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had before.
    “I’m coming to realize that I love my grandparents, but I don’t really like them.” It hurt to say the words aloud. And she immediately looked around to make sure neither of her grandparents or any friends or foes were nearby to hear her.
    Xavier squeezed her hand drawing her attention back to him. She turned her hand in his, lacing their fingers together. She felt safe talking to him in ways she didn’t even feel she could talk to Michelle and Elle.
    “Those are valid feelings,” he assured her. “But are you okay with it?”
    “Yes and no,” she admitted. “I have to be because I can’t change my feelings. But they are my only family and unfortunately I only see us growing further apart, not closer. Especially if they can’t respect my choices.”
    He frowned and she saw the turmoil in his eyes before he turned his head to look over the lobby and the nameless people coming and going. It touched her that he took her feelings so much to heart.
    “Have you found no mention of your father in your mother’s journals?”
    “Ha.” She gave a surprised laugh, the moment shocking her out of her funk. “I forgot I told you about the diaries. And yes, he’s definitely in there, but with no name. She calls him her prince.”
    He choked on a sip of water.
    “Oh.” She handed him his napkin. “Are you okay?”
    “Yes.” He coughed, sipped again, and pinned her with a disbelieving gaze. “Her prince?”
    “I know, corny, huh. Obviously the romance and medieval ambiance of Europe got to her.”
    He wiped his mouth. “Obviously.”
    She bit her lip, and decided she’d bored him long enough with her problems.
    “Goodness, it’s nearly nine-thirty. We should get going.”
    * * *
    Wanting to give him the full San Francisco experience, Amanda chose to hop on the cable car just outside his hotel and then walk the short distance to catch the street car for a ride to Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 33, where they’d board the ferry.
    On the ferry Xavier pulled her to a spot on the rail. “I want to see the approach of the island and the view of San Francisco from the boat.”
    “Okay. But it’s going to be cold,” she warned him.
    “I can see the island just there.” He pointed out in the bay. “It cannot be a long trip.”
    “About fifteen minutes.”
    “Then do not worry. I will keep you warm.” He pulled her in front of him, tucked her inside his jacket and wrapped his arms around her. “Comfortable?”
    Oh yeah. The man gave off heat like a bonfire. And his nearness caused her internal temperature to spike, too. At this rate she’d be peeling off layers before she reached hard ground. Or maybe not. A little sweat never hurt a girl when the reward was staying in the safe haven of a handsome man’s arms. Xavier’s arms.
    “Yes,” she assured him, kissing his cheek. My, he smelled good—a combination of a woodsy cologne and clean male. It made her knees weak every time she got close enough to touch.
    She loved that he was a gentleman, that he cared about her reputation and rushing into a short-term affair. But she’d weighed the options and made her decision. She didn’t want to look back and have regrets, she wanted to look back and smile at the unbelievable memories she’d made. Because she believed getting her some Xavier was going to blow her mind.
    Learning from her mother’s mistake, Amanda took precautions earlier in the week by buying condoms and calling her doctor for a renewal of her birth control pills.
    The engines roared as the ferry began to move away from the pier.
    She felt his mouth against her hair and snuggled into the cozy warmth of his embrace. Too bad the trip wasn’t longer.
    The weather wasn’t much better on the island, but they got out of the wind to view the orientation video. And then they were too caught up in the history to care.
    Xavier really got into the tour. After listening to the audio tour, he found the rangers and drew additional information