The instant he was near her, Antonio placed his hand on the small of her back. He nodded at his brother and another man with them. "Kristin, Ms. Brown, first this is my brother, Marco. And this is his friend, VictorAmadeus."
Kristin and Renee bowed their heads in unison. "YourHighness."
Marco stepped closer to Renee. "None of that. I'm the spare of the spare and my title is just a formality." He assessed Kristin with a smile. "You are both royal guests of our house and I expect you to call meMarco."
Antonio massaged her back so she turned toward him.She immediately asked, “How is yourfather?”
“Getting better,”Antoniosaid.
Kristin placed her hand on his heart andsmiled.Good.
He pulled her a little closer to him. "Kristin, I was hoping you were free forlunch?"
"She's free!" Renee answered before Kristin could form asentence.
"Renee..." She said automatically, but her gaze never left Antonio. He truly was handsome and she was lost in her desire to know him better. She nodded. "Yes, I'd lovetogo."
Antonio's sexy smile showed off his signature dimple. Unlike in the pictures she’d studied, this time it felt like that dimple was just for her. Her pulse quickened as he kept her close. He then nodded. "My mother has invited you both for a formal family dinner. She’s offered her assistance in ensuring that you're properlyattired."
She blinked andswallowed. "What?"
Antonio widened his stance, as if bracing for impact. "When we get back, my mother wants to have a selection of clothes available in your room so that you may choose what to wear fordinner."
So he must know it was not polite to assume—how thoughtful. She'd have to work on winning his mother over if she stood any chance here. Kristin turned, shared a quick look with Renee, and then smiled at Antonio. "Please tell her thank you. I'm sure that will be veryhelpful."
She had worn her nicest clothes the day of her interview, and wasn’t sure royals ever wore the same outfit more than once. She hadn’t changed from her blue dress because she wasn’t sure what towearnext.
His shoulders slumped in relief and he gently patted her back. "Are youready?"
Marco and Renee walked toward the patio area. Victor walked out of the side door without agoodbye.
Kristin stayed beside Antonio, their steps in sync, but she stopped at the door when she heard Renee laugh. Her friend leaned against one door while conversing with the youngest prince, who was doing the same thing on the other panel-style door. She swallowed guilt. "I feel bad about leavingRenee."
He kept his hand on her back. "My brother promised to take Renee on a personalized tourofAvce."
"Ohh. Wow. Really?" So they were both going to spend the rest of the day with a prince. Good, though she had the better end of the bargain. Antonio made her feel stronger, as if anything was possible, just from being nexttohim.
Antonio walked her to a huge door that must be the front entrance of the palace. Servants held it open for them. "Thisway."
"We're walking?" They went down a flight of stairs but she didn't see a car, a horse or even bicycles in front of thepalace.
He pointed down the small green hill. "We'll be fine, and your sandals are flat. The village is still enclosed in walls that once protected it over a thousand years ago. I don't know about you but I need a little exercise after being cramped on the plane. They never make those pods big enough forcomfort."
Good point. Two men in livery of gold and blue opened the black-railed gates for them and they walked down a small cobblestoned path. "Let's see thisvillage."
He let go of her back, but offered his hand. She took it and they walked side-by-side with trees lining the road without any cars on it. A quarter of the way down he told her, "Tomorrow, we'll tour the gardens and plan a nice dinner on theterrace."
At some point she'd talk about that contract again. Right now, she let the sun warming the top of her head keep her calm and collected. "That sounds lovely." She glanced at him and he seemed quiet. She pressed her lips together. "So, how is your dad? Didhewake?"
“Yes.” His brown eyes had those flecks of green when he stared at her. "Hewoke."
Flirting was easier if the stress of his father’s health wasn't on his mind. "Oh wow, good. No wonder you seem lighter. Are you usually the quiet one in thefamily?"
“I wasn’t always brooding.” He traced her arm and stopped their walk halfway down the path. "I'm happier becauseyou'rehere."
"You don't have to say that." If he kissed her again, she'd accept. She was ready to accept more if she was honest, but first she needed to know everything was okay with him and his family. "Is your dad going torecover?"
"I think so." He stopped smiling. "The doctors are still worried but more optimistic because he came out of his coma. We’re not to put undue stress on him until he’s fullyrecovered."
