Heart Captivated

by Lindsay Bergman

  His smile dimmed slightly. “That’s part of it. Since I’m the second-born son it’s customary for me to join the military. Coradova’s surrounded by sea, so it made the most sense for me to choose the Royal Navy.”

  “Will it be dangerous?” I shot him a worried glance.

  “No, Brielle.” Ashton smiled in reassurance. “My duties will be restricted in order to ensure my safety as the spare prince of Coradova. You don’t need to worry about me.”

  I frowned at his phrasing of spare prince. “You don’t give yourself enough credit,” I admonished. “You are not just the spare prince. You would make an amazing king, just like Alexander.”

  His brows rose in surprise, a smile tugging at his lips. “Are you defending my honor, ma chérie? I’m touched by your caring.”

  I sent him a glare and braced my hands on hips. “Stop making light of this, Ashton. I know that you were willing to take Alexander’s place as heir apparent last year. That was not an easy decision.”

  Ashton shrugged, attempting an expression of nonchalance. “Becoming the king wouldn’t have been that much of a hardship.” He turned away, gripping the wall so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

  “I’m sure that carrying the weight of your country would have been a great burden.” I stepped closer and gently covered his hand with mine. “Great responsibility comes with great sacrifice. I admire you, Ashton, for loving your brother enough that you would take his place.”

  Dark blue eyes met mine, beseeching. “Would you still admire me if you knew how much I hated having to make that choice?” Ashton sighed and pulled his hand away to drag it through his black hair. “I’ve never wanted to be king. Great responsibility comes with great sacrifice, just like you said. I have more freedom than Alex does. Less responsibilities, less expectations. I didn’t want to carry the weight of our country. I didn’t want to have to make the same kinds of sacrifices as my father, or Alex.”

  “But that’s what makes your decision admirable. It was a sacrifice that you were willing to make even though you hated it.”

  “You don’t understand, Brielle.” Ashton spun back around to face me, his expression blazing with guilt. “I watched my brother put his country before his heart by letting the woman he loved walk away—while I stood by and did nothing! I should have insisted on taking his place as the heir, but I didn’t. When Alex chose not to renounce his claim, a part of me was relieved.” His hands balled into fists, eyes dark with self-reproach. “You have no idea how much I hate myself for not stopping him.”

  “Ash, that was his choice to make, not yours.” I reached for his hand and carefully smoothed out his clenched fist, my voice filled with conviction. “Once Alexander made his decision, there was nothing you could have done or said to change his mind. Trust me on this, Ashton. I understand that better than most.”

  Dropping my gaze, I realized I was still holding his hand. Before I could let it go, those long fingers curled around mine, holding me in his firm grip.

  “You know about making sacrifices, don’t you, Brielle?” His other hand moved to my chin and carefully tipped my face up.

  Slowly, I let my eyes drift up over the sharply contrasting black and white of his tux, shirt and bowtie. Along the tanned skin of his throat and jaw, his chiseled lips and the long line of his nose, to eventually meet his direct, striking blue gaze. The intense way he was watching me made me feel as if he could see through to my very soul—and maybe he could. After all, Ashton often seemed able to see past the surface and into the hidden recesses of my heart.

  “Yes, I know about making sacrifices,” I answered quietly. “And being stubborn enough not to budge once I’ve made up my mind.”

  Ashton’s slow, amused smile was captivating. “I can’t imagine you being stubborn. You’re always so agreeable.” He cocked his head, studying me curiously. “What have you ever been stubborn about?”

  “Giving up the opportunity to study abroad,” I confessed with a heavy sigh. Letting the memories flow over me, I smiled ruefully. “After high school, I had grand plans to study in Rome and spend my weekends exploring all of Europe. I even had a part-time job lined up to make some spending money for all the adventures I had planned. My mom and Sophie spent hours going over travel magazines with me, picking out all the must-see tourist destinations. Three weeks before the start of semester, I already had everything packed and ready to go. I was so excited … I could barely think about anything else.”

  Pain crept into my chest as the memories grew bitter. “Then my mom got really sick and ended up in the hospital. Uncle Cameron was so upset, he could barely tell us about the cancer. It felt like my entire world fell apart that day. After my mom was diagnosed, I decided to stay home so I could help out around the ranch and take care of her. I pulled out of the study abroad program and enrolled in the University of Montana instead. It was one of the worst fights we’ve ever had. She didn’t want me to stay and give up my chance for traveling the world. She was angry that her cancer was stealing her life and she didn’t want it to steal my dreams, too.”

  I turned beseeching brown eyes on him, needing him to understand. “I wanted to go, Ashton. I really did. I’ve dreamt of adventure since the first time I saw the ocean at nine-years-old. But I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving my mom. What if something had happened to her while I was in Rome? I just couldn’t chase my dreams while she was fighting for her life. She meant more to me than any of my dreams,” I brokenly explained.

  “I’m so sorry, Bree.” Ashton drew me into his arms, holding me snug against his chest.

  I struggled against the conflicting emotions raging inside me. I wanted to melt into Ashton’s strong embrace and bask in the comfort he was offering. I knew I needed to move away, but lacked the strength. The arms he had wrapped around me were solid and safe, and the comforting kiss he pressed to my forehead made my pulse flutter. His tender hold, understanding blue eyes and dimpled smile were wreaking havoc with my heart. I was drowning in him … and the last thing I wanted was to find the surface.

  Chapter Ten

  Terrified of the dangerous direction my thoughts had suddenly taken, I forced myself to slip away from Ashton. Standing with my back to him, I stared blindly out to sea. I couldn’t believe how much I’d revealed about my past; it had been over ten years since I’d last let someone get that close to me—close enough to touch my heart.

  Ashton moved to stand behind my left shoulder, being careful to keep his distance. His quiet words washed over me. “I’d ask why you didn’t pursue those dreams after your mom passed, but I think I already know the answer. You chose to stay and take care of your family because you knew they needed you. You sacrificed your dreams for the people you love.” His voice was low and ardent when he said, “I’m not the one to be admired, Brielle. You are.”

  Surprised and touched by his comment, I turned to look at him. He was closer than I’d realized, so the movement caused my arm to brush against his chest. The inadvertent touch seemed to singe like a spark along my bare skin. My small inhale of surprise drew his gaze to my mouth. He leaned toward me infinitesimally.

  For a moment, time seemed to stop.

  When our eyes met once more, the warm look in his blue eyes took my breath away.

  Ashton held my gaze for a long, heated moment and then murmured, “Tu es captivant, Brielle.”

  In that moment, I desperately wished I had taken French as my foreign language in school. Ashton’s intense look and fervently spoken words made it seem like he was telling me something very important. Breathless, I whispered, “What does that mean?”

  Shaking his head, he merely smiled and took a forced step back, putting some much needed space between us.

  My heart throbbed in relief and disappointment.

  “Bree, I was wondering—” Ashton paused abruptly and rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable and at a sudden loss for words.

  “What were you wondering, Ash?”

  He le
t out a breath and finally met my direct gaze. “Do you have any feelings for me?”

  I froze, caught off-guard by his bold question, and tried to muster up an honest answer. “Why does that matter, Ashton? You’re dating my sister.”

  His smirk was back in place. “Only because you told me to—and we’re not really dating. Just humor me, chérie, and answer the question.”

  “It won’t make any difference,” I hedged.

  Striking a casual pose by bracing his hip against the wall and crossing his arms, Ashton quirked a smile. “You’d be surprised.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means, I’ve given your sister a chance like you asked, and now I am one hundred and ten percent certain that I only want you.” Ashton shoved away from the wall and moved until he was towering over me, invading my space and causing every nerve in my body to spark. “I’ve wanted you from the first moment I saw you out in the pasture, working on fencing. I watched you drive that post into the ground with little effort, and let me tell you—,” his voice dropped into a low, heated growl, “—it was sexy as hell.”

  Utterly stunned by his revelation, my heart faltered in my chest. I nearly tripped in my effort to back away from him.

  But Ashton followed me, each step filled with purpose and growing arrogance. “If you had shown even a hint of consent, I would have kissed you right then and there, Brielle. But you looked like a frightened deer and I didn’t want to scare you away. The entire time I was in Montana, you worked so hard at keeping this wall up between us.” He reached out to take hold of my wrist, bringing the chase to a stop. “Now I can see that wall crumbling, and with every new glimpse, I’m drawn to you even more.”

  No, this couldn’t be happening, I thought desperately. Attempting a stern look, I held up my unrestrained hand in warning. “Stop it, Ashton. I don’t want to hear any more.” He was too close. His gaze was too warm, too intense. His words were too impossible. “You are dating my sister!”

  His gaze hardened. “Only because you asked me to! I’ve given her a chance, but she’s nothing compared to you.”

  Furious over his insult to my sister, I shoved him away from me with unexpected force and shouted, “You are an idiot!”

  Ashton straightened as if I’d slapped him, his regal bearing rising to the forefront. “Pardon?” His angry eyes were lit like blue fire and his hands were clenched into fists at his side. I doubted anyone had ever spoken to him so rudely before.

  “I’m sorry, Your Highness,” I mumbled, trying to soothe his ruffled feathers, even though I thought he genuinely deserved it. “You’re welcome to throw me into the dungeon for the insult, but not until after I’ve had the chance to defend my sister.”

  Ashton’s lips twitched with amusement. His anger dissipated almost as quickly as it had risen. “All right, Bree.” He waved a hand and crossed his arms, waiting with that familiar smirk. “You have my permission to defend your sister … and then I’ll decide if I’m going to throw you into the dungeon.”

  Certain he was only teasing me, I smiled softly and tried to look genuinely contrite. “Ashton, I’m sorry that I called you an idiot. But if you really don’t see what a great catch Sophie is, then …” As my words tapered off, I shrugged my shoulders and held up my hands, the implication clear.

  Ashton sighed, his expression darkening into a frown. He rubbed the crease between his brow. “That came out worse than I’d intended. Sophie is a beautiful and exciting woman, but she’s not right for me. She doesn’t make me feel the way you do.” He raked a hand through his black hair, further rumpling its former perfection. Oddly enough, I preferred his casual look over the polished one. It reminded me that he was a man, not just a prince. When Ashton’s eyes returned to my face, they were solemn. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before you, Brielle. I know there’s something here and that you feel it, too. I’m asking you to give us a chance.”

  I wanted to say yes, with every fiber of my being. But even though Ashton held no special feelings for Sophie, my sister was well on her way to falling in love with him. I swallowed down my remorse. “I can’t. I’m so sorry.”

  He sighed, bracing his hands on hips. “You won’t give us a chance because Sophie has feelings for me.” His voice grew thick with regret. “That makes us off-limits now.”

  My battered heart felt bruised over the conflicting wave of emotion. I was relieved that Ashton understood the limitations of our friendship, yet I was upset that I’d allowed him to slip away because I’d been too afraid to risk Sophie’s heart—and mine.

  From the moment I’d met him, Ashton had been considerate and caring, his gentle kindness a balm for my vulnerable heart. The threads of our friendship had been changing over the last weeks, strengthening and growing deeper with new emotion. Without me even realizing it, Ashton had torn down part of the wall surrounding my heart … and now a piece of me would always belong to him.

  Bowing my head, I closed my eyes against the heartache threatening to crush me. “You’re right, Ashton. We can’t ever be anything more than friends.”

  Why did Sophie have to love him? This thoughtful, blue-eyed prince who made my heart soar …

  I heard Ashton’s deep sigh a moment before he slowly approached and stopped at my side. I could feel the warmth of his closeness as surely as if he were touching me. An ache rose within me, longing for the comfort of his touch. When had I grown accustomed to Ashton’s soothing embrace … and how could I go back to living without it once more?

  “Bree, will you look at me?” Ashton reached out to take my hand. His voice was as tender as the caress of his thumb against my skin. “Please, ma chérie?”

  A heartbeat later, I looked up into the blue eyes that were watching me with obvious affection. His smile was heartbreakingly tender. “I won’t ask you for more than you’re able to give, Brielle. I’m just asking for the chance to get to know you better.”

  “What’s the point, Ashton?” I whispered painfully. “If we have no future, why risk falling in love?”

  Ashton hesitated before responding carefully. “Because I care enough about you that I don’t want to lose your friendship.” His grip on my hand tightened, almost as if he were afraid I might disappear. “Promise me that we’ll remain friends, Bree. I can’t lose you … now that I’ve finally found you.”

  Aching, I reminded him, “Being ‘just friends’ didn’t work out so well for Alex and Maddy.”

  His eyes twinkled with sudden mischief. “That’s what I’m counting on, ma belle.” He brought my hand to his mouth for a tender, lingering kiss. When he finally released me and stepped away, my heart was was galloping like a stampede of horses.

  His following words were so quiet that I nearly missed them. “Every little thing about you captivates me, Brielle. You are well worth the wait, mon trésor.”

  He left me standing there in a daze.

  My eyes followed him back down the lawn. As I watched Ashton disappear into the garden, I wondered what to do now. The only logical response was to keep my distance from the tempting and charming blue-eyed prince … but how would that be possible when we were here for another five weeks? My battered heart ached with a twisted mixture of yearning and guilty remorse. As much as I longed to pursue a relationship with Ashton, I knew I could never betray Sophie. Her heart was involved in this complicated love triangle, and I would willingly sacrifice my own before damaging hers.

  Chapter Eleven

  I noticed Sophie the moment I entered the ballroom. Standing close to an open set of glass doors, she was the center of attention among a circle of eager young men. While she flirted shamelessly, they watched her with seductive smiles and hungry eyes, soaking up every minute of her undivided attention. It was obvious that she was trying to make Ashton jealous, but it seemed as if she was receiving more negative attention than she’d intended.

  Not only was Ashton scowling at Sophie and her brood of drooling boys, but half the room was watching her display wi
th unveiled contempt. With each inappropriate touch of her hand on a different arm, Sophie was making a fool of herself and earning a reprehensible reputation.

  Straightening my shoulders, I strode over to the group with the intention of dragging her away. The horde was so thick that I practically had to shove my way through the men crowding around her.

  “Sophie,” I said the moment I reached her, but she ignored me and continued to pet the arm of the closest man. I tried again. “Sophie, I need to speak with you. Right now.”

  The brown eyes she turned on me were dark with anger. “I’m busy right now, Brielle.” She shooed me away with her hand and focused her attention on the next young man. “Hey there, handsome. What’s your name?”

  I grabbed her arm and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “You’re making a fool of yourself—and Ashton. Stop it, right now.”

  “You’re the fool, Brielle,” came the harsh reply. Sophie tugged her arm loose and leveled a heated glare at me. “I’m just having a little fun with guys who are actually interested in spending time with me.” She finished off the glass of champagne in her hand, grabbed hold of a grinning blond and told him, “Let’s dance.”

  She avoided me for the next several songs, dancing each one with a different young man, and often closer than propriety dictated. She kept gulping down glasses of champagne or wine, and by one o’clock in the morning, I’d lost count of how much alcohol she’d consumed. Although I shadowed her as often as possible, she refused to even acknowledge me. She wandered through the various crowds, giggling a little too much with more than one gossip-loving noblewoman, and dancing with nearly every eligible bachelor in the room.

  Twenty minutes later, I saw her wander out of the ballroom on unsteady legs. Hoping to reach her before any ill-intended man could, I rushed across the room and followed her out into the hallway. She stumbled into the wall the moment I passed through the double doors and began laughing like a loon while she struggled to hold herself up.