Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
More candles surround the poolside along with teal and pink flowers. There are bright pinks and rich teal colors everywhere, taking the space from dark and dim to bright and breathtaking. Then there’s the table set for two with candles on a holder that has three tiers, a candle on each.
I look back to the pool and squint. It looks like pages are floating on top of the surface. I knit my brows until I remember what I told him so long ago.
“The prince’s letters to the princess?”
“Aye, took forever to figure out how to get candles underwater. Felt a bit stupid when I figured it out,” he chuckles as he rubs the back of his neck.
“LED lights. Yeah?”
“Aye, I had the LED lights epoxied into old candle glasses.”
“How are the pages floating without getting ruined?”
“Take yer shoes off, I’ll show ya.”
Excitedly, I take off my shoes. Cole kicks his off too and begins to roll his pant legs up. He then takes my hand and leads me to the edge of the pool where the invisible steps are.
They make the pool seem seamless, like there’s no place to enter, but I know they are there. We glide down the steps into the pool. The skirt of my dress is getting wet, but I really don’t care.
I reach for one of the letters and can’t help but smile. He had them laminated. I begin to read the letter and tear up as I see it’s actually one of the originals.
“I found them here in storage. Granda must have kept them,” he murmurs into my ear as if he has read my mind as he holds me from behind.
I’m choked up. Kate and I came up with this elaborate story about the prince and princess who met and fell in love in this castle. When we were teens, Kate and I decided the two had a love correspondence. I then wrote a bunch of letters to the prince and Kate talked Cole into helping her write a bunch back to the princess in response to mine.
“Ya do know I meant every word? Ya were writing to some fictitious character, but each time I replied to the mischievous, brilliant writer of those letters. I didn’t realize how far gone I had been even back then.”
I turn in his embrace and look up at him. As I think of the letters, I remember how the prince and princess started as friends and developed a deep, passionate connection over time.
I loved Princess Skye and Prince Pádraig. Their friendship was awe-inspiring. However, I don’t think I ever thought of it as ours until right now.
I was seventeen the last time we exchanged letters. I stopped writing because he had so much going on with his granda and all. I thought the letters had been childish even though he replied to every one.
I begin to laugh. “Is that why ya changed his name from Clyde to Pádraig? Kate was so mad at ya for that.”
“Aye, if I was going to speak for him, he had to have my name.” He winks at me.
“I knew it. Pádraig, Patrick. Ya always had to have yer way. Clyde was a grand name.”
He cups my face and dips his head to peck my lips. “Aye, but it wasn’t my name.”
“My name isn’t—”
He lifts a brow, cutting my words off. I feel my cheeks heat. Cole gives me a crooked grin.
“Oh, ya know my middle name?” I say in awe.
“Aye, as ya know mine. Come, let me get ya dried off so I can feed ya.”
If I had driven myself, this would be the point when I would have bolted and gotten my butt out of here. I’m fully in my feelings. If Cole is trying to take my life, I’m a goner.
He already has my heart. This is a date I will never forget. There is something majestic in every corner I look in. Details even I had forgotten I shared with him.
Wow. Cole steps out of the water and holds his hand out to me. This is so unfair.
He’s covered in glitter and dripping wet. The print running down his leg looks more like a glittering sign. I bite my lip and look away quickly.
“I should’ve thought that one through better,” he chuckles as he looks me over.
I look down at my soaked, glittering skirt and feet and laugh with him. I don’t mind. This moment has meant so much to me.
Brooklyn
“Are ya still making yer mix tapes?” I ask over the rim of my glass as I run my gaze over DJ.
We’ve had dinner after I found us something to change into. I have to admit, although it’s swallowing her, I love seeing her in one of my dress shirts. Having an unobstructed view of her thick, silky-looking brown thighs has me hard and wanting.