“Or go running back to the castle as quickly as you can,” Charlie muttered, tossing a slice of pizza on a paper plate and handing it to him, her slender brows high. “Is paper alright for you, Your Highness?”
Another memory from last night lanced through him. “I’d rather you call me Arran, my lady.” His charm bounced right offher glare. “I am truly sorry about last night, Charlotte. I hope I can make a better impression in the future.”
She gestured toward her face with her drink, one brow arched. “As long as your next impression doesn’t leave a mark.”
He winced and Luke burst out laughing. “You two better learn how to get along because you’re going to be spendinga lotof time together, especially with The Wish.”
Charlotte folded her arms across her chest, making her lack of faith in him fully known.
“Now, Charlie, Arran’s got a whole host of experiences with navigating social functions and speaking in front of folks.” Luke sent him a reassuring look. “And he’s here to prove he’s fit to help serve those kids and families too.”
Charlotte’s raised brow told Arran three things:
Charlotte Edgewood wasn’t too keen on his help.
He had a long way to go to change her mind about him.
Silver eyes were fascinating.
Four
How was Charlie going to work with Prince Nosebreaker for eight weeks?
Eight weeks!
What on earth could a pampered royal understand about these hurting kids? And she didn’t need any more “impressions” from him to know The Mistletoe Wish didn’t needhisbrand of help.
“I don’t know if The Wish is the right fit for someone of Prince Arran’s caliber.”
Luke’s head locked into a tilt as he stared at Charlie. “I thought you needed all the help you could—”
“Volunteering is for folks who are used to working with people in more”—she waved her drink can as if to find the word—“humble and broken situations. Which means the spotlight isn’t on the volunteers.” Her gaze flashed to Arran. “It’s on the kids.”
Prince Delinquent’s golden brows took an upswing. “I realize I’ve not given you much reason to trust me or my abilities, but I can assure you there will be no repeat of last night.”
She stared back into those blue eyes, searching for any hint of insincerity.
“Charlie, Ellie recommended him because she thinks he’d be a great help. He has experience with fundraisers on the scale of an entire country, so first impressions may not be all they’re cracked up to be in this case. Besides, you know how Murphy is with new folks.”
She shot Luke a powerless glare. First of all, why did he have toinvoke Ellie’s name? Charlie adored Ellie and desperately needed the woman’s help to reform her wardrobe and public speaking abilities and... well, all of her.
Low blow from the cousin.
Number two? Second chances were Charlie’s ultimate kryptonite. Her favorite movie and book trope.
She sent the prince another look and then released a sigh, his work-worn clothes and dusty brow softening her ire.
“Fine,” she announced as heat rose into her face. “I can certainly use the help.”
Arran stepped closer. “Again, I apologize for...” His attention moved to her nose. “Everything. And I am determined to make all future impressions much better than the first. Hopefully I can prove I am not who you think I am.”
The intensity in his stare proved more uncomfortable than the ache in her nose.
And suddenly, she wasn’t too sure she wanted him to disprove her initial belief. Because perhaps his determination for a second chance might leave a more lasting impression than any nose-breaking episode.
As soon as she could manage, she left the worksite and went home. Mostly because she didn’t like the way the Snoring Sovereign kept looking at her. As if he truly was sorry for last nightand... that he saw her in ways she didn’t fully understand.
But Charlie also wanted to review notes with someone for her first supervised fundraiser.
