Now he had to say something and it wasn't going to be to tell Marco that Kristin made him forget because her lips tasted sweeter than any chocolate. He crossed his arms and chose his words. "She's nice. Ilikeher."
Marco covered his lips though Antonio knew he held back a laugh. "Youlikeher. Well that is an improvement. I hope she says yes then. Maybe Mom won’t demand you marrySophia."
Her name alone made him want to curl up and run, which was exactly what he'd done when they were thirteen and his mother had introduced her. "Sophia?"
Marco nodded. "Didn't they tell you? She's in the castle, staying with us andstillavailable."
Those sounded like his mother's words. There was no way he'd marry Sophia Venko, even if her own mother had been tossed aside because his father chose to marry Anna Camilla. Antonio was not the one to fix a wrong in the past with his own hand. "I'm sure she's hanging out with your friend Victor Amadeus. They seem friends now, and besides, she's the last person I’d evermarry."
"They are still friends." Marco continued, "She's been apossibilitysince you were thirteen. You must have realized that Mother would bring her here now in desperatetimes."
It was terrifying that his mother didn't realize that he’d never tie the knot with Sophia. His pulse quickened when he thought about Kristin's lips. It was past time he saw her and spent the day convincing her to be with him. "I'm going to see Kristin and tell her about this dinner, and then I'm going to keep her out for the rest oftheday."
"Have fun. I'll entertain her friend." Marco nodded. "Because I'm thegoodbrother."
“It doesn’t hurt that Renee is very pretty.” Marco still had two years until he would be forced to wed. He had time to have fun and sow his oats. Antonio did not, but it no longer felt like an executioner’s blade aimed for his throat. If he married Kristin on his terms, he'd have everything he ever wanted plus more. He had a mission and nothing was going tostophim.
Chapter7
Kristin placedher pocketbook on a table near the huge bed and twirled around the bedroom. The crystal chandelier’s prisms shone brightly from the sunlight outside the huge balcony windows. The white comforter kept the bedroom simple though the gold encrusted paint shimmered inthesun.
This room was made for a princess. She swallowed and stared at the huge bathroom, which might be bigger than the old farmhouse she’d grownupin.
This was how the other one percent lived. She hugged herself and slipped onto the balcony then went to the door that the maid said connected to Renee’s room. She knocked and Renee said, "Comein."
Without a hello, Kristin pushed inside and studied the elegant pale gold and pink room her friend was in with her own private balcony as well. Kristin felt a moment of panic. "Renee, these roomsarehuge."
Renee came over and pointed to the green trees and small brook outside their balcony doors. "Kristin, stop comparing. This rich, hot prince who trots the globe and can have anyone he wants has asked you to marry him. You are good enough and you deserve to behappy."
Only her best friend could sum up all her doubts and faults like that. They had clearly had too many bottles of wine between them. All her life she'd existed, but here she was in a fantasy. "I've never had anythinglikethis."
Renee dragged her toward the balcony and pointed out the river in the distance. "Then it's time to start imagining that this life is possible and that you can have so much more than what you settled for. Adjusting insurance claims from your desk with the partisan walls was drainingyoursoul."
Settled was a good word for how she’d been living, afraid to take a risk. Alone, determined to take care of herself. She was too young to be as bitter as her mother. With Antonio, she had a chance to share passion, which might grow into something more, but first she had to be happy with herself. "You’re right, I was settling—I had to pay the bills, though. But you know what? Even if I don’t get fired, I’m not going back. I’d rather take my chances doing something unexpected andexciting."
"It is if it steals your dreams then it's horrible." Renee swung open the balcony doors and pointed to the green hills, rolling river and birds inthesky.
It was a perfect day. “What if I don’t have anydreams?”
“Everyone hasdreams.”
“I don’t. I don’t even really believeinlove.”
“Dreams and love both exist if you just listen.” Renee then smiled and leaned against the rails. "Kristin, when is the last time you did anything foryourself?"
She crossed her arms and tried to think. She couldn't even remember the last time she had a haircut, to be honest. "Idon'tknow."
Before Renee could say anything else, there was a knock on Renee’s bedroom door. They both went in and saw the young, dark-haired maid with her head down. "His Royal Highness has requested an audiencewithyou."
"We're coming!" Renee shouted with excitement and waved at the maid, who nodded and left. Renee raced forward, but then called behind her, "Kristin, are youready?"
Antonio. He was such a mystery. She wasn't sure what to say or think. The contract burned in her brain. If she thought for one minute he might fall in love with her then she needed to say yes. Despite her mother’s many warnings, perhaps Renee was right, and love existed. All the books she’d read made her think so. Today she had to find out. She sped up her step and joined her friend. "Yeah,let'sgo."
They ran down the hall and chased after the maid who kept walking faster to guide them. Soon they had the maid in a race, until they made it to a huge wooden door. The maid opened the door as she panted for breath, but Kristin swore the maid waslaughing.
The moment she and Renee stepped inside, Kristin felt like she was in the ballroom of a royal palace. The chandelier was massive and the polished wood floors were made for dancing. The huge room held little furniture though there was a section behind a curtain where she spied chairs and tables. If the curtain was pulled back, the room might double in size to hold a few hundredpeople.
When she’d met Antonio at the hotel for her interview, she'd thought that place was perfect for a wedding. She had clearly been wrong. Antonio and his brother walked in the door opposite them that showed a large patio area closer to the river. Her heart sped up as she met Antonio’s deepbrowngaze.
