This was her meeting. She took a deep breath and then read the contract. "Sex without twenty-four hour notice sub-paragraph 3 states “sleeping will remain separated.” I want you todeletethis."
Henodded. "Okay."
She used her black pen to strike it out. She then traced her neckline and flipped the page. Once she was settled, she said, "Moving on to article 2, paragraph 3 “outward expectation” that I must always wear gold and diamonds.Deletethis."
His eyesnarrowed. "Why?"
She tapped her pen to the table. "I like to work out and I'm not wearing a tiara or a diamond necklace when I'm trying stay in shape. We can amend this to “reasonable” wearing of jewels and preciousmetals."
The sexy smirk he wore in the pictures now showed up on his face, and she swore this one felt like it was just forher. "Done."
She wrote the word reasonable and struck out always on her contract. Now her pulse zipped. She looked down and read, "And now article 3, paragraph 2, “separated quarters.” I'd like this entire sectionremoved."
He rested his elbow on the table and leaned forward, though they were still eight feet from each other. His eyebrow lifted as he stared at her. "You don't want your own quarters in thecastle?"
The contract stated no falling in love clear enough, but she wasn't going to argue on that one. Once she had time, she'd find out if she could work around that provision. Her entire body ached for his touch so she kept her head down and stared at the paper in front of her. "If we are to be married and learn to trust each other, then we should share our lives as much as possible and that includes sharing a roomandbed."
Once again he massaged his chin—a habit, she surmised. "So, you are thinking about signing thecontract?"
She fixed her glasses on her nose and flipped the page of the contract again. "I still want to see your home, but if I do marry you, I want to be clear that I expect we'll live, eat, and worktogether."
He flattened his full lips and she wished he'd kiss heragain. "Eat?"
"Oh yes..." She had almost lost the ability to read. She traced the paper until she found the part she needed. "Article 3, paragraph 7, “meals.” I'd like this section amended where it states whenever possible, we share meals together without interruptions. I wantconversation."
He folded his hands in front of him. "I tend to eat at odd hours due to the responsibilities of the crown. My title is very muchajob."
Her heart hammered in her chest, but she had to ensure she had a chance at more. Her cheeks felt flushed, but old memories of her parents and how they never spoke to each other replayed in her mind. Even if she earned an “A” on school work, nothing brought them together. Then her dad died, and her mother wouldn’t mention his name. She blinked and the memory was gone. "To me, the dinner table is where we should shut off the electronics and tell any advisors that you are not to be disturbed unless it's a matter of grave importance. I want us to talk to each other aboutourdays."
"Dulynoted."
She crossed out the section and wrote “eat together.” Other than the part on “love” the contract was clear and laid out what was expected in their marriage, not unlike a normal prenup. She’d read plenty of those while at work. She folded the papers and smiled. "Well, thiswaseasy."
He sat further back in his chair, the blue of his polo complementing his olive tones. "You'redonethen?"
She pushed the contract to the side. "Yes, though I still need to see your home before I make a finaldecision."
He stood and took two water bottles from a mini fridge under the counter. He joined her at her end of the table and gave her one. "I am prepared to add now that once a month, you and I will take a night for ourselves where you may choose our date activity. Dinner, dancing, movie, whatever your heartdesires."
Good. She turned her knees closer toward him. Her jeans brushed against his creased linen pants, highlighting their differences. "Sounds great. Now, why are you really looking forawife?"
He reached for her hands. "Kristin, to start this relationship with trust, I should tell you that the law states I must marry by my birthday or I will be stricken from inheriting the crown. While I might not care about the title, it also means I’d never get to see my parents or my brothers again because I can’t come home, which can’t happen. I want to let you see everything and decide, but when we land, I'm going to hear about my father's health. If the doctors tell me he doesn't have long left, I have to makechoicesfast."
"I hope your dad gets better." If she had five more minutes with her own mother before she’d died, or if there was anything she might have done to please her at that time, she'd have done it. She pressed her hands to hispalms.
He let out a sigh. "The doctors are preparing for theworst."
No wonder he seemed so tense. She’d had no idea; nothing about the king’s illness was in the news. "What's wrongwithhim?"
His intense gaze held despair, and she understood the newspapers had his character all wrong. He wasn’t the playboy prince from those articles, but a loving son. A section of wall around her heart fell. His voice wavered with a thread of sadness when he said, "He had a heart attack, which led to pneumonia. Now he’s been in a medicated coma foraweek."
A coma was awful. Her mother's cancer had been a slow death, but Kristin had never wondered whether or not she’d wake, or if she could say goodbye. Her eyes moistened. "I amsorry."
Again he let out a sigh, but then he wiped a tear off her face. "Kristin, I'm going to kissyounow."
She licked her lips and opened her eyes wide, looking around the room. Nobody was around, and Renee was downstairs sleeping. "Youare?"
He stood and offered her a hand to help her up. "I want far more from you than Iexpected."
