Page 78 of Mistletoe Season
“Not to fear,” he announced, still using his prince voice. “There is one last gift I left in my carriage.”
He held Charlie’s gaze, his grin wonderfully crooked, as he ran from the house.
Charlie looked over at Kevin, whose attention shifted from Charlie to the door, as if Arran was a stone short of a full chimney. Within seconds, the door burst open, and Arran entered carrying a leftover Christmas bag they’d had in the truck.
“For you, Mr. Lindsey.” He offered the bag with a bow. “Even a father needs a moment to dress like a prince for his daughters.”
Kevin hesitated before taking the bag, likely imagining a similar costume to the one Arran wore waited inside. But when Kevin pulled out the folded clothes, his stoic expression softened. “This can’t be for me.”
Was that one of Arran’s suit jackets, along with the clothes he’d been wearing before changing into the prince? He must have brought the jacket for Kevin and realized the man didn’t have the rest of a suit to complete the look so... he added his own. Even his shoes.
Charlie’s hand flew to her chest. It was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.
“Yes, sir.” Arran’s smile grew. “No one should be forgotten at Christmas, especially an everyday hero like yourself.”
The slight wariness in the man disappeared. He stood taller, pulling the bag closer with a nod. “I thank ya.”
“Now, princesses.” Arran turned back to the girls. “I must sweep Lady Charlotte away so that she can transform into her princess dress for a special dinner tonight.”
He swept into a low bow, cape flapping behind him, and then ceremoniously offered Charlie his hand.
Interesting how the former playboy and gallant gentleman blended together in such an enticing sort of way. He certainly deserved a few reward kisses after this performance.
She took his hand and walked to the truck.
“You were fantastic,” she said once they’d started back down the mountain. “It’s as if you’ve played the role of a prince before.”
His mouth twisted up in a half smile before he spoke. “I’m afraid the role of good prince has been sorely lacking of late, but I believe I’m on the right track to reprise that part.”
“You wear it well.”
“I think my head, my heart”—he sighed, holding her gaze—“and my priorities are in the right place now.”
She wrestled with her grin, her gaze roaming over his costume, before she spoke again. “You do realize we’re going directly to our dinner date, right?”
“Of course. We have reservations.”
“Mm-hmm.” She nodded, losing the wrestling match. “So we don’t have time to stop for extra clothes.”
His brow crinkled in confusion, and then he looked down at his attire before bringing the truck to a stop in the middle of the dirt road. “Oh dear” was his only response, before tagging a grin on the end of a helpless shrug. “Well, my lady, I suppose you must make do with a princely escort tonight rather than your dashing assistant.”
She glanced at him with his red and navy puffed sleeves, his red cape, and the perfect prince-wave of his hair, the result of his generosity and sacrifice for Kevin Lindsey to be a hero for his daughters.
And the wonderfully warm feeling in her face traveled down into her chest as she realized... she loved him.
Charlie had no idea how it was going to work out, or what their relationship would look like in a week or two. But right now she just wanted to show him how much he meant to her.
With a breathless laugh she grabbed him by the front of his tunic and pulled him toward her, her lips finding his. He chuckled against her mouth and then slid his hands to cradle her face before moving them into her hair.
She pulled back, one brow rising with her grin. “I think your role as prince is definitely growing on me.”
***
“What time do you and Ellie leave for the airport tomorrow?”
Charlotte, looking lovely in a large green sweater and leggings, curled up next to him on her couch as the ending credits ofIt’s a Wonderful Liferolled across the screen.
“You are lovely.”
