“I’m not really the type to run away. You all raised me better.” I get to my feet. “I’m not saying I’m marrying the princess, but I’m not saying I won’t either. If I want to, we’ll get it done and to hell with the family.”

“She think that way too?” he asks.

I grab my hat and slam it on my head. “If she doesn’t, then I guess it’s up to me to convince her otherwise.” I stomp down the hall to Birdie’s war room, where I find Princess in the midst of about a hundred bolts of fabric. I battle through reams of silk and chiffon and catch Princess’ hand in mine. “Sorry to steal Princess, but I promised to give her a riding lesson, and if I don’t do it this morning, it’s not going to get done.”

I tug her behind me, not listening to a word either Birdie or Cam are saying.

“I know how to ride,” Princess tells me.

“Yeah? You’ll have to show me.”

“Are we talking about riding horses?”

I swing around and pull her flush against me. “Are you suggesting something else? I thought we could only go so far.”

She peers at me under her eyelashes. “As long as we keep our clothes on, there’s a lot of things we can do.”

My blood heats up. “Let’s go do them now.”

“How about you take me for a ride around the ranch and then we can have some fun?” she proposes.

“Perfect.”

I take her out to the barn and introduce her to Honey, a golden quarter horse from Astor’s farm. She’s gentle and well-mannered. I even produce an English saddle.

“You’re so very civilized,” she teases me as I boost her up onto the horse.

“Yeah. We even got running water and flushing toilets,” I joke, although part of me wonders if she does think we’re backward here. “What kind of horses do you have?”

“None currently. We live in Salerno, which is Southern Italy, and it’s not good for horseback riding.”

“How come you live there and not in your castle?”

“Daddy’s health. Luxemstei is in the mountains, and it’s cold and drafty, and his lungs are bad. The warmer weather makes it easier for him to breathe.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

She takes in a deep breath and gazes at the land beyond the barn. “I think he’d like it here.“

CHAPTER 12

MARIA

“This place is breathtaking.” Everything about the Justice ranch is. I come from one of the most beautiful places in the world, but still I can appreciate the beauty of this land. The images I dreamed up in my head would have never lived up to this.

“It’s something.” I turn to face Sterling, who is staring at me.

I swear this man always has his eyes on me. To be honest, I’m not sure how to handle it. Sometimes he’s looking at me like he wants to strip off my clothes, and other times he seems a bit perplexed by me.

“You want to leave here?” I ask. “Make some more of those mistakes?”

“I’m going off to college in the fall.”

“I hear you can make all kinds of mistakes at college.” I laugh, but he doesn’t. He only keeps staring at me. There’s a shift in the air, and suddenly it feels heavy.

“What about you? No college before you’re off to be married?”

“I don’t know. I never really thought about it. I’m not sure college is something I’ve ever imagined myself attending,” I admit. “My mom left me some money I’m supposed to handle, so it’s not like I don’t have any sort of plan.”

“Sounds like both your parents have plans for you.”

“I suppose they do, but they mean well.” Sterling rides up right beside me.

“But what do you want to do?”

“I wouldn’t mind too much if you kissed me again.” I let out a small scream when he plucks me right off my horse, pulling me over into the saddle with him.

His mouth claims mine instantly. I melt into him, loving the way he kisses me. I could get lost in this man if I let myself, but I know I need to keep things light. I can’t stay here forever, and his earlier comments let me know he has no intentions to either.

All morning I was wondering if he was going to kiss me again. When I woke up in bed he was there, but he was already fully dressed and sitting on the side of it. I’d been worried that he wanted to take last night back or that maybe he regretted it.

I waited with bated breath for him to tell me as much, but he didn’t say a word about anything that happened the previous night. Only said breakfast was ready before he stood and gave me the room to get dressed for the day. The only thing that made me think he was still interested in me was all that staring and that he’d asked me to come out with him this morning.

Tags: Ella Goode Romance
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