Heart Captivated

by Lindsay Bergman

  Before he could say anything else, I heard my name shouted from across the street. We both turned to see the prince crossing over to us, flanked by two royal guards.

  My dad took one look at Ashton and paled. He moved a few steps back and ran a frustrated hand over his too-long brown hair. “All right, Brielle,” he surrendered. “I can see that I’ve overwhelmed you.” He looked me over once, his brown eyes filled with regret, before he pivoted on scuffed boots that had seen better days. He called out over his shoulder, “I hope you’ll be ready to talk the next time.”

  He was gone by the time Ashton, his guards, and my own personal guard arrived. I merely stared at them, bound in a torrent of shock.

  “Brielle,” Ashton breathed out in relief. He immediately gathered me into his arms, uncaring of the audience around us. “Are you all right? You’re shaking, bien-aimée.” He eased back just enough to inspect me from head-to-toe, then carefully brushed aside my wild mass of hair to better see my face. “We saw that man with you. Is he the same one you’ve been seeing around town?”

  All I could manage was a nod.

  “What did he want?” Ashton’s flat tone was protective. The guards surrounding us edged in closer so they could hear my answer—their concerned demeanors hinted at their alarm. They were obviously worried that this man might be a threat to the Royal Family.

  “He …” I began hoarsely, ending in a cough. Disbelief had dried my throat; I swallowed and tried again. “He’s the man who’s been looking for me and Sophie. His name is Jonathan Parker. He’s our father.”

  “Why did he come all the way here to Coradova?” Ashton questioned suspiciously, his words echoing the thoughts in my own head. He frowned and stared at the empty sidewalk over my head, where my father had disappeared. “Why is he looking for you now, after all this time?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. But for some reason, I don’t think he’s just looking to reconnect.” I dropped my forehead onto Ashton’s chest and felt his arms tighten protectively around me.

  He kissed the top of my head and promised, “It’s going to be all right, mon coeur.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut against the heartache threatening to suffocate me, and wished that Ashton’s words would prove to be true. But the ache in my heart whispered that the man who had once abandoned me wasn’t looking for a family reunion.

  If my love hadn’t been good enough for him when I was a child, how could it possibly be good enough now? There wasn’t enough of my heart left to give.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Days passed, blending together one after another. There were no other encounters with my father—and only occasional sightings, reminding me that he was still here and waiting in the wings for another chance to speak with me alone. The weeks merged until only one remained before we were to head back home. Since I couldn’t tolerate being around my sister, I’d spent the days with Mackenzie or Madison, even Arianna on occasion. And although we were careful to never be alone together, I found opportunities to be with Ashton every day. As always, his presence alone was a balm for my pain.

  The limited moments of time that we were able to steal away were the highlights of my day, even if we did nothing but sit side by side. After every goodbye, he would kiss my hand and gaze deeply into my eyes. He never said the words out loud again, but I could feel his love in every look. I couldn’t help but fall in love with him a little more each time.

  After enjoying dinner en famille, everyone had retired into the parlor for brandy and coffee. I chose a chair beside the bay window, and cautiously sipped at the coffee in my delicate cup. Arianna sat in the matching chair and regaled me with stories from her childhood with Madison and Mackenzie. As entertained as I was by her stories, my eyes kept drifting over to where Ashton was standing next to the fireplace.

  He was absolutely gorgeous in black pants and suit jacket, with a dark gray shirt unbuttoned at the collar, driving me crazy with only a peek at his olive-toned skin. His hair was adorably rumpled, and the dimple in his cheek kept driving me to distraction. Not to mention, his blue eyes kept meeting mine from across the room, watching me as intently as I watched him.

  The longing that grew between us was thick and heavy, and practically permeated the air. I was drawn to him, no matter how much I struggled to resist. Our glances became more frequent, and held for longer moments each time.

  Captured by one of his sizzling blue stares, I barely heard Arianna clear her throat.

  “Do you want a moment alone with my brother, Brielle?” she drawled.

  I tore my gaze away from Ashton and met her amused look. She swirled the remaining coffee in her cup and grinned knowingly.

  “Oh, no! I was just … um …” I rambled on pathetically, searching for a feasible excuse for why I’d been caught staring at her brother.

  “I’m only teasing you,” Arianna said with a laugh, leaning forward to pat my knee. “You two can barely keep your eyes off one another. I can practically feel the sparks flying through the room.”

  I blushed, and fought valiantly against sneaking another peek at Ashton. “We’re just friends,” I said lamely in excuse.

  Arianna’s expression softened. “Friends that want to be something more.”

  I merely stared at her, at a loss for words.

  She smiled again and leaned in closer, dropping her voice to keep from being overheard. “Remember, I was there when he called you his beloved, and by the way you keep looking at each other, it’s obvious that you’re in love.”

  I tried to object, but she waved away my protests with a perfectly manicured hand.

  “Bree, I know love when I see it. You two are as in love as anyone else I know—like Alex and Maddy, and me and Bennett. The question is, why are you fighting so hard against it?”

  I sighed, my shoulders drooping. “Because of Sophie. If I were with Ashton, it would crush her. We’ve already lost so much—our dad, our mom. If we lost each other in a fight over a guy, I couldn’t handle it. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

  Arianna patted my shoulder companionably. “I can understand that. Maddy is my sister in all but blood. I couldn’t imagine losing her.” Her gaze flickered to a spot across the room, where Alexander and Madison were snuggling together on the couch, oblivious to everyone but each other.

  “So what else can I do but sacrifice one love for the other?” I questioned with an aching heart, tearing my eyes away from their affectionate display of love.

  Arianna contemplated for a moment, her gaze focused on a different spot across the room. I struggled to keep my eyes fixed on her, instead of the prince I was certain she was looking at, and waited for her reply.

  Her eyes lit up suddenly, and she turned to me with a smile tugging at her lips. “If your sister loves you even half as much as you love her, I wouldn’t be surprised if she gives you her blessing to date Ashton one day.”

  “Arianna, I don’t think—”

  “You don’t give Sophie enough credit, Brielle,” Arianna interrupted. “I don’t have a sister. But because of Maddy, I know how it feels to love one. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her, and I can guarantee that Maddy feels the same.” She tilted her head, and smiled with a mysterious twinkle in her eye. “I can only imagine that the love between identical twins is even stronger.”

  With that said, she patted my knee once more, then rose and crossed the room into her husband’s waiting arms. A shadow fell over me a moment later. I peeked up to find both Ashton and Sophie standing beside me.

  My sister smiled tentatively. “Guess what, Bree? I have a surprise for you.”

  I rose from the chair and glanced uncertainly between them. “What surprise?”

  Sophie’s smile widened. “We’re going sailing with Ashton tomorrow!”

  I looked to Ashton for confirmation, and was immediately lost in his warm blue eyes. He smiled slowly, flashing that adorable dimple. “We’re going sailing tomorrow. I cleared my schedule, so we’ll have
the whole day.”

  My heart swelled with pleasure. An entire day with Ashton. That sounded perfect.

  “Thank you, Sophie,” I told her sincerely. I knew that this sailing trip with Ashton was her way of apologizing and making amends for not telling me our father was in town. I reached for her hand, which she clasped tightly. “I can’t wait.”

  “We’d better all get to bed then,” Ashton said, gesturing toward the door. “I want to be out on the water at sunrise, so we’ll need to make it an early morning.”

  “That sounds great,” Sophie exclaimed and clapped her hands. “Would you like to walk out with us, Ashton?”

  He met my eyes and smiled. “I’d love to.”

  After wishing the others a good night, we left the room together and climbed the main staircase to the third floor. We parted ways at the landing. Our guest rooms were to the right, while Ashton’s private quarters were to the left.

  “See you tomorrow, Ashton,” Sophie said, giving a small wave. She glanced briefly at me, then strode away down the hall to her room, leaving us alone together.

  When she was out of sight, Ashton stepped closer until he was nearly touching me. I could feel the warmth emanating from his body, and itched to reach out and touch him. My gaze drifted up over the exposed skin at his collar, those chiseled lips that I longed to kiss, and finally up to meet the dark blue eyes that seemed to beckon me. We hadn’t been alone like this in weeks.

  Longing pulsed like an aching heartbeat between us. As Ashton held my gaze, I held my breath, hoping that he might kiss me. Slowly, as if savoring the moment, he reached out to cradle my face. His thumb grazed the skin along my jaw.

  Drawing me ever so slightly closer, he lowered his head, holding my gaze until the last possible moment. When his lips finally brushed mine, I closed my eyes on a sigh. His kiss was soft and tender, and so brief that it left me aching for more. It was only the whisper of a kiss.

  Still holding my face in his hands, Ashton murmured against my lips, “Goodnight, my captivating Brielle.” He pressed a warm kiss to the beauty mark on my cheek, then reluctantly withdrew. “I’m looking forward to spending the day with you, mon coeur. Sleep well, and dream of me.” He smiled crookedly, then strode away toward his room.

  I blew out a pent-up breath and smiled at his back. As if I could ever dream of anyone but Ashton, the prince who had captivated my heart.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Ashton drove a sporty red convertible along the coast to Les Arès. It was a beautiful, clear sky day. Waves crashed in a harmonic rhythm along the shore to our right as gulls wheeled in the sky over the sapphire ripples of water, letting out cries that carried along on the breeze. The early morning sun was warm and bright, matching the brightness of my mood.

  I had mended fences with my sister, and now we were off to spend the day with the prince of my dreams. At the moment, I was near to overflowing with happiness. It didn’t matter that the father who had abandoned us was here in Coradova—nothing could ruin my current mood.

  Sitting in the front passenger seat, I shot a smile over at Ashton. The wind whipped at his black hair as we sped along the seaside road. His dimpled smile deepened when he caught me looking at him. He downshifted through a turn, accidentally grazing his knuckles along the bare skin of my thigh. Then he met my eyes with a telling smirk.

  No, that touch had definitely been deliberate.

  I shook my head at his playfulness. The day had barely started and all this fresh air was already getting to his head. I stole a glance at Sophie over my shoulder, to see if she’d noticed. She was crammed into the center of the backseat. Her arms were spread wide over the top of the the leather seats, auburn hair flying around her face. Sunglasses hid her eyes, but her face was turned toward the sea. After a moment, she felt my gaze on her, and shifted to send me a smile and a thumbs up.

  When we reached the harbor, Ashton parked the car and hopped out to assist us both. He grabbed a beach bag full of snacks and a small cooler of iced down drinks, then led us along the dock to his sailboat, Liberté. He helped me climb over the railing and turned to offer Sophie his hand.

  She stood on the dock, her long flowing navy and flower-print coverup swaying in the breeze. She tilted her head and twirled a strand of hair through her fingers. “You know, I don’t really think I’m up for sailing today after all.”

  My heart sank. “Oh … okay,” I said, meeting Ashton’s equally disappointed gaze. We both knew I wouldn’t go sailing without her. “I guess we’ll just go another day.” I moved to climb back out of the sailboat, but Sophie stopped me.

  “No, that’s okay. You two go ahead without me.” She tucked her hair behind an ear and smiled widely. “I’m going to spend the day shopping in Les Arès. Have fun!” She waved cheerily, and turned around to stride back along the dock before I could muster up a response.

  Ashton and I exchanged a surprised glance, then watched Sophie’s retreating form. Her personal guard trailed her at a discreet distance. Stephen and Beau, Ashton’s head of security, were already on board and waiting for our cue.

  “Well, that was a surprise,” Ashton said. He rubbed a hand over his black hair, then shot me a hopeful, dimpled smile. “What do you think? Are you willing to go sailing alone with me?” He extended his hand to me, and waited.

  He was beyond adorable in a cool, white outfit with a fitted beige blazer rolled up to his elbows. A tan belt peeked out from under the hem of his partially tucked-in shirt. His mouth was turned up in a cocky half-smile, and those gorgeous ocean-blue eyes matched the water stretching across the horizon behind him. I loved how he was leaving the choice up to me. No pushing or prodding for more than I was able to give. He simply stood there at the stern of his sailboat and watched me with endless amounts of patience in his warm, blue gaze. He was entirely too tempting to resist.

  I slipped my hand into his. “I’d love to.”

  He smiled broadly and wrapped my hand up in his firm grip. “Let’s go sailing, bien-aimée.”

  After Ashton carefully inspected all of the standing rigging and gave me a run-down on boat safety, he instructed me to sit behind the helm while he prepared Liberté to set sail. I watched in awe as Ashton hoisted the sails and steered the boat to starboard. He pulled on the main sail, and as the boat moved forward and tilted away from the wind, we sailed away from the dock and out to sea. I grinned in pleasure.

  With the prince of my dreams captaining the boat, sailing was even better than I’d ever imagined. Ashton was constantly in motion, watching or trimming the sails depending on the direction of the wind, and ducking under the boom. He chose a heading, and sailed us along at a speed that made my pulse race with adrenaline. When the boat unexpectedly leaned over sharply in the water, pushed along by the wind, I jumped to my feet and clung to Ashton from the back—afraid that we were going to capsize.

  He laughed and patted the arms I had wrapped around his torso in a death grip. “It’s all right, mon coeur,” he shouted over the wind. “We’re heeling! Don’t worry, we’re not going to tip over.”

  A moment later, wind filled the sails and our speed picked up, along with the beat of my heart. When I realized that we weren’t about to capsize, I laughed in delight and allowed the thrill of sailing to flow through me.

  I hugged Ashton close and leaned up to speak over the wind. “This is wonderful! Thank you for bringing me.” Unable to stop myself, I kissed the back of his shirt-clad shoulder and grinned when I felt him shiver.

  He shifted to meet my eyes. The heat in his gaze practically burned me. “It’s my pleasure, Brielle.” Holding onto the helm with one hand, he twisted to wrap an arm around my waist and dragged me up close against his body. “I’m sailing out on my boat with a gorgeous woman in my arms; there’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now.” Ashton smiled seductively, then leaned down to kiss me, but before our lips could meet I heard a shout.

  “Your Highness, the boom!”

  Ashton reacted instinctively. He
shoved me down and ducked under the swinging boom in the nick of time. Crouching down in the cockpit, he asked, “Are you all right?”

  I nodded, and peered up at the boom that was now hanging over the port side, disgruntled that it had ruined the moment.

  Ashton carefully helped me up to standing and chuckled. “Sorry about that.” He trailed a finger down my cheek, enticing a blush, and smiled wryly. “Now I understand why it’s considered bad luck to have a woman on board. You’re entirely too distracting, my captivating Brielle.” Instead of claiming my lips, he gently kissed the beauty mark on my cheek—a gesture that still sent my heart fluttering—and returned to his position at the helm with a crooked smile.

  Dazed by his tenderness, I wobbled over to my seat on unsteady legs. “There should be rules against having captains like you,” I commented. “You’re entirely too charming, Your Highness.”

  Ashton shot me a smirk over his shoulder. “I haven’t even kiss you yet, and you’re already weak in the knees—and the head.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t kiss me,” I whispered, growing serious despite his playful banter.

  He stiffened. “Bree—”

  But I cut him off. “I don’t know why Sophie was suddenly fine with us going sailing together, but I still don’t think she’s ready to watch us sail off into the sunset.” I plucked at the hem of my beach coverup, carefully avoiding his direct gaze.

  Ashton sighed. “Whatever you say, Brielle.”

  We sailed along the coast for close to an hour before he picked a spot to weigh anchor and lowered the sheets. In silence, we picnicked on a scrumptious lunch packed by the royal chef, then spent another silent hour lounging together side by side at the bow, staring up at the cloudless sky.

  Our hands brushed for the ten-thousandth time, shooting tingles up my arm. Finally, Ashton took hold of my hand and threaded his fingers through mine. I angled my head to look at him, and found his eyes already on my face. His look was challenging, as if daring me to object to the small, longed for touch. Instead of complaining, I squeezed his hand in acquiescence.