The waitress rolled her eyes toward heaven. ‘‘Of course. We serve corn with everything.’’
‘‘Corn,’’ Alex repeated softly. ‘‘Perfect.’’
Mitch grinned. ‘‘I’ll have the same. Oh, and we’ll both have blueberry milk shakes.’’
The waitress eyed Alex. ‘‘We might have a box of wine somewhere in the back if your lady friend would prefer that.’’
Boxed wine? Mitch doubted Alex would be able to choke it down. ‘‘No, the milk shake will be fine.’’
When the woman left, Alex laughed. ‘‘Wine in a box? I haven’t heard of that before.’’
‘‘It’s not what you’re used to.’’
‘‘Neither is a blueberry milk shake, but it sounds lovely. I can’t wait. Thank you for bringing me here, Mitch. I’m having a wonderful time.’’
Her gaze was direct, and he read the pleasure in her face. Wanting slammed into him, nearly making him wince. The situation was completely ridiculous. Here he was, a rancher from Arizona, attracted to a royal princess. They had absolutely nothing in common, they came from two different worlds, and he knew better than to get involved. There was only one problem. He liked her. It wasn’t all about her long legs and pretty face. He actually enjoyed Alex’s company. She made him laugh, she made him think and she didn’t let him get away with anything.
So he was stuck. Liking and wanting were allowed as long as he didn’t do anything about either. After all, he hadn’t been able to keep his first wife happy. Of course he’d matured since then. He knew a lot more about relationships and doing his part in one. But however much he’d learned, it wasn’t going to be enough to travel in royal circles.
From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a couple walking toward them. He motioned with his head. ‘‘Little people approaching at three o’clock.’’
Alex looked momentarily confused, then started to laugh. ‘‘Stop teasing,’’ she told him. ‘‘What if someone overhears?’’
‘‘They’ll think you’re a snob.’’
‘‘That’s so nice of you. Thanks. As if I don’t have enough trouble in that department.’’
‘‘You’re the one who’s bossy and imperious. I’m just a nice guy.’’
‘‘You couldn’t be more wrong.’’ Her blue eyes danced as she teased him.
He opened his mouth to reply, but before he could do so, the couple had reached the side of the table.
‘‘Mitch, it’s good to see you,’’ Reverend Tucker said as he clasped Mitch’s shoulder. ‘‘You’ve been hiding up at the ranch for too long.’’
Mitch leaned toward Alex. ‘‘Translation—how come I never see you in church these days? If you don’t show up soon, I’m going to call your folks in Washington and rat you out.’’
The reverend chuckled. ‘‘I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s a thought.’’
‘‘I know how your mind works.’’ He smiled at the man he’d known most of his life. ‘‘Okay, Reverend, I’ll do my best to pop in some Sunday. Reverend Tucker, Mrs. Tucker, I’d like you to meet Alex. She’s a friend of the family and is staying out on the ranch for a while.’’
‘‘What a pretty lady,’’ Reverend Tucker said as he took Alex’s hand. ‘‘I don’t remember seeing you around here before. Is this your first trip to Hope?’’
‘‘Yes. I’m enjoying myself tremendously.’’
The reverend wasn’t overly tall, and the years had added some weight to his medium build. Still, he carried himself with dignity. Lucy Tucker, his wife, was a prim woman, who wore her hair in a tight bun and always seemed on the verge of disapproving of whatever was going on.
‘‘Why don’t you talk this young man into bringing you to services this Sunday?’’ the reverend was saying. ‘‘I don’t promise a lot of fancy talk, but I do stay true to the word of God.’’
‘‘I would like that,’’ Alex said.
Reverend Tucker asked her a question, but Mitch was distracted by Mrs. Tucker. The older woman stared at Alex as if she were a ghost. Lucy flushed bright red, then went pale. She placed one hand on her chest and sucked in a gasp of air.
‘‘You’re here,’’ she said, her voice low and trembling. ‘‘I thought you looked familiar.’’
‘‘What is it, dear?’’ Reverend Tucker asked his wife. ‘‘Are you all right?’’
Lucy’s gaze went from Alex to Mitch and back. ‘‘I’ve seen your picture on television. You’re one of those princesses from that country. I know who you are!’’
