. But she couldn’t reach out. That would just create expectations. Maybe. She huffed and shifted in her seat.

“Do I want to know what’s bothering you?” Tripp made a mock fearful face.

She and the brothers made their way in the limo to the first of the Christmas festivities. The Twelve Days of Christmas Parade.

“No. You don’t.”

Lucan smirked. And she glared at him. He knew everything without being told, and she didn’t want anyone else putting up any guesses. Besides, there was nothing to know. She was annoyed by an old childhood friend. Period. Done.

They pulled to a stop at the head of the parade, where the Parade Marshall was being loaded into his car. And Dahlia smiled. She loved her Torren traditions. She hurriedly changed into her costume. They would each ride down Main Street of their largest city in a horse drawn carriage all decked out in greenery with red ribbons and balls. She adjusted her dress. They each represented a different time period of Torren’s holiday history. This year she chose to dress in the late 1800s. Huge bell skirt, tight fitted bodice, her dress a rich and vibrant red with white and green trim. She had loved it as a drawing from her seamstress and she loved it even more as it flowed around her when she moved.

They hurried to their assigned equipages. Just as she reached her hand forward to climb inside, a group of children rushed by her, bumping into her gown and jostling her. One foot already on the bottom step of the carriage, she teetered backward, bouncing on one foot to try to balance herself.

A pair of strong hands steadied her. “Careful now.” His deep voice shivered through her. She turned in his arms and searched Thomas’ eyes. “Thank you.”

He nodded. Then rushed off. “Come on children. We’re late!”

She climbed up into her carriage to Lucan’s laughing face. “He’s riding with the orphanage children.” He indicated with his head.

Dahlia turned. Thomas rode a unicycle surrounded by a group of children on bikes, scooters, and skateboards. “Ok, that’s cool.” She laughed when he pretended to fall on a family, watching from the side.

“He’s the real deal, sis.” Lucan nodded. Anna smiled and said, “I do like him, but it’s hard to feel anything other than annoyed friendship for someone you knew as a twelve year old.” She reached for Dahlia’s hand and gave it a conspiratorial squeeze.

Dahlia smiled back, but returned her gaze to Thomas. The children all chased him in circles, laughing while he made faces at them. And then suddenly, he turned to her. And she did not look away. He held her gaze for three full breaths and then nodded. Dahlia smiled. Oh but he was handsome.

They moved through the streets, slowly, smiling, waving. Usually Dahlia hated attention, but this kind was different. These were her people, her family, her friends. The press was here, but largely focused elsewhere and bent on sharing a positive story. In fact, they spent a large amount of time keyed in on Thomas and the children. He winked, whirled in circles, showed off his moves and gave the cameras several good angles, smiling all the while.

The longer she watched, the more suspicious she grew. “He loves the attention.” She grumbled.

Anna turned to her. “What?” She followed Dahlia’s gaze and watched for a moment. “Oh, yes, it appears that way, doesn’t it?” Then she waved out the other side of the carriage. With the Queen of Spain riding beside her, Dahlia was receiving more attention than she would have liked.

And then Thomas rode up with his unicycle, grinning. The press followed and she had no choice but to smile back and play along. He mock bowed and handed her a rose. In any other situation, without so many people watching, she would have thought him charming.

“Smile,” Lucan hissed.

She thought she was. She stretched her lips across her face and bowed her head in thanks. The clicks of the cameras unnerved her. And then Thomas rode away, balancing on the unicycle, tossing candy to his right and left, the children laughing as they went.

“He doesn’t know how much you detest the limelight.”

“Why do you defend him? I’ve never seen you so supportive of a non-Valdez human, present company excluded of course.” She nodded at Anna.

“I’m not supportive. Not really.”

Anna snorted.

“No, I just hate to see a guy misunderstood, that’s all.”

“Hmm.” Dahlia doubted Thomas’ sincerity, what she saw of him he was simply playing with the press, seeking their continued attention. He could have been using her for some more press spotlight. And that was something she couldn’t abide. Nor did she seek.

They finished out the day with the royal traditional hot chocolate in the Torren Chocolati?re downtown. Their close friends were invited and any royal in attendance. Which today, meant that Thomas, as a friend, was present. “Will he join us for every event?” Dahlia whispered.

The press clicked and flashed and shouted questions at him until he entered the store, where the press were not invited.

He wiped his brow in pretend exhaustion. “That’s a lot of work.”

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