The Crown Prince's Bride (Royal Duology 2)

Attraction was inconvenient, but it would pass eventually. He figured the only reason he felt it at all was because Stephani was both beautiful and familiar. He saw her nearly every day, and she was . . . safe. She knew him well. Understood his moods. He didn’t need to try to impress her or be someone he wasn’t.

Well, except for hiding this awkward fascination that came over him from time to time.

She caught up with him five minutes later, and touched his arm.

“Are you all right? You’ve been standing over here frowning for half an hour.”

His arm tingled where her fingers rested on his tuxedo jacket. For heaven’s sake. There was no reason for him to react so strongly to her.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine. You look annoyed. Did something happen? Is something not going well? I can address it.”

“Everything’s perfect.”

She blinked and remained silent. He realized his voice had been rather sharp and he added regret to the other emotions running through him. “I didn’t mean to snap. I’m sorry.”

Her voice was cool. “It’s fine. As long as the event is running as it should. If there are any issues, let me or Sofia know. With me pulling double duty, she’s taken over my list.”

She turned to walk away.

“Steph?”

His heart thudded behind his ribs. Was he actually nervous about talking to her? This was so ridiculous!

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“Oh dear. I really did make you mad.” Ironically, her snooty tone made him relax slightly. Perhaps because her irritation was a genuine emotion. No hiding or dancing around.

Her lips twitched a little. “You’re grouchy.”

She had no idea, and he was glad. He would be incredibly embarrassed if she knew how he was reacting to the sight of her in that dress, with Ceci’s sapphires at her throat and mile-high shoes cradling her feet.

She trusted him. His thoughts definitely betrayed that trust. He’d already made a mistake once and kissed her. To do it again could—probably would—make it impossible for them to maintain their working relationship. And he needed her.

“I am, a little. But I’ll try hard to be happier.” He sent her a false smile, and made her laugh.

“We’re seated together, you know. At the banquet.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “That means you won’t have to make conversation with Rose’s horrid sister.” As Maid of Honor, Hayley would have been next to Raoul. Now that Steph had stepped in, she would be seated to his left.

He looked down at her, leaning so close, close enough that he could smell the light, sexy scent of her perfume. “It’s always lovely to have you as a dinner partner,” he said softly. “And you can slide me your pâté, since I know you don’t like it.”

“You know me so well,” she teased.

“I’ve known you a long time.”

“Nearly ten years,” she replied, looking up into his eyes.

He swallowed. Held her gaze. Realized no one on earth—not even his brother or father—knew him as well as Stephani did. She knew his likes and dislikes. His moods and how to cajole him out of them. His routine and schedules. All the things that Ceci had once known as easily as breathing.

“You’re disappearing again,” she cautioned quietly. “Are you really okay?”

“I am. I promise.” And he was. The truth was, Ceci was gone, and he remained. The truth was, he was a man in his thirties who was attracted to a woman, and a relationship with that woman would be fraught with complications. But Diego’s counsel this morning had started a chain reaction of thoughts that he couldn’t seem to control. The reasons why he should walk away from his impulses were the very reasons why he was attracted to Steph in the first place.

And there were times he really just didn’t want to walk away. Why did everything seem to come with a truckload of ramifications and consequences?

“I’ve got to go, but I’ll see you soon. Save me a dance later?”

Dancing. Raoul’s body tightened at the thought of holding her close in his arms, but he merely smiled. “Of course. As best man and maid of honor, it’s expected.”