Page 21 of Redemption of a Prince

That part of the plan hadn’t been announced to the public yet. She and Ezekiel were going to finalize the purchase of the land for the resort. Then the announcement would be made.

She was supposed to plan for a week, though they likely wouldn’t stay for more than a couple of days. Ezekiel said something about wanting to ski. Nikki doubted she was part of that plan, but she decided she needed to pack for it just in case.

Which meant she definitely needed more than one suitcase. A week’s worth of business clothes. A week’s worth of more casual clothes in the evening. She didn’t know if she’d see the prince after hours or not but needed to be prepared anyway.

Plus skiing attire.

And general winter weather attire.

That meant two suitcases.

One large one and one small.

Plus a giant purse and her attaché case.

The auto would arrive in an hour. She needed to finish packing and quickly.

Her phone buzzed and she answered it without looking to see who it was, continuing to fold a shirt one-handed as she held it to her ear. “Nicolette.”

“Hey. It’s Zeke.”

She wouldn’t be calling him that again in this lifetime. “Hello, sir. How can I help you?” She pinned the phone to her ear and tried to hurriedly fold another shirt.

“The travel time line has been moved up. The auto will be there to pick you up in twenty minutes or so.”

Nikki stared at the mess on her bed. “All right. I’ll be ready.” Even if she had to throw everything in and iron it later.

“There’s a wide variety of essentials at the estate,” he went on. “If you forget toothpaste, it’s quite likely that some of the brand you prefer is on hand. I know we’re springing the earlier departure on you, so I wanted you to know that.”

“Thanks. I’ll be ready.” She still wasn’t certain how.

“I’ll text you when we’re a few minutes from your flat.”

He hung up before she could thank him again.

As quickly as she could, she packed everything she thought she might possibly need. It wasn’t as neat as she’d prefer, but neatness didn’t matter as much as speed.

About the time she zipped the last bag closed, her phone buzzed. Grabbing her purse, she slung it over her shoulder, grateful she’d already buckled the attaché case to the larger of the two bags.

She had to sit down to put her knee-length boots on and zip them up. It took some maneuvering, but she managed to get both suitcases out her front door and to the elevator by herself. Fortunately, the hall was wide enough she could pull them both behind her.

Getting them in the elevator was a bit more difficult.

When the elevator doors opened on the second floor, the one with the entrance to the parking garage, one of the palace drivers waited.

“Ms. Major, I was on my way up to assist you.”

“Thank you,” she said as he took the handle of the largest bag. “I can get this one. There’s no need for you to manhandle both of them.”

He chuckled. “This isn’t even close to the biggest suitcase load I’ve been asked to handle, ma’am.”

“I’m sure it’s not but still. I would like to take the attaché case with me. I strapped it there to make it easier to maneuver.”

“Of course.”

The SUV waited in the parking garage outside the door to the building. The driver held the back door open for Nikki to climb in.

She blinked when she realized Ezekiel was already in the vehicle. She’d been under the impression they’d be traveling separately, despite his wording earlier.

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