Love Modern Day Fairy Tales??

The stories in my Her Royal Romance series have been referred to as modern day fairy tales. Handsome prince. Beautiful princesses. Sexy security guards and royal palaces. Love that should never be between royals and commoners. Modern day fairy tales indeed.

I've just released a box set that includes all three Her Royal Romance novels and a short story that originally appeared in the charity anthology, Love Is... If you love to binge read a series, here's your chance!

These are standalone contemporary romances - sexy and emotional tales of passionate royals unable to resist falling in love with the common man – or woman.

Her Royal Masquerade – a novel

A prince looking for a royal bride – a woman masquerading as a princess. Mia slips from his bed before morning but when Vittorio discovers the deception, he kidnaps her to be his mistress until the real princess appears. Soon she’s in danger of falling for a man she can never have.

Her Royal Bodyguard – a novel

After almost getting kidnapped, Princess Angelina is swept away by royal bodyguard Rico for her protection. While they hide out, pretending to be a newlywed couple, they can’t resist the attraction they feel for each other. But when danger strikes again, it may be too late to explore the love they never expected to find.

Her Royal Rendezvous – a short story

When Liliana sees Tony, head of royal security, at the prince’s wedding reception, she knows she’s never gotten over him. So she agrees to meet him at their old rendezvous spot one last time. Tony never stopped loving Lil, even after she broke off their engagement. He’ll do whatever he can to show her she means the world to him. And that a single rendezvous will never be enough

Her Royal Mistake – a novel

A night of passion with a handsome olive farmer leaves Princess Birgitte pregnant. A man of honor, Nardo proposes to the “Ice Princess” but he won’t be satisfied with a marriage in name only. He’s determined to shatter the ice around her heart…but any means necessary.

The Her Royal Romance box set is now available at a great price - it's like getting one book free!

Amazon       B&N       Apple       Kobo

Natasha

www.natashamoore.com

The Series So Far...

Her Royal Masquerade - Vittorio and Mia

                                               Her Royal Bodyguard - Rico and Angelina

                                            Her Royal Rendezvous - Tony and Liliana

                                             Her Royal Mistake - Nardo and Birgitte

I may write some more books in this series in the future, but at the moment I'm busy on a new series I'll be telling you about soon. If you'd like some more books in the Her Royal Romance series, let me know. I might be able to fit them in.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Her Royal Romance - 2 Years Later!

Facebook reminded me that is has been two years since my first book in the Her Royal Romance series, Her Royal Masquerade, was released. Self-publishing was still kind of a new thing and to be honest, I really didn't know what I was doing. But I surrounded myself with people who did. I asked a lot of questions and I learned. Now there are four stories in the series, 3 full-length and one short story. All of these can be read as a stand alone, but they all deal with two royal families from two different parts of the world.

Her Royal Masquerade:

Time is running out for Prince Vittorio. His father’s health is failing and he must find a royal bride. Fast. He’s never forgotten his glimpse of a beautiful Scandinavian princess and lures her to his Mediterranean country with an invitation to his father’s birthday ball. He’d planned to propose a marriage agreement as cold as her icy reputation, but then he discovers she's as colorful and warm as a summer sunset. The heat between them flares red-hot and when she allows him to seduce her, Vittorio sees his future unfolding just as he had planned. But what he doesn’t know is that the woman in his bed is not a princess at all.

The last thing schoolteacher Mia Holmberg expects when she masquerades as her royal cousin is to be swept off her feet by a charming prince. The incredible night in Vittorio’s arms is like a fairy tale come true, but she’d never want the life of a real princess, with all its pomp and politics. Knowing they can never have a future together, she slips out of his bed and back to reality, where she belongs.

But Vittorio discovers the deception and kidnaps Mia back to his palace, demanding she be his mistress until the real princess appears. Despite her attempts to stay aloof, Mia soon learns there’s more to the prince than arrogance and attitude, but now she’s in danger of falling in love with a man she can never have.

Her Royal Bodyguard:

After almost getting kidnapped, Princess Angelina is swept away by royal bodyguard Rico Santori to a small, secluded village for her protection. Always the good girl, the obedient daughter, the proper princess, Angie’s tired of putting her own desires – her own life! – on hold. She could have been killed in the kidnapping attempt and never known the ecstasy of making love with a passionate man. Angelina has had a crush on the strong, loyal Rico for years and while they hide out, pretending to be a newlywed couple, she decides to practice her seductive skills on him.

This is Rico’s last job for the royal family. He’s leaving to build his own life, opening his own security firm. Angie is smart and pretty but she’s royalty and he’s just the hired muscle. But as the days go by, her attempts at seduction try the calm patience he’s known for. He warns her they can only share a bed until he returns her safely to the palace.
But when danger strikes again, it may be too late to explore the love they never expected to find.

Her Royal Rendezvous:

Love is…
reunited lovers risking their hearts for a second chance.

Two years ago, Liliana Gullotti broke off her engagement to Tony Barone, head of royal security, because his job took over his life and left no time for her. But when she sees him at the prince’s wedding reception, she knows she’s never gotten over him. And she agrees to meet him at their old rendezvous spot one last time.

Tony never stopped loving Lil, but has honored her request to stay away from her. But once she approaches him at her cousin’s wedding, all bets are off. He’ll do whatever he can to show her she means the world to him. And that a single rendezvous will never be enough.

Her Royal Mistake:

A night of passion leaves the princess pregnant.

Birgitte, the “Ice Princess” of Stagatland escapes her narrow and empty royal existence with mindless partying. A wild night with a handsome olive farmer leaves her with a problem that can only be solved one way…a marriage of convenience. Raised by cold and judgmental parents, Birgitte knows nothing of love but is determined to do her duty to the royal line.

With royal blood in his own veins, Nardo Gullotti is a man of honor and proposes as soon as Birgitte mentions her pregnancy. But passionate and earthy Nardo can’t be satisfied with a marriage in name only. He is entranced by the lovely Birgitte and determined to shatter the ice around her heart…by any means necessary.


I wish I was a faster writer. I wish I could have had more than four releases in this series in the past two years. But I have other projects and I'm trying to balance my life so that I don't get burned out. I don't want this writing life to be stressful. I want it to be joyful.

So I do plan more books in the series and I hope you'll enjoy the stories in the series now. And if you've read them...which is your favorite? I'd love to know. I won't tell the others...promise!

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Her Royal Mistake Giveaway!

This came a few days ago! A box of print copies of Her Royal Mistake! The cover by Lacey Savage is lovely!

My birthday was also a couple days ago. To celebrate I'm giving away one print copy to a lucky commenter today. Tell me your favorite birthday present ever! (This year I went with friends on a Mystery Dinner Train. Lots of fun!)

(I do have to state that if the winner lives outside the US, I'll give away a digital copy due to the cost of postage.)

Here's a quick excerpt from Her Royal Mistake:

She trembled as Nardo ran his hands down her bare arms. She’d never thought calloused, workman hands would be pleasant to experience on her skin, but the rough-but-not-too-rough fingers and palms sent amazing sensations shooting over her body. Thank goodness she was no longer wearing the heels because her body actually rocked from the overwhelming sensations and she might have fallen over if she hadn’t had her bare feet flat on the floor.

“You’re so lovely. Bella.” Nardo steadied her with his hands on her hips. “I’m so looking forward to removing this dress and revealing what lies beneath.”

But he didn’t. At least not right away. First, he traced a finger along the neckline of her bodice, branding her skin with the heat from his fingertip. He slid over the curves of her small breasts and dipped between them, making her catch her breath.

Birgitte dropped her head back. Her skin had already been sensitized by the fooling around they’d done inside the maze. Now she wanted to tear off her dress and push him onto the bed. But she didn’t.

There was something about the way Nardo was exploring her, taking his time as if to discover if her back was softer than her arms, or if her meager cleavage was warmer than her neck. More than that, his intense gaze mesmerized her. And the soft words he murmured, most of which she did not understand, made her feel as if he were worshipping her body.

“What are you saying?” she asked when he paused from the lyrical litany rolling off his tongue. “I don’t understand.”

“I’m simply saying how beautiful you are. How fortunate I am to be here with you tonight. How much I’m looking forward to spending time enjoying you.”

“Oh.” No man had made her feel this special before. And that included all the men who praised her for her royal bearing, her royal beauty, her royal body. Nardo didn’t seem to care at all that she was a princess. Perhaps because he grew up with royalty, he wasn’t all that impressed.

But if she didn’t have her royalty, her princess persona going for her, what did he see in her?

Nobody. She was nobody.

Her body wasn’t all that much. She was tall and thin, with no real curves for a man to enjoy. She knew her personality pushed people away. What man wanted to put his arms around a woman known as the Ice Princess?

Still Nardo continued to explore her body with his strong fingers, continued to coo those soft words that flowed so smoothly in his native language. And he still had not begun to remove her gown.


Don't forget to comment below!

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

New Release, a Secret and a Sale

Finally! Her Royal Mistake, the long-awaited book #3 in the Her Royal Romance series is here!!

I'd planned to have this book release in 2014 and I want to thank all my readers who have patiently waited for Birgitte and Nardo's story. If you follow this blog, you know about the family emergency last year that had me running to Florida to be with my parents for five months. No writing happened during that stressful time. But the problems with the book started before then. I'll let you in on a little secret. I'd originally planned for Birgitte to end up with Prince Stefano, Vittorio and Angelina's brother! The story wasn't working, but I hung onto that premise for longer than I should have. After I wrote Her Royal Rendezvous for the charity anthology, Love Is... and met the lovely Liliana Gullotti, I realized she had a large family and her sexy brother, Nardo, was the perfect hero for Birgitte. I'd started the story with these two characters before heading to Florida, and I've finally finished it. I'm pleased to say I think it's now one of my favorites!

Blurb:

A night of passion leaves the princess pregnant.

Birgitte, the “Ice Princess” of Stagatland escapes her narrow and empty royal existence with mindless partying. A wild night with a handsome olive farmer leaves her with a problem that can only be solved one way…a marriage of convenience. Raised by cold and judgmental parents, Birgitte knows nothing of love but is determined to do her duty to the royal line.

With royal blood in his own veins, Nardo Gullotti is a man of honor and proposes as soon as Birgitte mentions her pregnancy. But passionate and earthy Nardo can’t be satisfied with a marriage in name only. He is entranced by the lovely Birgitte and determined to shatter the ice around her heart…by any means necessary.

Excerpt:

“Take me to bed,” she murmured, her lips brushing against his.

Nardo scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing at all, as if she wasn’t nearly as tall as he was. He carried her over to the bed and dropped her onto the jumble of bedclothes. His smile warmed her even more. He slipped off her shoes, tossing each one over his shoulder. She didn’t bother to notice where they landed.

“I never thought I’d have you in my bed again.” He stripped off the rest of his clothing while he talked, his gaze never leaving hers. “It made me sad because I enjoyed very much giving you pleasure. Being pressed up against you, skin on skin. You’re beautiful, but it was your taste, your touch that drew me to you. That made me desire you again.” His smile made her shiver. “That makes me desire you now. Naked. With me.”

“Did you talk this much before?” Her amusement was clear in her voice. “If so, I don’t remember.”

He lifted a brow. “You don’t like my words?”

“I like your words a lot, but I’d like it more if you would stop talking now.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I can think of a much better use for that charming mouth of yours.”

His wicked smile sent chills over her and when he crawled onto the mattress and between her legs, she threw her head back and let him charm her with his mouth, his lips, his tongue. His breath was hot on her thighs as he rained kisses along her sensitive skin. She moaned when she might have cried out. She couldn’t forget they were not alone in the house.

“So you like my mouth?” He nipped at the spot behind her knee she loved him to play with.

“I like the things it does.” She gasped. “Do that again.”

He looked up at her with a smile in his eyes. “Ah, so now you are back to commanding me, principessa?”

She reached out and threaded her fingers through his silky hair. “You can have your turn telling me what you want me to do. As before. Just do that thing again. Now.”

“This?” He scraped his teeth over her skin and she shivered.

“Yes,” she hissed.

He nipped her once more, then kissed that sweet spot before he moved between her thighs to taste her there. She arched her back as he swept his tongue over her. He could do whatever he wanted with his talented mouth and she’d beg him for more.

No, not beg, command.

Maybe not command, ask. Ask for more.

As he played with her with his mouth and she writhed beneath him, she thought that maybe she would beg after all.

The digital version of Her Royal Mistake is live now at Amazon. B&N and iTunes should be live soon. And the print book will be available as soon as I okay the proof.

And now for the sale! In celebration of the release of Her Royal Mistake, book #1, Her Royal Masquerade is on sale for only 99 cents for a limited time! So if you haven't given the Her Royal Romance series a try, this would be the perfect time! All books are stand-alone contemporary royal romances, where sexy royals fall for the common man - or woman! Pick up Her Royal Masquerade for only 99 cents!

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com
Her Royal Romance series

Her Royal Masquerade #1 (Vittorio and Mia)
Her Royal Bodyguard #2 (Rico and Angelina)
Her Royal Rendezvous #2.5 (Tony and Liliana)
Her Royal Mistake #3 (Nardo and Birgitte)

Countdown to Her Royal Mistake

A new release always fills me with a mixture of emotions. Excitement that I can send another romance is out in the world, to give readers some sigh-worthy emotion and another happy ending. Trepidation because what if some readers think my baby is ugly. Frustration because it's so hard to get visibility today in the marketplace, and promotion takes so much time away from writing, and how do I know if I'm reaching the readers who will love sexy, emotional romances with royals falling in love with the girl (or guy) next door? But I'm also filled with joy because I love writing romance and I love connecting with readers who love them too.

Self-publishing gives an author flexibility, but it also can make for soft release days. Right now, I hope to see Her Royal Mistake go live by Friday, August 21st. If everything goes smoothly, it could be earlier. If life throws a curve-ball, it could be later. If you'd like to be notified when Her Royal Mistake releases (and a heads-up to a limited time 99 cent sale on book #1 Her Royal Masquerade) sign-up for my mailing list. You can also like my Facebook page or follow me on Twitter to catch the release notification.

Excerpt:

He hadn’t expected her to fit so well. In his arms. Against his body. A woman as hard and unyielding as Birgitte should not have molded so well to him.

She was softer than he thought she would be too. And warm. So warm. This was no Ice Princess in his arms. Again he wondered at the mask she seemed to wear so effortlessly.

The Mezzano Royal String Ensemble played romantic music this evening, perfect for holding a woman close and letting his body brush against hers. Birgitte’s scent was sharp, nothing soft or floral for this princess. Still, Nardo found his face buried in her hair, inhaling the essence of the woman in his arms.

“You’re a good dancer,” she told him.

“You sound surprised.”

She shrugged lazily and followed his steps as they glided across the floor. His hand found her bare back and he stroked her soft, warm skin. The people around them seemed to fade away. It was only him and Birgitte and the music. She sighed against his neck.

“Are you bored now?” The words came out sharper than he intended.

She didn’t lift her head from his shoulder. “No, Nardo. I’m no longer bored.”

“What changed your mind?” he murmured. Her soft hair brushed his cheek and caused something to clench deep inside him.

She leaned back and he found himself drowning in her blue eyes. “About what?”

“Dancing with me.”

“Oh that. You were right. I like to dance.”

But something must have happened after she walked away from him and the two glasses of champagne. “You could have chosen another partner.”

“I realized I didn’t want to dance with anyone else,” she replied smoothly.

“My luck.”

“Yes.” A slight smile lifted her lips but it wasn’t the bright, unguarded one she’d sent him earlier. “Of course, I’m the lucky one to have such a handsome dance partner.”

The words were obviously practiced. Ones she’d no doubt said to hundreds of men while she spent her time haunting clubs and hooking up with her many dance partners. “Of course,” he replied tightly.

What was he doing? The princess intrigued him, but he wasn’t a masochist. He wasn’t interested in being one of her many conquests. What did it matter if they fit together well on the dance floor? Men and women were built that way. It didn’t mean anything. This dance was over. He began to pull away.

“Your sister’s delightful.”

The princess’s comment came out of nowhere and surprised him enough to remain on the dance floor with her. “I’ve never heard her going on about dresses and hair and high heeled shoes before.”

Birgitte’s soft laughter wafted warmly against his cheek. “Well, of course not. Do you think she’d talk to her brother about such things?”

“I suppose not.”

She was silent for a moment, then said, “It was refreshing to talk with someone who had no hidden agenda.”

Nardo didn’t let himself think about how her comment revealed the kind of life she lived, he only focused on the personal dig. “Does that mean you think I have a hidden agenda?”

Her hip pressed against his obvious erection. “Perhaps yours is not so hidden.”

He froze, gripped her shoulders in the middle of the dance floor. The couples around them threw curious glances their way. “I didn’t ask you to dance in order to get you into bed.”

“Of course not.” Her voice was flat, the tone wry.

“I’m attracted to you.” His was voice low, rushed. “But I didn’t ask you to dance to have sex with you.”

“No. You wanted to show me that I wouldn’t be bored.”

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Cover Reveal! Her Royal Mistake

The long-awaited book #3 in my Her Royal Romance series will be here within the next few weeks! So I'm thrilled to share with everyone the cover for Her Royal Mistake!

The talented Lacey Savage does it again!

Here's a blurb for Her Royal Mistake:

At the wedding of her cousin to her former fiancé, Princess Birgitte, the Ice Princess, hooks up with one of the groom’s cousins, a handsome hot-blooded olive farmer, so unlike any man she’s been with before. They share a night of incredible sex, but she can’t handle the unexpected emotions that come along with it. So Birgitte does what she does best, runs and hides from her mistakes. But soon, she can’t run or hide from the fact that she’s pregnant.

Leonardo Gullotti’s mother may be sister to the king, but his life revolves around the family’s olive business. He’s haunted by the lovely Birgitte, but he’s not impressed with anyone who would run away from their problems. He’s always been a stand and deal with it kind of guy. So when Birgitte comes to him with her news, he proposes on the spot, even though he knows marrying a future queen means he will have to leave the land he loves.

Birgitte knows her baby needs to be legitimate, but will only agree to a marriage of convenience. She doesn’t want any messy emotions involved. But living with Nardo, and not loving him, might be the biggest mistake of all.


Her Royal Mistake is a stand-alone novel and can be read on its own. But if you haven't already, and you'd like to catch up on the couple who have already fallen in love in the lands of Mezzano and Stagatland, these are the previous stories in the series.

Her Royal Masquerade - book #1 - novel

Her Royal Bodyguard- book #2 - novel

Her Royal Rendezvous - book # 2.5 - short story

If you'd like to be notified as soon as Her Royal Mistake is released, you can sign up for my announcement-only newsletter.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Her Royal Mistake - An Excerpt

I want to apologize to all my readers who have been waiting for book #3 in my Her Royal Romance series. Writing has been slow going for me for the past year, and my father's medical emergency and the five months being on call for him and my mom has made it even harder to get back into the writing routine. I don't like making excuses, no one does, but I just wanted to explain to those of you who might be wondering. I am deep in the middle of the romance between Princess Birgitte, the cousin Mia was impersonating in Her Royal Masquerade, and Leonardo Gullotti, cousin to Prince Vittorio and Princess Angelina of books #1 and #2, and I will release it as soon as possible.

Blurb:

Princess Birgitte is feeling sorry for herself when she attends the wedding of her cousin to her former fiancé. After years of not letting anyone get too close, the ice princess realizes she’s all alone with no one she can love or trust. That night, she hooks up with one of the groom’s cousins, a handsome hot-blooded olive farmer, so unlike any man she’s been with before. They share a night of incredible sex, but she can’t handle the unexpected emotions that come along with it. So Birgitte does was she does best, runs and hides from her mistakes. But six weeks later, she can’t run or hide from the fact that she’s pregnant.

Leonardo Gullotti’s mother may be sister to the king, but his life revolves around the family’s olive business. He’s haunted by the lovely Birgitte, but he’s not impressed with anyone who would run away from their problems. He’s always been a stand and deal with it kind of guy. So when Birgitte comes to him with her news, he proposes on the spot, even though he knows that marrying a future queen will threaten his participation in the family business he loves.

Birgitte knows her baby needs to be legitimate, but will only agree to a marriage of convenience. She doesn’t want any messy emotions involved. But living with Nardo, and not loving him, might be the biggest mistake of all.


I've totally fallen in love with Nardo and he's done much to warm the Ice Princess. But it's going to be difficult for her to get past her fears and insecurities. Good thing Nardo isn't the type to be scared away easily.

So for those of you who are waiting, here is a sneak peek at the opening of Her Royal Mistake.

“Is this seat taken?”

Birgitte slowly raised her eyes from the drink she’d been nursing for the past hour. She desperately wanted to be drunk, so much so that she had refused to accept another glass, terrified of what words or actions more alcohol might unleash. There was too much freaking happiness in the air and she was afraid she’d go mad with it before the night was over.

The man now standing beside her out-of-the-way table was another big, dark Mezzano male. They were everywhere tonight. He looked enough like the groom that he must be related to Prince Vittorio somehow. She let out a low bark of a laugh. Weren’t they all related?

She took another sip of the watered-down liquor and didn’t answer. Kept her blank mask firmly in place.

He flashed her a smile, obviously not taking the hint. An annoying tickle hit her mid-section, making her frown and snap, “Go away.”

“It is a crime for a beautiful woman like you to be sitting here all alone.” His voice was soft and smooth, and made Birgitte want to scream. “See? I have brought you a new drink.” He held out two champagne flutes.

“I don’t want another drink.” She cut her gaze to the ornately decorated ballroom and the lavishly dressed guests talking, dancing, laughing. But when she caught a glimpse of the oh-so-happy bridal couple, Birgitte jerked her attention back to the stubborn man still standing beside her table.

Broad shoulders filled out his suit jacket well. His dark hair was thick and had a wave that wasn’t quite tamed. He wasn’t smoothly handsome, but he had a magnetism about him that surprised her. He winked. “You can’t celebrate with melted ice cubes.”

She’d never felt so alone. So tired. So less inclined to celebrate a marriage. “Believe me, you don’t want to be around me right now.”

She desperately wanted to leave, but it was too soon. She had her orders to keep up appearances, and she supposed she was already failing at that. The room was overrun with representatives of the Mezzano side of this union and Birgitte knew she was expected to be here as a member of the Stagatland contingency. The fact that she was family took second place.

“Aren’t you the bride’s cousin?” He sat beside her without an invitation. He seemed bigger, hulking even, when he was only inches away from her. She should have been used to the size of the Mezzano males after spending time with Vittorio, but this man was different. Not polished like the prince. An evening stubble darkened his strong jaw and his tanned skin spoke of much time out in the sun.

For an insane moment, she pictured him shirtless, beneath a maze of branches. His feet in deep grass. His face turned up to the sun. Earthy. That was one word for this stranger.

Male was another.

His deep voice rumbled, but it was somehow softened with the smooth and lyrical accent of his homeland. “Birgitte, right? It’s a lovely name. For a lovely woman.”

She glared at him but he smiled and offered her a glass. She told herself the heat flaring in her chest was anger at his presumptuousness. Still, she found herself taking the glass instead of ordering him again to go away.

“I am Leonardo Gullotti. One of the groom’s many cousins.” His eyes were warm like melted chocolate and Birgitte had learned long ago to avoid that kind of temptation. “Our cousins have married. Smile. That means we are family now.”

“Family?” Birgitte lifted her brow and let her gaze sweep over the crowd. “I think you have too much family already.”

“Oh no. You can never have too much family, principessa.”

Just the thought of that many people surrounding her, scrutinizing her, pressing in on her, made Birgitte’s palms sweat. But wasn’t that how she lived her life every day? It wasn’t only family who criticized her every move and questioned every decision she made. The citizens of Stagatland kept track of everything she did as well, thanks to the paparazzi who seemed to follow her everywhere.

Was it any wonder she yearned to escape?

Leonardo tapped his glass to hers and caught her gaze. “Salute.”

“Skol.” For a moment, she was lost in his dark eyes. Long enough that she actually drank a toast to the happy couple.

Birgitte slammed the glass down onto the table. “Mr. Gullotti—”

“Nardo,” he said with a wink. “My friends…and family…call me Nardo.”

The music seemed to fade into the distance. The conversations and laughter around them were suddenly muted as well. Birgitte swallowed to moisten her suddenly-dry mouth. She did her best to give him her haughty-princess gaze. “You and I. We are not family.”

“No?” His sensuous lips lifted into a small smile and his gaze seemed to heat as he looked at her. In that moment, she could understand why the people of Mezzano were described as hot-blooded.

“Perhaps I am glad that is so,” he went on. “I admit I desire to take you out onto the dance floor and hold you closer to me than would be proper for family.”

She sucked in her breath and looked down her nose at him even as her heart raced. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“What is ridiculous is a lovely woman sitting alone and unhappy while everyone else is having a wonderful time.” He took her hand then and sandwiched it between his two large ones. His calloused palms were rough against her skin. What would they feel like running over her body?

“I’m not unhappy.” She snatched her hand away and curled it into a fist in her lap. “I’m bored.”

“All the more reason to allow me to escort you to the dance floor.” He studied her for a moment, his expression darkening when she did not agree. “I have heard the stories of the party girl princess. How she can dance for hours in crowded clubs with the lights flashing and the music pulsing and the floor crowded with gyrating bodies.” He shrugged with a dismissive lift of a strong, broad shoulder. “Yes, I can see how even a royal wedding would be boring for a woman like you.”

A woman like you. The disdainful comment shouldn’t have cut so deeply. Not from this man. A stranger. An unpolished, unsophisticated male.

She was schooled at keeping her emotions hidden, but Birgitte feared the unexpected hurt might show on her face so she quickly turned away. Looked out past the guests on the dance floor. And caught sight again of the newly wedded couple speaking with Mia’s parents, Birgitte’s aunt and uncle.

Mia made a lovely bride. She looked every bit the princess, a title she could now claim for real. Birgitte knew she should be pleased for her cousin. And she was. Mia was a loyal cousin. She deserved a happy ending.

But what about Birgitte’s happy ending?

She yanked her gaze away from the Mia and Vittorio. A fancy wedding to a foreign prince was not Birgitte’s idea of a happy ending. Far from it. Her life was just beginning. And it certainly didn’t include marriage or children or being stuck in a drafty castle ruling an entire Scandinavian country.

“Forgive me if I was too outspoken, Your Highness,” Nardo said. He stood and offered her his hand. “Dance with me. Let me prove that you would not be bored with me.”

“I don’t want to dance with you.” She knew she sounded cold. Cruel. But she couldn’t help it. She wanted to get out of here. Find some air she could breathe without the cloying scents of flowers and alcohol, myriad perfumes and earthy musk.

Birgitte rose to her feet slowly, regally. Turned away from the handsome man who didn’t deserve her ire. Who’d only brought her a drink and asked her to dance.

He should have taken the hint when he first approached her.

Birgitte did what she always did when thing got uncomfortable. Walked away without a backward glance.

And if you haven't sampled the precious stories in the Her Royal Romance series, you can catch up before Her Royal Mistake is released.

Her Royal Masquerade - book #1
Her Royal Bodyguard - book #2
Her Royal Rendezvous - short story #2.5

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com