His short dark hair was still damp from his shower. The sides were clipped close to his head while the curls on top were short but just long enough for them to do their own things. And what they did made Bianca want to reach out and run her fingers through the damp curls.
Her gaze met his smiling eyes. Her heart raced. His face was clean-shaven. She paused to inhale, imagining the slightest hint of a spicy aftershave. Mmm... She longed to take a step forward and lean into him for a real whiff.
“You look beautiful.” His voice drew her from her meandering thoughts.
“Th-thank you.” She needed to calm herself.
Otherwise she was likely to make a fool of herself in front of the queen. If she did that, she’d end up fired before she even began her job. And she didn’t want to think of the negative consequences to her business.
“Are you ready to go?”
She glanced back at the room just to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. She leveled her shoulders and turned back to him. “I’m ready.”
He arched a brow. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
In true princely fashion, he held his arm out to her. “Then let’s go.”
She stepped out, pulled the door shut behind her and then placed her hand in the crook of his arm. The heat of his body radiated into her skin, warming her cell by cell, bone by bone. Did he have any idea what he did to her heart rate?
She hoped not. As it was, she had to concentrate on walking. She didn’t want to trip over her own two feet. How embarrassing would that be?
She swallowed hard, trying to put on a calm exterior. “What’s your mother like?”
“Hmm... How long do you have?”
“Oh, boy.”
A soft deep laugh rumbled in his chest. “Relax. I’ll be there with you.”
That was of little comfort considering she didn’t rely on others to fight her battles. It was one of the lessons her father had instilled in her and her siblings. To make it in this world you have to be strong with a kind heart.
“How do I address her?”
“Don’t address her unless she speaks to you first. And then you may refer to her as Your Majesty.”
“Oh, my. That formal, huh?” This definitely wasn’t like any other time where she’d gone to meet a boyfriend’s mother. Far from it.
Leo nodded. “My mother is a stickler for titles, duty and tradition.”
“What do you call her?”
“Mother, in private.”
“And in public?”
“Your Majesty.”
It took a second for Bianca to realize that her mouth was agape. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what it was like to grow up the way he had.
Sooner than she was prepared for, they arrived just outside the dining room. Leo turned to her. “Are you ready?”
Bianca nodded.
With her stomach twisted in a nervous knot, she entered. She found Giselle standing by a tall handsome man who must be her fiancé, by the way she was looking at him.
Next to them stood another couple. They were older. The man looked quite distinguished and though he didn’t smile that often, his wife beamed as she made small talk with Giselle.