Page 52 of Royal Caleva: Luis

“Fancy packaging,” she said, twisting off the top and removing the protective underlid to take a whiff. The white cream had barely any fragrance, probably for hypoallergenic reasons. She touched her fingertip to the surface and rubbed a tiny bit on her cheek, the cream like silk on her skin. A frisson of excitement ran through her. According to the hype, the lines on her face would disappear within a week.

Then she remembered the miracle cream was expensive. Curious, she turned the jar over to check the weight of its contents. Baccarat was etched in the crystal. “Of course,” she muttered, pulling out her phone to look up the price.

“Holy shit!” she gasped. “Five thousand dollars! I can’t accept this.” She quickly replaced both lids. “Oh my God, I touched it already.”

She stared at the jar in horror. Even if Luis got some kind of special discount, it still cost far too much. But she couldn’t give it back after sticking her finger in it. Although who would know?

She would, and being a medical worker, she was all too aware of sterility issues. “Shit!” she said again.

Welp, she would have to write Luis the world’s most spectacular thank-you note…and be careful what she mentioned being intrigued by in the future.

At least she could get rid of her lines until the cream ran out. After that, they would most likely return.

She returned the jar to its box, neatly folded the beautiful wrapping paper and ribbons, placed the note back in its envelope, and carried all of them to the closet to nest them in her empty carry-on bag.

Then she stripped off her rumpled clothing and had a long, luxurious session in the shower.

An hour later, she and Grace were wandering through the mansion, oohing and aahing at the art, the furnishings, and most especially the views. Eve had dried her hair into soft waves that flowed over the pink silk of her blouse and added Luis’s lily pendant in the open neckline. She had decided on gray trousers and flat black loafers since Luis had told them life at Casa en las Nubes was casual.

Grace had paired jeans with a dark green blouse that made her auburn hair glow. She wore her Calevan dragon necklace, but with an addition. Eve looked more closely to find that the gold wings she had given Grace were strung onto the chain with the dragon. Her heart did a little dance of joy. She hadn’t lost her daughter yet.

“I’m nervous about meeting Raul,” Grace admitted as they stood in front of a large Picasso painting. “I know Luis says he’s happy to have a new half sibling, but it must be weird.”

“It has to be weirder for you than for him,” Eve pointed out. “Your half brother is a prince.”

“Right.” Grace frowned. “I want him to like me. I also want to talk with him about his life. I hope he’s willing to be honest.” Grace was winding a lock of her hair tightly around her index finger, a gesture that showed Eve how anxious her daughter was.

She hooked her arm around Grace’s shoulders. “Sweetheart, you are a good judge of people. You’ll figure out how much Raul is willing to share with you. And there is no hurry to make a decision that will affect your whole life. You should take your time, just the way you do when you examine one of your patients.”

But Eve felt the subtle pressure from Luis, so Grace must notice it too.

“It’s different when it’s my own future,” Grace said. “I want to settle it.”

Eve hugged Grace against her side. Her daughter had always been one to make decisions fast and definitively. It was both a strength and a flaw. “This is not something to rush.”

She didn’t add that it would affect her own life as well. That was more burden than Grace needed. Eve couldn’t help wondering, though, if she could be happy living in Caleva, moving on the fringes of Grace’s royal life, if that’s what her daughter chose. She sighed inwardly and set the thought aside. All that mattered was making sure Grace had enough information to make a wise choice about the direction of her future.

“Buenas tardes,” Annamaria said, appearing from around the corner. “Do you like that painting? I am still trying to puzzle it out.”

“Honestly, I’m just impressed by the size and the signature,” Eve said.

The mayordoma laughed. “It came with the house when el rey purchased it. I have good news. El rey and el principe are almost here. I thought you would wish to meet them out on the terrace by the pool. El rey likes to go there first whenever he arrives. He says the sea air blows away all his worries.” Annamaria gave a skeptical grimace. “It may help, but el rey always wears the crown, even here.”

She bustled ahead of them, wending their way back to the sala and then through the doors onto the terrace. The late afternoon light turned the pool’s surface gold while the brisk breeze ruffled it into wavelets. At the Pirates’ Surprise, only one boat was still anchored at the entrance.

“May I offer you a beverage?” Annamaria asked, sweeping her hand toward an outdoor bar of stone and steel. “There are tapas on the table near the lip of the pool.”

“Red wine would be lovely,” Eve said.

Grace nodded in agreement.

“We have many varieties from many countries,” Annamaria said. “What is your preference?”

Of course they did. This was the king’s house.

“I trust you to choose,” Eve said with a smile.

Eve stood entranced by the play of light on the ocean, the constant dull roar of waves slamming against the cliffs below, and the scent of salt water, vaho hibiscus, and something delicious wafting from the tapas table.

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