Page 26 of Incognito

Natasha laughed, enjoying Dante’s reversion to teasing and funny. She didn’t like the serious expression she’d glimpsed earlier, like he shouldered the weight of his country on his shoulders.

“Is your mother that bad?”

“She’s been trying to marry me off for years, and it looks like my stalling tactics won’t work much longer.”

“Oh?”

“Mother’s ageing. She wants to hand over the throne to me as soon as possible, but I need a wife for the country to take me seriously, for the people to see me as a genuine monarch and not some playboy prince.” He grimaced. “She’s becoming relentless in her endeavours and quite frankly, I’m sick of running from the responsibility.”

“That’s a big responsibility,” she said, her heart sinking that this vibrant, fun-loving guy would be forced into a marriage he didn’t want.

Though in all honesty, the thought of Dante married upset her more than the prince having his freedom curtailed.

Not that she should care. He’d be out of her life once his business in Australia concluded and she’d never hear from him again.

Exactly why her plan to lighten up wasn’t such a great idea; it led to all sorts of fantasies, like seeing herself living in a fairytale castle beside her prince charming just like she’d always imagined as a little girl growing up.

But life wasn’t a fantasy. Not for her.

She had harsh realities to face, and responsibilities to shoulder. She could empathise with him in that regard.

“Let’s not talk about that now. I’d prefer to concentrate on my time here in Melbourne,” he said, laying a guiding hand in the small of her back and propelling her towards the barn door. “If my carefree days end when I return to Calida, I intend to make the most of my stay in your beautiful city.”

“Good idea,” she said.

An excellent idea that made perfect sense. Then why the awful feeling that she was just another Melbourne attraction he intended on having a little fun with before he ascended to the throne?

Is that what she wanted? To have fun, flirt, and relax with a guy who wouldn’t pressure her?

Of course she did. She’d decided as much last night after her chat with Ella. Then why the hollow, empty feeling that there was more to life than fun?

For a girl who hadn’t had any light-hearted fun in a long time, she shouldn’t even be thinking long term. That’s what had got her into trouble with Clay in the first place: limited dating history, falling for the first man to pay more than two seconds attention to her, envisaging their white wedding way too early.

With Dante, she had a golden opportunity to ease back into casual dating with a little harmless flirtation. She shouldn’t be worrying about whether he was dabbling with her.

She needed to live a little, and what better way that with a handsome, laidback, prince?

“Is something wrong?”

Realising she hadn’t moved past the doorway, she shook her head and sent him a confident smile. “No. Just thinking about how much fun I’m going to have watching you test the jumping castles.”

“Is that right?” His answering smile warmed her insides, like the richest, sweetest, hot chocolate.

“That’s right. So come on, Your Highness. Let’s see what you’re made of.”

As they left behind the smells of warm, clean animals and dry hay, Natasha knew that whatever happened, she intended on making the most of her limited brush with royalty.

15

“You call that jumping?”

If Natasha laughed any harder she’d tear an abdominal.

Dante glared at her, standing with her feet firmly planted on the ground, while he bounced like a lunatic on a huge inflated plastic castle.

“If you’re so clever, Miss Telford, why don’t you show me how it’s done?” He folded his arms, which didn’t improve his situation. He wobbled and would’ve fallen flat on his face if he hadn’t spread his legs wider to brace.

“I’ll be glad to show you,” she said, clambering into the giant mock castle, complete with turrets and windows. “Now move aside, and you’ll see what jumping’s all about.”

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