Princes Waitress

Eddie touched his jaw gingerly. ‘Some girls you have sex with, some girls you marry, you know what I mean?’ Fear flickered in his eyes as he registered Casper’s expression. ‘Still, money changes a person. I’m sure she’s changed since she’s married you, Your Highness.’

‘Are you? I think Holly is the same girl she’s always been.’ His tone flat, Casper released the other man, shaking him off like a bug from a leaf.

Eddie spluttered with relief and backed away, his hand on his jaw, and then his chest. ‘You ripped my shirt.’

‘You’re lucky I stopped at your shirt.’

‘Do you know how much I’m going to get for this story?’ Eddie’s face was scarlet with rage and Casper shot him a contemptuous glance.

‘So it was you who sold the story to the paper the first time.’

‘Is that what Holly told you?’

‘Don’t call her Holly. To you, it’s Her Royal Highness.’ Casper flexed his long fingers and had the satisfaction of seeing Eddie take another step backwards. ‘And if you ever mention the princess’s name again, the next thing I rip will be your throat.’

‘I thought princes were supposed to be civilised,’ Eddie squeaked from his position of safety, and Casper gave a slow, dangerous smile as he strode towards the door.

‘I never did believe in fairy stories.’

‘I’ll be fine, Emilio, honestly. I just feel like some sea air, and The Dowager Cottage is so pretty, right on the sand. It reminds me of the night before my wedding.’ When she’d still been full of hope.

Holly’s face ached from the effort of smiling, and she stuffed a few items into a large canvas bag, as if a day on the beach was just what she wanted, but Emilio didn’t look convinced.

‘I will call His Highness and—’

‘No, don’t do that.’ Holly interrupted him quickly, wincing as the baby kicked her hard. ‘I just want to be on my own for a bit.’

And she didn’t want to be in the palace when Casper eventually returned from wherever it was he’d stalked off to.

She just couldn’t stand yet another confrontation.

And she had no idea what they were going to do about their marriage. Could they really limp along like this with just her love and hot sex to hold them together?

Was it enough?

Her head started to throb again and she made a conscious effort to switch off her thoughts for the baby’s sake, wondering whether the tension was the reason he was kicking so violently.

For the baby’s sake, she needed to try and relax.

Without further question, Emilio summoned her driver, and once she arrived at The Dowager Cottage Holly kicked off her shoes and made a conscious effort to unwind. ‘I’m just going to sit on the beach for a bit.’ She smiled at the man who had become a friend. ‘Thanks, Emilio.’

‘Pietro made you this, madam.’ He handed her a small bag. ‘Just a few of your favourite snacks.’

‘He is such a sweetie.’ Choked by the warmth that they’d showed her, she suddenly rose on tiptoe to kiss Emilio. ‘And so are you,’ she said huskily, her lips brushing his cheek. ‘You’ve been so kind to me all the way through this. Thank you.’

Emilio cleared his throat. ‘You are a very special person, madam.’

‘I’m a waitress,’ Holly reminded him with a dry tone, but Emilio shook his head.

‘No.’ His voice was soft. ‘You’re a princess. In every sense that matters.’

Holly blinked several times and suddenly found that she had a lump in her throat. She was so touched by his words that for a moment she couldn’t reply.

She could be happy with her life, she told herself. She had friends.

‘Well, let’s hope that’s one kiss that the paparazzi didn’t manage to catch on camera.’ Lightening the atmosphere with a cheeky wink, she walked onto the sand.

‘I’ll be right here, madam,’ Emilio called after her, adjusting the tiny radio he wore in his ear. ‘You know how to call me.’

‘Thanks. But no one has access to this beach. I’ll be fine. Go inside and relax. It’s too hot to stand out here.’

Her pale-blue sun dress swinging around her bare calves, Holly walked to the furthest end of the beautiful curving beach and plopped herself down on the sand.

For a while she just stared out to sea. Then she opened the bag Pietro had sent, but discovered she wasn’t hungry.

Finally she opened her book.

‘You’re holding that book upside down. And you should be wearing a hat.’ Casper stood there, tall and powerful, the width of his shoulders shading her from the sun. ‘You’ll burn.’

Holly dropped the book onto the sand. ‘Please go away. I want to be alone.’ What she didn’t want was to feel this immediate rush of pleasure that always filled her whenever he was near.

‘You hate being on your own,’ he responded instantly. ‘You are the most sociable person I have ever met.’

Holly brushed the sand from the book, her fingers shaking. ‘That depends on the company.’

His arrogant, dark head jerked back as though she’d hit him again, but instead of retaliating he settled himself on the sand next to her, the unusual tension in his shoulders suggesting that he was less than sure of his welcome.

‘You’re extremely angry with me, and I can’t blame you for that.’ He studied her for a moment and then reached gently for her hand and curled her slender fingers into a fist. ‘You can hit me again if you like.’

‘It didn’t make me feel any better.’ She pulled her hand away from his, hating herself for feeling a thrill of excitement instead of indifference. ‘And I’d be grateful if you’d stop looking at me like that.’

‘How am I looking at you?’

‘You’re sizing up the situation so that you can decide which of your slick diplomatic skills are required to talk me round.’

‘I wish it were that easy.’ Casper lifted one broad shoulder in a resigned gesture. ‘Unfortunately for me, I have no previous experience of handling a situation like this.’

‘Which is?’

‘Grovelling.’ A gleam of self-mockery glinting in his sexy eyes, he reached for her hand again, this time locking it firmly in his. ‘I was wrong about you. The baby is mine. I know that now.’

Holly closed her eyes tightly, swamped by a rush of emotions so powerful that she couldn’t breathe.

He believed her. He trusted her.

Finally , he trusted her.

And then she realised that something wasn’t quite right about his sudden confession and her eyes flew open. ‘Wait a minute.’ She snatched her hand away from his because she couldn’t keep her mind focused when he was touching her. ‘The last time I saw you, you were accusing me of having an affair with Eddie—when did you suddenly become rational?’

Dark streaks of colour highlighted his aristocratic bone structure, and Casper spread his hands in a gesture of conciliation. ‘I believe you, Holly. That’s all that matters.’

‘No.’ Holly scrambled to her feet, knowing that she only stood a chance of thinking clearly if he wasn’t within touching distance. ‘No, it isn’t. You went to the doctor, didn’t you?’

A muscle flickered in his bronzed cheek. ‘Yes.’