Page 43 of American Royalty

“That’s not what I meant.”

She pursed her lips. “If I’m in the east wing, where will you be?”

He’d apologized. But in his effort to self-deprecatingly describe their isolated surroundings, he’d unintentionally offended her.

Smooth, Jameson.“The west wing.”

“Of course. Well, I appreciate you allowing me to stay. If we both try hard enough, we can avoid seeing each other while I’m here.”

YOU SHOULD ADDRESSme as “Your Royal Highness.”

Seriously?

Dani tossed her tote on the bed. The nerve of that man! Why should she call him her royal anything? He wasn’therprince. He needed to read a history book. America won the Revolutionary War. She wasn’t required to bow down to him or anybody else.

Bitches bowed down to her!

She’d conceded only because her grandmother would roll over in her grave if Dani had acted like the stereotypical classless American when meeting one of her beloved royals for the first time. Everything was riding on the positive coverage of her participation in this once-in-a-lifetime event. How she was seen, how she was received, needed to boost her image in Genesis’s eyes. She had to make this work. And if that meant abiding by his rules and protocols, because she was in his country, then that’s what she would do.

Plus, she could hear Nana saying, “You’re staying in his house. Act like you have some home training.”

So, she’d done it. She’d given him his “Your Royal Highness.” With a smile that she hoped looked pleasant, because it felt tight as fuck on her face.

How had she gotten in that situation to begin with? She couldn’t remember the last time her first interaction with a man hadn’t led to him eating out of her palm. Even if she didn’t like them, she knew how to deal with them. She’d noticed how the prince had reacted when he’d first seen her. Even when she was dressed down, she knew the reaction most men had toward her. She’d acted as she usually did, flirting with him, attempting to get him on her side.

But he hadn’t taken the bait. He’d treated her and her presence as if she were unwelcome.

So, you got all up in your feelings because he wasn’t feeling you?

Nyla also didn’t have to be here for Dani to hear her voice.

“It’s crowded enough in there. I don’t need all of you giving your opinions!”

Dani’s voice was loud in the quiet space.

Oh right. Because she was in a bedroom. In a castle. By herself.

Despite her dark mood, she recognized that the accommodations were luxurious, with light-colored walls and dark wood furniture. The king-sized bed, clearly the focal point of the room, had a large headboard and a sumptuous duvet piled with sky blue and gold pillows that looked like a cloud, hence its name. To her left was a small sitting room, with a chaise lounge upholstered in the same fabric as the pillows. It didn’t have an en suite bathroom—she’d passed one on the opposite side of the hall as she was shown to her room—but the view...

She headed over to the French doors and stepped out onto the balcony that overlooked the property. It was incredible; even in the dimming light there were rolling green hills for as far as the eye could see.

She pulled out her phone and took a picture, texting it to Nyla.

Sunset is God saying nighty-night to his Sparkle Sammies.

Several seconds later, her phone buzzed, and her friend’s face appeared on the screen.

“You are a mess,” Nyla said, laughing. “And that’s some view for a cottage on a country estate.”

From the lighting to the fact that Dani could see Nyla’s profile as she ran a makeup brush over her face, she could tell her friend had called using her iPad, while sitting at the vanity in her bathroom.

“Turns out there was a leak at the cottage, so now I’m staying in the main house.”

“It’s gorgeous,” Nyla said, nodding approvingly.

Dani leaned over and propped her elbow on the stone balustrade. “What are you up to today?”

“Heading out to have lunch with one of the producers from the show. He wants to pitch me this idea on my character’s...”