Page 38 of Forbidden Bastard
She relaxed her shoulders and beamed at him. “I’m glad you like the dress. I thought it was a bit too "siren" and started wishing for my mother.”
“I’m an idiot for ever saying a word.” He offered his arm to walk with her, and touch her. “Your parents can be brought here tomorrow.”
“Let me talk to them.” She wrapped her arm through his.
He opened the bedroom door. “You’re unusually late.”
She laughed. “I’m forcing myself to go slow and enjoy this night.” They reached the staircase that headed downstairs. “What were you men doing?”
The staff had all lined up near the door, probably to get a glimpse of how radiant Sandi looked, but he was reluctant to let her go as he waved at Bernard. “Mostly talking. Alexandre has sold me on buying a few bottles of his wine, and he showed my Chelsea's art.”
They walked out toward the limo as she answered, “Interesting.”
The driver opened the door for them. Something was different about Sandi tonight, and it wasn’t the dress.
The tension in his gut whispered that something was wrong. “He’s very nice, and it’s good someone like him will be at this party.”
“French?” she asked as she slipped inside the limo.
He followed her and chuckled. “Not titled, and completely down to earth.”
She relaxed and sat back. “The titled people have their charms too, and they are your...relations.”
He'd been born to them, and tossed out.
If it wasn’t for Clara and wanting to ensure she had the best in health care and a place to retire in Avce, he’d have never come here.
But with Sandi the huge house might be a nice place to settle for him too.
For now the familiar twisting of his insides wasn't overwhelming. “I’m happy my half-sisters were kind to you.”
She patted the back of his hand. “They were both amazing and Michael is a miracle worker.”
Good. He ignored the question that knotted inside him and said, “I’m happy then.”
She settled into her seat and stared out the window as they drove down an olive tree-lined street. “Your home is breathtaking. I can’t imagine a palace being any better.”
Nothing mattered except Sandi and her happiness--he tried to stop tensing so much as he said, “You’ll see.”
But the only other time he’d gone to the castle replayed in his mind.
He hadn’t been a good boy. He’d cheated on Sheena, and then humiliated her.
And all because he’d wanted bad people to never go near Clara, either with offers that might confuse her or worse if someone physically hurt her because of him.
The house, the staff, the money he’d received was beyond enough when he’d humiliated himself to ensure Clara was safe.
This was all more than he deserved.
And so was Sandi. She deserved everything with her good heart, always trying attitude who volunteers with the cancer society. On the other hand,hedidn’t. His skin ticked with adrenaline, but she called to him and he couldn’t look away as she simply said, “Charles?”
Tonight she’d outshine the princesses, the ladies, and everyone else. “Yes,lapinette?”
Her cheeks were lightly flushed as they turned into the palace grounds. “It’s okay that I went for the siren look?”
He traced her face with gentle fingers and squared his shoulders as the impulse to kiss her hit him. “I wanted to hide you away so no one else would see your charms. Now theworldwill be jealous that I have you.”
Without looking at the castle or his father’s royal guards, her hands rested on his chest as she said, “Charles, you’re sweet.”
