Page 32 of Royal Charmer
“Would you mind signing your book for me?”
“Of course! Let me see if I have a pen.” I dig around in my purse. “They always seem to fall to the bottom. Aha!” Oh, I do know another French word. “Voila!” I amend, holding up a pen triumphantly, and then stare in shock. There’s three stacks of the French translation ofThe Duke’s Darein front of Celeste.
“A few for my friends too if you don’t mind,” she says hopefully.
“Happy to,” I say, reaching for the first stack. “It will be in English, but I do know how to say happy reading.Bonne lecture!”
“Wonderful!” she exclaims and then spends the next several minutes telling me who to make the books out to. There’s a ton of Maries in her friend circle.
After I finish, she thanks me profusely, tucking the books carefully back in her bag.
It’s so nice to be appreciated after writing my ass off all night and day. “No problem at all! I’m always happy to meet a reader and happy to sign.”
She leans forward. “You must be so busy writing your story and planning a wedding, no?”
I nearly blurt that the wedding got cancelled when I realize she means my wedding to Lucas. He catches my eye, and I stumble over the words I’m supposed to say. “Yes, um, it does take a lot of planning. The palace chapel has to be prepared and, you know, flowers, food, and the invitations. You’re invited, of course, and, well, it’ll be a while.”
She smiles. “I look forward to it.”
Lucas keeps up his business conversation in French, so I guess I didn’t screw up the delayed wedding explanation. I ask Celeste about herself, and it turns out she’s a lawyer.
“A banker and a lawyer. Sounds like a very serious household,” I blurt.
She laughs. “Our sons keep it from ever being too serious.” She pulls her phone out of her purse and shows me a pair of dark-haired little boys with mischievous matching smiles.
“They must keep you running.”
She smiles at their picture and then puts the phone away. “They certainly do.”
We chat a little more and then we all say our goodbyes. I’m not sure if it went well for Lucas because his expression gives nothing away. I excuse myself to the ladies’ room, telling Lucas I’ll meet him in the lobby.
When I return, it’s just Lucas and his two beefy guards. They’re new to me, and I don’t know their names. I’m secretly calling them Hercules (the thick-necked one) and Thor (the blond one).
“I guess Celeste and Jules had to get back to their kids,” I say.
“Yes,” he says tightly.
I lower my voice. “Did it not go well tonight?”
“Lucas!” a feminine voice squeals. “What’re you doing here, gorgeous?”
I turn to see a tall, thin, young brunette with sharp cheekbones wearing what is no doubt a designer skin-tight pink sleeveless dress with black stilettos. Basically, the anti-Alice. We’re both in pink—I’m in my pink polka-dotted dress—but the results are staggeringly different. She sounds American and looks like a model.
“Bella,” he murmurs warmly.
She gives him a light hug, kissing his cheek, and then remains closer to him than I am. Her voice lowers to a sexy purr. “How long are you in town for?”
Lucas’s lips curve into a slow charming smile. “Not long. Let me guess, you’re here for a fashion show.”
I am wallpaper.
“Close! It’s a magazine shoot.” She glances around the lobby. “I’m meeting my agent here for a drink.” She slides her manicured pink fingernails around the side of his neck. “I’m at the Ritz. Stop by tonight.”
“Hi!” I chirp. The wallpaper speaks!
Lucas startles like he forgot I existed. Bella’s unnaturally green eyes—definitely contacts—widen as she takes me in for the first time. “Who are you?”
Lucas finally acknowledges me. “Um, yes, I was going to say I’m with someone tonight.” He doesn’t say fiancée or even my name. It shouldn’t hurt as much as it does.
