Tempting the Crown (The Crown 1)

“I like it. It’s really beautiful.” I moved toward one of the stone markings on the wall that was inscribed with Jefferson’s quotes. The carvings stretched several feet above my head.

There was a romantic eeriness wrapping us. Vaughn watched as I moved along the walls, absorbing the words.

“I thought with your appreciation for law it might be meaningful to you.”

I whipped around. “You did?”

“Aren’t you the girl who’s going to change the world around here?”

I closed my eyes. “I’m the girl who used to think that.”

“What happened to her?” The deepness in his voice held me.

“She’s trying to figure things out,” I admitted. “Trying to start over.”

He shoved his hands in the front of his pockets. “Then maybe you need a place here where you can think in silence.”

I smiled. “Maybe I do.”

“Let me show you something else. You’ll like this story.” He tugged my hand.

I followed him down the steps to the water’s edge. We were across from the White House. It looked tiny from this spot.

“Have you ever heard of the Cherry Tree Rebellion?”

“No. What is it?”

He wrapped his arms around my waist, locking them in place firmly against my body. I leaned into him.

“When they started to build the memorial some of the cherry trees needed to be sacrificed for construction.”

I glanced at the trees bordering the park. “But they’re so beautiful.”

“That’s what 150 other women thought too. They chained themselves to the trees and refused to move until the president agreed to have them transplanted instead of destroyed.”

“Really? I’ve never heard that story.”

“Really.”

He pressed his lips to my ear.

“Are you some kind of historian?” I teased.

“Just thought you’d like the story.”

“I do.”

“But?”

“Well, did it work? What happened with the trees?”

He chuckled. “The trees were dug up and moved to a new location. But don’t ask me where.”

I smiled.

We stood in silence. Our bodies melting into each other. I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to break the spell.

“Emily, you will find your way in this town. It takes time being the new fish in an ocean of sharks.”