Read Online Christmas in His Royal Bed by Heidi Betts - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Heidi Betts
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behind her small clutch purse, she watched the door close behind the last guest a moment before she felt Nicolas come to stand beside her.
Although she wasn’t surprised that she could sense his presence even before she saw him, it did disturb her. She didn’t want to sense him. Didn’t want to believe that they might be growing that close in such a short time, especially when she’d spent most of the last three weeks avoiding him.
Not that she’d been terribly successful. Nicolas, she was learning, had a way of being everywhere she was, whether she wanted him there or not.
She had to admit, though, that he’d been a definite asset this evening. Not only had he gotten everyone in the room to relax enough to dance to Christmas music, but he’d spent the rest of the night circulating through the crowd to shake hands, kiss cheeks and talk up the orphanage as an extremely worthy charity—or write-off, depending on who he was conversing with.
And she admired him for it. For caring about the children’s home and about what he could do to make the fund-raiser a success.
Glendovia was his country, and she had been hired to do a job for it. But he seemed to know that she took her work of organizing charitable events and raising funds for worthy causes very, very seriously. Seemed to know…and in his own way, care.
That touched Alandra more than a dozen roses, a hundred glasses of champagne or a thousand romantic dates ever could have.
He might have taken a wrong first step with her by inviting her into his bed before even getting to know her, but he had taken a few right steps since. Redeeming right steps.
When he took her elbow now, she felt a familiar tingle in every millimeter of skin his fingers came in contact with.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
She nodded and let Nicolas adjust her wrap around her shoulders before guiding her outside and into the waiting limousine.
Despite the late hour, there were still plenty of paparazzi gathered to snap more pictures upon the royal family’s departure. The camera flashes burned her eyes and blinded her vision. She was only too happy to have the car door slam behind her, blocking out the pesky photographers.
When they arrived home, the family said their good-nights before heading for their respective bed-chambers. Alandra wished them all a good night, as well, before turning toward her own rooms.
“I’ll walk with you,” Nicolas said, catching up with her and once again slipping her arm through his.
She started to tell him it wasn’t necessary, but thought better of it with his parents and siblings still within earshot. Instead, she inclined her head, tightened her hold on his arm and murmured, “Thank you.”
They walked to her suite without speaking, and she was surprised to find it a comfortable silence. Perhaps because it had been such a long and busy day, and she was too tired to worry about what she should be saying or doing. She couldn’t find it in her to be concerned about what Nicolas might say or do, either.
When they arrived, he opened the door, then stood back for her to enter. Crossing the dark sitting room, she turned on a small table lamp, which bathed the space in a yellow-gold light.
Alandra straightened and turned, and nearly bumped into Nicolas, who had followed her silently and was standing mere inches away. For a moment, her mind went blank. Her breath hitched and her heart leaped at finding him so near.
She swallowed nervously and opened her mouth to speak, though she didn’t have a clue what she planned to say.
Not that it mattered. Before she could utter a sound or get her brain to function properly, Nicolas had lifted a hand to the back of her neck and threaded his fingers into the loose hair at her nape. He tugged her forward, and she went easily, willingly, like a puppet on a string.
Their eyes met, and in that brief second, she saw passion and fire and desire. Those same emotions caused her stomach to tumble
Although she wasn’t surprised that she could sense his presence even before she saw him, it did disturb her. She didn’t want to sense him. Didn’t want to believe that they might be growing that close in such a short time, especially when she’d spent most of the last three weeks avoiding him.
Not that she’d been terribly successful. Nicolas, she was learning, had a way of being everywhere she was, whether she wanted him there or not.
She had to admit, though, that he’d been a definite asset this evening. Not only had he gotten everyone in the room to relax enough to dance to Christmas music, but he’d spent the rest of the night circulating through the crowd to shake hands, kiss cheeks and talk up the orphanage as an extremely worthy charity—or write-off, depending on who he was conversing with.
And she admired him for it. For caring about the children’s home and about what he could do to make the fund-raiser a success.
Glendovia was his country, and she had been hired to do a job for it. But he seemed to know that she took her work of organizing charitable events and raising funds for worthy causes very, very seriously. Seemed to know…and in his own way, care.
That touched Alandra more than a dozen roses, a hundred glasses of champagne or a thousand romantic dates ever could have.
He might have taken a wrong first step with her by inviting her into his bed before even getting to know her, but he had taken a few right steps since. Redeeming right steps.
When he took her elbow now, she felt a familiar tingle in every millimeter of skin his fingers came in contact with.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
She nodded and let Nicolas adjust her wrap around her shoulders before guiding her outside and into the waiting limousine.
Despite the late hour, there were still plenty of paparazzi gathered to snap more pictures upon the royal family’s departure. The camera flashes burned her eyes and blinded her vision. She was only too happy to have the car door slam behind her, blocking out the pesky photographers.
When they arrived home, the family said their good-nights before heading for their respective bed-chambers. Alandra wished them all a good night, as well, before turning toward her own rooms.
“I’ll walk with you,” Nicolas said, catching up with her and once again slipping her arm through his.
She started to tell him it wasn’t necessary, but thought better of it with his parents and siblings still within earshot. Instead, she inclined her head, tightened her hold on his arm and murmured, “Thank you.”
They walked to her suite without speaking, and she was surprised to find it a comfortable silence. Perhaps because it had been such a long and busy day, and she was too tired to worry about what she should be saying or doing. She couldn’t find it in her to be concerned about what Nicolas might say or do, either.
When they arrived, he opened the door, then stood back for her to enter. Crossing the dark sitting room, she turned on a small table lamp, which bathed the space in a yellow-gold light.
Alandra straightened and turned, and nearly bumped into Nicolas, who had followed her silently and was standing mere inches away. For a moment, her mind went blank. Her breath hitched and her heart leaped at finding him so near.
She swallowed nervously and opened her mouth to speak, though she didn’t have a clue what she planned to say.
Not that it mattered. Before she could utter a sound or get her brain to function properly, Nicolas had lifted a hand to the back of her neck and threaded his fingers into the loose hair at her nape. He tugged her forward, and she went easily, willingly, like a puppet on a string.
Their eyes met, and in that brief second, she saw passion and fire and desire. Those same emotions caused her stomach to tumble
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