Page 46 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

She simply hummed, eyes still closed. When I finished my task, I tossed the cloth into the hamper near the closet and pulled down the covers. Naomi crawled to the center of the bed.

“I’m gonna close down the house,” I said, then walked through my home and made sure the doors and windows were secured and lights out before I climbed into bed behind her. I curled around her, tucking her against my body. She wiggled back until we were touching from top to toe.

She yawned. “Today was a wonderful day.”

I pressed my nose against her delicious smelling neck. I’d tried and failed to figure out what type of perfume she wore but it was a complicated mix of roses, something nutty, and coffee beans. All I knew was that it was intoxicating and made me want to run my nose all over her skin.

“It was a good day,” I finally agreed.

“I like your family,” she murmured.

“I’m glad because they seemed to like you too. I haven’t seen my mother and father smile or drink that much in a while. They were fully celebrating our pending nuptials and that makes me happy.”

She smiled and sighed, then slipped off to dreamland.

“Now we just need to get your parents on board,” I whispered into the quiet of the night.

Episode 72

We Didn’t See it Coming

MADAM ALANA

“Emily, dear, do not touch the artifacts,” I warned and watched as she pulled her hand away from a painting.

“It looks so real,” she breathed.

“Oui. And it continues to look that way because it is untouched.” I looped my arm with hers and led her through the next room in the Palace of Versailles.

Christo followed closely behind us, enraptured by the art before him. Every time we came here, he spent long minutes with each painting as though seeing each artist’s process through their eyes and not his own. I adored watching him take in art. His admiration, awe, and often astonishment in another creator’s work was magical to behold.

“I’m getting kinda hungry, Auntie Alana.”

I patted her hand. “I have one of those power bars Aurelie handed me, in my purse. Let’s take a walk in the garden while Christo soaks up more of the paintings,oui?”

Emily grinned. “Awesome. I meanoui, TanteAlana.”

“Très bien, chérie. Your French is coming along quite nicely.”

The girl’s cheeks heated under my praise as she smiled beautifully.

I turned to Christo who was staring intently at a painting of one of the princesses who had lived here centuries ago.

“Mon coeur, Emily and I are going to the gardens for some fresh air. Can you meet up with us when you’ve completed your assessment of this room?” I had to be specific of my needs with Christophe in this environment, otherwise I’d lose him to the art.

He blinked several times and then looked at me with a smile. It seemed he was already mesmerized.

“Désolé. Qu’as-tu dit?”I’m sorry, what did you say?

I chuckled and went to him, lifting my head until he dipped his and placed a tiny peck on my lips.

“Emily and I are going out to the gardens. She needs a snack, and I need fresh air,” I repeated. “Meet us when you’re done viewing this room,oui?”

He smiled, cupped my face, and traced my cheekbone with his thumb. He looked at me with such adoration my heart nearly stopped. “There is nothing more magnificent in this room, in this entire castle, than my wife.”

I kissed him gently, cupping his face as I did so. “Je t’aime. See you soon,” I whispered against his lips.

I let my fingers trace his face as I backed away.

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