Page 42 of Forbidden Bastard
She stretched as she sat up all the way--outside on the balcony, she saw a shadow move. "Charles?"
Charles rushed into the bedroom and sat beside her in the bed as he smiled, all happy and excited. “Sandi, good, you’re awake.”
How was he so energetic? Her body was heavy with exhaustion from being up so late. She yawned and didn’t want to take the comforter off as she said, “My feet are still sore from last night. I’m not used to heels, to be honest.”
He reached for her hands and his body sent little goosebumps through her from his simple touch. “You have an appointment.”
Her mind couldn’t focus. Half the room still seemed dark except the flashes of light from outside that peered into the room like reflections from diamonds though she was sure it was just because she wanted to sleep more. She smoothed the scruff of his jaw that tickled her skin. “I do?”
He nodded. “Yes, Queen Anna Camilla is having a private showing with over two thousand wedding dresses for you to choose from…in an hour.”
Two thousand? Seriously? Whoa. That sounded like a weeklong event. She rubbed her eyes and asked, “Wait. What?”
He gave her that sexy smile with those dimples that tempted her to just agree. “She offered. I accepted, for you. You get to choose whatever dress you want as her gift.”
Today? Right now? She tugged her legs out of the comforter but she couldn’t quite get them to the floor. Her body was like lead still as she said, “I’ll need coffee if I have to make a decision like that today.”
He took out his phone and texted the chef about a carafe. Then he put it back on the charger next to their bed and stood like he wanted her to join him. “And when you get back, we’ll meet with the caterers to finalize tonight’s selection.”
What had she missed? Her head might still be rocky from the champagne and wine, though she'd stuck to the whites as reds always gave her a massive headache. “Tonight?”
“Our wedding,” he said while he led her out to the balcony.
Her mind was blank but she saw coffee and pastries laid out for her under the shaded table.
Without computing what he'd said, she stumbled toward the coffee and poured herself a cup.
Charles held a chair for her and she sank into it, sipping her dark brew.
At least it was warm, earthy and delicious. He slipped into the seat beside her and for a few minutes neither said anything.
She let the warm liquid wake her mind. If shedidget married, she wanted family and friends and love.
Mostly love.
Were she and Charles rushing things because she'd heard they were matched by a professional, and she wanted to believe in a love that was true? Cassidy had asked pointedly if they were in love and she’d overstated the answer.
What if they weren’t? What if she’d lied?
Yes, she cared about Charles, and honestly she cared more than she wanted to admit. Maybe she was in love. Her stomach was in knots when she wasn’t near him.
Charles was everything she ever wanted. Everything she needed.
Except the part of her mind that worried she was marrying him so that she no longer had to deal with how her decisions had destroyed her parents' business. Marriage wasn’t an escape option to forget all the damage she’d caused through the years. “You want to get marriedtoday?”
He put his coffee down and refilled both cups. “Yes, your parents will arrive this afternoon. I can ensure your mother goes to the castle to help you choose your gown if you want her there.”
Had he slept at all? The blue waters on the sea were idyllic. Her mother would be proud of her, if she stayed and married like she’d been the debutante they’d wanted her to be. How did he have this energy? She reached for his hand and tried to understand as she said, “I’d want her opinion. Yeah. But why tonight?”
“I need you.” He kissed the tips of her fingers.
But this was all because he'd wanted a place to have his adopted mother live and maybe now to mend relations with his birth father. She kept the second thought to herself and scooped up her coffee, holding it to her cheek for the warmth to hopefully wake her brain. “To move Clara here?”
He glanced down his nose and whispered, “Because I love you.”
At the end his voice had a slight crack.
She put the cup down with a clatter.
