Behind Palace Doors (Hollywood 3)

She smoothed her hair back and glanced from side to side to make sure her chignon was in place. A soft knock at her door had her cringing.

Showtime.

“My lady,” one of the guards called through the door. “I’m ready to escort you down to the ballroom.”

The ballroom would be transformed into a vibrant display of royal-blue silk draped over every stationary item. The bold color symbolized the country, and the crest would be hung from banners surrounding the room. After all, this was a celebration of the next reign.

Too bad she didn’t feel like celebrating. She hadn’t seen Stefan since he’d walked out of her office three months ago. She’d seen pictures of him via the internet rock climbing and surfing, always alone. All the tabloids were speculating a separation between them. Both she and Stefan had issued press releases stating they were each busy working on various projects, but they were very much still married and looking forward to the coronation ceremony.

Which wasn’t a total lie. She was looking forward to it because after this day was over, she could divorce him and move on with her battered heart. But she still hadn’t gotten the nerve to contact her attorney. She just couldn’t. The thought of closing the door on their relationship brought on a whole new layer of pain she just wasn’t ready to deal with. Because she knew there was no way in hell they could go back to being just friends.

Victoria crossed the room, her full silk skirt swishing against her legs. She opened the door with a smile on her face and looped her hand around the arm of the guard. Time to get her last duty as royalty over with.

“You look stunning, Your Highness.”

She swallowed the lump of guilt over the pretense. “Thank you. I’m a bit nervous.”

His soft chuckle sounded through the marble hallway. “Nothing to be nervous about. All you have to do is smile and take the crown.”

The crown, the one that symbolized leadership and loyalty. And in a few short months, she’d give it up because she couldn’t remain queen of this country. She couldn’t stay with Stefan, no matter how she loved him or how much he claimed to care for her. Wasn’t there a song about sometimes love not being enough?

Victoria descended the steps, ready to get this day over with. A day most women in her shoes would want to savor, relish, remember. Unfortunately, Victoria was too busy trying to erect a steel wall around her heart for when she saw her husband again.

* * *

Stefan stood outside the grand ballroom and watched as one of the palace guards escorted Victoria toward him. Her beauty had been in his dreams every night. That flawless elegance from her golden hair to her sweet smile to her delicate frame.

And every night he’d lain in bed alone, wishing he could have her by his side, wishing he could hear those very unladylike snores coming from the other side of the bed.

He knew he had it bad when he missed Victoria’s snoring.

But it was the epiphany brought about by those images that prompted him to make the biggest decision of his life. One that was life-altering, but there was no other choice. Not if he wanted to have any type of peace and happiness. And not if he wanted to keep the woman he loved.

As she approached him, he extended his hand, eager for that first contact after being without her familiar touch for too long.

“You’re the most beautiful sight I’ve seen in three months,” he told her, bringing her hand to his lips.

Victoria bowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Na pari i eychi, she was going to keep it formal and stiff. Like hell. He wasn’t having any of that and in about two minutes she’d see just how serious he was about keeping things between them very, very personal.

She’d turned him down in L.A. because he’d been uncertain. Well, after three months of living without her, then finding those damning pictures from the beach and knowing he could indeed have all that was important, he was not going to end this day without getting the one thing in life he could not live without. And his revelation would no doubt shock her. Surprisingly, once he’d made the decision, he wasn’t upset about it.

But for the first time in his life he was scared. A ball of nerves settled deep into his stomach. He couldn’t lose her. Right now, nothing else mattered but his goal. And that was another first...this goal had absolutely nothing to do with his country.

“Are you ready?” he asked, looking into her blue eyes that never failed to captivate him.

For months he’d had a band around his chest, and seeing her in person only tightened it. The ache for her was unlike anything he’d ever known.