His Best Intentions chapter 6
Jared didn’t want to wait for Jensen to return from his errand. Festivals like this didn’t happen often, and he wanted to enjoy all of it. He smirked to himself. Hadn’t Chad said something about how Travis would make him wait around? Looks like Jensen wasn’t much different after all.
“Let’s check out the candy makers,” he suggested to the others. He’d get Jensen a bag of something for his sweet tooth so he wouldn’t feel left out.
“Yeah, all right,” Chad said before Genevieve could argue against it. “There seems to be more people here now.”
As they stood to go, the sound of the crowd grew louder. More and more people were gathering around the path at the center of the grounds. Genevieve looked up at Jared. “What’s going on?”
He stood on his toes to see over the others. “I don’t know. Everybody’s just suddenly crowding the path.”
“Well, we should probably see what’s happening,” she proposed looking both innocent and eager.
Jared didn’t want to fight his way through the crowd, but Genevieve and Stephan moved toward the path. He’d lose them if he didn’t keep up. Suddenly, he could make out what the crowd was calling out. “Prince Jensen over here!” “Your Majesty over here!” and “Prince Jensen!” were being shouted over and over.
His height gave him the advantage of seeing over most of the crowd. Surrounded by several of the Royal Guard, Jensen was walking down the path, greeting the cheering crowds and graciously shaking hands. He accepted small gifts and handed them to Richard, who was struggling to carry them. Three girls in their early teens were giggling and blushing and holding out a flower crown. When Jensen saw them, he walked over, went to one knee, and bowed his head, allowing the girls to place the crown on him. Then, one by one, he kissed their hands, making them screech in delight. Jared chuckled at Jensen’s surprise at the high-pitched squeal and couldn’t wait to tease him about the crown. At the rate he was moving, Jensen wouldn’t get to him for a while, so Jared ducked out of the crowd and made his way to the vendors.
Genevieve noticed Jared’s absence and whined in Stephan’s ear. “It’s not working! Jared left.”
Stephan frowned. Maybe Jared wasn’t impressed, but at least Jensen could see what he meant to his people. Realizing that his people loved him might be enough to make the Prince choose someone else.
As Jensen drew nearer, Stephan barked an order over his shoulder. Suddenly, several men were standing at attention next to him. Jensen smiled widely at Genevieve and nodded ‘hello’ to Chad. When he looked past them, his smile dimmed; naturally Jared wouldn’t be there. He swallowed that disappointment and hid it behind the grace and manners his parents had drilled into him.
Jensen told Stephan’s men to be at ease and then confessed, “This has been fun. Loud, but fun. I’m glad I followed your suggestion.”
“See,” Stephan said with enthusiasm. “I am full of outstanding ideas. I had another one while we waited for you. Since you introduced me to the lovely Genevieve, I’d like to return the favor. Perhaps at this evening’s dance you’ll allow me to introduce you to my friend, Mikael.”
Jensen nodded despite not wanting the introduction. “It would be my pleasure, Stephan. I look forward to it.”
Jensen turned to Richard and his guard. “I would like to thank the vendors and then, if we have time, the performers I missed earlier. After that, we’ll go to the banquet hall.”
Jared checked Jensen’s progression for the hundredth time. The Prince had left the main path and was making his way down the row of vendors. He glanced at the woman who’d been helping him. Her gaze was focused on Jensen and not on the work they were doing. “Look, I’ll finish this, you tell me when he’s close, okay?” She made a slight squeak that Jared took to mean agreement.
He put the finishing touches on his creation as Jensen’s entourage approached the booth. He waited impatiently as Jensen thanked the shop owner for her time and efforts before turning to him. “Why am I not surprised to find you at a sweet shop?” Jensen teased, but his smile was bright and his eyes were kind.
Jared laughed. “I usually follow my stomach, that’s true. But this time, I was trying to make something for you.”
Jensen’s brows rose in curiosity.
“I can’t compete with a flower crown, but,” he paused, turning to retrieve his creation as the Prince blushed and touched the crown he’d forgotten. Jared continued, “Celeste and I made you this.” He held out a necklace made of red and green paper beads.
Jensen took Celeste’s hand and kissed it. “Thank you. It’s lovely.” Her son rushed to put an arm around her as she nearly swooned from the attention. Jensen then turned to Jared with a quizzical look. “What is it?”
“It’s a necklace made of candy. I wrapped it in the colors of your family crest.” He held it up, and Jensen bowed his head, allowing Jared to place it over him.
Jensen held up a bead. “It’s candy?” Jared nodded. “Looks like it is enough to keep you fed and stop you from wandering off,” Jensen joked.
“Ha! You’re funny, Prince,” Jared said with just the right amount of sarcasm to make Jensen smile.
The Prince moved on to the next vendor when Jared stopped him. “Hey, where’s my kiss?”
Jensen practically stumbled, he stopped so suddenly. “What?”
“My kiss. You kissed the girls who gave you the crown. You kissed Celeste. Don’t I get a kiss?” Jared asked. His expression was unreadable, leaving Jensen unsure if he was joking.
Jensen calmed the flutter of nerves Jared’s question triggered inside him. “You may have a kiss whenever you want one.”
“I want one now.” Jared couldn’t believe the words tumbling from his mouth. This was hardly the place for a first kiss, and deep down, he knew he wasn’t jealous of those girls, and yet…
Jensen took his hand as gently as if it were gossamer and pressed his lips to the warm skin. He looked up at Jared reverently. “Thank you.”
Jared understood why those girls swooned. The air was suddenly quite warm and much too thin. He bowed his head a little and reminded himself to breathe. It was just Jensen, after all.
“Perhaps you’ll do me the honor of a dance this evening,” Jensen said, breaking the spell Jared felt.
“I can’t wait.”
Jensen accepted his answer with a slight nod and stepped forward before stopping again. “Do you want to join me? I’m thanking the rest of the vendors before going to the banquet hall.”
Jared was about to agree when he saw all the eyes watching them. “I think maybe I should find Chad.”
“Yes, of course.” Jared saw a change in the Prince’s eyes and instantly regretted his answer. He didn’t care about the attention, but the pang of guilt for slighting Jensen troubled him.
chapter 7