Excerpt from “His Unexpected Heir”
Release Date: June 14, 2024
Click HERE to get Antonio Astra’s story!
Exhaustion didn’t even begin to describe how she felt. Astra trudged through the kitchens one more time, surveying the space to ensure that everything was cleaned up and put away. There were a few dishes lingering in the massive, industrial sink, but those could wait for tomorrow morning.
It was well past midnight. The kitchen staff had left for home about half an hour ago. They had been working since well before dawn to prepare the delicacies for the wedding feast. Zahir and Mandy had already left for their two week honeymoon. Mandy had appeared deliriously happy while Zahir had looked…determined. Yes, that was the best way to describe the expression on the man’s face. And there was no question as to the purpose of his determination. The man wanted to be alone with his new bride.
What would it feel like to be wanted that badly?
The image of Antonio del Campo popped into her head. Did she want him in the same way? No, probably not. She remembered watching Zahir whisper something into Mandy’s ear earlier in the evening. Mandy had blushed hotly, but her body language indicated that she liked whatever he’d said.
Astra couldn’t imagine that kind of passion. She’d dated in the past, but none of the men she’d been with had ever inspired that kind of…need? Hope? Desire?
All of the above!
Nope, her boyfriends had been…meh. They’d all been nice. But none had made her feel…!
“You’re wearing two different shoes.”
The deep, accented voice interrupted her contemplation. Astra spun around, startled to see Antonio del Campo striding towards her with a determined expression in his eyes. “And you’re wearing a different dress than you were earlier.”
He didn’t stop until he was less than an inch away from her. Suddenly, Astra wasn’t tired anymore. In fact, she felt…oddly energized.
Tilting her head back, she stared up into the dark gaze of the man who had confused her since the first moment she’d met him. Antonio could infuriate her one moment, then charm her the next. He was a perplexing man.
“Excuse me?” she replied, then cleared her throat when her voice sounded too wispy.
“Your shoes,” he said again, jerking his chin towards the pretty heels that were dangling from her fingers. “They don’t match.”
Astra looked down, then gasped when she realized that he was right. The left shoe was a pretty, pink satin spike heel and the other was fuscia. Neither shoe matched the sage green dress she’d donned after one of the waiters had spilled bechamel sauce on the sleeve several hours ago.
“Darn it!” she hissed, staring at the shoes. “I had to rush to change clothes.”
“You still looked beautiful,” he assured her, turning her so that they were walking down the hallway. “What time did you get up this morning?”
Astra tilted her head, unconsciously leaning into his side as they walked. “I don’t think I woke up this morning.”
He stared at her, startled by this admission. “What do you mean?”
She sighed, then realized that she was fully leaning against him now. She started to pull away, but he tucked her more perfectly against his side. “There were so many things to set up before the wedding. So, I worked through the night.”
He growled and slipped his arm around her waist. “That’s not good, Astra.” They walked a few more steps, then he said, “However, the wedding was beautiful.” He stopped and looked down at her. “You did a spectacular job and so quickly! I’ve worked with other event planners and they’ve never been able to accomplish what you did today, even with more time.”
A glow of happiness surrounded her with his words. “That’s…so nice of you to say,” she replied, then sniffed.
“Why are you crying?” he asked, reaching out to catch a tear as it fell over her lashes.
“I’m not,” she whispered, holding her breath to keep the emotions contained. His words meant…everything to her. Shaking her head at her silliness, she looked away. “You’re very charming when you want to be.”
“Aren’t I always charming?”
“No!” she laughed and they started walking again.
“When was I not charming?”
She lifted her mismatched shoes. “Well, for starters, you didn’t need to point out that I looked foolish today, wearing shoes that don’t match each other, or my dress.”
“I doubt anyone else noticed.”
Astra let out an inelegant snort. “One shoe is fuscia!” she needlessly pointed out.
He shrugged and her eyes instantly drifted to his broad shoulders. Delicious shoulders, she thought. Powerful, muscular, yummy shoulders!
“But most of the wedding guests were too busy with the wedding and the food, not to mention the flowers and the singers. All perfectly arranged to ensure that everyone was well entertained.”
Astra sighed, her shoulders slumping. “A week ago, you teased me about my horseback riding skills.”
He snorted. “You don’t have any horseback riding skills, mi querida.”
She shook her head, a slight smile lurking on her lips. “See? No charm.”
He chuckled. “Yes, but it’s the truth. You’re a horrible horseback rider. You don’t ride, you bounce in the saddle.”
“Excuse me for being raised as a middle class kid.”
She glanced up at him, saw the strange flash of emotion cross over his face and didn’t know what to say.
“Yes, well…” she waited, wanting to hear what he would say next. But he stopped speaking.
“I’m this way,” she told him. “I’m guessing your suite is in the guest quarters of the palace?”
A dark eyebrow lifted in surprise. “Your quarters aren’t in this hallway?”
She laughed and stepped back, suddenly realizing that she’d been leaning against him as they walked. “No. I’m an employee. I was given a room in the employee quarters.” She looked at the magnificent mosaics lining the floor, then up at the gold leaf moldings that lined the ceiling. “The décor isn’t nearly as spectacular as–” she stopped and patted her hips. “Oh no!”
“What’s wrong?”
“The key to my room is in the pocket of my other dress!” she gasped and looked back down the hallway in which they’d just come. “And that dress was taken to the laundry area of the palace!”
“That’s not good.” He stared down at her for a moment, then made a snap decision. “You will sleep in my suite,” he announced.