Page 8 of A Royal Arrangement
“So fun.” She jumped up and down, holding his hands in her tiny ones, making him feel like a giant. “I was a pwincess in a castle, and Nanny Lu was an evil dwagon twying to get me, but then I became a pwince and saved the day. Just like you, Daddy.”
“That sounds like the best day ever.” He smiled down at her. “But you know princes don’t have to do all the saving. Sometimes a prince can be the one in trouble and the princess can save him too.”
“Weally?” Her green eyes went wide in awe as she looked up at him.
Colin smiled at her innocence. “Yes, sweetheart. You, and any other lady, can do whatever you put your mind to.You don’t need a man to save you.” He tickled her sides, causing her to squeal. “Except me. I’ll always be here for you, whatever you need.”
“Anything?”
“Anything.”
Her nose scrunched up in concentration for a minute before she shrugged her shoulders. “Okay, can I pleeeease go meet my new mama?”
He sputtered. Colin had decided not to have Addie be present for the wedding ceremony. He didn’t know if he could manage meeting his new wife and introducing her to his daughter all in one day.
“How do you know that the wedding is today?”
She placed her hands on her hips and shot him the cutest little sassy look. “I know things. I am four, you know. I’ll be five soon.”
He held his hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter. “Yes, yes, you will be. When did you get so old?”
Addie rolled her eyes dramatically. “I just told you how old I am, Daddy. Keep up.”
Colin couldn’t hold his laughter back this time, chuckling freely.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, nothing.” He placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look directly at him. “Miss Rosalie isn’t here yet, princess. We’re having a small wedding this afternoon, but I promise I will introduce you to her tomorrow morning, okay?”
She mulled this over for a minute before she nodded her head. “Deal.”
He grabbed Addie’s hand and led her back through the palace to her playroom, nodding at Luna before he closedthe door. Releasing a long breath, he couldn’t help but smile. His little girl was growing up so quickly, right before his eyes.
Colin checked his watch, and his smile faded. It was almost time for the Findorran royal family to arrive. It was almost time for thewedding.
He headed to his bedroom and put on the suit the palace’s royal stylist had selected for the occasion. They had decided it was all right to forgo some formalities since this was his second wedding. The ceremony would take place in the small chapel on the palace’s property, used only for small religious events. Only he, Wes, the minister, Rosalie, and whatever family she brought with her would be in attendance.
They would get married. They would take some pictures to be sent to the local press. And then he would get back to his routine as usual.
He checked his reflection in his bathroom mirror, brushing his hair so it lay perfectly. He added a spritz of cologne to his neck before walking back into his room.
Colin peeked out the window, immediately taking a step back when he saw a black SUV pulling up to the palace entrance. That could only mean one thing: his bride was here. Panic overtook him as he paced across the room.
“Colin.” Wes pounded on the door.
“Go away,” Colin grumbled, locking the door seconds before the handle jiggled.
“Come on, just open the door.” A slight pause ensued, and Wes’s voice was quiet and sarcastic when he added, “Your Majesty.”
Colin didn’t respond, falling back onto his bed. He could hear his friend’s exasperated sigh through the door.
“Your bride has arrived, Colin.”
He pressed his lips into a firm line. “I know.”
“You can’t possibly tell me you’re not going to welcome her to the palace.”
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you. Hector can welcome Rosalie and her family just as well as I can—probably better. He’s always chipper in the morning. It’s nauseating.”
