Page 36 of Marrying a Prince

She nodded her head fervently up and down. "She was playingI Spywith me at dinner. It made it less boring."

He dropped his jaw. That was something they did together. "I'm a little jealous. I thoughtI Spywas just for me and you."

She shrugged. "It was. Until you had to move to the other side of the table. Where the boring people sit."

There was truth to her words. He laughed. Leave it to his little sister to speak plainly. Movement by the open door pulled his attention. Marianna was standing in the hall, hugging a book to her chest. She peered in as if she was worried she was interrupting.

He straightened and waved for her to enter.

She hesitated, but Clara had seen her too and called out "Did you get it?"

Marianna held up the book and nodded. "Right here."

Clara glanced over at Leo mischievously.

He raised an eyebrow. "What did you do?"

She smiled. "We heard you weren't feeling well, so we decided to come read you a story."

Leo chuckled and rubbed his hand on Clara's head. "Well, aren't I lucky?"

Clara nodded, dodging to break his contact. He knew that she hated it when he ruffled her hair, but he did it anyway. Clara held out her hand, and Marianna placed the book into it. Clara turned back and snuggled in next to him.

Marianna looked as if she didn't know where she was supposed to go. Before he thought too much about it, Leo patted the bed next to him. "Want a seat?" he asked, grateful that his voice came out confident and not uncertain, like he felt.

Marianna eyed the edge of the bed. "Are you sure there's enough room?"

"Sit down so we can get started," Clara said in her commanding voice.

Leo glanced over at her. "Wow. Bossy much?"

Clara shot him an apologetic look and then turned to Marianna. "Sit down, please. There's enough room."

Marianna hesitated. It looked as if she were having an internal battle with herself. Finally, she sighed and made her way over. Leo tried to ignore how it felt to have her climb onto the bed next to him. Or how her arm brushed his as she pulled in close. He hoped it was more than just the mattress that brought her right next to him. He hoped that, perhaps, she wanted to be there.

He glanced over at her after she finished shifting around. "Comfortable?"

He saw her cheeks turn pink as she nodded. "Yes," she said. Her voice was low and sent shivers down his back. He would be lying if he said he wasn't enjoying this.

Clara flipped open the book and started reading. Leo tried to pay attention, but it was too hard. Everything about this—sitting on the bed with them, reading together—felt right. Having Marianna so close to him felt right.

Clara grew weary and glanced up at him. Her eyes were pink with exhaustion. "I'm too tired, Leo. Can you finish?"

He nodded and picked up where she left off. Fifteen minutes later, her head dropped back. He glanced down to see that she had fallen asleep.

"Aww, she was tired," Marianna said, moving to slip off the bed.

Leo reached out and grabbed her leg. "Stay," he said and then instantly regretted it. What was she going to do?

She stopped and then shifted so she was next to him. "Okay," she whispered.

Leo sat there, enjoying her proximity. Why did it feel so good to have her close? Perhaps it was because she had made it clear that she would support him, something he was sorely lacking from the other people in his life.

"Are you okay?" she asked, finally breaking the silence.

Leo nodded. "I am right now."

He felt her take a deep breath and then heard her blow it out. "Anything I can do to help?"

---