Page 7 of The Princess Home for Christmas

“We are all crying in sympathy for you.” Dahlia winced at her own sarcasm, but the brothers all just laughed. “You’ll get used to it.”

Nico clapped him on the back. “True enough. We’re all grateful to you for diverting their attention.”

Lucan shook his head. “Nah, Nico. No one cares about us anymore. They want the eligible bachelors. We’re off the market.” The look he gave Anna was so tender, Dahlia had to look away.

Thomas chose that moment to join them. “May I?” He indicated the empty seat beside Dahlia in their booth.

She scooted over as far as she could to the corner. “Sure.”

The rose lay across the center of the table. “Thank you for the flower.”

He smiled. “You’re welcome. The woman who gave it to me, at the street corner said it was a lucky rose and that if I gave it to someone special, all my dreams would come true.”

She felt her face heat, and she tried to hide it.

“And what are your dreams?” Anna saved Dahlia from having to respond. She gave her a subtle wink.

“My dreams.” He leaned back in his chair. “Where to begin.”

“You’ve already made the cover of People, what more is there?” Dahlia rose an eyebrow in challenge.

“True. Milestone captured.” He made a pretend check mark in the air. “I think next I’d like to appear on a talk show.” He fiddled with his spoon. “But between the four of us here. I never sought out the People thing.”

Hmm. Something to note. Perhaps he wasn’t so attention focused after all.

The door to the store opened and a crowd of teenage girls screamed, pointing and waving at him before they could close the door again and a team of palace security moved them away from the door.

She caught his grin before he could hide it. “You love this.”

“What? Sure!”

Lucan kicked him under the table. Dahlia felt the force of it through his thigh next to her.

“Ah, I mean, no, I don’t love this.”

She narrowed her eyes.

He held up his hands. “What I love, is the added publicity for better things. It is fun to use the spotlight to draw attention to what’s important.”

She snorted. “Like your abs?”

She had seen him flexing and making the girls scream for more.

“You saw that?” He pretend to flex a bicep. “Were you impressed?”

“Ugh. No, I mean, it’s fine. You’re great.” She stumbled for the right words. “What I mean is, It’s ok. Everyone loves the spotlight. I just find it stifling.”

A young girl approached. She was the daughter of a minister in the Torren government. “Excuse me. Mr. Castellanos?” Her sweet small voice made Dahlia wish to kiss her cheek.

“Yes, little one, how may I help you?” His voice took on a tender note, its deep timbre making her smile.

“Could I have your autograph? The girls at school won’t believe I met you.”

He laughed and signed her paper.

When she left, he shrugged.

Dahlia knew no amount of handsome transformation to her childhood pest of a friend could convince her that the crowd and publicity were worth getting to know him again.

Then he placed a hand over hers between them on the bench and she thrilled at his nearness. He leaned in close. “I have to leave early out the back to draw some of this crowd away. Can I call you later?” His green eyes held a challenge. And a spark of mischief. She couldn’t resist either. “Ok.”

He left before her heart settled back into its normal beat.

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