Fifty Frogs (The Anti-Cinderella Chronicles Book 4)

by Tawdra Kandle

  My parents’ tour of Civil War battlefields was a tremendous success, too. They became YouTube sensations, and schools began using their videos in history classes, which pleased my dad to no end. He’s now talking about doing a second tour, this time focusing on the Revolutionary War. I’m so proud of them both.

  As for everyone else . . .Teddi and Shane got married six months ago. They’re blissfully happy, as I always knew they would be. Charlie and I hang out with them pretty frequently. Sometimes Lauren and Holly come over, too, even though Holly is now dating Kyle. They seem like they’re a good match.

  Last week, I got an invitation to Jeremy and Tess’s wedding. I showed it to Charlie, and we both laughed, thinking of how thankful we are that I won a residency on Amerails, that while I was gone, Jeremy met Tess, and that I was stubborn enough not to pay the baggage fee at the airport that day.

  Life’s funny. The things you think are the biggest disasters can turn out to be the most important opportunities for success, for the future . . . for love.

  I thought about that last night. Charlie took me back to our favorite experimental gardens, and we stood on the hill at sunset. But after Charlie kissed me, instead of taking my hand and leading me back to the car as he usually did, he dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him.

  I didn’t have to think very long, because I’ve learned that when happiness comes along, you grab it with both hands and say yes.

  And that’s exactly what I did.

  Once upon a time, there was a girl. She kissed a bunch of frogs. The exact number doesn’t really matter. But one day, she kissed one, and because she had magical powers, he turned into . . . the only man she could ever love, for the rest of her life.

  And they lived happily ever after.

  The End

  And . . . for more sassy, fun romance with a royal twist,

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  Coming May 15th

  How many girls can say their first kiss was with a prince in the British royal family?

  I was fourteen and he was sixteen, and yes, it was magical. But that kiss didn’t exactly change my life. To tell you the truth, I didn’t even think about it—or Nicky Windsor—for the next ten years . . . until fate, in the guise of my grandparents, brought us back together again.

  Now everything has spun out of control. I’m ducking reporters and photographers when I try to leave home. My friends act as if I’m someone they don’t know anymore. The whole world seems to be watching me, wanting to see some kind of modern Cinderella story.

  But trust me, I’m no man’s princess. I’m more comfortable in tennis shoes than in a tiara, more comfortable rocking a bucket than a ball gown, and more likely to fall on my face than to pull off a graceful wave.

  The only thing that keeps me from running away and hiding is Nicky. He’s all I’ve ever wanted in a man: hot, hunky and head-over-heels in love with me. I think I feel the same way. I think I want to be with him forever.

  But the idea of life with the royal family terrifies me. Even if I have found my one and only, can I handle what comes after our happy ending?

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  A sneak peek of The Anti-Cinderella!

  “Rise and shine, sleeping beauty.”

  Someone shook my foot, and still mostly asleep, I scowled and kicked at the hand, moaning words that were unintelligible even to me.

  “Kyra, c’mon. Wake up. I’m making you waffles for breakfast, but we’re out of milk. I need your keys so that I can run to the store and get some.”

  Waffles. That was definitely the magic word. I opened one eye and tried to focus on Shelby. “In the front pocket of my purse, hanging on the hook in my closet.”

  “Thanks, sweetie. Be right back.” She paused by my door. “You might get out of bed and set up the waffle iron for me. Maybe make some coffee.”

  I grunted. “’kay.”

  For a few minutes, I didn’t move at all. I listened to Shelby’s steps down the hall and through the kitchen. When I heard the back door open and then close, I finally rolled over and reached for my phone.

  There was a text message notification, and a smile I couldn’t hold back if I’d wanted spread over my face.

  Good morning, beautiful. I hope you wake up as happy as I did this morning. On the plane already, and by the time you see this, I’ll probably be getting ready to land. Talk to you later today.

  I hugged my arms around my middle, giving a happy sigh that almost turned into a squeal. But it didn’t, because even if Nicky was already across the Atlantic, I was too cool to squeal over a boy. Or a man. Yeah, Nicholas Windsor was most definitely a man.

  Glancing at the clock, I tried to figure out the time difference and how long the flight between Boston and London might be. The plane was probably getting ready to land about now, or maybe it already had, and Nicky was on his way to his apartment. His apartment in the palace, which was something I couldn’t think about too long, or it would totally freak me out.

  The slamming of a door made me jump, and I sat straight up in bed, pulling the sheet nearly to my chin, my heart pounding. There was no way Shelby could be back already; the closest convenience store was ten minutes away on a good day. She probably hadn’t locked the door, because we rarely did. Who the hell was coming into my house? A burglar? A serial murderer? Oh, that would be just my luck: here I’d finally met a nice guy, and now I was going to get my throat slit in my own bed.

  Adrenaline surged into my bloodstream as a dozen scenarios flitting across my brain in the seconds before Shelby came stalking back into my bedroom. Her eyes were wide, and she didn’t look happy. I wracked my brain, trying to figure out why she might be pissed at me.

  She opened her mouth and started to speak, and then closed it again, as though the words just wouldn’t come.

  “What’s wrong?” I scrambled out of bed and nearly tripped as the sheets were wrapped around my knees.

  “Kyra.” Shelby managed to ground out my name. “Why the hell is there a bunch of photographers and reporters out in our front yard?”

  Confusion and bewilderment replaced the panic I’d felt a few minutes before. “What?”

  “Reporters, Kyra. I walked out the door, went around the house to the driveway, and they were waiting there. They all started yelling your name, taking pictures, and asking if it’s true that you’re dating Prince Nicholas.” She tapped her foot on the floor, and her lips were pressed into a tight line. “Something you need to share with me, Kyra?”

  “Shit.” I sat back down on the edge of the mattress and covered my face with my hands. “Shit, shit, shit.”

  “Yeah, I think you’re going to have to come up with something better than that.” Shelby threw up her hands. “Is it true? Is the mystery guy you’ve been seeing lately really Prince Fucking Nicholas?”

  “Um.” I gnawed on the corner of my lip. “It’s not exactly . . . I mean, it didn’t start like that.”

  Shelby cocked her head and raised one eyebrow. I recognized that expression. It meant, keep talking.

  “I didn’t lie about who he was,” I rushed to explain. “When I said I’d met someone I’d known when I was a kid, that was true. It is true.”

  “And . . .” She rolled her hand. “And you used to play with kids from the British royal family when you were little?”

  “Well, yeah. It’s complicated, but his grandparents on his mother’s side are friends with Handsome and Honey. They had the house next to us on the beach in New Jersey. So when he came to visit with them, we used to play together. It wasn’t a big deal.”

  “Mmmmhmmmm.” Shelby clearly needed more.

  I decided that in the interest of time and expediency, I’d leave out the whole first kiss deal. “So then he was at that dinner a few weeks back, and we sort of . . . reconnected.” I bit the side of my mouth to hold back the smile that threatened to take over my face at the memory of that first evening. “But nothing happened then. I wasn’t holding out on you.” />
  “Nothing happened then.” Shelby nodded. “Which tells me that something has happened since. Also—hello, you have dinner and start to hang out with a prince? Ky, I don’t care that he’s an old family friend. You don’t hold that shit back from your best friend.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. But I didn’t know if it was going to be anything, and then . . . it was.” I met her eyes. “Full disclosure time? He kissed me last night. And we had a super romantic dinner. And I think it might actually be something. But he’s back in the UK now, so—”

  As if on cue, my phone began to ring. Butterflies exploded in my stomach when I saw the caller ID on the screen, and I answered it quickly.

  Before I could get out more than a hello, Nicky was speaking tersely into my ear. “Kyra, we have a situation.”

  “Yeah, I’m aware.” I gave Shelby wide eyes.

  “I just got off the plane in London, and I was mobbed by the press.” He muttered something that I didn’t quite catch, but I could imagine what it might be. “They were all yelling at me about you. Kyra, did you say anything to the media?”

  I couldn’t answer him for a moment. Hurt and a little pissed at his assumption, I hoped he could hear the pissiness in my tone. “Of course, I didn’t. What do you think of me? I didn’t even tell Shelby. She just found out what’s going on when she tried to leave the house to buy milk and ran into a bunch of photographers in our front yard.” I sniffed a little. “She needed milk to make me waffles, because she’s such an awesome friend, and I hadn’t even told her. So please don’t insult me by assuming I’d blab to the press.”

  “Kyra.” I heard the apology in his voice even before he spoke the words. “I’m sorry. That was a shitty thing for me to say. I was taken by surprise—reporters don’t take that much notice of me usually. I can come and go without them bothering me. I didn’t have any warning this time. I guess I sort of went over the edge. I really am sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” I took a deep breath. “But how did this happen? And why do they care?”

  “They have a picture of us,” Nicky said grimly. “It’s a little blurry and dark, but it’s clear enough to see you and to recognize me.”

  “The lady with the phone?” I rubbed my forehead, where a headache was lurking. “I told you I saw her taking a picture.”

  “Probably,” Nicky agreed. “Not there was anything we could’ve done at that point, even if my policeman had seen her.”

  “But how did they figure out who I am?” I hadn’t seen anyone I recognized at the restaurant.

  “We made the reservations last night in your name,” he reminded me. “It wouldn’t take much investigation to find that information.”

  “Ack.” I dropped back down onto the bed, closing my eyes. “What a mess. What do I tell them? How do I deal with this?”

  Nicky sighed. “It’s best to just be as pleasant as you can be. Don’t talk to them, but don’t run away. Smile and ignore their questions. If you have to say something, say ‘No comment.’”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Great. On the other hand, I could just stay in the house until they get bored and go away.”

  “You could do that, but then you and Shelby wouldn’t get your waffles, would you?” There was a teasing note in his voice. “By the way, please do apologize to Shelby for me. Please tell her that it was totally my fault you kept her in the dark. And tell her . . .” He hesitated. “Tell her that I can’t wait to meet her the next time I’m in the states.”

  I swallowed. “So there’s definitely going to be a next time? All this . . . the press . . . it doesn’t scare you off?”

  He laughed softly, and the intimacy of the sound thrilled my heart. “I think that’s a question I should be asking you, not the other way around. It’s going to take more than some idiots snapping pictures and yelling questions to frighten me.” He hesitated. “What about you?”

  “Puh.” I blew out a breath. “Please. I don’t scare that easily. Besides, they’ll get bored and go away soon.”

  “Right.” There was a voice in the background, speaking low. Nicky said something in reply, but it was too muffled for me to understand. “Sorry, but I need to go now. I’ve got a meeting, and I’m late. Talk to you tonight?”

  “I’ll be here.”

  “Okay. Bye, then.”

  I sat with the phone in my hand for a few more seconds. The mattress dipped as Shelby sat down next to me. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and her eyes were full of curiosity.

  “Want to catch me up on a few things, Kyra?”

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  Dear friends,

  I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Vivian and Charlie’s story. If you love a #MeetCute, I have terrific news: there are eleven more books in the #MeetCute series (year one). Each is by a different fabulous author.

  To find out more about all of the #MeetCute Books, you can check out our website and our Facebook page, and sign up for our newsletter!

  It’s all about the #MeetCute!

  Love and kisses,

  Tawdra

  PS: Crystal Cove, the beach town Vivian and Charlie visit, is the setting for another of my series. The Crystal Cove Romances begin with The Posse and go through The Plan and The Path. More are coming soon! Check out my also by list to find these books and more at your favorite book vendor.

  PPS: Please consider leaving a review on the vendor where you bought this book. It is hugely appreciated by the author—that’s me! And sharing with your friends about this book is also a wonderful thank you that I always appreciate. <3

  Today I Met the Boy I’m Going to Marry Darlene Love

  Can’t Help Falling in Love Elvis Presley

  Calling You Blue October

  Clumsy Fergie

  First Time Lifehouse

  I’m Into Something Good Herman’s Hermits

  Balance Beam Blue October

  Last year, at the end of Indie BookFest, I was driving home with my daughter Haley and my dear friend, author Gail Priest. We were just around the corner from my home when we spotted a turtle in the middle of the road. What happened next was very much along the lines of what you read here, with Vivian and Charlie . . . though Gail and I were not able to convince Haley to get out of the car!

  It was that scene that inspired Vivian and the fifty frogs. I am grateful to Gail for graciously lending me her name, although the character of Aunt Gail isn’t completely based on her. In real life, Gail is happily married to her own sweetheart. The two Gails do have a few things in common, though: a cute dog (though Annie is pure Havanese!), a wonderful sense of humor, and a passion for theatre.

  I also have to thank my two daughters for allowing me to use some of their dating experiences in this story. Although some of Vivian’s escapades may be hard to believe, each and every one is based on reality. I changed names, of course, and I tweaked a few details, but the basic framework is the same. Scary, but true!

  Thank you as always to my fabulous book team: Meg Murrey designed this adorable cover, and I fell in love. Of course, Stacey Blake of Champagne Formats made the interior sparkle as only she can. So much love to both of these ladies!

  And huge love and thanks to my fabulous Temptresses, who keep me going on a daily basis and prop me up when things get tough. Special thanks to Kara Schilling, Christy Durbin and Gail Priest for their beta work. So much appreciated!

  It’s been quite a year here in Casa Kandle. If you follow me on social media, you might know that life has been filled with bumps lately on a professional level, including the elimination of my husband’s position at the church, leaving him without a job. This means that he’s been home with me nearly 24/7 . . . which has its challenges! This month, we celebrated our thirtieth wedding anniversary. I am so blessed to be married to a man who is my best friend, who supports me no matter what I do, and who still thinks I look exactly the same as I did thirty years ago. Every romance I write is inspired by him. Rough times come and go, but I couldn’t weather them without
him.

  I wish you the same kind of romance in your life. Kiss all the frogs until you find the one who makes you feel the tingle. And then keep kissing that one, for always.

  Career Soldier

  Maximum Force

  Temporary Duty

  Hitting the Silk

  Zone of Action

  Damage Assessement

  Scheme of Manuever

  Fifty Frogs

  The King Series

  Fearless

  Breathless

  Restless

  Endless

  The King Series Boxset

  The Seredipity Series

  Undeniable

  Stardust on the Sea

  Unquenchable

  Recipe for Death Series

  Death Fricassee

  Unforgettable

  Death A La Mode

  Death Over Easy

  Moonlight on the Meadow

  The Fox’s Wager

  Age of Aquarius

  Crystal Cove Books

  The Posse

  The Plan

  The Path

  The One Trilogy

  The Last One

  The First One

  The Only One

  The One Trilogy Box Set

  The Always Love Series