6. Hailey

CHAPTER 6

HAILEY

T he first thing I notice when I wake is an arm draped across my stomach. Sunlight filters through the blinds, casting slanted shadows across the bed. I blink, memories of yesterday flooding back in an instant.

Luca. The interview, the tour around the city, sitting on the rooftop, and then… My face flushes as I recall how we ended up tangled in my sheets, a mess of desperate kisses and roaming hands. I can scarcely believe it wasn’t all a dream.

Slowly, I turn my head on the pillow to look at him. He’s still fast asleep, his chiseled features relaxed and peaceful. Dark-blond lashes fan across his cheekbones, and a lock of hair falls rakishly over his brow. Damn, he’s even more gorgeous first thing in the morning, where I usually look a puffy mess. How is that even possible?

As if sensing my gaze, Luca stirs. His eyelids flutter open, azure eyes still hazy with sleep. When they focus on me, his lips curve into a lazy smile that sets my heart racing.

“Good morning,” he murmurs, voice low and rough. “This is a sight I could get used to waking up to.”

I bite my lip against a giddy smile. “I bet you say that to all the journalists you seduce.”

“Only the brilliant, beautiful ones.” His arm tightens around my waist, pulling me closer. “Which is to say, only you.”

He dips his head to nuzzle my neck, pressing a kiss to the sensitive skin beneath my ear. I shiver, tilting my head to give him better access. My fingers thread through his hair, earning a low hum of approval.

“Luca,” I sigh, eyes fluttering shut. God, the things this man does to me.

“Mmm. Say it again.” Another open-mouthed kiss, this one to my racing pulse. “I love how you say my name.”

I laugh breathlessly, arching into his touch. “Luca, as much as I’d love to stay in bed with you all day, didn’t you say you have that meeting you and your father are going to?”

He groans, burying his face against my shoulder. “Don’t remind me.” But he pulls back to glance at the clock on the nightstand. Muttered curses fall from his lips as he throws off the covers. “Damn. I’m going to be late.”

He springs from the bed and hurries around my room, gathering up his clothes from where we eagerly discarded them for the second time after we went out to dinner at a pub on the corner. I prop myself up on my elbows to watch appreciatively as he tugs on his boxer briefs and trousers. The man is pure walking sin.

Hopping awkwardly as he pulls on his socks, he flashes me a roguish grin. “See something you like?”

“Absolutely,” I admit shamelessly, drinking in his lean, muscled torso and broad shoulders. “But you should probably put a shirt on before I drag you back to bed and make you really late.”

He laughs, a rich warm sound that curls around me like an embrace. He shrugs on his button-down and does up a few buttons. I reluctantly slide out of bed, picking his tie up off the floor. Looping it around his neck, I use it to tug him down for a quick, hard kiss.

“Coffee?” I offer as I pull away, smoothing his collar. “I think I have some pastries around here somewhere too.”

“You’re an angel,” he declares gratefully, giving me one more peck before padding off to the bathroom.

In the kitchen, I rush to start the coffeemaker and rummage through my sadly sparse fridge. Note to self: go grocery shopping .

But despite the poorly stocked fridge, I do manage to scrounge up the promised pastries and some fruit. By the time Luca emerges, looking unfairly put-together and handsome, I slide a cup of coffee and a plate across the counter to him.

“Breakfast is served,” I announce. “Nothing fancy, but it’ll have to do.”

“It’s perfect. Thank you.” He takes a quick sip of coffee before setting the mug down and pulling me into his arms. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

“What do you mean?” Since he’s considerably taller than me and we’re inches apart, I have to tilt my head back to look up at him.

He runs his thumb across my jaw. “Yesterday was special.”

“It was,” I agree. My heart flutters, then — just as quickly — sinks.

Because, for as special as our time together was, now it has to come to an end.

“Hey.” He lifts my chin. “You never showed me Bethesda Fountain. Meet me there today? At two?”

Though I want to say yes, I hesitate. I’ve already breached journalistic ethics by sleeping with him. On top of that, he’s a prince! Could we really have a future together, when our lives are so different?

I lick my lips, my heart winning. “I’ll see you there.”

“Perfect.” With one more kiss, he’s out the door, leaving me in an apartment that — for the first time since moving here — feels way too quiet.

I shake my head and let out a small, disbelieving laugh. Did I really just spend an incredible day and night with an actual prince? It feels surreal. Luca is charming, funny, down-to-earth… Not exactly what I expected from royalty. And the way he touched me, kissed me, made me feel…

The delicious memories ripple through me, making me sigh in delight.

Since it’s Saturday, I don’t need to go into work unless I choose to. Trying to distract myself, I tidy up the kitchen and living room, but my mind keeps straying back to Luca. I can’t believe I’m going to see him again in just a few hours.

Grabbing my phone, I call Millie’s number before I can second-guess myself. She picks up on the second ring.

“Hey, girl! How’s the hot-prince assignment going?” Her voice is playful and teasing.

“Um, it went well,” I say, suddenly feeling shy. “Really well, actually.”

“Ooh, do tell!” she demands. “I want all the juicy details!”

So, with a deep breath, I launch into the story, telling her about showing Luca around the city, our easy conversation and banter, the undeniable spark between us. I gloss over some of the steamier specifics when I get to last night, but Millie reads between the lines.

“Oh, my God, Hails!” she squeals. “You slept with him? A prince? This is unreal!”

“I know. I can’t quite believe it myself,” I admit, pacing across my living room. “But Millie, it was amazing. He’s amazing. I felt so comfortable with him, like we really connected.”

“Aw, honey, I’m so happy for you!” Millie gushes. “Seriously, a fling with a prince? This is the kind of thing dreams are made of! Ooh, what if it turns into more than a fling? Can you imagine? My best friend, future queen!”

“Whoa, slow down,” I laugh, but I can’t ignore the little thrill that runs through me at her words. “It was one night, Mill. Well, one night and this afternoon. That’s it. I doubt it’ll turn into anything serious.”

“But you’re seeing him again today, right? He obviously likes you!” Millie points out gleefully. “Oh, Hails, what if this is the start of a real fairy-tale romance?”

I shake my head, smiling at her enthusiasm. “I don’t know about all that. Let’s not get carried away. Yeah, we’re meeting today, but… it’s just a fling, that’s all.”

Even as I say the words, though, I know I’m trying to convince myself as much as her. Because deep down, a tiny, secret part of me is hoping that maybe, just maybe, Luca and I could be more than a fleeting affair. That the connection I felt with him was real and meaningful.

I remember the soft look in his eyes last night, the way he held me close and traced patterns on my skin. The easy way we talked and laughed together. Is it crazy to think this could turn into something real?

Something… more?

No.

I can’t let myself go down that road. Luca is a prince, for God’s sake. And I’m just… me. A journalist, a commoner. We come from completely different worlds. This is nothing more than a fun, whirlwind fling.

Royals don’t fall for regular girls like me. That’s the stuff of romance novels, not real life. So I’ll enjoy the fairy tale for a day or two, but I won’t let myself hope for a happily ever after. It’s smarter that way. Safer.

I’ll just ignore the fact that my foolish heart seems to have other ideas.