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331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2016
If you were told that the world as you knew it—life as you knew it—would end in five months, what would you do? You’d make the most of the time you had left, of course. Do everything you wanted to do—everyone you wanted to do—for as long as you could. Until time was up. Well…looks like I’ve got a plan, after all.
I was known before I was born and my name will be blazoned in history long after I’m dust in the ground. Infamy is temporary, celebrity is fleeting, but royalty…royalty is forever.
“The day will come when you will be a husband and a father- you will be a king. And what will Olivia be then?”
“Mine. She’ll be mine.”
“The fact remains, the day will come when you will be a husband and a father. You will be a king. What will Olivia be then?”
“Mine,” I growl. “She’ll be mine.”
“When you were a boy, I promised your mother that I would give you the space to choose a wife for yourself, as your father chose her. To fall in love. I’ve watched and waited, and now I’ve given up waiting. Your family needs you; your country needs you. Therefore, you will announce the name of your betrothed at a press conference… at the end of the summer.
Her declaration breaks me out of my shock and I jump to my feet. “That’s five bloody months from now!”
She shrugs. “I wanted to give you thirty days. You can thank your grandfather for talking me out of it.”
“Would you like to have coffee sometime, Olivia? With me?”
It’s been years since I’ve asked a woman out on a real date. It’s strange — exhilarating and nerve-racking at the same time.
“I don’t like coffee. Never touch the stuff.”
My eyes roll over the room. “You work in a coffee house.”
“Exactly.”
I nod. “Hmm, I see your point. It’ll have to be dinner then. Are you available this evening? I could pick you up on our way back.”
She gives a jumpy laugh.
“I thought you didn’t have time for” — she makes air quotes with her fingers — “‘wooing’?”
“Some things are worth making time for.”
That catches her off guard, making her words stumble. “Well, I… don’t… date.”
“Good God, why not?” I ask, horrified. “That’s a bloody sin.”
“A sin?”
“You’re stunning, obviously clever — you should date often, and preferably with a man who knows how it’s done.” I rest my palm on my chest. “Coincidentally, I happen to be fantastic at it. What are the odds?”
“So you’re never just… alone? Can’t walk around naked if you feel like it?”
I imagine Fergus’s reaction to my bare balls resting on the sixteenth-century Queen Anne sofa — or even better, my grandmother’s reaction. And I laugh.
“No, I can’t. But the more important question is — do you walk around naked?”
She lifts an alluring shoulder. “Sometimes.”
“Let’s hang out at your apartment tomorrow,” I tell her with an urgent, straight face. “All day. I’ll clear my schedule.”
“You must thing I’m completely clueless.”
“Not a’tall.”
“Am I supposed to curtsy or something?”
“Please don’t.” And then the dimples make an appearance. “Unless you have the urge to do it naked, then, by all means, curtsy away.”
He’s flirting with me. It’s a sweet, sliding, teasing dance, and more fun than I can remember having in a long time.
“You don’t seem like a…” my voice lowers to a whisper, “prince.”
Then he’s whispering too. “That may be the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me… Now that you know, have you reconsidered my invitation to dinner?”
I bet a guy like him — fucking royalty — is used to woman falling at his feet. Literally. And I’m not used to seduction or head games…
“Why?” I scoff. “Because you happen to own a country? Like that’s supposed to impress me?”
“It impresses most people.”
And the dance goes on.
“Guess I’m not most people.”
His eyes sparkle… “Apparently not.”
“The day will come when you will [be] a king. What will Olivia be then?”
“Mine,” I growl. “She’ll be mine.”
➳“And the teasing play, the joking spirit that surrounded us, dissipates, replaced by something more powerful. Urgent and primal”
“I was known before I was born and my name will be blazoned in history long after I’m dust in the ground. Infamy is temporary, celebrity is fleeting, but royalty…royalty is forever.”
“I’m not sleeping with you for money.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not a prostitute.”
“Of course you’re not. But you’re young and beautiful, I’m handsome and rich. The more applicable question is why aren’t we fucking already?”
That is a strong argument.
"Infamy is temporary, celebrity is fleeting, but royalty... royalty is forever."
Waitress Olivia Hammond from Manhattan is swept off her feet by a real prince and steals his heart for eternity....... It's the stuff that dreams are made of.........
‘I was known before I was born and my name will be blazoned in history long after I’m dust in the ground. Infamy is temporary, celebrity is fleeting, but royalty…royalty is forever.’
This story was totally addictive. I couldn't get enough of these endearing, intriguing and engaging characters.........there are a lot of secondary characters that I am looking forward to reading more about in the next book......which is going to be Nichola's brother, Prince Henry......
I liked that the love story takes place over a period of time and it wasn't the type of insta-love and let's ride off into the sunset kind of story. You get to see what goes on behind the scenes in the life of a Prince and his family and friends. The intrigue, politics and scheming in court life felt very real and believable.
‘I smile and I know it’s radiant. Because that’s how I feel. Right now—in his arms. Lit from the inside, like a luminous shooting star that won’t ever dim’
This book left me with a smile on my face......
"I have screwed up,"..."Royally"..."I Love her. It can't end this way..."Mine", I growl. "She'll be mine."
"This-this summer affair with Nicholas-is real and solid and here right in front of me. And with it's expiration date looming, I'm not going to waste time, not a second of it"
"Emotion hits me hard, making my heart feel too large for my chest. I stroke her cheek, because she's so lovely -and because she's mine."