A Prince's Heart

First Impressions

*3 Years Later*

"Daddy" I heard Julie whine as she entered my room at some unholy hour. She was clutching her teddy bear close to her chest as she shuffled to my bed on her footsie pajamas.

"yes, princess?" I asked while picking her up and placing her against my chest in bed. She didn't say anything more, she just snuggled up and went to sleep.

I love her with all of my heart. I just wish she had a mother that loves her the same. In the last 3 years I have heard nothing from Millisette. She's left the kingdom for good but other than that nobody knows her whereabouts. We've been doing pretty good without her though.

The next morning I gave Julie a bath, fed her and took her to my mother so I could go to my little job in the real world as an architect.

I was taking lunch in a small coffee shop when the most beautiful woman walked in. She was about 5'7", long dark brown hair and a heavenly glow about her. She was only wearing a bland black skirt suite and her facial expression said it all. She was clearly having s a bad day.

I watched her order a long list of drinks, which she did with a practiced ease. She must do this often, so I'm thinking she works as an assistant somewhere. After she ordered she had her eyes glued to a book, I couldn't read the title but I'm sure it was a romance novel because of the red cover and the curvy font of the title.

It was time to work my magic. I stood up quickly and walked up to the cashier and paid for her.

She looked up from her book long enough to smirk before saying "gee thanks, Mr. Rico Suave, but I had it covered." She said sarcastically

Rude.

"I figured as much, but I was just trying to brighten someone's day." I put on a cocky smirk of my own. "don't think you're anything special."

With that I dropped my change off in the tip jar and 'accidently' but conveniently dropped a business card on the counter. I left her there with a look of disbelief on her face. I was going to help her carry her drinks but no one is about to disrespect me, even if I see a future wife in you.

From several attempts on the dating scene, I've found nice guys truly finish last. Courting in this dimension is far different than palace training. Women here love the bad boy but stay for the nice guy. Complicated, but true.

I went back to my office and made myself seem busy by working on some sketches. My mind constantly wondered to Julissa. I'm so happy Millisette gave her to me because she is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Julissa makes the long days seem shorter. She made me become a man quicker than I would have without her. She's become my everything.

I must have been deep in thought for a while because when I looked up there was the woman from the coffee shop standing in front of me.

"Excuse me." She said. I could hear the timidness in her voice. I just looked up at her. "I just wanted to apologize for my attitude in the shop. I really did appreciate what you did and I'm sorry. I'm not normally like that. I was just having a bad day." She smiled slightly and fidgeted with her hands. Cute.

"It's alright" I said simply, smiling brightly at her. I dropped my eyes back to my sketches and began working again.

"I'm Raven by the way. Raven Miller." She held her hand out politely.

"Christopher Brown." I said grabbing her hand and placing it to my lips for a light kiss. Her face lit up.

"so um" she began awkwardly. "maybe we could do dinner sometime. My treat since I was so rude." She smiled.

I looked at her with a slight frown. "I can't" I said simply.

"oh." She said defeated. "do you have a wife or a girlfriend or something?" she asked.

"no to either, but if you want to have dinner with me, I don't want you to do it as a chore or apology. I want to do it as a date."

She seemed shocked but I was expressionless. "and in that case, it would be my treat. You'd meet me here at 8 tonight and you'd be dressed to impress."

She bit down on her bottom lip and smiled. "ok, Christopher Brown. I'll see you at 8." With that she sauntered out, tripping out the doorway. She looked over her shoulder to see if I had seen but I acted like I was sketching.

It's time for me to pick up Julissa and call Asia because I am going to need a babysitter. I don't need my parents asking too many questions.

I cleaned up my workspace before heading out. I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some fun food for Julissa and Asia to eat while I was out on my date.