1. James

James

Reminder: Undecided Heiress is Act II in the Expect the Unexpected duet. This book cannot be read as a standalone.

" J ames?" Anna whispers to herself. I'm frozen in place , and she clears her throat. "I'm sorry, have we met?"

Blinking twice to ensure I'm not dreaming, I pull her to the side to allow commuters to pass. How is she even more beautiful in person? "You're... real?"

"Yes? Last time I checked, at least. Are you?" she chuckles, eyeing me curiously. "This is going to sound strange, but do we know each other?"

"In my dreams and… a book, apparently." Bewilderment etches her features, but I know she recognises me, too. If only I didn't need to get to… " Fuck! I'm going to be late for work. May I call you later?"

"I have to get to work, as well." Without an ounce of hesitation, she pulls her phone from her bag and hands it to me, teasing, "I'll have you know, I don't accept gentleman callers after half past two."

It's her, but how?

I type my number, then call myself from her phone. There's no way I'll allow her to slip through my fingers that easily. Once I feel mine vibrate, I end the call. "How is this possible?"

Anna shrugs. "I've learned to expect the unexpected. I'm standing in front of a man from my dream, and my favourite novel has been changed." She shakes her head, chuckling, "I may as well enjoy this hallucination, talking to a fictional character on my morning commute. I'm sure I'll need to be sectioned this afternoon." As I hand her phone back to her, she adds, "Are you sure we don't know each other? We've never met before?"

"You've also had a dream? And I was in it? I've had the same dream every night for two weeks, one where I'm a prince, and you're…" I resist the urge to touch her, stuffing my hands into my pockets. She may be familiar, but I'm a stranger to her outside of the dream. "Well, you are in it as well. And there's a… piano." If this isn't my imagination, she'll remember how I spread her wide and feasted on her until her legs were shaking.

Anna's eyes widen, and I bite my lip to hide my smile. "A piano?" she enquires. "Does anyone happen to sit atop this piano?"

I take a small step closer and lean in to whisper beside her ear. "Forgive me if this is overstepping, but a lot more than sitting happened."

As I pull back, her breath hitches, and she mumbles, "It's supposed to be a fountain, a library, and a number of other places. Not a piano."

"So I've heard," I quip. Having her right here in the flesh steals my breath away; she's even more stunning than in my dreams. "Meet me tonight?"

"Perhaps. Message me later… Prince James. " She gestures with a nod behind me. "I have a train to catch."

"Of course." I step back, allowing Anna to pass. My soul tugs nearly out of my chest as I watch her walk away until she looks back once, a mischievous smile dancing on her lips.

Anna's real.

And she'll be mine.