Kristin grabbed her carry-on bag for a change of clothes. A photo meant she’d lose her insurance job for good—proof that she wasn’t sick at home with a cold. She buried the panic of not earning a paycheck and shook out her blue Calvin Klein dress with a tiny flower print. Renee had chosen capris and a knit top, with leatherflats.
A few minutes later, she and Renee rushed to the front where Antonio sat with a coffee and his iPad. He put it down instantly, and walked over to her. "Take my arm,Kristin."
His muscles flexed the moment she wrapped her hands around his arm. She also felt lighter. How in the world had he found her? Now she was in his country and would see everything she could. The moment they stepped outside, people cheered and lights flashed inherface.
She turned into his shoulder to block the bright lights. "What'sallthis?"
He winked and led her through the crowd toward a waiting limo. "I'm returning home. This is a small crowd, but once they see that I’m with you, and they tell their friends, the crowd at the palacewillgrow."
Renee followed her like a rock star in over-sized sunglasses, her form fitting capris and top. Kristin wished she channeled that instead of the Easter Sunday look that gave her no sense of confidence. Kristin returned her attention to Antonio. "What am I supposedtodo?"
They neared the limo and he turned around. He waved and she glued herself to his side. He whispered, "Wave." She did as he instructed while Renee hopped inside the limo. Antonio wrapped his arm around her waist. "They want to get a good lookatyou."
"Oh goodness." Antonio kissed her cheek. Instinct took over and shehuggedhim.
The cheers grew louder which broke the spell. Had he kissed her for publicity? She sucked in her breath but didn’taskhere.
He motioned for her to go inside and then he was last in the limo. A few seconds later, the drivertookoff.
Kristin settled herself next to Antonio and felt calm and collected with his arm snug around her shoulder. He smiled that sexy grin of his and he smelled like almonds. Love might not exist, but whatever she felt with Antonio was too good toignore.
Once they were driving, he pointed out the window. "You'll notice the green hills. Our country has had every ancient empire try to depose our royal family for almost two thousand years, but we're the oldest original family monarchy. Many of my ancestors have all managed to return from abroad, just as my parents did. My grandparents were deposed with communism. My ancestors left Rome to settle here, guided by the Virgin Mary—or so thelegendgoes."
History was always interesting, but a hobby for the rich, according to her father. She envied Antonio’s lineage. "I didn't know my grandparents. Mom raised me after Dad died. So when she died, I was by myself. I wish I knew more about my past and where my mom wasevenfrom."
His hand brushed against hers and she felt a spark banish her sadness. "I can run a DNA sample for you so you can at least read about your geneticethnicity."
"That sounds nice, actually. I’ve always been so alone in the world." The limo reached the top of a hill and suddenly in the distance a huge white palace with a blue roof appeared, along with four towers. As they grew closer, adrenaline raced faster through her veins. "Is that whereyoulive?"
Henodded. "Yes."
She continued to stare out the window. If she accepted his proposal, she'd live there too. Her biggest apartment ever had been 750 square feet and never enough closet space. "No wonder your ancestors all wanted to come home. It'sbeautiful."
He came beside her and her body tingled as he pointed. "My favorite part is the river that the east wing overlooks. In the morning sun, the white tower has agoldenglow."
His cheek brushed against her face. She sighed and wished he'd kiss her, but she knew better. "This could all be my new home because I applied to be yoursecretary."
He turned and stared into her eyes. "I'd also be yourhusband."
It almost sounded like he wanted that for himself, and not to save his future inheritance. If he cared about her, then her life would be fabulous. The limo drove through the gates, guards on both sides. She kept his hand in hers. If this was a dream, she never wanted to wakefromit.
Part of her wanted to say yes, right now, and not care about anything else, but her heart whispered she didn't want to be like her mother. Her mother had bitterly cried years ago that she had married for love and should’ve listened to her own parents’ advice that she’d made the wrong choice. She had said love was an illusion—yet Kristin still wanted to beloved.
Once the limo parked and a footman opened the door, Renee hopped out first. Kristin held Antonio’s hand and whispered, "Wait. I like you. It's your title that makes me hesitate. I'm not made to be a princess, and I don’t want to end up like mymother."
“What happened with yourmother?”
“She was a very unhappywoman.”
“That’s not you.” He brushed her hair away from her face. "If something happens to my father, my bride becomes the queen. I'm hoping that woman willbeyou."
She couldn't move. She lowered her lashes and listened to her heartbeat. She tried to imagine a crown on her head, but in her imagination it fell right off. She squeezed his hand. "Yeah, I'm normally the girl who fades into thewallpaper."
Antonio gently lifted her chin. "My mother can teach you the ways of the palace. She learned and socanyou."
His mother, the queen. She likely had been born into the royal life too. She wasn't a girl from Kansas who ran from the farm and migrated to Miami for jobs that she ultimately quit, because she was never happy in any of them. She narrowed her gaze and asked, "What was your mother before your fathermarriedher?"
He winked and then slid out of the car. "His secretaryactually."
