by Sara Hantz
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Discover more of Entangled Teen Crush’s books… Weddings, Crushes, and Other Dramas
Pushing the Boundaries
The Bad Boy Bargain
Falling for the Girl Next Door
Also by Sara Hantz… Falling for the Wrong Guy
Will the Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up
Tempted by Mr. Write
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2017 by Sara Hantz. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.
Entangled Publishing, LLC
2614 South Timberline Road
Suite 109
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Visit our website at www.entangledpublishing.com.
Crush is an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC.
Edited by Tracy Montoya
Cover design by April Martinez
Cover art from Thinkstock
ISBN 978-1-63375-855-1
Manufactured in the United States of America
First Edition February 2017
For Ellie
Chapter One
Nik breathed in deeply the fresh, country air, still clear and fresh despite the fact that he was on the perimeter of the school’s main parking lot. His skin tightened at the chatter of returning students. It was his first time overseas without his family or, at least, a massive security detail, and he wasn’t going to let anything spoil it. Okay, he knew that he couldn’t go crazy, even if he was away from the family shackles for a whole year, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have fun.
He scanned the area, pausing to take in the idyllic snow-tipped mountain backdrop. A large lake, dotted with kayaks and small fishing boats, sat to the side of Barden Heights, an exclusive boarding school nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and his home for the coming school year.
“Hey, Nik.” The sound of his friend Josh’s voice distracted him from his thoughts. “Let’s go.”
“Where to?” He pulled his gaze away from the magnificent view and instead looked directly at his friend. Nik could try all he wanted, with as much product as money could buy, and he still wouldn’t get the “artfully mussed” look of Josh’s dark brown hair.
“To our dorm. You’re in Beswick, with me.”
Being at boarding school didn’t faze Nik since he’d attended one in Switzerland from age eleven. Though he suspected that an American boarding school would be very different from the exclusive prep academy he’d attended, where the uniform comprised a dark grey suit, a starched white shirt, and a striped tie. Formal, yes. But he liked the sense of tradition it engendered. It was certainly nothing like the casual dress of this school. He glanced down at his jeans, which Josh had insisted he wear. They weren’t as tight or tapered as the ones apparently popular in America right now, which looked no more comfortable than his previous school uniform.
Maybe fitting in would be easier than he’d imagined. Even for him. Prince Niklas III of Lutgenstadt, secretly masquerading as commoner and exchange student Nik Gustafsson.
“Who will take our bags?” Nik glanced over his shoulder to where their trunks sat on the ground. Their driver had dropped them off a few minutes ago. Josh’s mom had apologized profusely for not being able to accompany them, but she’d had an appointment she couldn’t reschedule. As Nik’s parents had never taken him to school, he didn’t think it anything out of the ordinary. And certainly nothing worth apologizing over.
“We take our own. There’s no one here to wait on you hand and foot. You have to do it all yourself.” Josh fidgeted impatiently. Being still for more than several seconds at a time seemed a totally alien concept to him. He was lucky that he didn’t have to sit through the tedious ceremonies that were commonplace in Nik’s world.
“Of course,” Nik replied, annoyed that he’d slipped up already.
It would take a while for him to get used to life in America, where he was going to live for the next twelve months. And the freedom. The freedom. Even though he still had a bodyguard, it was nothing like in Lutgenstadt, the small principality in northern Europe where he lived. He knew people in his country would think him ungrateful for not appreciating the privileged position he held there. After all, being a prince brought with it some amazing opportunities.
Money. Plenty of that, even though most companies would rather give them things for free, hoping that they’d endorse their products. By Royal Appointment was hugely sought after. Luxury hotels. Private plane. Chauffeur. He had it all. Apart from what he really wanted. A normal life. Freedom to go wherever he wanted. No paparazzi following his every move. Commenting on his appearance. Commenting on who he was with.
And no one to carry his bags.
“If you want to survive school and not be found out, then you need to relax and get that princely stick out of your ass.” Josh gave him a friendly slap on the back.
Josh had spoken in fun, but Nik knew that there was considerable truth in what he’d said. Josh was very different from anyone he’d known at home. Nik envied the couldn’t-care-less attitude he had toward life. Always expecting the best of things to happen to him. Which they usually did. And if by chance he screwed up, it didn’t matter, because it was done in private and didn’t make front-page headlines.
He’d first met Josh when Josh’s family came to visit the palace while traveling in Europe. Their fathers had been friends during their college years. Josh and Nik had clicked instantly, despite being different in so many ways. When Josh’s dad offered to help Nik spend his junior year in America, he’d jumped at the chance to escape his royal life for a while. It took quite a long time to convince his parents that it was an incredible opportunity. In the end, they’d agreed, providing he had one of their bodyguards traveling with him.
Nik also convinced them that his true identity should be kept a secret. He had no desire to have his every move scrutinized by the media. He wanted his experience to be real. Normal and real. Luckily his parents saw the sense in that, too.
“Consider the stick removed,” Nik replied, giving a mock salute. “Take me to our residence.”
“If only removing the stick was that simple. Our residence.” Josh smirked. “If you’re going to throw around terms like that, I’d say it’s still firmly in place.”
“I’ll try harder next time,” Nik promised, making a mental note to observe and emulate Josh’s relaxed mannerisms. Though he had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn’t as easy as Josh made it seem.
Nik glanced ahead to where his bodyguard, Kurt, was pretending to sweep leaves off a brick path. The plan, agreed with the principal, was for Kurt to work at school as a maintenance man. He wouldn’t be accompanying Nik all the time, as he did in their country. Instead, he’d be there to keep a general eye on things. Not that Nik could imagine there being any problems. He planned to fly so far under the radar that he might as well be invisible
.
“It’s a deal. And just remember, our residence is nothing like the palace you’re used to. Your room here at school will be smaller than your closet at home.” Josh rested a hand on Nik’s shoulder and nodded in the direction of the school, an imposing red brick building that looked several hundred years old, with a white portico supported by imposing Roman-style columns and large, square windows framed by Colonial-style white shutters. Not counting the shutters, which seemed very American, it reminded him of his grandmother’s country home, where the whole family would congregate for their Christmas festivities. “Or, about the size of the guest bedroom you stayed in at my house last night,” Josh added with a sheepish grin.
“No problem.” Nik shrugged. “And don’t insult your house—I had a great time there.” Josh’s family had been very welcoming. It was easy to see why Josh was so laid-back.
He meant what he said about not caring that the room he’d slept in had been smaller than his closet at home, which not only had enough space for several racks of clothes and shoes, but for himself, his butler Larsen, and a few of his closest friends to throw a party. Not that he’d ever be so inclined to have one in his closet.
The dorm room was only somewhere to sleep, so it didn’t matter how large or small it was. It was private.
“I guess at your last boarding school, your room wasn’t like the one you had at home, though. So it shouldn’t be too much of a shock.”
Nik didn’t like to mention that at his old school, they each had a suite of rooms, which included their own bathroom, sitting room, and study. Nothing less would’ve satisfied the wealthy families of the students who attended there. They were also allocated their own housekeeper, who cleaned their rooms and did their washing. It was not much different from being at the palace.
Revealing all that, though, would just be obnoxious.
“I’m sure it will be fine. Lead the way.”
There was a strange freedom in facing the next year with only one trunk of clothes, without having to negotiate around his tuxedos, morning suits, and military presentation uniforms—or the high-profile events that required them. He turned to go back to where they’d left their suitcases but noticed Josh’s attention was diverted. His face looked suspiciously like one of those heart-shaped emojis as he stared in the direction of a girl standing beside a big tree near the parking lot.
“There’s a girl I want to see, first.” Josh flashed a broad smile.
Nik laughed. Whenever they were together, Josh flirted with any girls who caught his eye, dragging Nik along behind. His friend had no idea what a luxury it was to be able to flirt with a pretty girl without having the whole kingdom of Lutgenstadt descend on him. What Nik would give to be liked—or not—for himself, instead of the royal legacy hanging over his head. Because without fail, as soon as girls recognized him, their reactions were, as Josh would say, bat-shit crazy.
“Who is she?” Nik gestured with his chin to the tall girl, who chatted animatedly to the person standing beside her.
Even from that distance, she reminded Nik of the girls he knew at home: blonde, blue-eyed, and athletic. Not that he could tell from where he was that she had blue eyes. But in any case, her familiar Nordic good looks didn’t give him comfort. This was his year to branch out and experience a different way of life. If he was going to meet someone, he hoped she’d be different from his usual type. He’d fantasized about meeting a free-spirited, tell-it-like-it-is American girl. With a loud laugh. Who liked Nik Gustafsson, European scholarship student and had no idea he was really Prince Niklas III of Lutgenstadt.
He’d initially had reservations about being able to go incognito here, but now he had some hope. Especially after the principal had told him that while the American media couldn’t get enough of the British royal family, monarchs of countries smaller than the state of Connecticut didn’t tend to attract their interest. Which meant there was a really good chance no one here had heard of the Prince of Lutgenstadt.
So, for the first time in his life, he might be able to flirt like a normal person.
“Her name’s Lauren,” Josh said, jolting him back to the present. “Come on. I’m sure she’ll have a friend I can introduce you to.”
…
“Over here.”
Amber grinned as she saw her best friend Lauren coming toward her—not dragging her designer luggage behind her, so she must have already started settling in. She said good-bye to her dad, promising to call home in a few days once she was settled. She waved furiously as he took off down the road in his pride and joy, a new metallic grey Mercedes, experiencing the usual pang in her heart from his departure. Brushing that aside, she pulled up the handle on her pink suitcase and hurried along the path, the wheels bouncing in time with her steps. She headed toward Lauren, who had already started to run to meet her.
They fell into a huge hug, despite it only having been two days since they’d last seen each other.
“Sorry I’m late. The freeway was an absolute nightmare. Have you checked out our rooms?” Amber breathed in the excitement that enveloped them.
Aside from leaving her family, she had always loved the first day back at school, and this was no exception, despite the trickle of nerves running through her body. Seeing all the other students. Catching up with her old friends. Finding out about the newbies. And this year was going to be the best ever. They’d have all the fun of being juniors without the stress the seniors were under. Plus there’d be no romantic involvement. After what Amber had gone through last year, with being sick and then having Wade, her ex, betray her, boys were well and truly off the agenda. Her main aim now was to land the prestigious internship she’d decided to apply for at Creative 360, a top photographic agency. She was really excited because part of the internship involved some time in Europe at the agency’s office in Sweden. Which reminded her…
Untangling herself from the hug, she pointed the camera—which was never far from her side—in her friend’s direction. Lauren was well used to her obsession with photographing everything she saw and didn’t even comment as she clicked away from lots of different angles.
Amber sighed, wishing she was as photogenic as Lauren. Every photo made her look stunning, accentuating her high cheekbones and almond-shaped blue eyes. Photos of Lauren would definitely be in her application portfolio for the internship. She also planned to get some outdoor nature shots. School was the perfect place to do that, as the New Hampshire landscape was simply breathtaking, especially when the colors turned in the fall. She itched to get started. Hopefully on the weekend, there’d be time to go out with her camera.
“According to the list, our rooms are next to each other,” Lauren said.
“You’re kidding. How did that happen?”
Usually, Mrs. Beaumont, their resident manager, wanted to spread people out so it wasn’t too cliquey. She seldom put friends next to each other.
“Mrs. Beaumont finally saw sense.” Lauren flushed a pale pink and looked decidedly guilty.
“What did you do?” Amber narrowed her eyes, glaring at her friend. Except Lauren avoided the eye contact and appeared to be looking everywhere but. She even stared at Amber’s suitcase, which she’d seen hundreds of times before.
“Well…uh…I might have mentioned that you needed me next to you, in case you felt unwell,” Lauren muttered.
Amber wanted to be treated normally. Lauren knew that. Because most of the time, she felt perfectly fine. Although she did still get tired if she overexerted herself.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” It surprised her that Lauren had kept it a secret.
“In case she said no. Sorry.” She ran her thumb along the strap to her vivid fuchsia, black, and orange Vera Bradley purse, looking like she was bracing herself for Amber’s reaction. “I should have mentioned it. Are you angry with me for going behind your back? I know you’re fine, but I worry…”
Amber shook her head, anxious for Lauren to know that it was okay. One thing she could never b
e, was angry with Lauren. Their friendship was too solid for something small like that to challenge it. “How could I be? Now we’ve got the whole year next to each other. Something we’ve always wanted. I think it’s cool.”
“Me, too.” Lauren blew out a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing. “And changing the subject, guess who I’ve just seen?”
Amber frowned, tapping her chin in an attempt to look like she was thinking hard. “Hmm. Let me guess. This is a tricky one. Wait. It’s not, um, not Josh by any chance?” She’d bet her most expensive camera lens that she was right.
Last year, he was the only guy Lauren had the hots for, and no other guy had gotten a passing glance, despite many of them trying. Trouble was, it had seemed like he hadn’t even known she existed. Not in that way. Until the summer dance, when they’d had a moment.
A moment that Lauren had relived with Amber on several occasions over the summer. In great detail. Amber had heard about it so many times, it was like she’d actually been there instead of being holed up at home.
“Yep.” Lauren’s eyes twinkled.
Amber didn’t envy Lauren the obvious high she was feeling, since she’d learned the hard way that as far as romance was concerned, the high was usually followed by a low. And that was why dating was out.
She knew that Lauren would consider her reaction overkill. Understandable since she hadn’t had Amber’s life. But she’d keep her feelings on that to herself. She didn’t want to spoil things for Lauren.
“And? Have you spoken to him?” Amber leaned against the tall pine tree, whose branches shaded her from the sun, scrutinizing Lauren’s face. She held up her hands and framed it, looking at the way the light filtering through the leaves fell across her cheeks. It would have made the perfect shot, except Lauren only stayed still for a few seconds.
“Not yet. I’m gonna play it cool when I do. I noticed him arrive about five minutes ago. With a new guy. A hot new guy.” She nodded knowingly at Amber, her blond ponytail bouncing against her shoulders.
“Forget it.” Amber waved her off. “We talked about it. This is a guy-free year.” She chuckled at the sight of Lauren jutting her bottom lip out. “For me, you idiot. Not you.” She nudged her friend.
