The Prince's Christmas Vow

His palm smacked the top of the railing. This was it. He was done trying to play nice with her. If she didn’t want to deal with him, she could hash it out with the palace’s team of attorneys.

Just then a movement on the beach caught his attention. He turned and focused in on the person strolling up the beach. But how was that possible? This beach was protected as part of the royal estate. As the figure drew closer, he quickly recognized the dark ponytail and the purple jacket.

It was Zoe. He stood up straight. She hadn’t left after all. He suddenly felt foolish for jumping to conclusions.

She glanced up at him and waved, but she didn’t smile. He raised his hand and waved back. He told himself that she didn’t still get to him. This whole arrangement was just a means to an end. That was all.

“I thought you’d left,” he said as she joined him on the deck. His voice came out gruffer than he’d intended.

Her eyes widened. “Is that your way of telling me to leave?”

“No.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “That isn’t what I meant.”

“Did you get your problem resolved?”

He nodded. “It’s dealt with for the moment. Now it’s time to deal with our problem.”

“You make it sound like your life is a series of problems.” She leaned back against the deck rail. “Since when did you get so serious? Weren’t you the one that said life is for enjoying?”

He sighed. “That was a long time ago.”

“Not that long ago.”

A frown pulled at his lips. “I’m fine just the way I am.”

“You aren’t the same happy guy I used to know.”

“I’m happy.” Wasn’t he? In all honesty, he’d been so focused on living up to people’s expectations that he’d dismissed what was important to him.

“But you rarely laugh or smile. It’s like you’re afraid your face will crack if you let your guard down and enjoy yourself.”

He shook his head, refusing to hear what she was saying. “I enjoy myself...when there’s time. I have a lot of things that need my attention. And right now I don’t have time to be irresponsible.”

“So you decided to take your royal responsibilities seriously?”

“I did. It was time.” His work was a refuge from the pain of yet another person he loved disappearing from his life. When Zoe had walked out on him, it’d nearly crushed him.

After his mother’s death and the disintegration of his family, Demetrius thought he’d finally found what he’d been searching for when he met Zoe. Warmth, happiness and most of all, love. Life couldn’t get any better—or so he’d thought. If only she’d have stayed, he would have moved heaven and earth to make her happy.

“What are you thinking about?” Zoe studied him.

He turned and gazed out over the blue sea. “Us.”

There was a noticeable moment of silence. “What about us?”

He wasn’t about to admit that he was thinking about their failed marriage. About how his world had crumbled after she’d left. Nor would he admit to how he had to rebuild himself in the aftermath. She didn’t deserve to know the damage she’d caused.

He faced her. “I want to know why you walked out on me and yet you refuse to sign the annulment papers.” His gaze narrowed in on her. “What’s your agenda?”

All of the pain came rushing back to him. He wasn’t about to let her plead innocence. He wasn’t going to let her run away again—not until he got the answers that had been alluding him this past year.

“Are you holding out for more money?”

“No! How could you think that?”

He left her question unanswered. He had his own questions and they took priority right now. “Are you sure you aren’t holding out for a moment in the spotlight? A chance to sell your story to the highest bidder?”

“No. No. No.” Hurt reflected in her eyes. “Would you quit with the accusations. I never wanted your money. I wanted—” She pressed her lips together.

At last they were getting somewhere, and he wasn’t going to let it drop now. “You wanted what?”

Silence was his only answer.

He stepped forward. She lowered her gaze. Maybe her reason for not signing the papers was something he hadn’t considered—not until now. Did she have regrets? Was she hoping for a reconciliation? If so, she was going to have a very long wait.

As though she could read the direction of his thoughts, her head rose. Their gazes caught and held. An old spark of attraction flared to life. This shouldn’t happen. He was over her. But the longer she stared into his eyes, the harder it became to remember why this was a bad idea—a very bad idea.