Not-So-Perfect Princess: Not-So-Perfect Princess

The only choice.

She was here to be Enrique’s bride and his alone. She would be his wife and one day a queen. Whatever she may have felt in Alejandro’s arms didn’t matter. No one could ever know she found him attractive. As for her fiancé …

So what if he had similar mannerisms and speech as her father? Perhaps Enrique’s formality stemmed from nervousness. Crown princes were human, even if few would admit it.

He had selected this room for her. Granted, the view wasn’t the one she would have preferred, but he’d had his reasons for choosing it. And he was still better than marrying anyone from Aliestle. Jules smiled genuinely at him. “Thank you for welcoming us into your home.”

“It’ll be your home soon enough.”

She nodded, trying to muster a few ounces of happy feelings and peppiness. She hoped they would come.

“I look forward to seeing you at dinner,” he said.

“As do I.”

He took her hand and raised it to his mouth. He brushed his lips over her skin.

Jules wanted to feel the same passion and heat she’d felt in Alejandro’s arms. She would settle for a spark, tingles, warmth at the point of contact, even a small shiver. But she felt … nothing.

Enrique released her hand. “Until later, my princess.”

Later. The word resonated with her.

As he left and closed the door behind him, she remembered what she’d told Izzy, Princess Isabel of Vernonia.

Remember, just because you don’t love someone at the beginning doesn’t mean you won’t love them in the end. Love can grow over time.

Jules needed to listen to her own advice.

My princess. She would be Enrique’s princess. She needed to act like it, too.

Just because she didn’t feel anything with him now, didn’t mean she wouldn’t ever. Physical attraction and chemistry weren’t the same as love. Passion could be fleeting, but love remained. Prevailed. This first meeting was only the beginning.

Love could grow between her and Enrique.

She had to give the relationship time, keep an open heart and remember how love had blossomed with her parents.

But to be on the safe side until love bloomed with Enrique, Jules realized with an odd pang, keeping her distance from Alejandro would probably be a good idea.

Dinner was exactly what Alejandro thought it would be—a total drag. Each course of the gourmet meal took forever. He enjoyed good food, but by the time the meal finished, he’d be falling out of his chair sound asleep. The conversation about international trade agreements would make a rabbit in heat want to nap.

Across the table, Julianna sat next to her brother, Brandt. She looked stunning in a blue evening gown that matched the color of her eyes. The dress didn’t show a lot of skin, but the flowing fabric gave enough of a hint of what was underneath to make a man want to see more.

He tried not to look at her.

Enrique was doing enough staring for both of them.

But Alejandro heard her voice drone on. She tried to sound interested in what others were saying, but her tone lacked warmth. Yes, she was going to be an excellent match for his superficial brother.

Five formally dressed staff members set plates of pan-seared sea scallops in front of each of them at the exact same time. Two wine stewards circled the table filling wineglasses from bottles of Pinot Gris.

What Alejandro wouldn’t give for plates of tapas and a pitcher of sangria right now.

Enrique laughed at something Julianna said. So did his father.

“Who knew your bride would be an expert in trade?” Dario said.

“Thank you, sir.” Julianna’s smile didn’t reach her eyes the way it had when she’d petted the kitten. “But trade is a hobby.”

A hobby? Maybe a geek lived inside the beauty’s body. Or maybe she was trying to impress her future father-in-law. Either way, Alejandro wanted nothing to do with her.

“Now that is a worthy hobby.” Enrique pinned Alejandro with a contemptible look. “Unlike some of the hobbies others of us have.”

He stared over the rim of his wineglass. “Care to wager how my hobby turns out during the Med Cup, bro?”

Julianna’s fork clattered against her plate and bounced off the table. Her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink. “Excuse me.”

Alejandro studied her. Strange. The stumble in the foyer aside, Julianna didn’t seem like a klutzy princess. It was unusual for someone as elegant as her to drop her fork in the middle of dinner and make a spectacle of herself.

Two servants rushed to her side. One picked up the fork from the ground. The other placed a new fork on the table.

“Thank you.” She raised her half-filled water glass. “So you sail, Alejandro?”

“I sail. I also build boats. Racing sailboats.” He noticed the glance exchanged between Julianna and Brandt. “Do either of you sail?”

She looked again at her brother.

“We sail,” Brandt answered. “On local lakes and rivers. For pleasure. Unlike many of our royal compatriots who enjoy the competitive side of the sport.”

Alejandro couldn’t understand why Julianna needed her brother to answer such a simple question. She’d had no problem talking about trade.

Enrique swirled the wine in his glass. “Some royals take sailing too seriously. I enjoyed the few regattas I competed in, but I no longer have time to sail with so many other obligations.”

“Horse racing may be the sport of kings,” Brandt said. “But many royals have sailed for their countries in the Summer Games. I’m sure more would have liked to.”

Dario nodded. “I’ve always preferred the water to horses.”

“As have I,” Enrique added hastily.

Julianna leaned forward. The neckline of her gown gaped, giving Alejandro a glimpse of ivory skin and round breasts. He forced his attention onto the sea scallops instead.

“Will one of your boats be entered in the Med Cup?” she asked, as if trying to draw him into conversation.

He appreciated her taking an interest. “My newest design.”

“A bit risky, don’t you think?” Enrique asked.

Alejandro shrugged. “You never know until you try.”