These thoughts had begun to enter Ivo’s head in a mildly amused, vaguely hypothetical sort of a way. But by the time he’d reached the end of them, the amusement had vanished. He’d gone very still. His mouth was bone-dry. Every sense he possessed was on high alert and his rapidly accelerating pulse now thundered in his ears, because what if this latest brain wave of hiswasn’thypothetical? What if hedidmarry Sofia? Wouldn’t that be the perfect solution to an unexpectedly troublesome problem?
As bulb after bulb lit up in his head, such a plan increasingly made sense. They worked well together. She understood him. Frequently, she knew what he wanted before he did. If she could successfully handle his second cousin’s idiotic antics, she could handle anything.
And now he was looking a little more closely, he realised that she was more than just passably attractive. She was actually remarkably striking. Her eyes were the colour of the sea where it approached the beach—a light, clear jade. Her hair was more golden brown than blond. It reminded him of the cornfields to the north at harvest time. And how had he never noticed the luscious appeal of her mouth before?
‘Is something wrong? Do I have parsley stuck in my teeth?’
Her voice jolted Ivo out of his trance. He wrenched his gaze from her mouth to her eyes and stamped out the unexpected flare of heat that surged through his body. Nothing was wrong. Everything was suddenly very right indeed. He could scarcely believe he hadn’t thought of her before, since she fit the bill in every respect. She was exactly the asset he required. What luck he’d realised it in time.
He cleared his throat and pulled himself together. ‘No,’ he said, determined to do whatever it took to secure her agreement, because he was on a deadline and could not afford such a prize to slip through his fingers. ‘You’re perfect.’
‘I’m sorry?’ Her eyebrows lifted a fraction but that was her only response to the observation that was perhaps a little more personal than usual. She was composed and poised at all times. She was exemplary.
‘I’d like you to draft an announcement regarding the imminent change to my marital status.’
If she was startled by his request, she didn’t show it. She barely even blinked. Bombproof. That was what she was. ‘Have you finally made your choice?’
He nodded shortly. ‘I have.’
‘I understood none of the current candidates was deemed to be suitable.’
‘That’s correct,’ he said, deciding to gloss over the disagreeable fact that it was actually he who hadn’t appealed. In light of his eureka moment, it wasn’t relevant anyway. ‘I had to think laterally. Outside the box. It turned out to be an excellent move.’
‘Then may I be the first to offer you my congratulations?’
‘You may.’
‘The palace will breathe a sigh of relief.’
‘I can almost hear it now.’
‘I’ll draft the announcement immediately and email it to you for approval,’ she said, glancing down briefly to jot something in her notebook. ‘It will be sent to all major news outlets within the hour.’
‘Good.’
‘The people will be ecstatic.’
‘I certainly hope so.’
‘Just one thing…’
‘Yes?’
She lifted her gaze back to his, her smile faint, her expression quizzical. ‘Who’s the lucky lady?’
‘You are.’
CHAPTER TWO
WHEN THEKING’Scall had come through earlier, Sofia had felt the usual rush of exhilaration and the familiar leap of her pulse, swiftly followed by the inevitable torrent of despair and the urge to bang her head against the nearest wall.
She ought to have resigned months ago, she’d told herself for what had to be the billionth time as she’d picked up her pen and notebook and left her office for his. At the very least she should have requested a transfer when, eight weeks into the job, she’d realised she was not just crushing on her boss but madly in love with him instead.
But had she?
No.
Because apparently, she’d lost her head along with her heart. Apparently, she was a sucker for punishment.
