can trust you after this, Cameron.”
He flinched. “You wanted to think that, Sandy. It kept you safe, gave you an excuse to cower from the attraction between us.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Would you have fallen into my arms, had I waltzed into TDA dressed in my princely finery, and asked you out?”
“I don’t know.” She paced a couple of steps, paused. “I can’t answer that.” Then continued her pacing in an effort to clear her cluttered thoughts. If Cameron had approached her dressed as he was now, could she honestly say she would have welcomed him into her life?
He’s a prince.
She had her answer. “Maybe not, I would’ve been too intimidated. But one thing I can tell you, I would have trusted a prince far more than I’d ever trust a playboy.”
“A playboy. A prince. Why do you insist on seeing me as a title?” The sadness in his voice tinged with frustration reached out to her.
She took a half step toward him then threw a glance over her shoulder at the inconspicuous butler, who stood pillar-straight with his hands clasped in front of him as he took in the scene between the two of them. Maybe Cameron was used to conducting conversations in front of his butler, but Sandy preferred to do her battles in private.
As if sensing her unease, Cameron spoke in French, directing his voice to the butler.
“Leave us, Sedrick. She looks ready to explode; I doubt your heart can take that much excitement.”
Sandy rolled her eyes. He didn’t expect her to speak the language. She spoke it fluently. As a young teen, she’d discovered a passion for foreign language, and had gone on to achieve her masters in Languages. She was now fluent in six besides her native English; French, Italian, Greek, Hebrew, Spanish and Monégasque—the Genoese Italian and Provincial French dialect spoken in Monaco. She loved to travel. After university, she spent several years travelling and working around the world until she returned home to the UK and accepted the job at TDA as a favour to Jamie. Once she saw the difference TDA made in some children’s lives, she couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to scare you away.”
“Why would finding out you were a prince scare me away?”
He clasped his hands behind his back. “I imagined you’d be intimidated by my title. Think I was out of your league. You admitted as much a few moments ago.” He spoke without arrogance or conceit, but with an honesty that showed her his own doubts. He wanted her, and was afraid that if she found out about his title before she got to know the man he was, she’d never give him a chance.
And she almost hadn’t. Because she’d measured him by the same standards she’d used to judge her father when, in fact, Cameron was a prince among men—with or without his title.
She moved toward him, more nervous than she’d ever been because she knew what she was about to do could change her entire life. With a boldness she could only dream she possessed, she stopped in front of Cam, rose onto her toes, and kissed him.
His arms enfolded her in an embrace that yelled WELCOME HOME. She felt as if she had come home. When the kiss ended, she was glad he continued to hold her because she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stand on her own.
Two uniformed serving staff walked into the dining room, pushing an onyx and gold serving trolley. They pulled to a sudden stop when they noticed Sandy locked in Cameron’s arms. “Sorry, sir. We thought you were ready for your meal. We can come back when—”
“It’s all right, we’re ready now.” He gave Sandy a look that made her think he’d forgotten about their dinner as he led her to the table.
She smiled a shy thanks and sat on the high-backed chair he held for her midway down the wide twenty-four-seat table. If he planned to sit at the head, he probably didn’t expect them to carry on much of a conversation.
To her surprise, he walked around
He flinched. “You wanted to think that, Sandy. It kept you safe, gave you an excuse to cower from the attraction between us.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Would you have fallen into my arms, had I waltzed into TDA dressed in my princely finery, and asked you out?”
“I don’t know.” She paced a couple of steps, paused. “I can’t answer that.” Then continued her pacing in an effort to clear her cluttered thoughts. If Cameron had approached her dressed as he was now, could she honestly say she would have welcomed him into her life?
He’s a prince.
She had her answer. “Maybe not, I would’ve been too intimidated. But one thing I can tell you, I would have trusted a prince far more than I’d ever trust a playboy.”
“A playboy. A prince. Why do you insist on seeing me as a title?” The sadness in his voice tinged with frustration reached out to her.
She took a half step toward him then threw a glance over her shoulder at the inconspicuous butler, who stood pillar-straight with his hands clasped in front of him as he took in the scene between the two of them. Maybe Cameron was used to conducting conversations in front of his butler, but Sandy preferred to do her battles in private.
As if sensing her unease, Cameron spoke in French, directing his voice to the butler.
“Leave us, Sedrick. She looks ready to explode; I doubt your heart can take that much excitement.”
Sandy rolled her eyes. He didn’t expect her to speak the language. She spoke it fluently. As a young teen, she’d discovered a passion for foreign language, and had gone on to achieve her masters in Languages. She was now fluent in six besides her native English; French, Italian, Greek, Hebrew, Spanish and Monégasque—the Genoese Italian and Provincial French dialect spoken in Monaco. She loved to travel. After university, she spent several years travelling and working around the world until she returned home to the UK and accepted the job at TDA as a favour to Jamie. Once she saw the difference TDA made in some children’s lives, she couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to scare you away.”
“Why would finding out you were a prince scare me away?”
He clasped his hands behind his back. “I imagined you’d be intimidated by my title. Think I was out of your league. You admitted as much a few moments ago.” He spoke without arrogance or conceit, but with an honesty that showed her his own doubts. He wanted her, and was afraid that if she found out about his title before she got to know the man he was, she’d never give him a chance.
And she almost hadn’t. Because she’d measured him by the same standards she’d used to judge her father when, in fact, Cameron was a prince among men—with or without his title.
She moved toward him, more nervous than she’d ever been because she knew what she was about to do could change her entire life. With a boldness she could only dream she possessed, she stopped in front of Cam, rose onto her toes, and kissed him.
His arms enfolded her in an embrace that yelled WELCOME HOME. She felt as if she had come home. When the kiss ended, she was glad he continued to hold her because she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stand on her own.
Two uniformed serving staff walked into the dining room, pushing an onyx and gold serving trolley. They pulled to a sudden stop when they noticed Sandy locked in Cameron’s arms. “Sorry, sir. We thought you were ready for your meal. We can come back when—”
“It’s all right, we’re ready now.” He gave Sandy a look that made her think he’d forgotten about their dinner as he led her to the table.
She smiled a shy thanks and sat on the high-backed chair he held for her midway down the wide twenty-four-seat table. If he planned to sit at the head, he probably didn’t expect them to carry on much of a conversation.
To her surprise, he walked around
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