Page 26 of The Prince Who Loved Me

She studied the books again before rolling her eyes at him. “Don’t you have anything better to do than harass me?” She picked up some spray cleaner and went to the Chippendale secretary displayed behind a partition.

“Nope. But I do have things worse to do.” He raised his chin to the portrait. “Your uncle is staring at me.”

“That’s my great-grandfather. Have you learned nothing by being here?”

Apparently not. He used his thumb to rip open the packet while he waited for Brandi to get home. Being in the library with Wendy brought him a sense of normalcy while his heartrate was anything but.

He was right about the contents. Palace staff had vetted the invitations and sent him the ones they deemed appropriate or where they thought he might have an interest. A few were banded together to receive extra attention. A note from his mom with idle news about her days.

Wendy plopped next to him on the sofa, shifting a gold pillow out of her way. “Anything exciting?”

He handed her an embossed cardstock instead of spillinghis guts out to her. “Art walk in Atlanta.”

She scanned it. “Anyone good?”

Sebastien shrugged. “Never heard of anyone being featured at any of the galleries, but it’s certainly more culture than anything you have in your podunk little town.”

“You can leave anytime, you know.”

“You’re not leaving, are you?” Brandi appeared in the library doorframe, her high-heeled shoes in her hand to protect the hardwood floors.

Her thick blonde hair was styled in soft waves that framed her face, and she wore a fitted black dress with an asymmetrical gold pattern. “How was your date?”

“It went well, actually. He brews his own beer and plays disc golf. It’s a good start.” She walked behind the sofa and sat next to him on his free side, sandwiching him between her and Wendy. “No creepy vibes, no over-practiced pickup lines. Just a nice, normal man.”

Which Sebastien wasn’t.

While the mysterious date’s hobbies didn’t exactly align with Brandi’s, they were similar enough that they’d be able to find common ground. More similar than her and Sebastien’s hobbies.

“You going to see him again?” He tried to keep his voice controlled, but Wendy knocked her leg into his.

Brandi didn’t notice. “We have a date Saturday afternoon.” She leaned down to rub her feet. “These shoes killed me all night.”

Wendy reached across him and grabbed them out of her hand. “They should. They’re mine, and a half-size too small for you, Big Foot. I’ve been looking for them for months.”

“Oh, yeah.” Brandi grinned at her cousin. “Can I borrow your shoes?”

“So what did he look like,” Wendy asked. “Or are you notallowed to tell me?”

“I mean, it’s a blind date for a reason.” Brandi massaged the inside of her foot. She had painted her toenails a brilliant shade of pink. “Pretty average, actually. About my height, dirty blond hair. Clean fingernails.”

“Always important,” Sebastien contributed.

“Friendly face. I wasn’t bored.”

“Good attributes.” Wendy looked at her over Sebastien’s middle. “Since you’re home, do you mind taking over tonight? There’s only another hour until we get to go upstairs, but I’ve been so busy today I haven’t had any time with Rob. And don’t make that face,” she said to Sebastien.

He paused mid-grimace. “I didn’t do anything.”

“And you’ll keep it that way if you know what’s good for you.”

“Yeah, go.” Brandi waved her hand, dismissing her cousin. “It’s not like I have to put my shoes away.”

Wendy leaned down and kissed his forehead, then Brandi’s, then headed out the door.

Leaving them alone. The air swirled with her energy, pushing them away from each other. Though he had apologized, things still felt wrong. His world went off kilter when things were weird between them. Though she wouldn’t have come into the library if she was still mad at him.

“Hey,” he said.