The King and the Kindergarten Teacher (The Rebel Royals 1)

“Me too,” said Aubrey. “But Ms. Pickett can be weird sometimes. Fun weird but still weird.”

And so, with Principal Clarke standing guard, Princess Penelope came into Esme’s classroom for a rousing lesson of math movements where she got each and every question right. By the end of the lesson, she wore a huge grin on her pretty face and was somewhat out of breath from all the brain and physical activity.

“That was fun,” she said to Esme, hazel eyes twinkling like stars were hidden in their depths.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” said Esme.

“All right, little pea, it’s time to go,” said Prince Alex from his station at the wall where he’d promptly pulled out and engaged his cell phone for the ten-minute lesson.

“I’d like to see you again,” Princess Penelope said to Esme. “Perhaps we can discuss fractions over dinner?”

“Math at dinner?” asked Esme.

“She’s a strange child,” said the prince. “She actually enjoys school. Meanwhile, I’m getting hives being this close to chalk.”

Esme laughed. She didn’t giggle. The prince was charming as a prince should be. But during their entire encounter, he hadn’t once sent her heart aflutter like a certain knight in his employ.

“My father is having a dinner party tonight,” said Princess Penelope. “I’m sure I can invite a guest.”

Principal Clarke grit his teeth. But this wasn’t his territory. Esme was being asked to dine with royals. Which meant she might get to see Leo again. And besides, w

ho wouldn’t want to have dinner with a princess, even if it was to discuss fractions.

Chapter Seven

“I am so glad you could come tonight, Senator.”

Leo shook the dozenth hand that night. His jaw ached from being stretched wide into a grin for hours that morning after his speech. Then his jovial grin and pumping of hands continued on into the afternoon as he hobnobbed with the world’s most powerful movers and shakers. He’d barely gotten a moment’s rest before opening his own doors to receive more guests.

That was the job. He was the chief spokesperson for Cordoba. The guests he welcomed and schmoozed tonight would help keep Cordoba’s future bright and profitable.

Cordoba had many trade agreements with western countries hungry for oil. The waters around the island had a few reserves that, even after decades of pumping, still showed no sign of running dry. The spices culled from their cumin farms were always in high demand. The fine silk textiles they produced had recently come back in fashion and were presently being walked down high fashion runways.

U.S. Senators, British Parliamentary members, and French officials weren’t the only high-powered players at tonight’s dinner. There were also a few socialites strategically seated around the table. The strategy had not been Leo’s doing, it had been the women’s own.

Alan Atwood was a titan of the hotel industry, and Leo was happy to speak with him about the possibilities of developing a resort off the Cordovian coastline. Atwood hadn’t been on the original guest list. He was likely there at the bequest of his social climbing daughter, Alana.

Luckily, Alana Atwood wasn’t interested in Leo. She had her sights set on Alex. But to have Alex tell it, he’d been there, done that, and gotten the polyester-blend t-shirt.

Hosting is where Leo shined. He was a people person through and through just like his own father. He was able to suss out the needs of those around him and fill them. Unlike his brother who was content to escape to dark corners of the world to try out exotic cuisine while hitting on anything in a skirt. So long as they didn’t ask for a ring, Alex was happy to spend his money on jewelry and fine dining for his victims.

Leo found his brother in the kitchen area of the hotel suite, likely hiding out from the hotel huntress.

“Where did you get this pie?” Alex said around a full mouth of bisteeva. “Did you fly it in from home?”

“That was for dessert,” Leo admonished.

“You know I always have my dessert first.”

“There’s a pie shop in the city. It’s near the school you and Pen visited today. How was that, by the way?”

“Very well. She learned math by standing and sitting, it was quite rousing. And she invited the teacher over for dinner.”

“What?” Leo’s mouth fell open.

“To discuss fractions or something.”

“You let Penelope invite a stranger into our home?”