Page 27 of Once Upon A Royal Christmas
“I mean it.” Gracie flung her suitcase onto the settee bench situated at the foot of her bed. “After I told Nick I was the princess, he asked if I wanted to meet him ahead of time. We’re going to meet at the castle gate thirty minutes before I’m scheduled to appear so we can arrive together, but it’s all going to be strictly business.”
When he’d issued the invitation, Gracie’s knees had turned to water.
This is bad, she’d thought. She was flirting with disaster. This was the most important Christmas of her life, and singing and romance didn’t mix. Not for Gracie. But before she’d been able to stop herself, she’d agreed.
I’d love to. Her answer had come out breathy and sweet. Full Disney princess.
Nick’s eyes had blazed, as warm as a crackling fire. It’s a date. Then, in true princely fashion, he’d kissed her hand.
Was that even a thing these days? Gracie had only seen it happen in an old movie starring Grace Kelly, who’d famously gone on to become a real-life princess. Thing or not, as Nick’s lips brushed against the pale pink cashmere of Gracie’s mitten, tiny sparks of electricity had skittered over her skin. Her hands shook now, just thinking about it.
She had a date.
At a castle.
With a prince.
Clara bit back a smile. “I’m sure you’re right. A castle, a princess, a charming prince…none of that sounds romantic in the slightest.”
“I’m not falling for him.” Gracie grabbed a faux fur throw pillow from her bed and threw it at Clara.
But who was she kidding? Those were the literal ingredients of a whirlwind fairy tale romance, and what kind of princess would Gracie be if she didn’t believe in happily ever after?
I’m the princess.
Nick couldn’t help but smile every time the words spun through his mind. Just the memory of her soft voice, warm against his cheek, made him feel light on his feet as he strode across the palace to Jaron’s office.
She’d caught Nick off guard at first. Even after all the talk about public roles and responsibilities—the secret fears so unique to being royal—he hadn’t recognized the beautiful woman he’d spent the afternoon with as Princess Alana of Vernina. Now it made perfect sense. Who else could she have possibly been?
No wonder they seemed to have so much in common. Still, Nick had never met another royal who seemed to wear her heart on her sleeve like she did. She was so…real. Nick hadn’t stopped thinking about her since she’d bid him farewell at the Christmas market and left him standing by the waffle stand, dumbstruck. He barely remembered her as a little girl. They’d been just children the last time he’d seen her, but she’d completely enchanted him today. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t remembered her straight away.
The American accent had thrown him. That had to be why it had never crossed his mind that the captivating stranger could be the visiting princess. She’d spent years in American classrooms, though. So in retrospect, the accent made complete and total sense. Nick was almost surprised that he hadn’t figured out her identity sooner.
Well, now he knew, and it almost felt like a Christmas miracle.
“Do you have a minute?” Nick said as he paused at the opened doorway to Jaron’s office.
Jaron sat facing him behind a broad desk covered in neat stacks of paper. Bookshelves spanned the entire back wall of the office, where hardback volumes stood among various royal orders and honors that Nick’s family had bestowed on Jaron in recent years. The top shelf was covered with photographs in polished silver frames, some dating all the way back to their prep school days.
“Sure. What can I help you with?” Jaron looked up from his laptop, gaze lingering on Nick’s formal military uniform. “Wow, you’re already ready for this evening’s activities.”
“I am.” Nick nodded. Why did this conversation suddenly feel awkward?
Just spit it out. It didn’t really matter how he phrased things. He and Jarod had known each other a long time. Jaron would surely guess what he’d come to inquire about. Nick was simply feeling a little…restless.
“I met Princess Alana earlier this afternoon,” he said.
Jaron cocked his head, brow furrowing. “You did?”
“I did.”
“That’s interesting.” Jaron leaned back in his chair. Nick had stopped by his office unannounced. It happened sometimes, since the two men were friends. But judging by Jaron’s expression, this particular visit had caught him off guard. “The last I heard, her flight was delayed. I haven’t gotten an update from the Vernina travel office in hours. I assumed she and the king and queen were still waiting to take off.”
“Strange. She’s definitely here. I met her just a while ago at the Christmas market,” Nick said.
“Good. I was about to re-work the seating arrangements in the royal box. I’m really glad you let me know.” The furrow in Jaron’s brow deepened. “Why did you, though? You don’t typically get involved in logistics of this sort.”
Nick paused. “I don’t?”
