As the future king, Prince Alexander refuses to rule from an ivory tower. Duty-bound, he intends to relate to his future subjects, regardless of their walk of life. Before his coronation, he needs a foolproof plan to outrun his security team and go temporarily AWOL. While visiting L.A., all it takes is a sound stage collision and Alex is blindsided by a headstrong woman who is simply irresistible. So much so, he calls in a favor in order to secure her help ⊠as his pretend girlfriend.
Their worlds are oceans apart, but their immediate attraction is impossible to put aside, especially their nonstop banter. Miffed at being wrangled into a situation that might blow up in her face, Katie comes up with her own plan. If The Prince is serious about walking the walk of the common folk, sheâs only too happy to oblige as his pretend girlfriend. Through an ice storm, a road trip, kitchen duty, and a Texas pig race, Alex captures the hearts of the locals as well as Ms. OâConnorâs.
What starts out as a deal Katie canât refuse becomes the acting role of a lifetime⊠letting Prince Alexander go without a fight.
A delightfully funny retelling of The Prince and The Pauper that romance readers of all ages will enjoy. On a two-week 1,500-mile road trip, Katie and Alex discover the end of the road might just be the beginning of their âHappy Ever Afterâ together.
Before Katie bolted down her emotions, Alex captured her hand. She didnât try to pull away. âWhat are you afraid of?â he gritted out.
Katie regarded him from the shadowed side of the cab. Her eyes sparkled and color stained her cheeks. Not about to let this moment go, he hit the brakes and swung the truck onto the berm. Seconds ticked by and he pursued an answer. âWell?â
She tightened her hold on his hand as if she couldnât bear to let go. But he wasnât a mind reader. Alex hungered to tell her his thoughts or rather how they were changing, only he didnât have the words to match these newfound feelings.
âAlex,â she murmured, entwining their fingers. âI donât know what to say.â
Nor did he. Theyâd become closer but what did it mean? To rush their relationship could very well tear it apart. Like so many things in life, to proceed forward in a new direction required careful planning. Rushing headlong in unchartered waters was something he wouldâve done years ago. But for once in Alexâs life, the risk was too great if it meant losing this womanâs respect.
This was indeed new territory. He squeezed Katieâs hand. The first stoplight of the town was a hundred meters ahead. If she was agreeable, he wanted to visit the spot that had prompted this adventure. Maybe she needed reminding that this trip wasnât just about him finding something essential. She was part and parcel of this journey.
A trip, like any trip, would change them both, and he gave her a rueful grin. âI hear itâs karaoke night at Woodyâs. You up for a song?â
Excerpt #4
It took an armload of kindling and a starter log to get a fire going in the guest cabin. Feeling a little tipsy, Katie shivered and rose.
Inside the pine-paneled living room, both she and Alex stood feet apart. At Woodyâs Saloon with all the action, time didnât just fly, it up and made for the hills. During the ride back to the ranch, theyâd easily talked, laughing over their antics that included singing Born to Run in the nightly karaoke contest, riding a mechanical bull, nabbing second place in partnersâ Ping-Pong, and doing an awful rendition of a two-step where she not-so-graciously stepped on Alexâs toes.
And most importantly, sheâd learned that he missed his brother more than most folks suspected. It was a secret that Alex tightly held, and she wondered what else he missed. After all, he was the one a long way from home.
But now, it was just them. Katie and Alex. Alone in the cabin.
The room suddenly seemed teeny, claustrophobic, and her heart raced.
Katie regarded him from the shadowed side of the cab. Her eyes sparkled and color stained her cheeks. Not about to let this moment go, he hit the brakes and swung the truck onto the berm. Seconds ticked by and he pursued an answer. âWell?â
She tightened her hold on his hand as if she couldnât bear to let go. But he wasnât a mind reader. Alex hungered to tell her his thoughts or rather how they were changing, only he didnât have the words to match these newfound feelings.
âAlex,â she murmured, entwining their fingers. âI donât know what to say.â
Nor did he. Theyâd become closer but what did it mean? To rush their relationship could very well tear it apart. Like so many things in life, to proceed forward in a new direction required careful planning. Rushing headlong in unchartered waters was something he wouldâve done years ago. But for once in Alexâs life, the risk was too great if it meant losing this womanâs respect.
This was indeed new territory. He squeezed Katieâs hand. The first stoplight of the town was a hundred meters ahead. If she was agreeable, he wanted to visit the spot that had prompted this adventure. Maybe she needed reminding that this trip wasnât just about him finding something essential. She was part and parcel of this journey.
A trip, like any trip, would change them both, and he gave her a rueful grin. âI hear itâs karaoke night at Woodyâs. You up for a song?â
Excerpt #4
It took an armload of kindling and a starter log to get a fire going in the guest cabin. Feeling a little tipsy, Katie shivered and rose.
Inside the pine-paneled living room, both she and Alex stood feet apart. At Woodyâs Saloon with all the action, time didnât just fly, it up and made for the hills. During the ride back to the ranch, theyâd easily talked, laughing over their antics that included singing Born to Run in the nightly karaoke contest, riding a mechanical bull, nabbing second place in partnersâ Ping-Pong, and doing an awful rendition of a two-step where she not-so-graciously stepped on Alexâs toes.
And most importantly, sheâd learned that he missed his brother more than most folks suspected. It was a secret that Alex tightly held, and she wondered what else he missed. After all, he was the one a long way from home.
But now, it was just them. Katie and Alex. Alone in the cabin.
The room suddenly seemed teeny, claustrophobic, and her heart raced.
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