The Surgeon and the Princess by Karin Baine (ebook reader with android os .TXT) 📕

Once she resumed her royal duties they were going to have to find some way of carving out some quality time together if this was going to work—and he wanted it to work.

Until meeting Georgiana he’d thought a relationship meant taking him away from his family, but he could see now he’d conditioned himself to be indispensable to everyone when they could survive perfectly well without him by their side twenty-four-seven. It could’ve been residual tendencies from his youth or a desire to spend the time with his parents that he’d missed out on when they were caring for Jamie, but he knew things had to change. It didn’t mean he loved his family any less. Georgiana had gone to a different country to get away from her parents, but with some space and honest conversations their relationship seemed to be stronger than ever.

He realised he’d fallen for her and these days he lived for the moments they had together. It didn’t mean he had to neglect anyone, he just had to make some changes to give them a chance as a couple. He’d begun with asking the pharmacist to deliver his parents’ prescriptions from now on, taking advantage of a service he’d never considered before.

He was also planning to speak to his parents about hiring some home help. Choosing non-essential errands over the potential of a new relationship with Georgiana wasn’t an option. Granted, good sex alone didn’t equate to anything long term, but if he wasn’t honest with himself about wanting a future with her he’d lose her.

He hadn’t realised that until today. If he didn’t take a long hard look at what he was doing with his life he could end up alone. He’d never been happier than when they were together. She represented parts of his life he’d neglected for too long—fun, companionship and love.

‘Georgiana? What brings you here? Did you need me for something?’

‘Nothing important.’ She didn’t seem as enthused to see him even though she must have come here to find him.

When he went to give her a hug she shrank back. It was such a change from last night when the only place she’d seemed at home was in his arms.

‘Is something wrong?’

Her expression shuttered. ‘We can’t do this, Ed. You can’t clone yourself to be in two or three different places at once. I knew the score from the start. Relationships come at the bottom of your priorities and now I... I’ll put a strain on you even more. The clinic and the charity are too important to let personal issues interfere with your work.’

She sounded so cold, as if she’d already made her mind up that this was over, that Ed didn’t know how to fight back. ‘Why don’t we go inside and talk?’

Georgiana shook her head. ‘I’ve just taken tea with your parents and, if anything, it’s made me see how much they need you. You’ll be better off without me making demands on your time too.’

‘My relationships in the past didn’t last because it wasn’t you I was with. I’m going to make changes, to make time for us. You know we could have something good. Last night was proof of that.’ He went to reach for her again but Georgiana stepped back. For the first time in adulthood he had a real taste of how it felt to be alone.

‘How much of a future do we really have, Ed? I’m next in line to the throne. When the time comes are you really going to give everything up to come and live my life? How can I even ask you to do that? How can I ask you to care for me if...?’ Her hand swept down to her prosthesis as she trailed off. For the briefest of moments, he thought he saw pain in her eyes, but then her cool demeanour returned. ‘We’re dreaming if we think one night together means we’re compatible.’

This time he did manage to catch hold of her arm and pull her to him. ‘Do you want me to kiss you again and remind you that what we have together is amazing?’

His eyes were glittering with determination as she wrenched her arm from his grip. ‘Don’t make me call my security.’

‘Oh, right. You’re going full princess now, are you? Now you’ve got your confidence back I’m surplus to requirements?’

‘Something like that,’ she spat at him and shattered what was left of his heart and his dreams of a future together.

‘So, this is it? You’re ending this on the doorstep. No discussion?’

‘We’ve had the discussion. You don’t need me being a burden any more.’

‘You mean you don’t need me any more.’ He’d watched her transform from that defensive, spiky injured vet to a confident princess in her rightful place. She’d always been strong, she just had to believe in herself. It felt as though he’d been hit by a truck, which then reversed over him to finish the job, discovering that she wasn’t as invested in him and their possible relationship. All the time he’d spent convincing himself it was in his best interests to stay single seemed laughable now when Georgiana was the one who’d decided she’d do better on her own. With his past relationship history he didn’t even bother to disagree.

‘You’re right. I don’t.’ She swept away from him, taking the whole new future he’d planned with her. Now he was the one who didn’t know where he belonged any more.

It had been days since Georgiana had broken her own heart. She’d put on a stellar performance, pretending to Ed she didn’t care enough to continue with their relationship, until she’d got home. Then she’d locked herself in her bedroom and cried until there was a possibility of her drowning in her own tears. She’d wept for another life taken away from her and for the pain and hard work she knew she’d have to go through again in recovery. Most of all she’d wept