Her Christmas Prince. Catherine Mann

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СКАЧАТЬ with Nicolas—a prince, her employer and the man who had propositioned her at their first meeting—wasn’t the smartest move she’d ever made. She should have been stronger, more resilient.

      Because there was no way she was about to become his mistress for the rest of her time in Glendovia.

      Resolve firmly in place, she strolled along the palace corridors and down the wide, curved, marble staircase. There was no one around, not even a servant, making her feel even more awkward about sleeping in so late.

      She made her way to the dining room, where she’d spent the majority of her time with the royal family thus far, but the room was empty, long ago cleared of any traces of breakfast. From there, she drifted back across the foyer and down the opposite hallway toward Nicolas’s office. She wasn’t in a particular hurry to run into him, but he was her primary employer and she was already late getting to work.

      The door was closed and she rapped softly, half hoping he wouldn’t be there. But he called for her to enter after the first knock.

      She schooled her breathing and stepped inside, closing the door at her back. He was seated behind his desk, working, but raised his head to greet her.

      Scorching familiarity flashed in his eyes. The look made her heart hitch in her chest.

      “Good morning,” he murmured, setting down his pen and rising to his feet. “I trust you slept well.”

      His tone was formal, more formal than she would have expected from the man who’d shared her bed only hours before, with no hint of teasing or double entendre. Yet his gaze consumed her, sliding over her like warm honey, and making her want to do nothing more than relax into it, surrendering her body and her will to him once again.

      “Very well, thank you.” If he could be this decorous, then so could she. “I’m sorry to be running late this morning. Just because the children’s Christmas event was a success doesn’t mean I should be allowed to dawdle on the other causes you brought me here to deal with.”

      She purposely avoided any mention of how they’d spent their time after the Santa gift giveaway, sticking to a professional mode. It was better that way and would help her remain on an even keel.

      One side of his mouth lifted, as though he knew exactly what she was trying to do. “I don’t think sleeping in a few hours can be considered shirking your duties. However, if you have ideas for other fund-raising events, I’d love to hear them.”

      He waved a hand at one of the chairs in front of his desk, motioning for her to sit down. As soon as she did, he returned to his seat.

      “Actually, I do have another idea,” she said, feeling some of the tension seep from her body. Talking business was much better than discussing last night. “Not for a fund-raiser per se, but for the development of an organization.”

      “Really?” His brows rose and he leaned back in his chair, propping his fingertips together as he listened intently.

      “Yes. Back in the States, we have a nationwide organization that works to fulfill the wishes of terminally ill children. I’ve noticed that you don’t have anything like that set up here in Glendovia, and I think it would be a wonderful project for the royal family to undertake. It would bring you some outstanding press, and also fill a very real need for kids who are sick in the hospital or even at home, with no hope of recovery. I thought we could call it Dream a Little Dream.”

      After considering her proposal for several long seconds, he asked, “And what kind of dreams would we be fulfilling for these children?”

      “Whatever they wanted. Their dearest wish, if it’s at all feasible. At home, the organization arranges for children to meet their favorite celebrities, spend an entire day at an amusement park that’s been rented out just for them and their friends, go for a hot-air-balloon ride or learn to fly a plane. Things that the kids have always wanted to do, but otherwise wouldn’t get the chance to because of their condition.”

      Nicolas returned her grin. “I suppose that could be arranged.”

      “So it’s something you’d consider?” She leaned forward eagerly. “There would be much more involved than simply planning a fund-raising event. We’re talking about renting office space, hiring employees, enormous national and possibly international publicity, probably even a press conference or two. And the organization would need continued support long after I return to America.”

      She thought she saw a flicker of unease cross his face at the mention of her leaving, but it was gone in an instant.

      “It’s a noble endeavor,” he said, shifting so that his elbows once again rested on the desktop. “A good cause, and something that would bolster Glendovia’s reputation and its citizens’ esteem. I’ll have to discuss it with the rest of the family, of course, but I would certainly be in favor of getting the ball rolling.”

      “Excellent.” She grinned broadly, pleased that he was in favor of a project she’d begun to feel very passionate about.

      “You have only a little over a week left of your stay,” he pointed out.

      His mouth was a flat line and his words were curt, as though he found that fact distasteful. The ripple of unease low in her belly told her that she wasn’t entirely comfortable with it, either.

      When she’d first arrived and discovered exactly who Prince Nicolas Braedon was, she’d threatened to turn around and fly back to Texas, even if it meant breaking her employment contract with the royal family. But now that she’d been here for a while and had really begun to dig into the work, she was enjoying her visit. Enjoying the palace and the country and its people.

      She missed her family and was eager to return to Texas to be with them again, but she was no longer looking forward to leaving, as she had been only a couple of weeks before.

      “Do you think that’s enough time to establish this organization and get it to the point where it can be turned over to others and still run smoothly?” Nicolas asked.

      “I do.”

      “Even with Christmas coming up?”

      “I’ll work through the holiday. I was planning to do that, anyway.”

      Without her family to share in the festivities, and with a multitude of servants who had already decorated the palace from top to bottom, she suspected Christmas this year would end up passing much like any other day.

      She’d been prepared all along to spend that time alone in her room rather than intruding upon the royal family’s celebrations. At least this way she would have a nice, meaty project to work on and keep herself occupied.

      She thought she heard him mutter, “We’ll see about that” beneath his breath. But then he pushed himself away from his desk and stood, and in a firmer voice said, “All right. I’ll bring it up with the family and see how they feel about it, then get back to you with a decision.”

      Nodding, she rose to her feet as he crossed the office to hold the door for her. She took a couple of steps in his direction, then stopped.

      “Is there anything else?” he asked, noticing her hesitation.

      She curled her fingers into fists at her sides, then released them, fidgeting anxiously while she tried СКАЧАТЬ