Page 34 of Forbidden Bastard
Sandi gripped her bag like she might drop the jewels. “Bernard, you’re a real kind soul--I'm sure we’ll enjoy everything more once we get through this party.”
The fast pitch of her words meant she was nervous. Charles escorted her up the stairs to their room. Hair and makeup had an hour. His mindful bride-to-be would want to be punctual, but right now he needed some alone time with her so he brought her toward their room. He kissed her shoulder. “With you here, Sandi, life is pretty perfect.”
“We don’t need perfect, just happy is enough.” She stayed in step with him.
They reached his bedroom and he opened the door for them. She slipped inside like she needed him too. Together, life might be just as optimistic as Sandi was. And it was a nice feeling to think everything he ever wanted and needed was within arm's reach now. Thanks to Sandi.
Chapter 11
Sandi had towel-dried her hair. The en suite bathroom in the shared gold, white and blue bedroom was larger than her bedroom in Denver. She’d never once thought about how a modern bathroom might just make the difference from nice to amazing in washing the worry away.
She needed to be clean if hair, makeup and dresses were coming here, for her. Sandi fixed the knots as she glanced out the window. The sun would soon set and tonight’s adventure would begin.
Charles was still curled in the sheets they’d wrinkled together with his eyes closed, but she couldn’t have slept more. Every cell in her body was too awake and alive as she thought about the party.
Everyone she’d ever know would want pictures so she checked that her phone was being charged.
It was. Good.
She continued to get the knots out of her damp hair. The last time she'd had her hair styled had been for her cousin Maddie’s wedding, and they were told not to wash their hair that morning. Clean hair was harder to style.
A royal ball was like a wedding in that there would be dresses and dancing. That was the only frame of reference for formal she had.
Sandi refused to go to anything feeling less than perfect, which meant washing took precedence. Knots out, she combed out her long red hair as Charles woke from his small nap.
Her body still was tender and excited from earlier, but she’d be a perfect lady tonight.
She had to be.
Sandi could handle mingling at a royal ball, enjoying it without fear of messing up. She wasn’t in charge of selling something during the event.
Sandi sat on the bed and the sheets smelled like Charles. That woodsy cologne he wore mixed with his personal testosterone and her body ached for more.
Charles, according to the best program in the world, was her perfect match, which meant this would end well.
He sat up, not caring whether the sheet covered him or not as he yawned and studied her in her black knit dress.
This was what she'd packed for vacation, so it had to be good enough to prepare for a royal ball. He traced the edge of the dress and said, “Looks like you’re ready.”
She ran her hand up his muscular abs and part of her wished there wasn’t anywhere to go.
But the image of walking a red carpet that led inside the white and blue palace played in her mind. She stood and let him go. “I wanted to clean up before anyone gets here.”
He followed and grabbed a pair of black boxer briefs. “Are you always on time,lapinette?”
Her heart almost stopped as she asked, “Who's La-pin-ette?”
He opened their balcony door and let the warm evening air inside the room, pouring coffee from a carafe on the table. “You’re full of surprises, Sandi.”
But he'd just called her another woman’s name. She gripped his wrist and asked, “No, seriously. Who is she?”
A slow smile grew on his face, showing off those dimples of his. “You are. It’s French. Technically it means you’re cute as a rabbit.”
Warmth grew all over her body as she released his wrist though she wondered if he’d ever forget that bunny suit she shown up in. “Interesting.”
His phone beeped. He walked over to the dresser where she had both of their phones charging and read the message, then put it down. “Michael is here.”
Her mind twirled. She was glad that there wasn’t another woman, but she was caught off guard by how her entire body had frozen at the thought.
