Mindy’s face fell, and Piper was afraid she might cry.
Aldon stood from his chair and shook both of their hands. “I’m sorry you went through that,” he said, and Piper could tell he meant it.
Another couple approached, trailed by two teenagers. “We couldn’t help but overhear you, Mindy,” the man said. He wore a baseball cap and had a burly beard.
“Oh, hey, Stan,” Mindy said. The two obviously knew each other. “Stan and Barbara lost their business too,” she explained to Aldon. “It’s been hard on their family.”
The teens behind them nodded.
“I’m so sorry,” Aldon said and shook Stan’s hand.
A loud voice called from across the room. “You’re sorry, but what are you gonna do about it?”
A man in a sweatshirt and jeans stood next to his table, his hands in the air. Piper cringed at the angry look on his face.
“I’ve written letter after letter to the Monarchy,” he said. “No response. Why should we believe your promises now?”
Piper’s face went hot. She wished she could race to Aldon’s defense, but she knew the skepticism was justified. Her neighbors and the townspeople of Thistledown Valley had implored the government for help. No one had done anything for them.
“I understand your mistrust,” Aldon said. “In fact, I don’t blame you at all.”
The restaurant went completely quiet. All eyes were on Aldon. Even the cooks and dishwashers had emerged from the kitchen to listen. This was more attention than they’d ever received from a member of the monarchy.
“Look, I’m not sure exactly what I can do, and I can’t make any absolute promises, but I will go to the Crown with all of your concerns.” He pulled a small notebook from his back pocket. “I want to hear from all of you. What’s happened to you, what impact has it had, and what changes would do the most good.”
Piper watched, impressed, as Aldon invited each family or individual to come to him with their laundry lists of needs.
“I know I haven’t been here up to now, but Thistledown Valley is important to me,” Aldon said to the crowd once everyone had taken their turn to file their grievances. “I have a home here, and I’ve always imagined settling here permanently someday. I promise I’ll do everything I can.”
Piper believed him. She could see a future for him here. Was there room for her and Willa in his future?
She hoped so.
8
It was past ten by the time Piper, Aldon, and Willa finally left the restaurant. On the ride home, Piper leaned into Aldon, letting her head rest on his shoulder. She couldn’t believe how easy it was to be with him. It was as if they had known each other forever instead of just a few days. Piper was so comfortable with him, she found herself forgetting that Aldon was Prince of Sovalon.
“What a night,” Aldon said as they drove along dark country roads. He gave Piper’s knee an affectionate squeeze.
“You were amazing with those people,” she said. “Mrs. Birktower is known for being a tough old bird. She gives everybody a hard time, and she melted like butter in your hands.”
“Which one was she?”
“The older woman with the mustache,” Piper said.
Aldon laughed. “Oh, yes. I won’t soon forget that face.”
Laughing, Piper snuggled closer to Aldon, wishing there wasn’t a console between them. “You made them feel like someone actually cares about their plight, finally.”
“I do care,” Aldon said. “I hope I can quickly get some help for them all.”
A muffle snore erupted from the backseat, and when Piper glanced back, she saw that Willa had fallen asleep.
“I’m not surprised she nodded off,” Aldon said. “We were there for a long time. She was so patient and well-mannered. You should be proud.”
“Thank you,” Piper said. “She’s a good girl.
They pulled up the driveway to the castle and parked the car. Piper went to retrieve the sleeping Willa from the backseat, but Aldon put a hand over hers.
“Let me get her,” he said. “I’ll carry her to her bedroom if you lead the way.”
Piper stood back and watched as Aldon carefully scooped Willa into his arms. She walked him to her daughter’s room, thinking how nice it was to have some help with Willa, and how sweet Aldon had been to her tonight.
Aldon laid Willa down on her bed, and she didn’t stir at all.
“She’s really out,” Piper said and began taking off one of Willa’s shoes. Aldon followed suit with the other shoe and together, the two tucked her in. Piper whispered a quiet bedtime prayer over her daughter and kissed her forehead before leaving the room. Outside the door, Aldon was leaning against the wall. How surreal was it that a gorgeous prince was waiting for her, wanting to spend time with her?
“She still asleep?” he asked, and Piper nodded. She couldn’t help but notice the perfect line of his jaw in the shadow of the hallway. Her pulse quickened under his stare. “I want to show you something,” he said and held a hand out for her. She took it.
“I sent my valet on a little errand while we were out,” Aldon said. He led her down the long corridor toward the library, where he stopped and faced her. “I think you’ll like it.”
Piper was bursting with curiosity as to what Aldon was talking about. He ushered her into the room and gestured to a table in the middle of the room. It was piled with books. When she got closer, she realized the stack of books were for her.
“They’re amazing,” she said, as she ran her hand over the gorgeous covers. They were all books on botany, just like the ones she’d asked about. She flipped through a thick hardcover that’s pages were filled with gorgeous illustrations of all types of shrubbery. “This was incredibly thoughtful of you, Aldon,” she said and peered up into his warm eyes, feeling touched. In only a few short days, Aldon was changing her whole world, giving her hope for the town, and making her life at the castle more magical than it had ever been.
He sat down at one of the chairs where she could feel him watching her until she looked away from the beautiful books and met his eyes. Piper put down the book that was in her hands and moved toward Aldon. She leaned over him and let her lips rest gently on his. It was a kiss to show her gratitude but quickly turned into something more as Aldon responded.
He drew her into his lap and pulled her body against his. She placed her hands on his torso as they kissed, and let herself explore the chiseled muscles of his abs and chest. With her legs straddling him, she angled closer and closer into him until she could feel the rock hardness of his attraction to her. She pushed into him, unable to help herself.
It had been a long time since a man had made her feel this hot.
Leaning back, she let Aldon unbutton her shirt and slide his fingers beneath her bra. She sighed as he gently pinched her nipples and kissed her neck, his tongue flicking the sensitive spot behind her ear. He was driving her crazy.
“I want you, Aldon,” she whispered, and her words were all it took to spur him into action. With her legs still wrapped around him, he stood and laid her carefully on the long wooden table. Pushing the books aside, he climbed onto the table as well, straddling her. He placed his lips over hers, sucking on her lower lip while he unfastened her bra and slid it off so that she was naked from the waist up.