Read Online Leopold: Part Four by Ember Casey, Renna Peak - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ember Casey, Renna Peak
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like she doesn’t deserve these things. I pull open the closet door.
Inside are several of my suits—and a full tuxedo, in case I should find one necessary—but there are also several dresses of various lengths and materials, everything from a simple black silk cocktail dress to a silver beaded gown. Each one is of the highest quality, custom made to fit her.
“Today,” I tell her, “I want you to experience what it’s like to be pampered. To allow yourself to accept extravagant gifts simply because they’re extravagant. To indulge yourself. And to allow someone else to indulge you.”
Her mouth has fallen open at the sight of the dresses, but when she sees me watching her, her lips snap shut again. For the briefest of moments, I see something in her eyes—but I cannot tell what it is.
She spins away from the closet—and me.
I slide the closet door closed again, worried. I knew I would have a difficult time convincing Elle to accept these things from me, but a part of me still hoped for a different response. I take a deep breath. This is not how these things normally go. But then again, Elle is so very different from anyone I’ve ever dated before. What do I do now?
Before I can respond to her, Matthias enters the cabin.
“Everything should be ready for our departure, Your Highness,” he says. “Have we decided where we’re headed this evening?”
“Not yet.” I turn back to Elle. “I wanted today to be all about you, Elle, so I took the liberty of making dinner reservations at several places across the country and thought I’d allow you to choose. So which will it be? Miami? Los Angeles? New York? We also have hor d’oeuvres here on the plane to tide us over until we arrive at our destination.”
She’s standing in front of the roses again, and she reaches out and brushes her fingers against one of the crimson petals.
“I…” She pauses. “I don’t want to go back to Los Angeles. There are too many reporters there.”
“Perfectly fair,” I tell her.
She doesn’t say anything else for a long moment, just continues to study the rose in front of her as if it’s the most fascinating thing in the world.
Finally, she looks back at me and says, “I’ve never been to New York.”
I feel a smile spread across my lips. “New York it is, then.” I glance at Matthias. “Please tell Captain Smythe that we’re ready to be on our way.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” Matthias says with a smile.
As he heads toward the pilot’s cabin, I turn back to Elle. “Matthias has his own private room at the front of the plane, so we’ll have plenty of privacy during the flight.” I close the distance between us again. “Elle, I know you don’t feel like you need such gifts, but—”
“But they’re part of the royal date experience , right?” she says, turning fully to face me again. “So if I’m to get the full experience, I should just roll with it?”
“I…well, that is certainly the spirit.”
She gives a small nod, as if making up her mind about something, and her lips curl up into a slow smile. “Okay, then. I guess I can live with that for one day.”
“I certainly hope you’ll do more than just live with them—”
“I’ll enjoy them,” she says. “I’ll indulge , as you so eloquently put it.”
In spite of my reservations, I find my mouth turning up into a smile that mirrors hers. “Good.” I reach around her and grab the bottle of champagne. “Shall we have a toast?”
Before she can respond, the plane begins to vibrate as the engines come to life.
“Maybe after we take off,” she says, still smiling.
“Of course.” I grab the champagne flutes as well. “I recommend sitting in one of the chairs and buckling yourself in. This is the finest in luxury aircraft, but you will always experience a little turbulence during takeoff in a plane of this size.”
She nods and walks over to one of the luxurious padded seats. I take the chair next to hers and stow
Inside are several of my suits—and a full tuxedo, in case I should find one necessary—but there are also several dresses of various lengths and materials, everything from a simple black silk cocktail dress to a silver beaded gown. Each one is of the highest quality, custom made to fit her.
“Today,” I tell her, “I want you to experience what it’s like to be pampered. To allow yourself to accept extravagant gifts simply because they’re extravagant. To indulge yourself. And to allow someone else to indulge you.”
Her mouth has fallen open at the sight of the dresses, but when she sees me watching her, her lips snap shut again. For the briefest of moments, I see something in her eyes—but I cannot tell what it is.
She spins away from the closet—and me.
I slide the closet door closed again, worried. I knew I would have a difficult time convincing Elle to accept these things from me, but a part of me still hoped for a different response. I take a deep breath. This is not how these things normally go. But then again, Elle is so very different from anyone I’ve ever dated before. What do I do now?
Before I can respond to her, Matthias enters the cabin.
“Everything should be ready for our departure, Your Highness,” he says. “Have we decided where we’re headed this evening?”
“Not yet.” I turn back to Elle. “I wanted today to be all about you, Elle, so I took the liberty of making dinner reservations at several places across the country and thought I’d allow you to choose. So which will it be? Miami? Los Angeles? New York? We also have hor d’oeuvres here on the plane to tide us over until we arrive at our destination.”
She’s standing in front of the roses again, and she reaches out and brushes her fingers against one of the crimson petals.
“I…” She pauses. “I don’t want to go back to Los Angeles. There are too many reporters there.”
“Perfectly fair,” I tell her.
She doesn’t say anything else for a long moment, just continues to study the rose in front of her as if it’s the most fascinating thing in the world.
Finally, she looks back at me and says, “I’ve never been to New York.”
I feel a smile spread across my lips. “New York it is, then.” I glance at Matthias. “Please tell Captain Smythe that we’re ready to be on our way.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” Matthias says with a smile.
As he heads toward the pilot’s cabin, I turn back to Elle. “Matthias has his own private room at the front of the plane, so we’ll have plenty of privacy during the flight.” I close the distance between us again. “Elle, I know you don’t feel like you need such gifts, but—”
“But they’re part of the royal date experience , right?” she says, turning fully to face me again. “So if I’m to get the full experience, I should just roll with it?”
“I…well, that is certainly the spirit.”
She gives a small nod, as if making up her mind about something, and her lips curl up into a slow smile. “Okay, then. I guess I can live with that for one day.”
“I certainly hope you’ll do more than just live with them—”
“I’ll enjoy them,” she says. “I’ll indulge , as you so eloquently put it.”
In spite of my reservations, I find my mouth turning up into a smile that mirrors hers. “Good.” I reach around her and grab the bottle of champagne. “Shall we have a toast?”
Before she can respond, the plane begins to vibrate as the engines come to life.
“Maybe after we take off,” she says, still smiling.
“Of course.” I grab the champagne flutes as well. “I recommend sitting in one of the chairs and buckling yourself in. This is the finest in luxury aircraft, but you will always experience a little turbulence during takeoff in a plane of this size.”
She nods and walks over to one of the luxurious padded seats. I take the chair next to hers and stow
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