Page 19 of Matched with the Grumpy Secret Prince

She turns her gaze to me, and for a split second, I feel the weight of it, like she’s sizing me up. But her expression softens into a genuine smile. “Honestly, I’m still taking it all in because the nostalgia is just starting to kick in,” she says.

Mia grins, clearly pleased with Sophie’s response.

“So what do you do, Graham?” Sophie asks. I ignore the thrill that goes through me at how my name sounds rolling off her tongue.

I steady my thoughts and take a sip of my coffee. “Your sister didn’t tell you?” I spare a glance at Mia, who is obviously enjoying the exchange between us.

“I wanted you to have your moment,” Mia supplies.

“Well, I work as a landscape architect. I moved to Bardstown seven years ago, but it became my career six years ago.” It’snot like me to be this distracted, especially not by someone I’ve just met. But there’s something about Sophie—something I can’t quite put my finger on.

Maybe it’s her smile, the way it lights up her face without seeming forced. Or perhaps it’s the way she holds herself, poised but not untouchable. She’s unlike anyone I’ve met, and that’s saying something, considering the life I left behind.

“That’s interesting,” Sophie responds.

Our eyes meet briefly, and in that instant, there’s a spark—something unspoken that passes between us. It’s quick and fleeting but lingers in the air like an echo.

Mia, as always, breaks the moment. “Well, we won’t keep you, Graham. I just wanted to introduce Sophie to one of Bardstown’s finest.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Bardstown’s finest? That’s a stretch.”

She grins. “Take the compliment. It’s rare coming from me.”

Sophie smiles again, her expression light but thoughtful. “It was nice meeting you, Graham.”

“You too,” I reply, the words feeling heavier than they should.

As they leave the table and move toward the counter, I watch Sophie out of the corner of my eye. There’s something about her that feels… different.

She’s like a bright light in a place that’s grown comfortably dim. And I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or something I should stay far away from.

For now, I shove the thought aside, focusing instead on my coffee and the quiet hum of the café. But as I take a sip of mycoffee, noticing Mia and Sophie approaching the counter, I know one thing for sure.

This isn’t the last time I’ll be seeing Sophie.

Isit at my drafting table for hours, the site plans for the park spread out in front of me, but the designs I’ve sketched feel uninspired and disconnected.

It’s not like me to struggle like this. Designing landscapes and carving out spaces for people to connect with nature and each other—it’s the one thing that’s always come naturally. But today, my thoughts are a mess.

Whenever I try to focus, my mind pulls me back to the café. To Sophie.

It’s infuriating, this constant loop in my head. I barely know her. She’s Mia’s sister, for goodness’ sake. She is here for a visit, and yet I can’t stop thinking about her. The brightness of her smile, the way her coral blazer seemed to light up the entire room, the calm confidence in her voice.

And then there was the way she looked at me—curious, like she was trying to figure me out but wasn’t in any rush to get there. Most people in Bardstown don’t bother looking too closely. They take what I give them at face value, which is exactly how I like it.

But Sophie… she looked like she saw more.

I toss the pencil onto the drafting table and lean back in my chair, rubbing my hands over my face. It’s ridiculous. I’ve beenhere for seven years, and no one has thrown me off balance like this. Not once.

Maybe it’s because she doesn’t belong here—not in the way most people do. She’s too polished, too self-assured. She reminds me of the life I left behind, but at the same time, she’s nothing like it. This is so aggravating, to say the least. With the incessant calls from the castle and now Sophie appearing, it feels like the perfect world I’ve built for myself is crashing down on me.

There’s a warmth to her that the castle never had, a quiet humanity beneath the surface that makes her stand out in a way I can’t ignore.

My phone buzzes on the table, dragging me out of my thoughts. I glance at the screen, and just like every other time today, it’s the same number.

The castle. Annoyed by all my emotions, I grab my phone and finally swipe my thumb over the screen, answering the call.

“Hello?” My voice is sharper than I intended, but I don’t care.

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