Page 54 of Rags to Royals

Ruby and I exchange a look.

“You’re going to be able to fake it forthree weeks?” I finally say. “I mean, one day, maybe. But you’ll have to actually teach them something.”

“That’s Mr. Emerson,” Greta says. “Me and Mariah have him.”

I look at Cian. “You cannotfake teachmy daughter, Cian.”

He grins. “I’m going to teach them so much cool shit, I will be their favorite teachereverand someone in that class will go on to major in world history just because of me.”

“But—” Ruby starts.

“He actually has the degree,” Henry says.

“What degree?” Ruby asks.

“The world history major. And the poli sci major. He’s also got a few minors. And speaks French and Spanish along with English and Irish.”

Ruby and I look at each other again, then look at Cian.

“You have a degree in world history?” I ask.

“Of course,” he says. “Love history. Though to be fair, the classes were very easy. I knew so much of it before I even got to college here in the US. Cara’s education system is vastly superior to the American system.”

“Why did you get so many degrees?” Mariah asks.

He shrugs. “Kept waiting to find The One.”

“The one what?”

“The spark. Thething. That thing that I was just born to do. So I tried a bunch of different things. And by the time I realized I wasn’t going to find it in college, I’d collected enough hours for a few degrees.”

I stare at him.

I had no idea he’dactuallygone to college. I don’t know why that surprises me. And I feel kind of bad that it does.

“So you’re going to be myteacherand maybe mystepdadand youarea prince and I can’t tell anyone that I evenknow you?” Mariah says.

But Cian and Henry are either used to young woman dramatics or they have just already figured Mariah and Greta out because they just nod, grinning, and say, “Yep.”

She tips her head back. “This is so unfair!”

Mariah has no idea about unfair.

Unfair is having the man who gave me thebestsex I’d ever even imagined, who also listens and shares the connections with his family that I feel with mine, and who makes me feel brilliant and creative and inspiring sittingright there…and not trusting myself to reach out and take what he is offering.

But I’ve been spontaneous three times in my life. Three times I followed my gut and just went for it, selfishly letting myfeelingslead me instead of my head.

And three times there were bad consequences. Not just for me, but for people I cared about, too.

So no, no matter how tempting Cian is, no matter how amazing he seems, I’m not going to let my feelings lead me here. It’s all about my head and being rational and doing the common-sense thing.

Which is definitelynotmarrying the handsome prince with the great laugh who is completely pulling off the hot teacher vibe.

Definitely not.

Though if he keeps making my daughter and her best friend gasp and lean in and laugh as he shares facts and stories about world history in a naturally compelling and almost joyful style, I might have to tattoo DEFINITELY NOT on the back of one of my hands so I’ll remember it.

Chapter 11

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