Page 2 of His Royal Request

A couple walked past me and paused. “Could we squeeze in? Sorry -- no more open tables.”

I looked around and realized there was an open seat next to me then the man then a seat next to him. If one of us moved the couple could sit together.

“Oh sure.” I picked up my plate but the man with the unusual accent was already sliding next to me.

“Thank you.” The couple took their seats and I shared an awkward smile with the man who was suddenly too close to me.

I hadn’t paid much attention to him when he walked in, but up close I realized he was closer to my age than I thought. He wore a light blue shirt, unbuttoned at the collar and khaki pants with a blue blazer hanging off the back of his stool. He carried himself with an air that made him seem older, more refined, but he had a hint of the wild with the way his hair curled long at his nape and his untrimmed beard.

He turned and gave me a nod and a small smile. I tried not to stare, but his crystal blue eyes paired with his honey-blond hair was so striking. To call him handsome would be a great disservice.

Perfect, I’m wallowing next to a guy that looks like he could play a superhero in the next blockbuster. Well, a superhero with a fairly long beard and hair in need of a trim. Maybe this was his alter ego so he didn’t get recognized. I smiled to myself and looked down at my fish and chips, self-conscious. I was still hungry, but I couldn’t eat and risk drooling over this guy.

“Where’re you from?”

I blinked and peeked out of the corner of my eye to see him watching me. Oh no. My mouth went dry and panic set it.

“I umm...the US.”

I glanced over to see him smiling. “I figured that part. Where in the US?”

“Indiana.” I tried to sound confident but I hadn’t been this nervous to talk to a guy in a long time. Or ever.

“I’ve visited Notre Dame. It’s a very pretty area.”

I nodded and swallowed, buying time to find my voice. “Yeah it’s nice, but nothing compared to here.”

He smiled, just slightly but it was enough to reveal a dimple. Seriously? That was my kryptonite. Was this man real?

“Is it your first time?” he asked.

“In Ireland?” Or talking to someone as beautiful as you?

He nodded.

“Yeah.”

“How long are you here for?”

I shrugged. “I don’t have an exact plan. My mother was from here, so I want to spend at least a few days seeing the sights but then I was planning on traveling to England then through Europe.”

“By yourself?”

Crap. No. I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone that. My stepmom made it clear I wasn’t supposed to let strangers know I was traveling alone. That’s how people got kidnapped. I didn't want to end up like that girl in the movie that gets taken. My dad wasn’t a super ninja-spy-agent. I would for sure die. At twenty-two, I should be able to past this fear, but it was my first time traveling alone and being out of the US.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just surprised you’d take that on all by yourself.”

I cleared my throat and nodded. “It was only supposed to be Ireland, but I had some money saved up so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity.”

That sounded better than letting him know I had zero opportunities at home. I was here with a purpose. Ha.

He smiled. “That’s very brave of you. I don’t know many people that would travel on their own.”

“Carpe Diem, I guess.”

He nodded. “Do you have Lochland on your list of places to see?”

I shook my head. I’d heard great things about the smaller island country just north of Ireland, and next to Scotland, but didn’t have it on my itinerary.