Page 41 of A Princess for Christmas

“I bet it’s beautiful.” Gabby sighed. “I bet it isn’t made out of cardboard.” Then she looked stricken. “No offense, Leo.”

He smiled. “None taken, kiddo.”

“It is... beautiful,” Marie said.

“Don’t sound so convincing,” Leo teased.

The fireplace she was thinking of was enormous and tiled in creamy white marble topped by a cherry mantel carved into an elaborate scene of cherubim playing. In the center hung a portrait of her mother, one Marie wasn’t partial to because itwas formal and stuffy and captured little of her mother’s spirit. The whole thingwasbeautiful, in an imposing sort of way, and it was a centerpiece of the public space in the palace, but... “I like this one better.”

“Are youcrazy?” Gabby exclaimed. “How can you like this one better?”

“I just do.”

It was the truth. And here was another truth: she didn’t want to leave.

It was hard to say good-bye.

Leo didn’t like to think of himself as a sentimental person. He had accepted the fact that he was when it came to Gabby, but that was because they were related. He was her de facto parent. She didn’t have to get under his skin because she was already there. Shebelongedthere.

But damn, it seemed like the princess had somehow wormed her way in there, too.

She was prissy and uptight and entitled, he reminded himself as they all stood awkwardly near the door. She had insisted that her handler dudes pick her up, firmly rebuffing Leo’s offer to drive her back to the hotel.

He held her coat for her—the ridiculous pink one—then reached for his, intending to walk her downstairs, but then Mr.Benz appeared in the hallway.

“Your Royal Highness.” He inclined his head. “Are you ready?”

Right. It was a good reminder. Marie was a person people literally bowed down to. She was a person who had a fuckingmanservant.

Leo would admit that the last few days had been, to quote Marie, a surprisingly refreshing break from reality. By god, he’d had a snowball fight with a princess and kissed her. But a break was just that: a break. Reality still loomed on the other side of it.

Marie turned to Dani. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk more about literature, but I so enjoyed meeting you, and I wish you the best. I can’t wait to read your book.”

Dani smiled, and the women shook hands. Then it was Gabby’s turn to receive the royal blessing. “I so enjoyed meeting you, too, Gabriella, and attending your play. Thank you for your hospitality this evening. Your sandwiches were delicious.”

Gabby and her big heart responded by throwing her arms around Marie. Mr.Benz sniffed.

Well, fuck that. As soon as Marie parted from Gabby, Leo grabbed her and wrapped her in a big hug. He did it to annoy Mr.Benz. Or at least that’s what he told himself.

She was small and strong, and she made his chest hurt. He bent down to whisper in her ear. “Keep your chin up, Princess.”

“And you as well, Mr.Ricci.”

And then she was gone.

The break from reality was over.

He spared a moment, as he, Dani, and Gabby started clearing the dishes, to wonder if he could text Marie. Just once, late tomorrow, to check that she had gotten home okay.

But that was dumb. She had a snooty butler-manservant and a shredded bodyguard whose sole tasks were to make sure she got places okay. She didn’t need him.

Back to reality.

Except . . . fuck it. The way the school calendar fell this yearmeant Gabby didn’t have to be back at school for more than two weeks, and he literally had fifteen grand in his back pocket. “What do you say we go to Florida?”

A dish clattered into the sink as Gabby swung to face him. “What? Like for Christmas?”

“Yeah. Why not?” He made eye contact with Dani, who looked as surprised as Gabby. “We can leave tomorrow. All of us.”

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