Page 7 of A Girl and HER Prince
Livvy was more comfortable behind the camera and the computer screen, not here. Now, she yearned to get thrown out on her ear and quick, so they could just drown their sorrows with a gyro in one of those adorable villas on the hill.
The men were just as untouchable—sculpted, bronzed, charismatic, and on the whole, very interested in winning the attention of their ladies, not even sparing a glance at the fully-dressed Livvy.
This was “The Chrises” all over again.
No matter what Deedee said, this would never be Livvy’s scene.
She just wanted a man who—who—well, at least wasn’t a mean aristocrat, but more than that,obviously, since she hadn’t even thought about royalty until now—Livvy just hoped to find a soulmate; one who could get her to laugh, those obnoxious belly laughs or piggy snorts, even, and he wouldn’t be disgusted that she let go enough to be herself around him, but he’d love her for it; he’d love her hair curling around her neck in the heat and her rumpled sundress.
Livvy hid her laugh. Okay, so he didn’thaveto be a saint, but at least she’d feel safe with him because he cared about her, and even if she wasn’t a princess… he’d treat her like one, like her father treated her mother.
And she’d return the favor, and treat him like a prince.
She didn’t need arealprince for that. She needed someone with conviction and heart and soul. What was so wrong with holding out for a man like that?
Strange thoughts when none of the guys in her near vicinity fit the bill, and she wouldn’t bother considering any of this, except Deedee was about as predictable as a clock and she was about to give Livvy the third degree on finding her crush of the hour.
Her naturally outgoing friend seemed to think that Livvy could make it work withanyone. After all, Deedee could pick up any guy at the drop of a hat… and she did! Livvy was starting to look like she was picky in comparison.
Am I?
“Oh, here’s our first hot specimen of a man,” Deedee said, generous as always with her compliments. “He’s a bodyguard. I know him well. Hello, Turner!”
Livvy slowed. Bodyguard? That meant they were about to be thrown out on their ear.Good!That was her first thought, but her second thought quickly chewed that up and spit out what was left of anything sensible in her brain when she saw for herself how absolutely right Deedee was. How was Turner even a bodyguard? He belonged on the front of one of those beach volleyball calendars.
He crossed arms bulging with muscle across his chest. His hair was lighter than many of the Greek men she’d met, but he had the same defined bone structure in his face, and his eyes were a dark chocolate brown that seemed to find Livvy then freeze her in place… as any good bodyguard should have the skills to do.
He probably wouldn’t find it amusing that his toughness wasn’t as intimidating as his beauty.
Livvy’s cheeks flooded with embarrassment. Supermodel guys weren’t really her thing, but she could just imagine what her brothers would say about her boarding a ship meant for such a beautiful, rich, and famous crowd:“Find a man we won’t have to beat into shape when we take him camping.”
No wonder she didn’t want to bring anyone home.
“Don’t worry, Turner,” Deedee called out. “Venice is expecting me.” She waved across the deck through the mass of staff and sunbathing guests. “Venice! I came!”
No one could possibly hear her across the deck over this noise.
And still trouble was coming for them. Despite expecting a humiliating scene, Livvy’s heart quickened with fear at finally meeting the prince in the flesh.
Livvy had edited the videos on their travel vlogs, so she should be able to pick him out right away, but she was having trouble finding him in the crowd. Turner made a low sound of warning like he was getting ready to kick them out.
“Ah, there’s the duke!” Deedee narrated to her viewers with a smile. “Over there—that’s Achilles—Venice’s best friend, everybody! Imagine that bad boy wanting to hang out with such agoodytwo shoes?”
Once again, Deedee had crafted the perfect introduction—thatwas a bad boy! Achilles was tall, olive-toned, and exotic with a black velvety gaze that took in the other guests with ill-contained boredom.
He was missing a shirt, which of course, in no way was an accident. Everything about Achilles screamed showoff, from his swagger to the unruly black hair he swept back with his hand, and yeah, those ab muscles were meant to get a girl’s heart rushing.
… if one liked that kind of thing.
Once again, Deedee winked at the camera phone. “Livvy can withstand his charms, of course.”
Livvy almost laughed at that, not that she didn’t try to catch Achilles in her shot. An artist knew when she’d found a target the camera would love. Still, she’d keep her distance. The dreadful duke was a tiger ready to spring, and likely as dangerous.
Although perhaps not more so than his prince.
There was no avoiding this run-in—especially since Livvy was the one holding the phone. And yet when she saw Venice, her breath caught nervously.
She almost hadn’t recognized him. Freedom from Deedee had wrought a dramatic transformation in the guy. His strong jawline was rough from not shaving for days, almost like he was trying to hide the face that Deedee couldn’t get enough of. He was taller than she’d thought, almost imposing in a dangerously magnetic andnotvery princely way.
