Page 12 of Royal Hottie
“To think my Viking ancestors started with a plain stone circular fortress.” I point over to the crumbling structure perched on one side of the palace.
“Is that what that is?” She turns to me and crinkles her nose. “I like the newer one better.” Her hair flies into her face as the yacht angles into a turn, and she holds it down with both hands. “Isn’t it a hazard to have a pile of rocks like that? It looks like it could crumble at any moment.”
“It reminds us of our heritage, our history, and it reminds the islanders that the proper family is ruling. It was our ancestors who started the settlement.”
“Cool.” She lets go of her hair and it slaps her in the face. I barely resist smoothing it back for her. She spits some out and smooths it back. “I should’ve brought a hair band or a hat.”
“We could go in the cabin.” I gesture to the enclosed cabin behind us. “You can still have the view. There’s a sofa, TV, wet bar, refrigerator.”
She peers in one of the windows. “Sure.” She turns to Maya. “You want to go inside with us?”
Maya smiles. “Thanks, but I’d like to enjoy the sun a bit, ma’am. You go ahead.”
Ruby turns to me. “Okay, lead the way.”
So I do, telling myself it’s harmless. An hour together in an enclosed cabin. It’s not like I’m taking her to the master bedroom suite. I open the door for her and follow her in.
She stops short. “This is gorgeous!”
“Thanks. Though I really shouldn’t take the credit.”
She moves farther into the cabin. “It’s so sleek.” There’s a white leather sectional, a glossy wood coffee table with matching cabinetry, and hardwood flooring. The ceiling is white with recessed lighting and glossy light wood trim that matches the furnishings and floor. Past the wet bar is a dining area on a raised platform with a bay of windows.
“I suppose it’s sleek because it has to weather the sea,” I say. “Please have a seat. Would you like a drink?”
She sits in the center of the sectional across from the TV. “Sure! What do you have?”
I head over to the nearby wet bar. “Anything. It’s fully stocked.”
Her brows lift. “Is it too early for a margarita?”
I grin. It’s not yet noon. “Never. But I’m afraid I’m your bartender. I can pour scotch, whisky, beer, or wine. Not much of a cocktail maker.”
“Wow, a prince is serving me? Has this ever happened in the long history of the kingdom?”
I jab a finger at her. “Just for that you’re getting bilge water.”
She sticks out her tongue. “That sounds bad.”
“It is bad. It’s the dirty water that collects in the bottom of the boat.” I open the liquor cabinet and scan the contents. Fully stocked as usual, along with snacks—pretzels, roasted nuts, chips, dried fruit, and trail mix.
She appears at my side. “You weren’t kidding on the fully stocked. Now I wish I wasn’t so full from breakfast. You royals really know how to eat. Do you have iced tea?”
I head over to the refrigerator across the cabin. “We do.” I hand her the glass bottle and take a bottled water for myself.
She peers over at the dining area. “Ooh, let’s sit there. It’s a nice view of where we’re heading.”
I follow her to the table, and she takes a seat, facing the view. I sit to her right and stealthily admire her admiring the view. She’s so vibrant, her hair tousled from the wind, a light pink flush to her cheeks. My mind flashes to a bed-rumpled Ruby after a hard—no. Off-limits. Forbidden. I force myself to look out the window to the sea.
Silence stretches between us.
Suddenly I’m nervous like we’re on a first date and the long silence means it’s going terribly. I don’t get nervous on real first dates, why should I now? My hands are clammy, and my throat is suddenly parched. I open my bottled water and take a long swallow, suddenly conscious of the sound of my swallowing.
She opens her iced tea with a loud pop as the seal is broken, and takes a sip.
Say something!
“So how do you know Anna?” I ask.
