Page 20 of Powerful Prince
She chuckled, checked her dress line, and glanced out the small window. The crowd outside had grown. She said, “At least when my picture is snapped, I won’t look like I slept in my clothes.”
The doors opened for us to leave, but I grabbed her before she disappeared and quickly said, “You look kissable.”
My lips met hers, now that I knew she wasn’t still tipsy from the wine, and she curled her arms around my neck.
The steam that washed through me was enough.
Nicole tasted sweeter than the chocolate-covered strawberries I normally had after my morning coffee. She fixed my collar as the kiss ended and her face had a cute blush when she said, “Whoever snapped that photo is about to get a major pay raise.”
She was a chosen-for-me bride, who was insisting on a contract to safeguard her business, and I knew I shouldn’t let her into my soul. We’d never be in love, but hopefully we’d become friends. I walked beside her down the stairs, and once we reached the bottom, I hugged her waist and said, “Come, let them all get paid then.”
She turned and I half expected her to stop me, but she didn’t. I claimed her lips for a second scorching kiss.
She even made my toes wiggle, but no one would notice in my black loafers. As the kiss ended, she tugged my hand and said, “Get in the car, Ryder.”
Journalists hastily captured with their cameras our familiarity and her lack of ring.
No one knew she’d be my bride yet. They just knew I was bringing a woman to meet the king—not that I’d ever done that before. She slipped into the limo and, once I followed, Gio closed the door on us. I scooted closer to her as I said, “I like how my name rolls off your tongue.”
She trembled but held me close.
For the few minutes of the ride, she watched the trees that lined the road and countryside.
Then we had a view of the white palace and her jaw dropped.
I didn’t say a word, but she crossed her legs and couldn’t look away from the towers.
We drove past the black gates and I saw the livery of my entire family was here. For breakfast.
Good and bad. But before I said anything, she tapped me and said, “Things are about to get serious.”
Smart. I stepped out of the car and took her hand to help her out. As we headed up the few steps to the door that a butler would open, I leaned closer to her and whispered, “My siblings will probably tease me a bit. Don’t mind them, though.”
The doors swung open but she held her hand for me to take again. I took it as she said, “I get it. I have five sisters.”
My one sister was enough trouble. I could not imagine that many women in my life. I guided her through the wood-paneled waiting room and asked, “Are you close?”
“Yes.” She bounced on her feet but her palm in mine was steady as she said, “To be honest, I’m excited that I’ll get to see more of Stephanie. I’ve missed her since she moved to London.”
Family was always good to see, even mine. I led her to the main room, lit with crystal chandeliers, and her eyes widened. Doors led off this room through the house, and I continued toward the display of pastoral Renaissance paintings that lined one wall. The doors along this wall led to the private residences.
“We can arrange for you to see each other weekly, if you like,” I said.
She bumped into me as I led her to the stairs. “I’ll have to talk to her about her life. She’s been quiet about her upcoming nuptials.”
We made our way up the marble stairs, with blue runner carpets and the gold-encrusted bannister I used to slide down as a boy. I asked, “Problems?”
She craned her neck once she read the “Private” sign on the velvet rope we were approaching.
“Yes,” she said, lowering her voice, “but she’s not said anything specific to me.”
We passed the rope and the security officers at the top of the stairs as we made our way to the formal dining room.
“Call her. Perhaps she’ll want to spend the weekend here with you.”
Servants opened the doors and she tensed, though she still had that smile on her face, as she said, “I’ll text her.”
The moment we entered the room the scrape of chairs sounded, and I saw my brother’s brown eyes and my sister’s blue ones as they scurried to join us at the door. I wrapped my arm around Nicole’s waist and said, “This is Harry.”
