Page 67 of Once Upon A Royal Christmas
Gracie laughed as she transferred the dog into Clara’s embrace. “So you’re okay with it?”
“Yes. Duh. I told you I want to get a dog when we get home.”
“Good, because there’s something else I need to talk to you about. Something important.” Gracie took a deep breath.
She couldn’t believe what she was about to propose. Clara might think she’d lost her mind—or at least lost sight of the entire reason they’d come to San Glacera to begin with. But the thought had been nagging at her for days, and after tonight, she knew she wouldn’t be able to shake it.
“What’s up?” Clara said, climbing onto her bed with the puppy tucked under her arm.
Gracie held up a finger. “Just one second.”
If she didn’t ask Nick now, while his words about her princess heart were still floating through her mind like snowflakes, she knew she’d lose her nerve. Maybe Clara was onto something.
It’s Christmas, the perfect time to have a little fun while it lasts.
Gracie grabbed her phone from the dresser and scrolled through her contacts until she landed on Nick’s name and sent the text.
I know we’re not scheduled for any events tomorrow evening, but would you like to attend Advent Night with me at the Kriegs’s?
Nick answered right away.
I’d love to. Just tell me when.
Whenever you’re free, Gracie texted back. I promised to help Ingrid with logistics.
In that case, why don’t we do something special?
Like?
After a few moments, his next text appeared. Do you think we can make that family cinnamon roll recipe you told me about?
Gracie’s heart turned over in her chest.
I do.
Sounds like we have a date.
Gracie stared at the text for a moment before replying.
It’s a date.
Three little dots flashed again, indicating Nick was sending another message. This one took longer to come through than the others. She held her breath, and then it finally appeared. A trio of emojis—a blue heart, flanked on either side by snowflakes.
My snowy princess heart.
Despite all her doubts, despite all the craziness of the reality of their situation, and despite all the ways she’d tried to tell herself that a romance between a party princess and a real-life prince would never work, Gracie smiled. She held the phone close to her chest and beneath the layers of lace and glittering rhinestone snowflakes, her real snowy princess heart ran wild.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
After the Ice Melts
The following morning, Gracie and Clara took Gumdrop for a walk while Princess Alana had breakfast with her parents in the dining room. The puppy smelled everything in sight, leaving tiny pawprints in the snow. A bit of frost clung to her black button nose, and when they got back to the B&B after a stroll around the square, she could barely keep her little eyes open.
“I think we’ve successfully exhausted her.” Clara lifted the puppy from the cobblestone path and tucked the little ball of fluff inside her puffer jacket. “My guess is we can sneak her upstairs without anyone noticing. What do you think?”
Gracie snuck a peek inside one of the B&B’s frosty windows. A few guests sat in the lobby, facing the fire, but the King and Queen were nowhere to be seen. “I think we’re good. They must still be eating.”
Clara nodded. “Let’s do it.”
