The Princess and the Principal: A Sweet Royal Romance

By Shanae Johnson

He’s the hometown boy that did good. She’s the princess that got away. When she returns to her roots, can he make good on his second chance?

 

Principal Ron Kidd loves everything about education: the number two pencils, the unidentifiable lunches, the kids. But the more seasoned staff isn’t quite sure he’s up to the task and challenge his leadership at every turn. When his old crush returns home as a single mom with a troubled kid in tow, Ron is sure he can help Kylee’s daughter… and maybe get back into Kylee's good graces as well.

 

Princess Kylee Bauer had her crown snatched from her before she was even born. With her father’s scandalous marriage and banishment from the royal family, Kylee has sworn never to walk on the wrong side of the road. Then she surprised everyone by running off with the town bad boy, getting married, and knocked up — not necessarily in that order. Now she’s back and desperate to finally succeed at something. She can’t take the chance another man will derail her from her dreams. But when Ron steps in to help her daughter, Kylee can’t help but notice her childhood friend has grown up — a lot.

 

To her daughter’s delight, a series of inexplicable, often hilarious, and a bit childish, circumstances keep pushing Kylee and Ron together until they decide to give in and give love a try. But dating the mother of a student puts Ron’s job at risk, and Kylee’s past threatens to wreak havoc on her new life. For Ron, the choice just might be the dream job or the dream girl. And Kylee’s track record of success isn’t great. These two will need a little help to let love find a place in their hearts.

 

Find out if love will reign in this light-hearted, sweet romance of royal engagements. The Princess and the Principal is the fifth in a series of royal romances that are beyond the common tale!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Nov 29, 2021
• ISBN: 1954181302

Book preview

Prologue

Molly Romano kicked the back of her Hush Puppies against the leg of the swivel chair. She’d chosen to sit in the grown-up chairs at the Principal’s desk rather than at the small table with the bright orange and red chairs that had the cutouts in the back. She’d never understood why elementary school chairs had the cutouts in the backs? Did teachers think kids needed the ventilation at their backs and bottoms?

From her perch, she looked around the inner sanctum of the leader of her newest school. It was her fourth school in six years. That is if you count kindergarten. This would be her third principal’s office visit in that time.

On the walls were, of course, pictures of the man in charge surrounded by kids. Like all the other pictures on the other principals’ walls, this one was dressed in a clean white shirt. He had graying hair, but a young face. A very young face. Just looking at his face, Molly would’ve guessed this man was her mom’s age.

Another difference that this principal had over the other two was the kids around him. They were actually grinning, not smiling as though they were being forced. The kids looked like they were having a good time. A few of them were looking up at the principal as though they even liked him.

On the desk was also a gold placard that proudly displayed the words Principal. There was an emphasis on the end of the word as PAL in red, capital letters. Molly supposed it was to indicate that the man wanted to be friends with the kids.

There was also a picture of the same man dressed as Santa. Molly was old enough to know that Santa didn’t exist. Her father had told her so when she was five despite her mother’s protests. He did tell her that reindeer were real but didn’t fly. Rabbits didn’t lay eggs. There was also no Tooth Fairy.

He’d promised there were no monsters in her closet. But she wasn’t so sure about that one. She was sure there hadn’t been any in her old home which had been an apartment. On the other side of the closet had been her parents’ bedroom. She’d heard them arguing loud enough to scare away any potential closet monsters.

She now lived in an old house. It looked like a small castle. Because it had been a castle. But that was over a hundred years ago when one of her grandfather’s ancestors had built it as a summer castle. Though the rooms were small. Molly wasn’t sure what was on the other side of her new closet. But it was quiet in her grandparents’ old house. All so very quiet.

Molly hated it.

A knock sounded on the other side of the door. Molly wondered if she should say come in? But there was no need. The door swung open and in the frame stood the man that was in the picture frames.

He didn’t bow at the waist. He didn’t bow his head either. Many of Cordoba’s citizens didn’t practice the old ways in this new age. Unless it was with King Leonidas or Prince Alexandar. Definitely not with a distant cousin who wasn’t close enough on the branches of the family tree to be given the title of princess.

Good afternoon, Molly.

The principal’s smile was big and bright. Molly was instantly suspicious. Instead of greeting him the way she was taught by her mother -with manners- she stared mutely; the way she’d observed her father do.

My name is Principal Kidd.

He stuck out his hand. Molly was already in enough trouble, she decided to show she did have some manners. She shook his hand. But lightly, and not firmly like her grandpa had taught her.

I hear you’ve been causing a bit of mischief in your class, Principal Kidd said as he took his seat.

Molly shrugged. It was just a joke.

Mrs. Steen didn’t think so. She didn’t think glitter on the whiteboard eraser was a laughing matter.

I still say that it could’ve been a fairy come to brighten her dull lesson.

And that tall tale would’ve stuck. But the whole class had told on her. Every single head had turned to her, many fingers pointed, her name came out of the mouth of each kid in the classroom. What kind of kids didn’t appreciate a joke played on the teacher? Especially a lemon-pinched mouth, something-smells-bad nosed, beady-eyes-peering-over glasses teacher like Mrs. Steen.

Since she’d been here the last two weeks, not a single person had missed a homework assignment. Every hand went up when the teacher asked a question. Molly was sure she was in the Upside Down version of schools and Mrs. Steen was a Demogorgon sucking the spirit out of these kids.

But the principal didn’t try to abduct her into another realm. He leaned back in his own adult-sized swivel chair and chuckled softly. It wasn’t a monstrous, big belly laugh. He didn’t flash sharp teeth. It was almost a giggle, like when she and her mother used to have tickle wars.

Mrs. Steen said that the other day you erased the numbers on her ruler?

We were talking about world leaders. I was trying to participate in the lesson with a utilitarian ruler.

Now the principal threw back his head and outright laughed. It surprised Molly. It had been so long since she’d heard an adult laugh, especially a man. Her father was always frowning, or upset, or just plain angry.

You’re a smart kid, Molly. You have a great imagination.

Molly couldn’t figure this guy out? So, you’re not going to suspend me? Or give me after school detention?

The gray-haired man with the young man’s face tilted his head like Tweety Bird. Why would I do that?

Because what I did was… wrong.

Principal Kidd nodded.

Uh oh. Was this it? Had she slipped and fallen into his trap? Was he now going to tell her that she was doing what she did for attention? She’d watched a couple of episodes of the Dr. Phil show with her grandma. This was some of that reversal psychology.

I’ve read your file, he said. Before coming to Barton Elementary, you’ve been to three different schools in the past six years.

My family moved around a lot.

But you’ve always received high marks in your academics…and a lot of notes about your behavior.

Principal Kidd lifted his brow at her. But he didn’t roll his eyes like the last two principals did. Or like her father did when she tried to talk to him but he was too busy, always too busy.

Principal Kidd didn’t look too busy at all. He didn’t frown or look upset, or angry. He was still smiling at her.

It reminded her of how her mom smiled. In fact, his laugh had also reminded Molly of her mom. It had been so long since she’d heard her mom laugh.

I think you’re a special kid, Principal Kidd was saying. In fact, you’re my favorite kind of kid; smarts and imagination. I think you can fit in here if you give us a chance.

Molly felt something twitch in her chest. She gazed up at the principal and the sincerity in his gaze. He wasn’t playing any tricks. He meant it. Maybe he wasn’t like the rest? Maybe she could give him a chance?

I will have to call your parents.

And now she wanted to revoke that chance. Her shoulders slumped at the thought of her mother receiving yet another call from a school. It’s just my mom.

I’m guessing by your tone, she won’t think the fairy eraser was funny?

She would’ve thought so. Before the divorce. Now she’s always so serious.

Instead of reaching for the phone, Principal Kidd leaned forward. My parents are divorced too. They got divorced when I was your age.

Molly spied a picture at the corner of the principal’s desk. In it was a picture of an even younger version of the man, still with gray hair. He wore a square cap on his head and was dressed in a dark cape. Likely his graduation. He was standing between two smiling adults.

Yup, that’s them. Oh, they get along. They just weren’t right for each other. They’re both happily remarried to other people.

Molly knew her dad