Page 28 of Powerful Prince
She sipped her wine then put it down as we took our time enjoying the afternoon. “I’m always putting off my Modern Life manuscript to write my blog. I have this huge idea on how we should all live, but I’m so caught up in advertising my life, that I sometimes leave what I really want to write on the back burner.”
I put my glass down and scooted in front of her as I said, “So we both get what we want with this.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck. “That, and I get to marry a man I trust and respect, which is definitely an added bonus.”
My skin buzzed with the need to kiss her. As I leaned forward, I said, “We’ll discover more about each other, after the wedding.”
She leaned back, denying the kiss, as she said, “You said you were free once we had the test.”
Our gazes met and, for once, it was like I had a partner. I swallowed, and didn’t let her go as I said, “True, but I want it to be special, for both of us.”
“I’d like that,” she said, and came closer to me.
Then I claimed her lips as my own. She might not realize it yet, but she was about to be my forever.
Her lips burned me, like they were the only ones I’d want, forever, and that was perfect. She was everything I’d ever need.
Chapter 9
Nicole
A trumpet sounded a tune. I sat up, ignoring how my body tingled for more kisses, and scanned the area to see who was there.
I saw no one, so I stood up. In the distance, I could see a man with a trumpet on a brown horse, flanked on both sides by riders in full blue and gold military uniforms.
Ryder stood and smoothed his pants like they might have wrinkles. The afternoon sun was setting. I raised my eyebrows and asked, “Are we being summoned?”
He placed his hand on the small of my back though his shoulders tightened. “Seems so. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy dinner.”
As I walked along with him, I checked that my own clothes weren’t dirty anywhere. Then I settled into our pace as I asked, “Is it more sandwiches? When I imagined royal life, it was lines of buffet options with unending food in sight.”
His blue eyes had a sparkle in them, but he didn’t laugh. “We do offer buffets for parties. Tonight, we’ll probably have a lamb stew. Tomorrow, we’ll be back to fish. We usually eat it for dinner three or four times a week.”
He walked me to my door, and inside, I saw a selection of dresses laid out for me. A pink frothy chiffon that would go to my knees, with matching shoes, and white gloves. A bright blue dress that also went to my knees, with a gold sash for the waist and matching gold shoes. And a white with blue trim, knee-length dress with lace, also with matching shoes. Seriously, this needed a photo, so I didn’t touch anything yet. And my fans would wonder if I was getting married when they saw that white dress, which was a tease. As he went to his room, I said, “Not to change the topic away from food, but we have more important things going on here. Your father and you are so stiff with each other, but he doesn’t seem that way with your brother.”
He stripped off his polo and tossed it in a bin near the en suite bathroom. I trotted to my room and saw the same bin. Seriously. I hadn’t noticed it earlier.
“Harry’s the heir. I’m the spare,” he said. “Emily is the girl. And you’re the test pilot. Gio and father paid for a matchmaker to find you.”
I slid back to the open doors and put my hand on my hip. “Seriously?”
He glanced up as he tugged the white shirt sleeves over his muscles. “Yes. Harry confirmed it.”
I grabbed my phone, snapped a photo of my wardrobe choices, and quickly posted it along with the caption:Decisions! Which one do I wear?
I brushed my hair and decided to pin it up in a bun as I waited for the immediate crowd answer. “What if I wasn’t a virgin?” I asked Ryder. “Would the matchmaker not get paid?”
He popped his head in the door with his shirt mostly buttoned. “He used a woman in Avce who gets paid up front.”
I turned around and my heart thundered.
I dabbed on some of my face cream and said, “Well, that’s good business. Should I send her a thank-you card?”
“No.”
I walked over to him and ignored how my skin still zipped when I was near him. “Can I blog about that?” I asked, “I’ll give her a glowing recommendation.”
This time, his face beamed. I bounced on my feet and wished he’d hold me.
