Christmas with the Prince: Christmas with the Prince. Michelle Celmer

the way Aaron did.

      Don’t even go there, she warned herself. Aaron had no place in this particular equation. Besides, for all she knew William would be fantastic in bed. She’d always considered good sex more of a perk than a necessity.

      If that was true, why wasn’t she jumping at his offer?

      “Can I ask you a question, William?”

      “Of course.”

      “Why now? What’s changed from, say, two months ago?”

      “Well, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. I’ve always imagined that one day I would get married and have a family. And as you know, I’m not getting any younger. It seemed like a good time.”

      It sounded so logical, but that hadn’t exactly been what she was hoping for.

      “I guess what I want to know is, why me?”

      “Why you?” he said, sounding puzzled. “Why not you?”

      “What I mean is, was there a particular reason you asked me?”

      “Who else would I ask?”

      She was seriously fishing here, and he just didn’t seem to get it. She wasn’t desperate enough to beg for a kind word or two. Like, You’re beautiful or I love you. That would come with time.

      Then why, deep down, was a little voice telling her that this was all wrong?

      “Things are just so crazy right now,” she told him. “Can you give me a few weeks to think about it?”

      “Of course,” he said, his tone so patient and reasonable that it filled her with shame. “Take your time.”

      They made random and slightly awkward small talk for several minutes, and William seemed almost relieved when she said she had to go.

      She hung up wondering what kind of marriage would they have if the only thing they ever talked about was work? And even worse, he didn’t seem all that interested in getting to know her on a personal level. Would that just take time? Or should the years she had already known him have been time enough?

      She thought of Aaron, who asked her questions and seemed genuinely interested in getting to know her. Why couldn’t William be more like that?

      Thoughts like that wouldn’t get her anywhere. William would never be like Aaron—a rich, charming prince. Which was a good thing, because as she’d reminded herself so many times now, Aaron, and men like him, were out of her league. Granted, she had never actually had a relationship with a man like Aaron, but she wasn’t so naive that she didn’t know the way these things worked. Even if Aaron did find her interesting at first, see her as a novelty, it wouldn’t take him long to grow bored with her, for him to realize that she wasn’t as special as he thought. Then he would be back to pursuing a proper mate. A woman with the right family and the proper breeding. Yet she couldn’t help but think of all the fun they could have in the meantime.

      Chapter Eight

      Liv was on her way to breakfast the following morning when she was greeted—more like accosted—by one of Aaron’s sisters at the foot of the stairs on the main floor. Was it Friday already?

      She was nowhere near as tall as her brother and had a slim, frail-looking build, and while they didn’t exactly look alike, there was a strong family resemblance. She was dressed in a pale pink argyle sweater and cream-colored slacks and wore her hair pulled back in a low bun. In the crook of one arm she cradled a quivering ball of fur with bulging eyes. A dog, Liv realized. Probably a shih tzu.

      The first impression that popped into Liv’s head was sweet and demure. Until the princess opened her mouth.

      She squealed excitedly when she saw Liv and said, “You must be Olivia! I’m Aaron’s sister Louisa.”

      Liv was so stunned by her enthusiasm—weren’t princesses supposed to be poised and reserved?—she nearly neglected protocol and offered a hand to shake.

      “It’s nice to meet you, Your Highness,” she said, dipping into a slightly wobbly curtsy instead. She had barely recovered when Louisa grabbed her hand and pumped it enthusiastically.

      “Call me Louisa.” She scratched the canine behind its silky ears. “And this is Muffin. Say hello, Muffin.”

      Muffin just stared, his little pink tongue lolling out of his mouth.

      “I can’t tell you how excited we are to have you here,” she said, smiling brightly. “Aaron has told us wonderful things about you.”

      Liv couldn’t help but wonder exactly what he’d told them. She would be mortified if he’d said something about their kiss last night. Having had the entire night to think it over, she decided that it would definitely never happen again. At least, not until she’d decided what to do about William. Although, probably not then, either. What she needed to concentrate on was the job she had come here to do.

      “Has my brother been a good host?” Louisa asked.

      Good didn’t even begin to describe the sort of host he’d been. “He has,” Liv assured her. “He’s made me feel very welcome.”

      “I’m so glad. I can’t wait for you to meet the rest of the family! Everyone is so excited that you’re here.”

      “I’m anxious to meet them, too.”