Chapter 14 #2
"You could have waited," she said accusingly as soon as she answered.
"Hi." His deep, slightly accented voice had her heart melting. "You were sleeping so peacefully, I did not have the heart to wake you."
"Tomas, I did not say you could tell anyone."
"No?" His voice was tinged with amusement. "I took a measurement of your ring finger and guess where I am?"
She sighed in resignation. "Where?"
"In Madrid. I want us to be officially engaged so there's no backing out on your end."
"Your mother was just in my room and I'm still naked."
His chuckle had her lips curving. "I hope you had the good sense to cover up. She's my mother, but I like the idea of being the only one to see you like that. I want you to move into my suite."
"No."
"Querida-"
"No. I would like us to have our own space before-" She closed her eyes. "December! How are we going to pull it off? That's barely a month from now."
"That's why we have people to do that sort of thing. I love you," he whispered.
She closed her eyes and felt the familiar weakness invading her being.
"Say it back to me," he demanded.
"What if I said I changed my mind? That I don't love you after all?"
"I would certainly not believe you. Say it back to me."
Sighing softly, she capitulated. "I love you."
"Thank you. I'll see you later, mi vida," he said before hanging up.
Before she had time to assimilate the conversation, her doors swung open again to admit a stream of maids, led by Carmen.
"We're all so excited, Senorita Antoinette. A royal wedding!"
With a sigh, she accepted the fact that it was out in the open.
*****
And the excitement continued throughout the day. Not only did they have the day-to-day running and correspondences to respond to, but there was the planning for the charity event, which the queen had decided would be a perfect time to announce her son's engagement.
And there was the wedding itself to plan.
Antoinette was swept helplessly along. Queen Sofia was a force of category five hurricane proportions, and she went full steam ahead.
By midafternoon, an entire team of wedding planners was on standby.
During a very long and detailed call to Italy, Tomas came into the office, sending her blood pressure through the roof.
She had not seen him when he left, of course, and seeing him now, the movie star look that always had her marveling, she had to concentrate fiercely on the conversation in order to finish it.
He was wearing a thick ruby-red sweater that looked great with his tanned skin.
The sleeves were rolled up to his powerful forearms, the hairs lying there sending her body into slow heat and making her recall what they did in bed.
Murmuring in Italian, she concluded the call and hung up. Stopping at her desk, and not in the least shy that the doors were open or that his mother was still in her office, he took her hand and drew her toward him.
"I'm working here."
"So am I." He brushed her lips with his, arms encircling her waist. "Missed me?"
"No. Tomas, I have work to do. Go away."
"Ask me how my day went."
She liked this boyish side of him and could not hold out against it. "No."
"It will only delay me letting you go. Ask."
She sighed softly. "All right. How was your day?"
He grinned at her. "Happy you asked. I bought you a ring set and a matching necklace."
"How-" Her voice petered off as he raised one thick brow. "I never said I needed a necklace," she mumbled. He had seen right through her and knew she had been about to ask him the cost.
"You're right. There's a vault filled with stunning and antique stones that has been passed down from generation to generation of Perez's brides that will come to you."
Her eyes narrowed. "How much are we talking?"
He chuckled at her dazed look. "A king's ransom." He kissed her then because he had been longing to do so since he left her this morning. "I want to take you out to dinner tonight."
"No. I-"
"Or we could enjoy a private supper in my room, where you haven't been to yet." His eyes glinted and she recognized the determined look in them. "You choose."
When her glare did nothing to shake him, she relented and grumbled. "Your suite."
Leaning down, he kissed her on the lips, his mouth lingering.
"Thank you, mi amor. I'll let you go now.
" Lifting his head, he quirked a brow. "Mother.
" He chuckled when the woman in his arms frantically tried to free herself.
He only held on tighter, his head descending.
When he missed his intended target as she moved her head, he settled for her cheek and then her neck, before letting go.
Flustered and annoyed, Antoinette turned to the woman standing there and tried to apologize. "I'm sorry-"
The queen just laughed, a genuinely happy smile on her lovely face. "I've never seen him so happy. Thank you."
And that was that.
*****
Nothing was secret about them anymore, Antoinette discovered much later that evening.
Carmen bustled into the room as soon as she stepped in and told her she was going to fix her bath.
"The prince ordered something special from the kitchen to be taken to his suite.
I think the blue silk pantsuit would be perfect for your date.
" The woman stared at her critically, giving Antoinette the impression that she was carefully dissecting her features and determined to highlight any flaws.
"No." Antoinette shook her head firmly. "The aquamarine silk sheath will do just fine."
"Are you sure?"
"I am."
With a belabored sigh, Carmen hurried into the bathroom to fix her bath.
Minutes later, with steam following behind her, Antoinette stepped back into the bedroom and patiently allowed the woman to help her get dressed. "Have I been an exemplary maid, Senorita?" she asked conversationally as she drew the brush through Antoinette's long tresses.
"Of course."
"I would like to ask you a favor."
She met the woman's anxious eyes in the vanity mirror.
"Ask away."
"The maids are vying to see which of them will be assigned to the new princess and I was wondering if... that is... I hope you don't think I'm passing my place. I hope I can continue to take care of you after you're married to the prince."
It occurred to Antoinette then that her life was about to be irrevocably changed. She was no longer going to be just an employee, but a princess. Her heart fluttered anxiously and she had to tamp down the dire need to have a full-blown panic attack.
"Absolutely." She cleared her throat and forced a smile.
"Gracias. Gracias," the woman said gratefully.
She had never been to his suite. As a matter of fact, she had never been to that part of the palace, which was off-limits to everyone except the lofty servants who served the queen and her son.
The hallway was hushed and quiet, with elaborate etchings on the paneled walls.
Expensive artworks hung there, and the carpet, a light golden color, hushed her footsteps.
He actually had a valet, and the man had been sent to escort her.
They traveled the long hallway until they came to a set of double doors.
The man opened them with a flourish, stepping back to allow her to precede him.
She knew the Perezes were mega-wealthy, but she saw the evidence of it as she stepped into the lofty foyer and down the steps leading to a sitting room larger than her bedroom, done up in the palest of watercolor blue silk.
Stepping from the sitting room, she stood just at the threshold to the largest and most opulent bedroom she had ever seen outside of a magazine.
A huge fireplace dominated an entire wall, and the fire was crackling cheerfully inside the hearth.
There was no carpet on the hardwood floor.
Instead, it was strewn strategically with beautiful hand-woven rugs.
The bed was on a dais, with steps leading up to it.
The man who occupied the room was dressed formally in tan dress pants, light blue sweater, and a dark blue sports coat.
"That will be all, Javier."
The valet executed a formal bow before leaving the room and closing the doors behind him.
It suddenly hit her what she was going into. This man, the one standing in front of her, was royalty. And he looked every inch of it.
"Antoinette?" He had obviously seen the look of sheer terror on her face and was wondering at the source of it.
"This..." She turned in a circle, with the intention of regaining her composure. "It's a wonder you managed to tolerate my room. This is like a whole apartment complex."
He advanced cautiously, not fooled by her evasive tactic.
Taking her hand, he turned her to face him. "What is it, darling?"
Her heart did a slow dive at the look on his handsome face and the tone of his voice.
"This is huge," she admitted shakily. "I don't know if I can do this."
"You can. All of this means nothing if you're not with me."
She laughed derisively. "You don't mean that."
"I mean every word." Drawing her in, he kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her nose and then her mouth. "I'm head over heels in love with you. I breathe for you. I carry you here." Taking her hand, he pressed it where his heart was beating a little unsteadily.
"And here." Lifting that same hand, he pressed it on his forehead. "My mind. And my entire being pulses for you. I am undeniably and completely yours."
Expelling a shaky breath, she walked into his arms.