Heart Captivated

by Lindsay Bergman

  “Because Sophie has feelings for you,” I confessed in a whisper. “And I would never do anything to hurt her.”

  “So we have no chance because of Sophie?” He dragged a hand through his hair and let out a frustrated breath. “How is that fair to you? How is that fair to me?”

  “You haven’t even given her a chance,” I reprimanded softly. “If you did, you might find something special.”

  His blazing blue eyes held mine, his jaw clenching. “If I give her a chance, where does that leave us?”

  I hesitated. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

  Ashton stared at me for a long, tense moment then said, “I’m not agreeing to any type of commitment … but I will agree to see if I have any feelings for her.” His lips twitched in a mocking smile. “Are you happy now?”

  I swallowed down my regret. “Yes.”

  “Liar,” he whispered, before turning away to leave me alone on the balcony.

  Sophie and I joined Mackenzie in her guest room to sort through a collection of dresses for dinner. Madison arrived a few minutes later with even more lovely gowns to choose from; my sister was beside herself. As our closest neighbors, we’d grown inseparable with the Kavanaugh sisters in the years before Madison had married Alexander. It had been over six months since we’d last been together and I was thrilled to have this time with them. We spent the next hour in familiar banter, laughter and smiles as we dressed for dinner en famille, even though I didn’t really feel like smiling after my conversation with Ashton out on the balcony.

  I entered the front parlor wearing a charcoal cocktail dress, the ruffled hem brushing the tops of my knees, and my hair twisted up in an elegant chignon—thanks to the talented hands of Sophie. It had been years since I’d last dressed up for a fancy night out. Without my cowgirl hat, jeans and boots I felt exposed, as if my normal outfit was a protective barrier. In a dress I was vulnerable. Even though no one in the room was paying attention to me, I felt self-conscious and tried to hide in the corner near a Louis XIV table with a porcelain vase of yellow roses.

  Silently, I looked around the beautifully decorated room. Blue damask print walls were adorned with golden framed portraits of Coradova’s previous monarchs, seven belonging to the House of Markham. The antique furniture was sumptuously rich in fabric and workmanship.

  Mackenzie, Sophie and Ashton were at the far side of the room near a massive white stone fireplace, speaking with the glamorous Princess Arianna of Coradova and her husband, Lord Bennett Deimos, Earl of Touraine. Arianna had thick, raven-black hair that cascaded down her back and striking blue eyes framed by thick, dark lashes. Her beauty was classic and feminine, enhanced by grace and elegance. Bennett was tall, dark and handsome. His gaze rarely left his wife’s face. It was clear by the fondness in his dark brown eyes that he was a man in love.

  Sophie was wearing a halter dress with her rich auburn hair spilling down over her shoulders and a brilliant smile. Ashton seemed enchanted by my stunning sister; it hurt more than I wanted to admit to see him giving her such undivided attention. He stood in between Sophie and Mackenzie, looking dashing in a black dress suit with silver cufflinks, his dark hair perfectly styled. He was every inch the handsome prince of fairytales.

  Alexander and Madison entered the front parlor, followed by the king and queen. I bit my lip in sudden nerves, feeling completely out of my element. It was one thing to socialize with Ashton, who I often forgot was a prince. Meeting the reigning monarchs of Coradova was an entirely different situation. I was terrified of making a fool of myself by accidentally insulting them with some social faux pas.

  The two groups merged and introductions were made while I stood awkwardly in the corner, trying to gather my courage. Ashton was the first one to spot me when I slowly approached. His familiar dimpled smile made me feel a little less nervous. I was pleased to see the warmth in his eyes, even after I’d all but thrown him at my sister.

  “Here she is,” Ashton said to his parents. “This is Sophie’s sister, Brielle.”

  The King and Queen of Coradova turned with matching smiles. Their eyes widened in surprise when they caught sight of my face. I couldn’t help but grin at the familiar reaction to seeing double.

  “You’re identical,” Queen Gabriella commented, closely comparing our features. She was a gorgeous, stunning beauty with rich black hair and the same deep blue eyes as her children.

  King Mathis was distinguished, tall and broad-shouldered, his dark brown hair peppered with silver. He laughed and looked at Ashton, his cobalt blue eyes twinkling with mischief. “Have they fooled you yet, Ashton?”

  “Ha!” Ashton scoffed. “They might be identical, but I can tell them apart.”

  “Oh, really?” Sophie smiled with challenge and winked at me. “You haven’t seen Bree with her hair down. Trust me, we can fool you.”

  Ashton’s expression was arrogant. “Never.”

  Sophie merely smiled and sent me a conspiratorial look. I could tell that she was itching to prove him wrong and knew a plan was being hatched. Anticipation curled through me. This was going to be fun.

  Chapter Six

  I peeked in the mirror one last time before leaving my guest room. A white crochet beach dress covered up my Bohemian bikini swimsuit and dark sunglasses hid the tell-tale beauty mark on my cheek, although I didn’t think Ashton had noticed that small feature yet. It was the one noticeable difference between us, but only when someone was standing close enough. With my long auburn hair curling down around my face, I looked irrefutably identical to my twin standing beside me.

  Gazing at our reflection, Sophie grinned in approval. “You look perfect. Ashton won’t know what hit him.” She hooked an arm through mine and led me from the room. “I can’t wait to see how long it takes him to realize it’s you.”

  We separated at the main staircase, Sophie heading off to use the back stairwell. When I heard Ashton’s voice drifting up from the grand foyer, I moved slowly down the steps, working to emulate my sister’s confidence and charisma.

  “Hey, Sophie.” Ashton smiled and moved to meet me at the landing. He glanced at the empty staircase over my shoulder. “Where’s Bree?” Was I imagining the hope in his eyes?

  “She’ll be down in a minute,” I answered.

  “She is coming, right?” He peered over my shoulder again, and this time I was certain that I wasn’t just imagining the hope in his eyes.

  It caused a curl of pleasure to unfurl through my stomach. I couldn’t help but ask, “Would it bother you if she didn’t come with us?”

  His gaze flitted back to mine, looking slightly sheepish. “I just know how much she would love a surfing lesson,” he said, as if that explained his obvious eagerness to have me join them. With a smile, he asked, “Are you sure you don’t want me to teach you how to surf? You might like it.”

  I wrinkled my nose in a perfect copy of Sophie and flashed him a sultry smile. “I’m more interested in spending time with you than a surfboard.”

  Slipping his hands into his pockets, Ashton flashed a lazy smile and teased, “You only say that because I’m a prince.”

  I blushed, and stammered, “No, that—it’s not just because you’re a prince.”

  A slight crease appeared between his brows. “I was only kidding, Sophie.” He tilted his head to study me curiously.

  Shoot, I thought. My outburst wasn’t very Sophie-like. Struggling to recapture the role, I smiled and tossed my hair over my shoulder in a flirtatious gesture. “Oh, I know. I just meant that it’s only part of what I like about you. I mean, what girl wouldn’t be dazzled by a charming prince as handsome as you?” I skimmed my hand down his bare arm, trying to be as bold and affectionate as my sister, but I couldn’t completely hide the blush that colored my cheeks.

  “I see,” Ashton said slowly, as he continued to study my face, his expression thoughtful. He moved a smidgeon closer and brushed his fingers over mine. I couldn’t stop the flush that crept up my neck and bloomed in my che
eks, especially when his eyes warmed significantly at the sight of my blush. A playful gleam entered his eye. “Do you remember our first kiss?” Ashton drawled, his words making my heart clench painfully.

  Yes, I remembered his first kiss with my sister—the image of their embracing silhouettes had been burned into my memory. Trying not to frown, I nodded and attempted to fake a smile.

  In a low and seductive voice Ashton said, “Because I can’t stop thinking about it.” He placed his hands on my waist, making me squeak in surprise, and drew me to him. “Would you like another kiss, Sophie?”

  At my jealous gasp, Ashton snickered. “I knew it!” Then he took me fully into his arms and flashed a wide, dimpled grin. “Hello, Brielle,” he murmured, his voice so low that it was for my ears alone. “Would you like that kiss I promised?”

  There wasn’t enough time to protest before his mouth captured mine in a warm kiss that sent bolts of heat shooting through me. Coherent thought flew from my head. I was overwhelmed by the unexpected pleasure of his kiss. My fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, drawing him closer, wanting more. I wasn’t prepared for such a powerful surge of emotion, and was shocked by the intensity of my reaction to him.

  After a long and deep kiss, Ashton shifted back to look at me, his gaze filled with arrogance. “Now that was one heck of a first kiss.”

  “How did you know it was me?” I questioned, my voice trembling with more than just surprise. I never expected our prank to go this far. I was shaken by the passion ignited from his kiss, and the wonder in his eyes.

  “It was your blush,” Ashton confessed, as his eyes warmed with heat. “Sophie never blushes, but you do almost every time I smile at you.”

  He flashed that dimpled smile I couldn’t seem to resist, and watched in obvious amusement as the aforementioned blush heated my cheeks again.

  “And you said we could never fool you,” Sophie announced suddenly, appearing in the long hallway behind us.

  I stiffened, hoping she hadn’t overheard any of our whispered conversation. I might have fooled him at first, but in the end, Ashton knew exactly which Parker sister he had been kissing.

  Ashton sent me a long, meaningful look before he released me from his grip. I stepped away, nearly stumbling over the bottom step in my haste to put some distance between us. The temptation to kiss him again was undeniably strong.

  Ashton winked covertly and turned to Sophie with a subdued expression. “All right,” he said in feigned defeat. “It looks like I need a little more time to be able to tell you apart.” He flicked a glance at me, the corner of his mouth tilting up wryly.

  I fought desperately against another blush.

  Sophie stepped closer and curled an arm around his waist, her voice silky and enticing. “There’s one tell-tale sign, but you’ll have to pay closer attention in order to find it,” she purred, then kissed him thoroughly, as if I wasn’t even in the room. I wanted to disappear from humiliation—and the undeniable surge of jealousy.

  When she finally pulled away and sauntered off through the front doors, a dazed Ashton peeked over at me, his blue eyes chagrined. “Brielle …”

  I shook my head at him and followed my sister outside. I was confused by the longing and jealousy that held me tightly in its clutches. I didn’t want to feel this way; I didn’t want to yearn for him to hold me in his arms and kiss me—especially when he might fall in love with my sister.

  After that steamy kiss they’d just shared, it was only a matter of time.

  I lost myself in the breathtaking sight of the sea and the soft sand between my toes. The sun was warm on the back of my neck, the occasional waft of sea breeze cool and refreshing. On our way to the beach I’d pulled my hair back into its usual ponytail, desperate for some semblance of control and normalcy. My feelings for Ashton were changing after that first kiss, heading in a direction that I needed to prevent at all cost. I was losing the firm hold on the barriers surrounding my heart, and I was terrified to let anyone past them—particularly Ashton.

  After my mom died, I’d constructed walls around the remaining vestiges of my broken heart in an effort to keep everyone out. It was more than just a desire to protect my vulnerable heart from being hurt again. It was a way to keep the pain hidden and contained. I didn’t want my uncle or siblings to see how torn up I was over losing my mom. They needed my strength and support, a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold. Their personal grief was enough to manage without adding my own to it.

  Surrounded by two discreet and unobtrusive royal guards, Ashton and Sophie were laughing together beneath the shade from a group of palms. He was really taking my suggestion to heart—and I hated him for it. When we first arrived, Ashton had invited me to join them, but the look Sophie had sent indicated that she wanted to be alone with him. I’d purposefully kept my gaze averted since then and was lounging in the sand several feet away, giving them complete privacy.

  When a group of local surfers approached, I sat up in eager anticipation. I’d spent day after day watching the surfers during our vacation on the west coast. I hoped these surfers would be just as entertaining. They didn’t disappoint. For over an hour I watched the four tanned and well-built surfers ride wave after wave, transfixed by their skill and enthusiasm.

  One of the surfers carried his board over to my spot on the beach and dropped down onto the sand beside me. His muscled body glistened with droplets of water, and his black hair was slicked back from his face. He shot me a debonair smile. “Enjoying the view?”

  His words were so reminiscent of Ashton’s greeting upon my arrival in Coradova that I couldn’t seem to stop my eyes from glancing over his shoulder at the prince. All I could see were shadows, and the two guards who didn’t seem worried about the stranger that had joined me on the beach. Then again, their job was to protect the prince. I was of little consequence.

  My gaze returned to the surfer. “You and your friends are very entertaining.”

  His smile widened. “I’m Kyle. What’s your name, chérie?”

  “I’m Bree.”

  “Would you like a surfing lesson, Bree?”

  I met his brown eyes, excitement bubbling through me. “I would love one.”

  Kyle and his friends took their time teaching me the basics and helping me attempt to catch my first wave. They kept offering to help with my balance by holding my hands or waist—and becoming increasingly handsy in the process. While trying to detangle myself from the closest surfer’s helping hands, I didn’t notice the approaching wave. It knocked me clean off the surfboard. Tumbling under the water, I finally managed to get my feet under me and stood. I broke through the surface with a gasp and tossed my wet hair out of my face.

  Four sets of eyes stared at me, desire darkening each face.

  I swallowed nervously and tried to move away. The current had carried us several yards along the beach. From here I could barely see the trees where Sophie and Ashton were undoubtedly still wrapped up in each other. They probably hadn’t even noticed that I was gone.

  Kyle was the quickest of the group and reached me as I stepped out of the water, blocking my retreat as his friends closed in behind us. Within moments I was surrounded by very masculine and interested surfers. Kyle reached out to touch the hair falling in wet strands down my shoulders. Apparently, I’d lost my hair tie during the tumble.

  “I’ve never seen such a color before. It’s like fire.” Kyle looked up into my eyes, the heat of his gaze making me tremble with nerves. “I wonder if your lips are as fiery as your hair.”

  He moved to kiss me, but I braced my hands against his chest and barely managed to hold him at bay. “I wanted a surfing lesson, not a kissing lesson.”

  Kyle smirked and took hold of my wrists. “A kiss is your payment for the surfing lesson.” With little effort he removed my hands from his chest and pulled me into his arms.

  His friends chortled and cheered him on, two of them even claiming that they deserved a kiss in payment as well. My face flush
ed with heat, outraged by their ungentlemanly behavior.

  When Kyle once again tried to kiss me, I reacted instinctively by kneeing him in between the legs. He grunted and doubled-over in obvious agony. I tried to escape while he was indisposed but one of his friends roughly grabbed hold of my arm. Kyle jerked up to standing a moment later, red-faced and angry. He was reaching for me when I heard Ashton speak from behind us.

  “What’s going on here?” Ashton demanded.

  Relief rushed through me as I turned to meet the piercing gaze of the approaching prince. His guards weren’t far behind him.

  Before he reached us, his eyes quickly took in the sight of my disheveled state, dripping wet hair and burning face. Ashton stopped at my side, and the glare he turned on the surfers was fierce. “What is going on here?”

  The sneers they had turned his way faded from their lips when they recognized him. I was released within seconds as all four of them dropped into low, groveling bows.

  “It was nothing, Your Royal Highness,” Kyle spoke up, shooting me a look that dared me to disagree. “Just a misunderstanding.”

  Ashton studied Kyle for a long moment, his haughty expression making him look more like a prince than ever before. “I’m sure that Bree is thankful for the surfing lesson, but I think it’s time for you to leave.”

  The surfers nodded and bowed once more, then backed away to retrieve their surfboards.

  The second they left, Ashton turned to me, his concern obvious on his face. “Did they hurt you?”

  “No, I’m fine. You rescued me in the nick of time.” I tried to smile at him, but my lips trembled as a shudder ran through me. Adrenaline was being replaced by shock.

  Ashton was quiet for a moment as he studied my face. “Why didn’t you ask me for a surfing lesson, Brielle? I would have been more than happy to teach you.”

  I shrugged and traced the sand with my foot. “Sophie wanted to be alone with you. I didn’t want to interrupt anything, so I thought I’d just ask you another time.”