The Crown Prince's Bride (Royal Duology 2)

She took the bottle. “I would.”

“So sneaking around here isn’t an option.”

“I can’t see it being successful.”

Maybe this wasn’t going to work after all. Rose and Diego had thought they’d fooled everyone, but in reality, the entire staff knew that he’d been going to her room each night after the children went to bed and then leaving some time before midnight. Or that he’d taken her to the battlements for a moonlight picnic . . . Things got around. Either they’d have to make peace with that, or find another way.

“Let me think about it,” Raoul suggested, and they got up from the table. “I’m really great at problem-solving when I put my mind to it.”

She snapped the lid back on one of the dishes. “Oh, so now I’m a problem to be solved?” she teased.

“The best kind.” He stacked the dishes but left them on the table and instead reached for her, pulling her in close. “I wish we could just disappear for a while and figure out what all this is, and how we feel, and what we want. I’ve always known what it was to live in the public eye, but I’ve never wanted privacy any more than I do right now.”

“I wish we could do that, too,” she replied, winding her arms around his neck. “It’s new, and scary, and wonderful, and fragile, you know?” She took a breath, decided to trust him with her feelings. “I’m afraid that if people start putting in their opinions, we won’t stand a chance and this will be over before it really begins.”

He fr

owned. “But everyone loves you.”

Having him say so warmed her heart because she loved the Navarro family, too. “And they love you. But well-intentioned meddling would happen, and we’re already on shaky ground.”

He dipped his head and kissed her, soft and slow, until her head swam with it and she was dazed when he backed away.

“Does that feel shaky to you?”

She shook her head.

“Let me think about it for a while. See if I can’t come up with something so we can explore what’s happening without taking out a royal proclamation.”

She smiled then. She was afraid. He was, too. He’d had his heart absolutely crushed, but he was beginning to move on and he was being considerate of her feelings. Of all his qualities, his sense of honor was her favorite. Some considered Raoul a bit cold, particularly in comparison to the charismatic Diego. But those close to him knew that his reserve hid a huge, giving heart, and he would do anything for those he loved.

He looped his hands at the base of her spine. “So. Do you want to stay a while? We can talk. Watch something on TV. Maybe a movie?”

She nearly laughed. It was easy to see that Raoul hadn’t been on a first date in a while. He sounded so . . . hesitant, and that wasn’t his usual style. He was always decisive, in command. But he’d dated Ceci in the public eye. Married her, and had been married for nine years before losing her. Stephani found his uncertainty sweet and endearing.

“What would you normally do after dinner?”

“I’d normally say good night to Max and Emilia, but they’re in Paris with Lucy.”

“Oh.” She rather wished they were here, too. They were great kids, and Raoul seemed younger when he was around them.

“Do you . . . happen to play chess?” he asked hopefully.

And so it happened that they ended up in the library, seated at a chess table, trying to anticipate each other’s moves and indulging in a shocking amount of trash talk. When she took his knight, he cursed so fluently her mouth dropped open and then she burst out laughing, the sound ringing to the high ceiling. The game got more intense and the talk gave way to furrowed brows and trying to anticipate the next move. Raoul finally had her in check with no way out, and she tipped over her piece to end the game.

“Dammit,” she muttered, leaning back with a sigh. “I nearly had you.”

“Yes, you did.” He grinned, elated at his win. “You’re a worthy opponent, Savalas.”

“I’ll get you next time, Navarro.”

“I look forward to it. But . . . not if I get you first.”

The banter had turned to teasing, and something wild and wonderful expanded in Steph’s chest. For this one split second, he wasn’t Ceci’s Raoul, or even just Raoul. For a brief moment, he’d become her Raoul, and fleeting as it was, it was a feeling she’d cherish for a long time.

* * *

Stephani looked around her apartment one last time and bit down on her lip. Seven minutes to go and Raoul would be here. She knew it would be seven minutes because he was accustomed to being precisely on time, and perhaps a little early.