MAID FOR A PRINCE: (Book 1) (Point St. Claire, where true love finds a way) by Robyn Grady Read Free Book Online Page B

just go to bed. Lie down.”
    When he caught her arm again, that same delicious heat wove through her. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” he said.
    “I’m not embarrassed.” She put on a smile. “I’m tired. That’s all.”
    With his gaze burning a hole in her back, she held her head high and walked away.
     
    The next morning, Helene had finished the dishes when Darius appeared. The line between his brows said he wasn’t pleased. Was he disappointed she hadn’t joined him for breakfast?
    The previous night before she’d left him alone on the balcony, she’d said she wasn’t embarrassed. But later, alone in her room, she relived again and again those kisses, how she’d practically whimpered in his arms. Then she recalled his reasoning that she might need more time. All through the night her cheeks had burned. By the time she’d crawled out of bed, bleary-eyed, she wondered how she would ever face him again.
    It was harder than she’d even imagined.
    She sent over an airy smile before casually wiping her hands on a cloth. “Morning.”
    “I missed you at breakfast,” he said, buttoning up a fresh shirt.
    “Everything was laid out on the table like normal. I had to…wash my hair.”
    “I thought you washed your hair last night.”
    “I wanted to wash it again.
    With narrowed eyes, he folded his shirt cuffs back, revealing strong bronzed forearms. “I thought you might like to join me for a walk. It’s a nice day out.”
    She glanced out the window. “Yep. Beautiful.”
    “So?”
    “So what?”
    His jaw tightened, his chin went up. “So, get some shoes. I’ll meet you at the door.”
    When she was alone again, Helene slumped. If only her stomach would quit flip-flopping all over the place. Clearly he wanted to talk, and at some stage they had to get this “kissing in the moonlight” situation sorted.
    Awkward times a thousand, but sooner was probably better than later.
     
    In silence, they strolled down the winding path that led to the beach. But rather than turning right toward the cave, Darius veered left. They took a track that meandered through soaring columns of pine trees and overlooked the dazzling sun-kissed sea. Other than the wash of waves, everything was hushed.
    “It’s so peaceful here,” she said as they rounded a high shoulder.
    “Not too quiet?”
    “Why would you say that?”
    “Just remembering your lust for adventure.”
    She only plucked a wild blueberry from a bush and popped the berry in her mouth. The less said about any kind of lust, the better.
    “Do you like your life in North America?” he asked.
    “Sure. And I do miss home…my friends, of course, Miller Bakery’s whoopie pies, old Judd Everett’s stories.”
    “Who’s Judd Everett?”
    “A retired lobsterman and self-proclaimed local historian. Judd knows everything there is to know about the Point. He says he even knows what happened last Halloween up at the lighthouse, but he only hints at it.”
    “Halloween...” Darius reached over and took her hand. “I’m thinking this story involves ghosts.”
    “I like the idea of ghosts. Friendly ghosts, anyway. What about you?”
    “I just want to try a whoopie pie.”
    She laughed and he gave her hand a squeeze. She was glad he’d made the move. Although she wasn’t sure now where this was heading. How it would end.
    “I couldn’t wait to try a real French pastry,” she said. “Real Greek Easter cookies.”
    “Koulourakia. Delicious .”
    “I tried to cook some once. When mom tasted one, she was kind enough not to spit it straight out.”
    “She sounds like a good mama.”
    “Way too protective though. A real worry wart. I used to spend all my time trying to convince her I wasn’t hanging with the wrong crowd. That I didn’t do dope or steal cars. I swear, when I’m a mom, kill me if I turn paranoid about every single thing.”
    Kicking a pinecone, he chuckled. “I think I’d like your mom.”
    “But this…” Closing her eyes, Helene