Page 83 of Tabloid Princess

I folded my arms. “I thought I made myself clear last night. This is impossible. I gave you my reasons, good reasons too.”

He nodded, his gaze steady on my face. Could he hear the crash of my pulse? I’d be surprised if he couldn’t.

“You did. And I thought about them. I’m trying to be someone who can stand in the street and give you flowers.”

“Oliver.” I didn’t miss the flicker of a smile as I said his name. “You and I both know you aren’t that person.”

I frowned and stared up and down the street, it’s strange emptiness starting to make sense. “Oh my god, did you get the road closed?”

Sheer defiance shone in his eyes. “Yes.”

I laughed, helpless really. “That’s defeating the purpose.”

“I know.” He stepped closer. We were going to be seen at any moment. Molly would go for a cigarette; Paula would go for a seventh latte. The café was six steps away. “Call me a rebel.”

“Ollie.”

Both our eyes widened as I turned his name into an intimate whisper.

“Please, this can’t be anything. Can’t we both just say thanks but goodbye?”

“No. I don’t think so.” He shook his head and for the first time I caught a glimpse of utter determination. The prince, who seemed to be so bent on people pleasing, hardened like the forming of volcanic rock. “You gave me your reasons. But now I’d like you to listen to mine.”

I trembled—utterly pathetic.

It should have been easy to tell him to walk away. It wasn’t.

“I’ve got to get home.”

He pointed at a silver Mercedes parked along the street. I probably should have seen that first. “I thought I’d give you a lift.”

“To my house?”

“Sure.”

“Is that your car? I thought you had Bill to drive you wherever you wanted.”

His laughter rang with exasperation. “Sometimes I like to branch out and steer the vehicle myself.”

“Surely someone will see you? You’d cause accidents everywhere.” My brain for a moment went off on a tangent.

“Leia.” His tone held one of exasperation. “I don’t know what image you’ve got of me in your head, but I’m beginning to think it’s not accurate.”

I snorted—embarrassing. “Because you are ‘just a man’.” I repeated his heart-breaking words of last night, somehow managing to erase the depth of feeling he’d injected into them.

“Yes. Because I am. Leia, let’s discuss it. In the car.”

I glanced up and down the street.

“Now, please, Leia? I can’t actually shut the road down without the police knowing about the situation and being involved and that does seem a bit of an overkill just to snatch five minutes with you and give you some flowers.”

I stared at the roses. They were very beautiful, but nothing compared to the face above them.

Walk away. Walk away.

I didn’t. I stumbled towards the car and waited for him to open the passenger door where I then slipped into a deep leather seat. I watched as he motioned his head at a guy in a fluorescent jacket at the end of the street and the man removed the traffic cones and incident tape.

He dropped into the driver’s seat and pushed a button to start the engine. The car was beautiful, smooth and extravagant, the scent of leather filling the air.