Page 26 of The Princess and the SEAL

Chapter 11

Giselle

ANTICIPATION MIXED WITH ANXIETY inside of me. I was going on a wild adventure with this sexy man. I couldn’t wait to get started—but first, I had to call my father.

He most certainly was panicking after not being able to reach me by my cell or at the hotel, even though I had emailed him.

I turned to Ryan. “We should get back. I need to contact my father.”

He smirked. “What are you going to tell him?”

“Just the truth.”

“And what’s that?”

“That I lost my phone and purse. But that I’ve decided to continue the trip.”

“Lost?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, lost. He doesn’t need the morbid details of my mugging.”

Ryan shook his head. “Lying won’t help anything.”

I didn’t need his lectures. “It’s fine.”

He nodded. “So, no mention of me, huh?”

I exhaled. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but he could never, ever understand the pressures of my life.

Then again, I could never understand the stress of his. Out at war. Being shot at. Killing people.

I shuddered.

“No. It would be best if I didn’t mention you. It would be a thing. I hope you understand.” I closed my mouth. I wasn’t going to tell him that I had snuck downstairs last night while he was in the shower and emailed my father. Even worse, I had already lied to my father by saying that I had run into an old female friend and had merely lost my phone. Ugh, I was the worst. Already lying to cover my tracks. I felt like a naughty teenager.

But I wasn’t a teenager. I was an adult woman. And I had made a choice to travel with Ryan.

I just wished I didn’t have to tell my father.

“Yup. Let’s get going.”

We quickly packed up the picnic. I looked longingly at the waterfall, so peaceful, so serene. I yearned to come back here again and enjoy the beauty in its simplicity. That was what I craved—living in the present, and finding pure happiness, not constantly worrying about the future.

Sadly, that type of life would never be my reality.

Ryan secured our picnic items in the saddlebags on the motorcycle and climbed on the bike. I straddled the seat behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist. I breathed him in as if he were a drug. My ultimate high.

The engine roared, but unlike our trip here, this time, I felt calmer. I was certain about what I was going to do: enjoy the remainder of my vacation with this beautiful stranger, and then, when it was time to say goodbye, walk away with no regrets.

We finally arrived back at the bed-and-breakfast. Ryan and I thanked the innkeeper for letting us borrow the motorcycle and for packing us the most delectable picnic.

Ryan brushed a lock of hair off my face. “Do you want to use my phone to call your dad?”

I shook my head. “No. Let’s go to my hotel. Not to check-in, but to call him from there. Then we can return here to stay.”

He pursed his lips, but I was grateful that he didn’t argue with me. I wanted no more tension on this trip. Just happiness. Just peace. Just romance.

We walked through town, and Ryan held my hand. His firm grip guided my steps on the cobblestone streets. I leaned closer to him, inhaling his scent. We hadn’t even known each other for a full day, and I was already getting used to him.