I missed my morning workout. I missed Rowan. I missed our morning banter. For two days now, I'd done everything in my power to avoid him. I hated having to do it.

The truth was that I felt like if things were different, if Aurora wasn't part of the picture, if he wasn't a prince, maybe we could live some sort of happily ever after. If we had met at some beach bar on one of our islands, struck up a casual conversation, there would be an opportunity to let this go somewhere. ...