“I know you, Anna. And I need you to be open. Don’t be afraid because of what happened to your parents.”
If she’d been with her grandmother, she’d have shoved a cookie at her to soften her words. Anna backed into the chair she’d just left and lowered her hand. “Grandma… Mom and Dad were happy until they died.”
“I know that,” Maria said. “And the only regret they’d have is leaving you alone, so follow their example and show your love to your husband.”
Her words were like arrows. How did her grandmother know her so well? It was like having a spotlight on her deepest secret—how could Grandma know before Anna had even admitted it to herself? All she said was, “I’ll see you when I get home.”
After goodbyes, she put her phone in her back pocket and then realized Leo had left his. She scooped his up and put it in her back pocket as well.
Her mind raced and her skin buzzed. Maria spoke the absolute truth.
Anna Camila was in love with Leo. She’d married him because she loved him.
To deny the truth of her feelings was lying to herself. A quick chuckle escaped her lips as she walked down the steps. Mariawouldbe the one to point out the obvious.
Her steps were light as she made it to the first floor.
She didn’t see anyone, not even a servant, so she headed toward the back and assumed she’d find the veranda. Anna opened the door to a room that was on the way and stepped into a ballroom with a gasp. The gold and blue murals were from the renaissance era and the chandeliers sparkled.
This castle was truly beautiful, and it was her home.
She twirled, her feet ready to dance, when in the distance she saw glass doors, and the sea on the horizon. The blue ocean seemed peaceful and beautiful, but waters like that had capsized her parents when they’d gone sailing. Ice embedded in her spine—a warning that everything changes in an instant.
Anna blinked and willed the thought to disappear.
Everything was perfect.
If she ever designed a castle, she’d lead the ballroom to the veranda over the ocean.
Anna practically floated toward the glass doors and found Leo sitting outside, with his paper and another cappuccino.
She let herself out the door and walked toward him from the side.
He stood and held out her chair for her as he said, “Anna, you look delectable.”
His lips teased hers and heat washed through her.
Maybe she should have suggested that they’d stayed in the bedroom, but then her stomach grumbled. His eyes widened which meant he’d heard, so she patted her belly and said, “Funny, because I’m famished.”
He waited for her to sit and then pushed her chair in before sitting down himself. “Then let’s dig in.”
She moved her still-hot cappuccino closer to her and lifted her eyebrow. “Dig? Did you say that?”
He set his silver spoon in his saucer. “I was trying out the vernacular.”
She scrunched her nose and offered him some grapes for his plate as she added them to hers as well. “That’s not a word for you, my prince. Let’s not try that again.”
He served her a croissant and she blinked. In the past year she’d never seen him add food to anyone’s plate, including his sisters. He truly was being thoughtful, and not just for sex. He said, “Very well. How is your grandmother?”
Right. They were going to share. She added strawberries next while she said, “Your mother must have convinced her somehow because she’s moving into the dower house without arguing.”
“Great.”
She enjoyed the food and took another croissant. In the palace, the chef was good, but here at the castle, it was like the croissants were made from the clouds of heaven itself.
Full at last, she sat back and sipped her cappuccino when her back pocket vibrated. She took out his phone and handed it to him. “Your phone is ringing.”
He pressed the ignore button and placed his phone on the table, picking up his coffee again. “I’ll answer Pierre later. Today I’m on my honeymoon.”
