Page 7 of Forbidden Prince
Antonio looked at him with his mouth slightly open. "I wasn't going to marry just anyone. She had to be nice enough to lookat."
So Antonio wasn'tjustabout a computer program finding him a wife without physical beauty too. The moment his brother came closer, Marco patted his back. "Well, I can't wait to have a full conversation with her, atdinner."
"Take care what you say." Their parents spoke in hushed voices.. Antonio admitted, "I still have to convince her to marryme."
"She hasn't agreed?" Renee was either for or against his brother and the marriage, though perhaps he could convince her to help Antonio win Kristin over. "So, why is shehere?"
"I'm giving her the tour of Avce before the ring goes on her finger for life. Now that Dad is awake, we can get married in the church where Mary had it snow instead of a rushedceremony."
Marco rocked back on his heels. The great miracle supposedly blessed his family thousands of years ago when they’d built a church in the Virgin’s honor. The story had always made him feel guilty rather than holy. He lifted his chin and refused to let that thought bug him. "So you figure one trip around the rose garden and a dinner in the east wing tower and she'syours."
Antonio rubbed his chin. "Dinner in the tower, alone. Thanks for thetip!"
Tonight, he'd keep Renee out of that tower. Perhaps he'd show her the maze in the garden, though part of him wanted to simply show her his bed. "Wait. The playboy prince is actually trying to seduce thiswoman?"
His father's weak voice carried across to them. "She must be prettythen."
Antonio turned red. "Father, we should not be having this conversation at all. You need yourrest."
Marco shook his head. Their father was always more lenient with him thanAntonio.
His mother made atsksound and pointed them to the door. "Your father is still in danger, but the doctors agree that it's much more likely he'll have a full recovery so long as nothing upsets him, or causes him unduestress."
Marco would ensurenothinghappened.
Antonio said, "Father, I'd prefer to remain the Crown Prince for a while and not King—rest,please."
Good. They were all on the same page. Lucio, his middle brother, was taking care of foreign issues for them and Antonio had done his part. He would do his as well. His father yawned. "Bring the American to meetme."
"Yes, sir," Antonio said and the brothersleft.
If he knocked on Renee's door again, would that be too presumptuous? The image of the golden white bed behind her while she looked at him with doe eyes after that kiss haunted him. They went down the blue hall. "Antonio?"
"Marco." Antonio walked by his side, his hands at hisback.
He intended to keep his seduction of Renee private, but he was curious. "The other one you brought with Kristin. What's herdeal?"
"Renee Brown, Kristin's best friend. She's a teacher out for her summerbreak."
A teacher matched the innocence he'd tasted. Marco crossed his arms. "Well, I'll be sure to keep her busy so you can win over your computerdate."
Antonio paused. "About that..." He massaged his neck, his face slightly paler than normal. "Please do not mention the search I ran to findKristin."
Hmm. He'd find a way to avoid the topic with her friend. "Does that mean you didn't tellher?"
"No."
Now, that wasn’t the best idea. Secrets had a way of exploding, but he kept the thought to himself. At the door to the grand hall, where ancestors had thrown elegant galas and the paint was embedded with specks of gold, Marco tried to understand the full picture. "Then why does she think you flew across the globe and asked her to marryyou?"
"Because she applied for a job. Secretary. She knows I actually required awife."
None of this sounded like much of a secret. Perhaps his initial instincts were off the mark. Marco shrugged and wondered what color bra her friend wore under that turquoise top. He nodded. "I'll keep your secret, but you must tell her thetruth."
"I will, when the time is right. When I'm alone withher..."
Marco didn't move and wondered why his brother's voice trailed off. Finally Antonio turned toward Kristin’s door. "Nevermind."
"Never mind what?" Marco wasn’t budging until his brotheranswered.
