Page 5 of Forbidden Prince
Kristin drank her orange juice in one gulp and spoke quickly, "Look, I like kissing him, but the idea that he's a prince is seriously sending me crazy mixed-up thoughts. I wish he wasnormal."
Renee peered into her mostly empty coffee mug. "No, you don't. If you wanted normal, you'd have chosenGreg."
Kristin’s eyes narrowed in realization. "You mentioned him last night,too."
Greg was the epitome of everything on her list, except he didn't want her. With him at her side, she'd join her parents’ social club and fit in with the rest of suburbia. Time was passing her now and she needed to settle down. Renee's cheeks turned red. "Idid."
"Did you like Greg,Renee?"
With a loud sigh, she nodded. One day she'd find one like him, but that matched her entirely. Renee moved her seat back so she could get up. "But he never noticed me and in the end I want someone who loves me because I'mawesome."
Kristin stood first and Renee followed while Kristin said, "Who knows? Maybe there's a hot guy in Avce that you're supposed to meet.Remember?"
Oh yes, her celebrity crush. Footsteps near the door echoed in the plane, so Renee laughed. "Shh, your boyfriend will hearyou."
Antonio joined them in a navy blue suit tailored for him and a crisp white shirt. He winked. "Boyfriend,huh?"
Renee went to the bathroom to change. She'd have to look nice if she intended to impress. She heard as she closed the door her best friend say, "Renee gets ahead of herselfsometimes."
Renee went through her carry-on when she heard Antonio tell Kristin, "Paparazzi will be outside, ready to snap your picture. I thought I should warn you—I’ll meet you near thedoor."
Okay, so her nicest shirt in this bag was her turquoise knit top she’d pair with slim-fit white capris. She’d worn this for parent-teacher night last year, a blend of dressy but casual. Finally, she slipped on her leather flats and dug out her Audrey Hepburn inspired sunglasses and told herself to channel her innerdiva.
Leaving the bathroom, she gave Kristin a nod of approval—she was adorable in a flower-print Calvin Klein summerdress.
Renee followed the prince and Kristin out of the plane. The moment they stopped on the red carpet, she sauntered past them and headed toward thelimo.
People cheered and lights flashed in her face, but none of that was for her. As she neared the rear passenger door someone behind a camera asked, "Who areyou?"
Renee laughed, gave the reporter a wink and ducked inside the limo. Mysterious might be better than the truth. Nobody. A few seconds later, she heard the crowd coo because Antonio held Kristin tight as he assisted her inside thecar.
Renee sat across from them and saw the sparks between her friend and her prince. One day she'd like to be looked at with such passion. She turned her attention outside, sincerely thrilled for herfriend.
Antonio said, "You'll notice the vibrant green hills. Our beautiful country has had every ancient empire try to depose our royal family for almost two thousand years, but we're the oldest original family monarchy. Many of my ancestors have all managed to return from abroad, just as my parents did. My grandparents were deposed with communism. My ancestors left Rome to settle here, guided by the Virgin Mary—or so the legendgoes."
The history appealed to her—she knew that this small but viable country had played a crucial part in every world war. She'd have to take tons of pictures for when she taught World War II and how Americans interacted here. Renee tuned out her friend, who talked in a low voice with Antonio, to jot down notes andideas.
The limo reached the top of a hill and suddenly in the distance a huge white palace with a blue roof appeared, along with four towers. Renee put her notes down, a different thrill teasing her senses. In a few minutes, she'd see her crush. Her stomach flittered withapprehension.
Silly. Renee reached for her phone, and snapped pictures of the countryside to show her coworkers and students. How else would they believe that she was here? Boring Ms. Brown, staying in apalace.
Renee felt her cheeks heat as she overheard the sensual timbre of their conversation, though no words. Once the limo parked and a footman opened the door, Renee hopped outfirst.
She followed the path up to the opened doors of the palace and hurried in, searching for a place to stand aside so that Kristin could have the spotlight. She stepped into a grand room with frescoed ceilings and ivory walls and instantly felt goose bumps on herarms.
Renee looked around and saw Prince Marco, who leaned against a post. His warm brown eyes combined with his sexy dimpled grin was even hotter than she imagined. "Please tell me you're not my brother'sbride."
She shook her head, her heart beating wildly. "Nope, I'm her roommate, ReneeBrown."
He came closer and pressed his hand on her arm. With an intake of breath, her crush flamed. His nearness made her warm, but then he passed her and went into the small lobby area in front of the ballroom. Marco said to Antonio and Kristin, "I apologize for interrupting, but my brother needs to come with me,now."
Marco turned toward her and she felt he undressed her with his gaze, though he saidnothing.
Antonio waved someone else in. "Walter here will show you to yourrooms."
Renee walked past them and joined the older gentleman to follow and give the others space. She glanced one more time at Marco whose dark eyes methers.
She hoped everything was okay with his father, just as she hoped they’d meet again. He was sexier than his photos, but there was something else about him that she couldn't explain. His look dared her to lose her inhibitions and forget everything but the possibility of being in Marco's strongarms.
