The Crown Prince's Bride (Royal Duology 2)

“It’s his day,” Raoul said easily. “I’ve had many of my own where I was the center of attention. Today the spotlight’s on him.” He grinned and winked at Lucy. “And this time it’s not because of some scandal.”

“Those days are behind him,” Lucy agreed.

Together they watched as the children scooted around the edge of the crowd, Rose’s niece, Alice, close behind, and a frazzled Imogene trying to keep up. Raoul shook his head. “Do you think they’ll ever get tired?”

Lucy laughed. “Did you at that age?”

Raoul seriously tried to recall and couldn’t. For as long as he could remember, he’d been aware of his future as king and the gravity of the position. Not that Alexander had totally sheltered him. He’d been allowed to be a boy, but there had always been a nanny, and security, and a risk analysis for any major activity.

He wondered if Emilia felt the same way. He hoped not. She was in line for the throne after him. She also deserved a chance to be a kid.

There’d always been Ceci to make sure the children had a real childhood. He wasn’t as good at that, though he was trying. He thought back to Diego’s words this morning. The idea of marrying again was inconceivable. But then . . . the idea of being alone for the rest of his life stretched out before him, bleak and empty. Equally inconceivable.

“Where’d you go? You got quiet all of a sudden.” Lucy nudged his elbow.

He chuckled. “Oh, lost in some thoughts. Nothing serious.”

She was quiet for a few moments, then nodded toward the curving staircase. “Is there anything Stephani can’t do? She organized all this, and then stepped in as bridesmaid without batting an eyelash. And looks gorgeous doing it.”

He looked over. Stephani still held her bouquet in one hand, but she was looking over something on a tablet with Sofia. Their heads were together and Raoul couldn’t help but notice the way

her dress hugged her shoulders then tapered down her back to the hollow of her spine before flaring out slightly at her hips.

Gorgeous was a very accurate word. He swallowed roughly. He also knew what it was like to hold her in his arms, even if it had been briefly and he’d had too much Scotch. It had felt so good, so right, that it had terrified him. He had to keep thinking of her as one of the family. As Ceci’s cousin. She was family, not . . .

She turned around, caught him staring at her, and a blush stained her cheeks.

Mierda. How were they supposed to get through the weeks and months ahead if he kept thinking of her this way? He’d meant what he’d said earlier. He wasn’t interested in marrying again. But dammit, he wasn’t dead.

He hadn’t died with Ceci, and it was time he faced that truth.

Lucy coughed. “Raoul, you and Stephani, are you . . .” She let the thought hang.

He turned back, startled. “What? No.” He let out a breath as he met Lucy’s gaze. “No, of course not. She’s my assistant. She’s Ceci’s cousin.”

“So?”

He didn’t need this. It was bad enough that his thoughts strayed from time to time. If anyone in the family knew he’d even imagined Stephani as something other than his assistant, they’d hound him mercilessly.

“So, I don’t think of her that way.” His lips thinned. “I know you’re my sister and you care, but I don’t need anyone making trouble. I depend on Steph and we don’t need any undertones in the office, okay?”

Lucy stared at him for a long moment. “Okay. Fine. But someday you’re going to have to open yourself up again.”

“People keep saying that. It’s getting tiresome. Maybe everyone can find another topic. My personal life is off-limits.”

Her eyes widened. “All right. I’m sorry, Raoul. I didn’t mean to stick my nose in. Particularly when you’re still obviously quite raw.”

He nodded. “I know. And I know you all care. I just . . . I need to do things at my own pace. On my own timeline. Everyone pushing doesn’t actually speed up the process.”

“Fair enough.”

He tried to smile. “Besides, this is Diego and Rose’s day. The focus should be on them.”

At that moment Brody came up to them, a sleepy Alyssa in his arms. “I thought I might put her down for a while, up in our room.” He kissed Lucy on the forehead. “I know you have family obligations, so I’ll come back down after she’s fed and changed.”

Lucy peeked into the baby’s sleeping face and her features softened. “I’ll come with you. I can sneak away for twenty minutes or so.”

Raoul nodded at Brody, then watched as his sister and her husband walked toward the stairs and the family wing that housed their suite. They passed Stephani and Sofia on their way. Steph looked over at him and smiled, and he smiled back, though his heart wasn’t in it.