Page 30 of Forbidden Bastard
“What’s a joint? It sounds American.”
She laughed. She’d had more than her fair share of tasteless but easy to get food delivered in a wrapper. “Oh, it absolutely is American and it’s not good for you at all.”
“Is that all?” He rose and offered his hand.
She stood on her own and glanced around the room.
She'd only packed two dresses, jeans and a few t-shirts for her business vacation. She imagined living here, with vaulted ceilings and white and yellow walls that hadfleur de lisdesigns embossed on them. And it wasn’t wall paper. These were hand-drawn. She walked beside Charles back to his gold bed. “They also owned a gym, tried to get me to be in charge of their investment too and I said no as imports and exports were what I was trying to master. But my parents aren’t the best managers for long-term business. What exactly is it you do?”
He traced her lower back and her body began to ache for more of his touch. “I also run an import and export business. I used to deal in mainly art, but once I gained more financing, my business grew tremendously.”
He led her to the bed, but she sat on the edge rather that lay back. “You and my parents have opposite luck.”
He sat beside her and brushed his knees with hers. “You’re why I contacted them.”
Wait. Her mind raced with the timing and her sudden trip to Paris as the hospital might be interested in their products. Adrenaline coursed through her as she asked, “I didn’t know you contacted them before… Are you why I ended up in Paris for the hospital deal and with the side mission from my father to ensure the French shipment of wines for the bar they want to buy was contracted to continue for five years was suddenly dropped in my lap?”
His nod confirmed it. Wow. She’d been set up. Her heart twisted. Both of her parents had hoped she’d marry a man none of them had even met and she wasn’t sure how she felt as she sighed.
He tapped his fingers to the mattress as he asked, “How did you guess that?”
Good question. Charles lived his life like he wanted to be contrary. She’d guess he just wanted to prove his half-sister wrong so he'd brought Sandi to Paris, and now Avce. He’d told her to go, and never once forced her. She tapped her chin and her pulse quickened. “The more I know you Charles, the more I’m figuring out how you work…” Something was slipped under the door, and she tilted her head. She pointed to the blue envelope on the light wood floor. “What’s that?”
Charles jumped out of his seat and headed toward the door. She stood, her body awake and aware of him as he opened the envelope. He met her gaze and walked toward her with the invitation. “We’ve beenrequestedat the royal palace.”
Hmm. Somehow this wasn’t optional. Sandi fidgeted as she'd never met anyone politically important, unless she counted the county commissioner her parents barbequed with on the beach. She reached for the envelope as she asked, “We?”
“Yes.” His pursed lips made it clear he wasn’t happy.
She read the missive. The King and Queen of Avce were hosting a charity dinner and they were expected to attend at seven tonight. Formal attire was stamped in the corner. She pushed the invitation into the envelope and met Charles's brown eyes. “I have no idea what to even wear for something like this.”
His frown relaxed and he shrugged, flashing a dimple. “We can get you something. It’s not a big deal. Perhaps something not in black, and not a bunny.”
Well, there went the idea of washing the dress she’d worn to the charity auction party. She pulled out her bag from the closet and unzipped it. “Most of my clothes are black.”
He reached for her hand and pulled her to him. “Why? You don’t strike me as the goth girl type.”
“Why’s that?”
He traced her cheeks and kissed her neck. “Your constant and never-ending smile.”
Now see? Charles made her entire body feel like she was living in sunshine. She laughed and said, “Ah, well I work a lot. And black can seamlessly go from business to business without anyone blinking an eye.”
He kissed her knuckles. “As my wife, you would be required to look like a lady.”
Wife? Her lips tingled. She was tempted. More than tempted to be absolutely honest. He was… well, not perfect, but absolutely amazing when he wanted to be.
If she went through with his marriage, today could last, forever.
She hugged her waist to hold still as she confronted the main issue head on. “I thought you were dead-set on chasing me out of here.”
He reached for her hips and held her tight. “Now I can’t let you go.”
Tingles raced through her from head to toes. “Why? Because I had sex with you?”
His lips and tongue went up her neck to her ear and her body was melting into his. “No, because your smile is becoming the only thing I crave to see in my day.”
His mouth poised to capture hers. She ached for him, but she placed her hands on his cheeks and pressed her forehead to his. “That’s really sweet, Charles.”
