"Since we have the restaurant all to ourselves," Ben tells me, "I've arranged for live music to make sure we have the perfect atmosphere. Turns out there's a jazz trio based in Hartmoor, so I hired them."
"The music sounds fabulous. This whole night is fabulous."
A waiter approaches, greeting us with a smile and guiding us into the main area of the restaurant. Since we have the whole place to ourselves, we choose a booth near where the jazz trio is set up, but not so close that we have no privacy. We only just got here and already I want to unzip Ben's pants and ride him until we both scream. It's the suit doing that to me. He genuinely does look like a sophisticated spy. If he wants to torture secrets out of me, I won't mind at all.
Ben takes my hand as I slide onto the curved bench seat, then he slides in beside me.
Our date has officially begun.
Chapter Seventeen
Ben
I love my life. Never have I said that before, not even when I was living in Cockshire and doing my job, which I love. I always had an enormous boulder hanging over my head, held up by only the slenderest rope, and I knew one day that monstrosity would crash down on me. Yes, I'm comparing my life as a crown prince to being squashed by a boulder. Why not? Every time I go back to Mithoria, I feel like I'm being compressed by the intense pressure of everyone else's expectations, not to mention all those greedy girls.
Now I'm with Sam. We're on a date. So yeah, I love my life right now.
While we peruse the food offerings, Sam leans into me so we can both look at the same menu. She points to items and oohs at them like she hasn't seen lobster or filet mignon before. I'm sure she has, but Sam always gets enthusiastic about…everything. I love that about her. Even shopping for a snowsuit is fun as long as I'm with her.
Now, shopping with her father and brother is another story. I enjoyed my outing with "the boys," as Judy called us, but I can never tell for sure if they like me or if they're sizing me up and debating whether to toss me out of the car on the way home. I'm joking, of course. They like me. I like them too, and I think Cameron has finally decided I'm not a "slick foreigner trying to make time with Sam." Yes, Cam said that. Well, what he actually said was "you better not just be some slick foreigner trying to make time with my baby sister so you can get another notch in your belt."
I rarely wear a belt, so he has nothing to worry about.
After we order our food, I get up and offer my hand to Sam. "May I have this dance?"
She smiles and shimmies across the bench to take my hand, letting me help her up. "I'd love to dance with you anytime, anywhere."
I lead her out onto the little dance floor, right in front of the musicians, who are playing a sensual melody with jazz styling. I've never been a big fan of jazz, but the restaurant owner had recommended this group, and I thought Sam might enjoy the music. But now I find I'm enjoying it too. With Sam in my arms as we glide across the floor, I feel better than I have in years, happy and relaxed and free of all the weight that's been pressing down on me for so long. She feels right in my arms, like I was always meant to find this woman and dance with her in this place.
That's sentimental rubbish, I know. But I refuse to worry about that tonight.
She rests her cheek on my chest, her arms twined behind my neck, and the sweetest little smile curls her lips. I link my hands at the small of her back, and our dancing becomes foot shuffling as we let the music lull us into a near trance. I'm entranced for sure, by the beautiful, amazing woman who has her warm body molded to mine.
The song ends. As another melody starts up in its place, I take Sam back to the booth. The waiter is just bringing our food, so we admire the offerings while they're laid out before us on the table. Everything smells incredible. Maybe this is the best restaurant in New Hampshire after all, or maybe I would love any food, even a block of smelly cheese, simply because I'm with Sam. She makes me feel like a normal bloke who's on a normal date with the most wonderful girl on earth. But I know, sooner or later, I'll have to face up to my problems—and my duties.
Not tonight, though.
Sam and I chat to each other while we eat, sharing funny stories about our family and friends. Yes, I do actually have humorous stories to tell about my royal family. When I relate an incident that involves my mother and a salivating poodle, Sam laughs so hard her eyes water. I love making her laugh and making her smile, but I especially love making her come. I wish we could do that tonight, but with her whole family in residence at the little cabin, I don't see how we can shag without keeping everyone awake and frightening the children too.
Once Sam is done laughing about the poodle incident, she lays a hand on my thigh and kisses my cheek.
"What was that for?" I ask.
"I love hearing your stories. You haven't wanted to talk about your family much, or at least it seemed that way to me."
"Maybe I don't say much about them, but it's not on purpose." I try very hard not to squirm when she skates her hand up and down my thigh. "It's just that thinking about my family reminds me of all the rubbish I'll have to deal with when I finally go home."
"And by 'go home,' you mean go back to Mithoria."
"Yes. I've been avoiding it, but I can't do that forever."
She chews on her lip for a moment, watching me with an expression I can't figure out. "I get why your mother is determined to find you a wife. But a mom should want what's best for her son, not force him to do something that will make him miserable."
"I know I've probably made Mum sound like a dictator, but she isn't like that. Not most of the time." I do squirm now, though not because Sam is touching me. "I knew from the start my time in England would be finite. I also knew running away to New Hampshire wouldn't spare me for long either."
"But you're happy in England and here with me."
I've never been happier in my entire life than I am tonight with her. Should I tell her that? Not sure there's any point to admitting it. Like I just told her, my time here is finite. Maybe I shouldn't have gotten involved with her. Maybe I'm a selfish bastard.