are.”
“Alexander, get back to the party. Go find yourself a real beautiful woman because I think you’re losing it.”
He laughed. “Now that I’m sure you’re okay, I will return to the party, but I don’t need a beautiful woman.”
She clicked her tongue. “Every man needs a beautiful woman.”
From the look that came to her violet-blue eyes, he could see her matchmaker instincts kicking in. “Ah, ah, ah. It’s not appropriate to play matchmaker for the boss.”
Her cheeks reddened guiltily.
He laughed again. “Don’t be embarrassed! Your matchmaking is a gold mine for the resort. I’m simply not interested.”
Her gaze sharpened. “Not interested in me making you a match or not interested in any match at all?”
“Not interested in any match at all.”
“You don’t believe in love.” She said it simply but sadly, and he lifted her chin to force her to look at him.
“A long time ago, in a kingdom far away,” he began, speaking as if his life story were a fairy tale because he didn’t want Merry to feel sorry for him. Princess Meredith’s going into hiding had been a relief. The night of her coming-out ball, she had hurled insults that had devastated him, but they also taught him a good lesson. If and when he and Princess Meredith married, there would be no risk that he would lose his heart to her. He wanted to relate this tale so Merry saw the humor and the moral that he saw.
When she laughed her cackly giggle, Alexander knew she was on his wavelength and he continued, “I had a really bad experience.”
“Someone hurt you?”
“Very much. But I also learned there was no such thing as love when I was young enough to put the lesson to good use, and I’ve protected myself.” He paused, glancing at the thick, luscious foliage of the grounds before he added, “Placing your heart in someone’s hands only gives them the power to hurt you.”
“Really?” she asked softly, her voice so light and breathless, it sounded like the voice of a much younger woman. The change caused Prince Alec to look at her again but the moon had ducked behind a cloud and he really couldn’t see her face in the shadows.
He smiled. “Yes.”
“Your philosophy is sad, and makes your life sound lonely.”
He shook his head. “Not at all. I might not believe in everlasting love, but I do wholeheartedly believe in romance.”
She sighed with disgust. “You mean sex.”
“No. I mean romance. Sweetheart notes. Flowers. Exciting trips. Carriage rides. Whispered secrets while tangled in satin sheets. Gifts. Stolen kisses.” He smiled at her. “Romance.”
Merry nearly swooned. Alexander Rochelle was adorable. Which made it doubly sad that his life was lonely. “You don’t mind that your relationships end? I mean, aren’t there problems?”
“Nothing that can’t be solved with an honest conversation. Plus, before I start anything with a woman, I’m very open about expectations.”
Confused because he didn’t sound sad, or lonely, or even slightly bothered by his life choice, Merry asked, “And you like it that way?”
“I love it that way! Merry, I’ve courted some of the most beautiful women in the world. I’m still friendly with most of them. Love doesn’t have to be difficult. A person simply needs to understand when it’s time to walk away.”
Gazing at his handsome face, partially shadowed in the moonlight, Merry swallowed. That was another lesson she had learned from seven years as a matchmaker. Not every attraction ended in love. But that didn’t make those liaisons wrong. People could enjoy a romantic short-term fling as long as both parties recognized when it was time to let go.
Given that circumstances in Alexander’s life had hurt him enough to preclude him from taking the final step, which was complete trust, Merry had to concede that this life might be right for him. Because of knowing how and when to let go, he was a well adjusted, brilliant, romantic—yet realistic—man, and Merry suddenly wished with all her heart that she could have one of those temporary but romantic love affairs with him.
Because that wasn’t a good idea for many, many reasons, she took a pace back. “You better return to the wedding.”
He smiled softly. “Not before I kiss you good-night.”
Merry’s mouth fell open and she was absolutely positive her heart stopped. He couldn’t want to kiss her! She was an obnoxious crone! Worse, her appearance could be changing even as they spoke. If he kissed her and realized she was young, how would she explain it?
She couldn’t let him kiss her! It was insane!
She stepped back again, but he caught her gloved hand and lifted her fingers to his lips.
“Thank you, Merry, for doing such a wonderful job at the resort. I hope you will be with us for many, many years to come.”
He let her fingers slide from his grip, turned and walked down the path again. A lone figure, bathed in moonlight, striding through the thick tropical foliage.
Tears filled Merry’s eyes. He seemed well adjusted. He even exuded an air of sophisticated control. Yet, there was also an incompleteness about him. He might not want or even need a permanent relationship, but he’d never had a great love, and he never would because he would never trust the way he should.
Whether Alexander understood it or not, he was under as much of a curse as she was.
Merry’s first thought when she woke the next morning was pure grief that she would never be romantic with Alexander Rochelle. She rubbed her eyes wearily, but she didn’t feel the loose skin of her aged hand shift across her eyelids as it normally did. Instead, smooth, solid flesh greeted her.
Remembering that the lifelong commitment of Rick and Cynthia broke her curse and that she had begun to feel the changes to her appearance the night before, Merry shot up in bed. She looked down at her hands and saw slim fingers and barely lined palms. She flipped them over to reveal tight-skinned knuckles.
She tossed aside the covers and virtually flew to the mirror.
Dear God! She was tall again, shapely again, unwrinkled, unbent, tight-skinned, supple-muscled, auburn-haired and…gorgeous!
She was Princess Meredith Montrosa Bessart!
She could go home!
She could call her father! He would undoubtedly send a plane for her that day, and tomorrow morning she would wake up in her own bed. She could contact Prince Alec….
And never see Alexander Rochelle again.
All her excitement faded and she drooped in front of the mirror as if she were still Merry Montrose. Damn it! Just when she had everything worked out, just when she had everything figured out, life threw the monkey wrench of Alexander Rochelle into
