Page 14 of Forbidden Prince
Renee backed away. Kristin had the wrong idea entirely. She shook her head. "No, we were taken prisoner the way they foundus."
"You and Marco?" Kristin's lips parted as she stared at her. She then crossed her arms. "But I thought you were in love withGreg?"
Greg was the ideal. She wasn't going to marry him, but he was the yardstick of everything she was supposed to want. Renee straightened. "A man who doesn't notice me? That's nothing to love." She stood and wandered toward the balcony as she said, "Marco is sexy, not looking to put a ring on anyone's finger and oh yeah, a prince." She shifted, facing Kristin. "He's hard to say no to, when he's exactly what I want. Anyhow, let's not talk about this. I am so glad that you agreed to marry Antonio. Did he give you aring?"
Kristin shook her head and they both headed out onto the balcony. "We were going to shop for one when we found out you'd been takenhostage."
"And you were gone most of the day. Longer than just lunch in thevillage."
"Antonio and I came to an…understanding."
Renee smirked. They’d been best friends long enough to understand the nuances. She poked her friend playfully. "You mean he took you to bed. Was he amazing, like hisbrother?"
Marco's bed had been perfect. Being tied up had been even more of a turn on she'd like to try again, without thehandcuffs.
Kristin’s expression turned dreamy. "So I said yes and now I'm to tell the queen what style wedding dress I will wear. It’s slightlyuncomfortable."
Renee would sit at the table where his mother would know she'd spent the night in Marco's bed too. Her cheeks warmed all over again. "Tell the queen? Are you sure you are up to living this life? There are soldierseverywhere."
Kristin shrugged and peered over the balcony toward the beautiful blue river. "In Miami, the police are everywhere--we don't even think about it. I expect I'll be fine, probably because they are around. The guards were already drawing up plans to rescue everyone when we came into thepalace."
Police officers were not on Mom’s approved list of safe, family men. Marco being a spy terrified something deep in her soul. Renee hugged Kristin tight. "You are braver than anyone else I know, Kristin. I don't often say that but you might need strength tonight, at dinner. I'll be there, but you're on a whole other level. Oh, and wear the red one. That color looks great onyou."
"Renee, I'm glad you came," Kristin leaned against the balcony wall. "Even if you did get tiedup."
"Me too. You can’t get married without me." Marco was everything she never wanted, butdesired.
She walked inside, grabbed the green dress, Marco's discarded clothes, and headed to her room. Soon, she'd see Marcoagain.
The door between the rooms closed behind her and she drew still. The young maid they’d raced yesterday to meet the princes was in her room, going through her suitcase. Unpacking? But she’d already done that. Maybe laundry or something. "Can I help you,Anise?"
"I was putting your things away,Miss."
"I normally clean up my own messes." Renee scooped up a few items of clothing. From what she understood, the plot against Marco's family came from the outside, but from her understanding of history, overthrowing the royal family usually had a base with the poorerpeople.
The maid smiled. "This is my job and one I’d like to keep,Miss."
"Please call me Renee, and I won’t tell anyone I helped you." Renee held out her hand to shake. Anise did, and Renee nodded. "I'm going to take a shower. I'd rather forget about being heldhostage."
"Prince Marco is quite handsome, Miss," Anise said with a straight face. "I'll be sure his clothes make it back to hisroom."
Yes, he was. Renee walked into the bathroom without another word. Marco's hands all over her body woke up a primal feeling inside her, but she'd not share that with anyone while she was here. Once she left, she’d only have these memories to get her through lonelynights.
7
Marco knockedon her door at seven o'clock. Renee checked the back of her dress in the mirror to ensure Anise had hooked it in all the right places. Green silk, with darker green braiding up the back and around the hem, gave it a medieval flair. Her long brown hair was braided in a coronet. Satisfied, she opened thedoor.
Marco’s black tuxedo made his dark eyes even more intense. She slipped out next to him and his hands brushed against the silky material of her dress near her waist. "You lookamazing."
"Thanks." She caught him glancing at her figure and winked. "Is this okay to meet yourmother?"
"She'll adore you." He said as if sharing a secret, "To be truthful, she usually gives my older brothers a hard time, but for me, she accepts that I have goodtaste."
Renee leaned closer. If his mother was against her best friend, there was a problem. "Kristin is a great match forAntonio."
Marco brought her down the hall, his hand on her elbow. "From what I understand, my mother likes Kristinalready."
"Good, because she deserves a happily-ever-after." Marco led her toward what must be the main diningroom.
