Page 52 of Breathtaking

“I’m surprised you remembered.” His words are short and curt, and I guess in some ways, I don’t blame him. In others, I most certainly do.

“I remember everything.” I follow him down a long hall into the master bedroom and stand back as he places both bags on a massive bed. “I really can sleep on the couch, you know. I’m a lot smaller than you. It would be fine.”

I don’t tell him I’ve spent plenty of nights on the couch in my flat.

Nights it was easier to fall asleep watching TV than trying to go to bed, alone, with nothing but my thoughts running rampant.

“I’ll be fine, Lennon. You take the bed. We’ll work on furniture for one of the other rooms soon.”

I narrow my gaze and cross my arms. “Why don’t you have furniture?”

He shrugs. “I just moved in last month. I guess I haven’t gotten around to it. Why? Are you still obsessed with decorating things?”

Little shit.

“I wouldn’t say obsessed. But I do enjoy it. Both my brothers let me do their places. And Rhys let me do his office too.” I always thought once I was done with ballet, maybe I’d dabble in interior design. Not that I ever told anyone that. Princesses aren’t expected to work. We’re expected to look pretty and serve the crown.

“Want to help me decorate the house?” he offers. “If you’re going to live here, you might as well like it.”

Well, that’s a ringing endorsement, if ever I’ve heard one. But still... “I mean, you do need furniture and at least one more bedroom set, so you don’t have to sleep on the couch.”

He tilts his head, and I put my hand up. “Not a chance, Beneventi. This is a marriage in name only. We’re doing this so I can get out of marrying Monty. I’ll stay here long enough to give birth and make sure you’re listed on the birth certificate. We can figure out everything else after that. But I can guarantee you that will not involve you and me sleeping in the same bed.”

Meatball picks then to trot in and sit at my feet.

“Fucking traitor,” Maddox grumbles. “Fine. But that dog is going to try to get in bed with you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Him, I’ll take.” I lean down and scratch behind the chubby bulldog’s ears.

I’m fairly certain I hear him mumble,“Lucky bastard”under his breath.

“Do you need anything?”

“Just a shower and some sleep,” I assure him, needing space and clarity and a few minutes to have the proper fucking breakdown I deserve but couldn’t have while everyone has been watching. “Can we figure everything else out tomorrow?”

“Yeah. I’ll call my aunts and see if they can stop by tomorrow. They run a wedding planning event company. If anyone can give us a wedding fit for a princess in just a few weeks, it’s them.” He turns and heads for the door.

“Thank you,” I say softly as he walks through it.

So softly, I’m positive he can’t hear me.

At least not until he stops without turning around.

“I would have done anything to make sure you didn’t marry him. Even before today.”

And with that, he walks through the door, and I’m left standing, frozen in place, wondering not for the first time in the past week exactly when my life went sideways.

* * *

Atticus

Rumor around court is Monty wants to move up the wedding. He told Charlotte Cavendish he just couldn’t wait to marry you any longer.

Lennon

Charlotte Cavendish is a cow who’d probably just finished polishing his knob.

Atticus

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