Heart Captivated

by Lindsay Bergman

  Chapter Two

  The enticing smell of pancakes preceded me into the kitchen.

  “It smells great in here, Soph,” I announced with a smile, before drawing to a halt at the sight of the twenty-one-year-old prince sitting at our kitchen table.

  He was lounging in one of the wooden chairs in jeans and a t-shirt, with his stetson resting on the round farmhouse table. I was surprised to see the prince here this early in the morning; it was before sunrise. Even dressed in western wear, he looked out of place in our weathered, country-style kitchen.

  The white-washed cabinets were chipped with age, the pale blue walls faded from years of sun exposure and the oak hardwood was dusty and scratched. It was hard to believe he could be so at-ease in our simple, well-loved home, but I had to admit he looked comfortable and perfectly content in his place at our kitchen table.

  Ashton sent me a dimpled smile. “Good morning, Brielle.”

  “Good morning.” I stood awkwardly in the doorway and chewed on my lower lip, uncertain if I should curtsy or address him as Your Highness.

  He seemed to read my expression. Understanding lit up his eyes along with a wicked twinkle. “You can call me His Most Excellent Royal Highness, Prince Ashton.” He winked, a grin tugging at his lips. “I might be a prince, Brielle, but I don’t stand on formality when I’m with friends. Please just call me Ashton.”

  I hesitated. “Okay …”

  “Ashton,” he prompted, suppressing his smile.

  “Okay, Ashton.”

  His answering grin was dazzling. “I like the way you say my name, Brielle. Your American accent is very … cute.”

  Goodness, was he actually flirting with me? I flicked a glance at Sophie, but she was humming to herself as she flipped pancakes over a griddle, lost in her own thoughts. I moved to sit in the chair across from him and chose to ignore his comment about my cute American accent. “How did you know I was wondering what to call you?”

  He leaned back in his chair, his mouth curving in a smile. “Most Americans aren’t familiar with the formality. And I’m very good at reading people.” The intensity in his blue gaze made a blush creep into my cheeks.

  I cleared my throat and blurted out the first thought that popped into my head. “Aren’t you supposed to be surrounded by royal guards, being a prince and all?”

  Ashton grinned and gestured with his hand. “Oh, they’re around. But if you could spot them, then they aren’t doing a very good job of being discreet.”

  “Oh,” I murmured, feeling like an idiot.

  Sophie approached and said, “Bree, I hope you don’t mind that I invited Ashton over for breakfast.” She set a plate down in front of the prince that was stacked high with pancakes. “Here you go, handsome.”

  He thanked her and dug in, taking a huge bite of pancake coated with fresh huckleberries and syrup. “This is delicious,” Ashton commented, stabbing a huckleberry with his fork and holding it up for inspection. “What are these?”

  “Huckleberries,” Sophie answered, flipping more pancakes over the griddle. “A popular Montana staple … and they’re Bree’s favorite.” She readied another plate and set it in front of me, then paused to whisper none-too-quietly into Ashton’s ear, “I’m hoping to butter her up so she’ll let me skip out on my morning chores.” She sent me a pleading look on her way back to the stove.

  I sighed and picked up my fork, knowing I couldn’t deny her anything. By her smile, Sophie knew it too. I should have seen this coming. Sophie didn’t usually help with breakfast unless she was hoping for a favor—and pancakes with huckleberries was a sure-fire way to get in my good graces. I could let her out of morning chores if Logan was here to help me …

  “Is Logan around?” I asked between bites.

  Sophie shook her head. “He and Uncle Cameron are helping with the Jameson’s branding today. They’re in the barn loading the horses.”

  “I forgot about that.” I frowned at my plate. It looked like I would be doing the chores on my own this morning.

  “Why don’t I help you both with the morning chores?” Ashton offered. “I’d hate to make Bree do it all on her own.”

  Gratitude for his thoughtfulness spread through me. Over the last year, Sophie had become too wrapped up in her emotions to be of much help. She’d never enjoyed ranching work, but lately it was a challenge just to get her help with morning chores. It was difficult to hold it against her though, when I knew how much she’d been struggling since our mother had passed away barely over a year ago.

  While Uncle Cameron and Logan had thrown themselves into ranching, Sophie had been more than eager to escape the boundaries of Hidden Creek Ranch. She had a sudden thirst to experience everything that life had to offer—before it was gone. As for me, I’d spent the last year trying to fill the void left in our family. I’d done anything and everything in my power to help my loved ones find happiness again. Sometimes it felt like the burden was more than I could carry. There were days when the longing for my mother was more than my broken heart could handle.

  Before my thoughts could wander much further in that direction, I smiled at Ashton with genuine gratitude. “Thank you, Ashton. I appreciate the help.”

  His dimpled smile was utterly irresistible. For a brief, insane moment, I wished for a chance to pursue my attraction to him. For the first time since my mom’s death, I wanted something more out of life than trying to drown my sorrows in ranch work and being the glue that held my family together. I banished the thought as quickly as it had come: in the blink of an eye. I’d experienced more than enough heartache in my twenty-one years of life. First with my dad, and then my mom. My fragile heart couldn’t risk being crushed again—especially by a handsome prince.

  Ashton’s warm voice cut into my dreary thoughts. “You’re very welcome, Bree.”

  I peeked up to find his gaze on me.

  Our eye contact broke when Sophie joined us at the table. “Let’s eat and get those chores done. The faster we finish, the sooner we can go out to … explore.” The sultry look she sent Ashton made it impossible to misunderstand her meaning.

  I could have sworn Ashton blushed, but his olive-toned complexion made it difficult to tell. He stole a glance at me before focusing his attention on the pancakes. We finished our breakfast in relative silence and headed out to the barn.

  We made quick work of the morning chores with three sets of helping hands. For a prince, Ashton was not afraid to get his hands—or his brand new Wrangler jeans—dirty. He was very laid-back, and surprisingly down-to-earth; in no time at all I had forgotten to be intimidated by his royal title. As we worked, Ashton entertained us with charming stories of his home. The more he told us, the more I longed for a glimpse of the Mediterranean paradise of Coradova.

  A yearning rose up within me, so strong and powerful that it took all of my will-power to restrain it. I was no longer free to travel the world as I’d always wanted. The dreams I’d had to study abroad were gone, along with any hope for a life outside of the Hidden Creek Ranch.

  That didn’t restrain my growing interest in Coradova though. I questioned Ashton about the country he called home and delighted in every detail he shared. With a broad smile and eyes full of pride, he seemed more than happy to oblige.

  When Sophie grew tired of listening to our chatter, she interrupted and took the shovel from his hands. “Come on, Ashton. Let me show you the creek.” She led him off for some time alone without waiting for his consent.

  As I watched them leave, my thoughts wandered over images of a country I’d never seen before, but was quickly falling in love with.

  Chapter Three

  We fell into a routine over the next few weeks. Every morning Ashton, and sometimes Mackenzie, came over for breakfast and to help with morning chores. Most days Ashton spent the afternoons with all three of us, wandering through the pastures of both ranches and exploring our small town of Hope Creek. He seemed content to spend time with all of us, but occasionally, an impatient S
ophie claimed him all for herself and took him off on outings all throughout the Bitterroot Valley.

  After dinner one night, Sophie suggested starting up the fire pit and dragged Ashton outside to help her. Logan was in town with friends and Uncle Cameron had retired to his bedroom after calling it an early night. One royal guard had followed the prince outside, while a handful more were surveying the perimeter. I was surprised by how quickly I’d grown accustomed to their presence after only a few short weeks.

  Through the kitchen window, I noticed the silhouetted couple standing close together in the yard. The light from the campfire flickered around them like glowing amber. I wasn’t trying to snoop, but their laughter had caught my attention while I was washing the dishes in the kitchen sink. Before I could turn my gaze away, I saw the smaller shadow reach up on tiptoes to circle her arms around the prince. Their shadows merged in the undeniable act of a kiss.

  Blushing, I forced my eyes onto the dinner plate in my hand and scrubbed with extra vigor. Mackenzie moved into place beside me, holding a kitchen towel in her hand. Without a word, she picked up the clean dishes and began drying them with the towel.

  We worked in companionable silence for a few minutes before I asked the question that had been bothering me on and off since the prince’s arrival. “Kenzie, is Ashton a bit of a playboy?”

  “Ashton?” Mackenzie laughed and shook her head. “No, not at all. I think he’s had one, maybe two, serious relationships.” She put a cup in the cabinet, then reached for another. “Ash is very loyal. When he commits to someone, he’s all in. Alex, on the other hand, was a notorious playboy.”

  Ashton’s older brother, Alexander, was the Crown Prince of Coradova. He had been a dashing and charming flirt until he fell in love with Madison Kavanaugh, Mackenzie’s older sister.

  I handed Mackenzie a plate to dry. “So you think Ashton honestly likes Sophie? He’s not just looking for a fling before going back to Coradova next week?” While a part of me was admittedly jealous over catching Ashton and Sophie kissing, I was primarily concerned about the prince’s intentions. He’d been flirting with me since the first day we met, and yet now he was kissing my sister under the stars.

  Mackenzie answered, “I don’t think Ashton is playing games with Sophie’s heart. If anything happens between them, it’s because he really likes her. Try not to worry.”

  “But she’s so impulsive and never thinks before jumping—and she gives up her heart too easily,” I argued, uncertain if I was more concerned for her heart, or mine. “What if he breaks her heart?” My hands clenched over the sponge, dribbling dirty dish water into the sink. “She’s been hurt enough this year. We all have.” The pain in my voice was noticeable. I dropped my head and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to get the stabbing heartache back under control.

  I felt an arm slip around my shoulders as Mackenzie hugged me. “I know, Bree. You’ve all been hurt more than enough.” She squeezed my shoulders briefly. “I’ll warn him to be careful with Sophie. I promise he won’t intentionally hurt her.”

  But what if he unintentionally hurts her? What if he hurts me? A handsome, dashing prince like Ashton would never be happy with a cowgirl, even one as beautiful and intriguing as Sophie. We were from two different worlds—not to mention he lived thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean and was planning to join the Coradovan Royal Navy in September. It was only a matter of time before he broke one of our hearts. Not that mine was his to break.

  Ashton and Sophie entered through the kitchen door on a wave of laughter. The screen door slammed shut behind them, snapping me out of my musings.

  I shoved my grief and fears down deep where they belonged and spun around with a smile. “Hey, you two. Thanks for setting up the fire pit. We’re almost done in here.” I gestured to the half-empty sink and kept my expression bright and carefully guarded, as if the turmoil in my heart didn’t exist.

  Ashton scanned my face before his eyes drifted over to the dirty dishes in the sink. He grabbed the discarded kitchen towel off the counter and joined me. “Why don’t I dry, while you wash?”

  “That’s okay, you don’t have to—”

  “I want to, Brielle.” His quiet voice was insistent and held a hint of command. Without waiting for my response, he picked up a wet plate. “Since you made me dinner again, it’s the least I can do.”

  I bit my lip. “Have you ever washed dishes before?” I teased, poking fun at him, but honestly curious.

  He shot me a look. “Yes, I’ve washed dishes before, Brielle.” That adorable dimple flashed as he dried the plate and set it on the counter. “It’s not like it’s rocket science.”

  “You might as well let him help you,” Mackenzie commented from beside the kitchen door. “His Royal Highness is accustomed to getting his own way.” She smiled sweetly at Ashton, grabbed a paper bag off the counter and turned to Sophie. “Come on, let’s go set out the marshmallows. I’m craving a s’more.” Sophie didn’t look particularly enthusiastic, but followed Mackenzie out the door anyway.

  “What’s a s’more?” Ashton asked.

  “You don’t know what a s’more is?” I pivoted to stare at him in surprise.

  “I’m kidding, Brielle.” Ashton smirked, teasing me with only a peek at that adorable dimple. “I know how to wash dishes, and I know what a s’more is. I grew up in Coradova, not on the moon.”

  “Oh, right …” I blushed and slowly shifted around to face the sink.

  Ashton hid another smile and continued drying the wet dishes.

  After a moment, I murmured, “Thanks for your help, Ashton.” My shoulder brushed his arm when I reached for the sponge; such a slight, brief touch. I froze at the tingle of sensation that coursed through me, surprised by my reaction. No one had ever evoked this kind of an awareness in me … before Ashton. I stole a sideways glance at him, and found his eyes on me.

  For a moment, the dishes were forgotten.

  He studied me in silence, then finally asked, “Is everything all right, Brielle? When we walked in, you seemed … upset.”

  My eyes widened. “You noticed that?” No one ever recognized the pain I worked hard to conceal. Yet Ashton, who I’d known for less than one month, had noticed what none of my family ever did.

  His dimpled smile was rueful. “Yes, I noticed.” He reached for my hand, holding it gently. His casual touch surprised me as much as his perceptiveness.

  “It’s nothing,” I answered, abruptly turning back to the dishes and removing my hand from his grip. I was unnerved by his ability to so easily see past the mask I hid behind—and by the longing his touch had ignited. My words came out more curt than I’d intended. “I’m fine.”

  He bristled slightly at my tone. “I’m only trying to help.” Ashton turned back to the sink, his movements brisk as he dried another plate.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.” Gathering my courage, I admitted, “Yes, I was upset when you walked in.”

  “Was it because of me?” he inquired softly, his eyes on his task.

  “No, of course not.” Even though he wasn’t looking at me, I angled my head away in an attempt to hide my face from his soul-searching eyes.

  “Does it bother you to see me with Sophie?”

  My hands stilled on the casserole dish I’d been scrubbing. How did he do that? Did he have a direct line to my heart or something? “No,” I breathed, although it was a lie. Seeing him with Sophie bothered me for reasons I didn’t want to admit—and I hated that he could recognize it. “Why would that bother me … unless you’re just toying with her.”

  “I’m not toying with her.” There was a bite to his voice; I’d obviously insulted him. Ashton turned to look at me, his gaze direct and searching. Too much so. “I was wondering …” He paused and rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable.

  “… if you could have my permission to date my sister?” I suggested, ill at the thought.

  Ashton straightened and met my eyes. “… if there was a
reason why you wouldn’t want me to.” As he held my gaze, his words reverberated around my head, thick with a seemingly hidden meaning.

  “Do—do you like her?” Please, please say no.

  He hesitated for a heartbeat and shifted closer, his eyes warming, drawing me to him. “I like—”

  The kitchen door slammed open behind us. We jerked apart and returned our attention to the dishes. My heart hammered and thoughts spun as I fought against an embarrassed blush. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Ashton suppress another smile.

  “S’mores are ready!” Sophie announced, drawing close to Ashton with a brilliant smile.

  I took in the sight of her besotted face and felt a sudden twinge of regret. Even though I was undeniably drawn to him, I could never allow my budding feelings for Ashton to bloom.

  We couldn’t both fall for the same man … no matter how alluring his warm blue eyes were.

  Before dawn, Ashton met me out in the barn for morning chores. He was holding a yellow wildflower and offered it to me with a dimpled grin. “I thought you might like this.”

  “Oh, Ashton.” I pressed a hand to my chest, touched. “It’s beautiful.” I longed to take it, but squeezed my hand into a fist, knowing I couldn’t accept his thoughtful gesture. Instead of taking the flower, I grabbed the shovel leaning against the wall and refused to look at him when I said, “Ashton … I wanted to tell you that you have my permission to date Sophie.”

  He was silent for so long that I chanced a peek at his face. He was frowning.

  With the flower still held in his hand, Ashton stepped closer, ignoring my retreat as I pressed my back against the wall. His eyes were intent on my face. “Brielle, I don’t think you really mean that.”