Read Online The Prince's Texas Bride by Leanne Banks - Free Book Online Page B

kindness.”
    â€œMy pleasure,” she said and gestured for a guard to escort the young couple through the throng of observers. She ran ahead to make sure her assistants were taking care of the horses and riders properly. She knew there would be hundreds of photographs taken by the press of all the horses and riders.
    The next hour passed in a flurry of activity as the horses were released from their royal duties and guided back to the barns.
    â€œMs. Jackson,” a man called from a few feet away. “Welcome to Chantaine. Your first royal parade is a huge success.”
    â€œThank you. I’m thrilled for the citizens of Chantaine to get the opportunity to see the beautiful horses that represent their country,” she said and motioned to one of her assistants to take two more of the horses back to the stable.
    â€œOh, but they are not Chantaine’s horses. Everyone knows Prince Stefan has a weakness for fine horseflesh. These are Prince Stefan’s horses.”
    â€œNumber one, I wouldn’t call it a weakness. Number two, these horses do represent Chantaine just as your beautiful beaches and the palace and palace grounds do.”
    The man lifted his eyebrow. “Easy for you to say. You make a much better salary than most of the citizens of Chantaine. The prince’s horses aren’t remotely self-sustaining.”
    â€œIt wouldn’t be hard for them to be self-sustaining,” she couldn’t keep from saying in defense of the stable.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œBlack. He’s worth a fortune as a sire,” she said, then feared she’d revealed too much. He didn’t look like a member of the press and she didn’t see a camera. “I need to go. I was taught to earn my keep,” she added meaningfully, and then walked away.
    Â 
    Much later that evening after she’d showered and put on her pj’s, her cell phone sounded, signaling a text message. She glanced up from the book she was reading and glanced at her phone. Meet me in the lower courtyard in thirty minutes. SD
    Eve was torn between irritation and curiosity. The man was way too accustomed to giving orders. In other circumstances, she would have laughed and said forget it. But this was Stefan and the situation was totally different. Plus she was dying of curiosity.
    She jumped out of bed and changed into a pair of jeans and a white button-down shirt. With her hair still damp from the shower she’d taken earlier, she just decided to let it air-dry. After a few moments of feeling antsy, she gave in to her restlessness and decided to take the long way to the lower courtyard. She stopped by a bush of blue flowers that reminded her of Texas bluebells and felt a twist of homesickness. Back home, she’d stayed busy with her job, working with the horses on the ranch where her aunt worked and volunteering. Staying busy kept her from thinking too much about how much she missed her brother since he’d left all those years ago. It also kept her from getting involved in a serious relationship. From a young age, Eve had beendetermined to steer her own ship, and she’d never met a man with whom she’d willingly share the wheel.
    She heard the snap of a twig, but before she could turn around she heard his voice.
    â€œCongratulations, Eve. Well done.”
    Pleasure welled up inside her and she turned around to find Stefan, his shirt partly unbuttoned, his hair mussed and carrying a bottle of champagne and two glasses. Surprised by his gesture, she felt a secret rush of delight. “Congratulations to you, too. The crowd loved it when you gave Ricardo a ride on Black. Champagne?”
    He shrugged. “You worked hard. I thought you deserved to celebrate.”
    â€œYou could have just sent the bottle to my apartment, couldn’t you?” she asked, unable to resist the chance to tease him.
    He shot her a look with a glint of the devil in his eyes. “Okay, I deserve