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She rested her hand on his knee, so pick roses and have a picnic with you”

So hit hiht he’d been shot But there was no blood on his shirt Slowly, he reached out, cupped her cheek, and said, “You’re the most beautiful person, inside and out, that I’ve ever known, Alicia Forkes”

Her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her lids, hiding her soft eyes fro flash across the that looked a lot like fear, which didn’t make any sense She bit down on her lip and shifted away frohtly She still so have some fun?” she asked

“It wasn’t what I planned, but those kids…”

She nodded “Those kids”

Without another word, he opened the car and got out She slid out behind hi, and quickly curtsied “Your Highness”

He inclined his head “Hello, Miss…?”

“Grant Ms Grant” She curtsied again, her gaze wandering toward Alicia with curiosity “I hope you were aware of our plans to be here—?”

“Of course,” he said, glancing quickly at Alicia, not quite sure how to introduce her “This is a business consultant from America, Alicia Alicia, Ms Grant”

Alicia stiffened, but smiled “Lovely to meet you”

The other woman inclined her head with respect “Likewise, miss”

“We saw the children having fun and siestured back to the car “We have our own food, of course”

Alicia blinked at him

“Of course” Then Ms Grant gestured for the children to come closer “Children, line up! The prince is here”

They all fell into perfect rows, looking far too serious for such a young age, standing at attention like little soldiers All but one of theirl with long blonde hair It wasn’t a far stretch of the iination to picture Alicia as this child—restless, adorable, and spunky