The Park's Empire: Handsome Strangers...: The Prince's Bride. GINA WILKINS

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      “True,” the king agreed. “But there are many beautiful women in the world. And if gossip can be believed, you’ve dated several hundred.”

      Lazhar’s gaze sharpened, scanning his father’s face. “Gossip? Who’s been telling you tales?”

      Abbar waved a hand dismissingly. “No one important. Don’t worry, Lazhar, I’m aware that you’ve been very circumspect about the women you’ve associated with since college. But that doesn’t mean I don’t know their names, or that I haven’t seen them, either in photos or in person.”

      Lazhar shook his head, a slight smile tugging the corners of his mouth upward. “You have eyes and ears everywhere.”

      “Yes,” Abbar said mildly. “I’m the king, it’s my job to know these things. And since I’m well aware of the long list of women friends you have, I’m even more curious as to why, out of all the women you know, you chose Emily Parks?”

      “Besides the fact that she’s beautiful, well-educated and socially adept so she can cope with the responsibilities of being part of our family, Walter made marriage to her part of his business proposal.”

      “Marrying solely to gain an edge in a business deal doesn’t sound wise, Lazhar.” A frown wrinkled Abbar’s forehead.

      “That’s not the only reason,” Lazhar said dryly. “I suppose I should admit that I took one look at her picture and wanted to bed her. That didn’t change once I’d met her, in fact, it’s grown stronger.”

      “Ah.” The two exchanged a very male look of understanding. “Perhaps not the single best reason for marrying, but certainly important.” Abbar’s shrewd gaze studied Lazhar. “Did you reach any other conclusions about your Emily when you met her face-to-face that convinced you she was the woman you wanted to marry?”

      Lazhar had an instant memory of Emily and Walter’s housekeeper talking about her yearning for a family. “Yes.” His gaze met Abbar’s. “She wants to marry and have children, but seems to have given up on the possibility. I can give her what she wants and needs, in return, I’ll get what I want and need. It’s a good bargain.”

      “But you haven’t told her any of this?”

      “Not yet.”

      “Ah.” King Abbar shifted against the pillows. “I think you should find a way to tell her your plans as soon as possible. Women can be unreasonable if they get the misguided impression that we’re not consulting their wishes.”

      Lazhar mentally winced. His father was right, he thought, and Emily already had good cause to be displeased with him after he’d whisked her away from San Francisco without consulting her.

      “You’re right, Father. I’ll tell her as soon as I can think of a way to bring up the subject without causing her to run straight back to San Francisco.”

      “I think you have your work cut out for you, son,” Abbar said with a smile of commiseration.

      Lazhar read the growing signs of weariness on his father’s face and in the greater slump of his shoulders. He glanced at his watch and stood. “I promised Emily I’d collect her for dinner. I don’t want her to get lost.” He bent and kissed King Abbar’s forehead. “good-night. I’ll see you at breakfast.”

      “good-night, my son.”

      Emily planned to wear the Vera Wang cocktail dress that evening, the one she’d first donned for dinner with Lazhar in San Francisco. But when she walked into her closet to look for the little black dress, she gave in to temptation and slipped into a sinfully sexy, ankle-length, emerald-green evening gown. The lace-covered bodice was cut straight across the upper curve of her breasts and the short sleeves cupped her shoulders, leaving the long line of her throat and creamy shoulders bare. The dress was a slim, straight tube of emerald lace over satin, slit up the side to her thigh. Emily stared at her reflection in the mirror. She’d owned designer gowns since she was in her teens but she’d never had a dress that made her feel so alive. The color made her eyes glow a deeper, more mysterious green; her hair gleamed with golden highlights under the dressing room lights; her skin smooth and lightly tan against the delicate emerald lace.

      I shouldn’t, she thought, torn with indecision. But on the other hand, will the queen be offended if I don’t wear the clothes she ordered for me?

      Her conscience was still arguing with her love of pretty clothes when a light rap sounded at the door. The clock on the mantel read seven forty-five.

      “You’re early,” she said as she opened the door for Lazhar and turned to collect her Palm Pilot from the delicate French table just inside the doorway.

      “I know,” Lazhar acknowledged as she stepped into the hall and he closed the door. “What’s this?”

      “This?” Emily held up the small electronic day-planner.

      “Yes, that.”

      “It’s my planner.”

      “I know what an electronic day-planner is, Emily, I use one myself. What I don’t know is why you’re taking it to dinner.”

      “It’s easier to carry than a notepad and pen. If your mother or sister discuss any details they think should be included in your wedding, I can jot down notes so I won’t forget.”

      “Emily,” Lazhar halted her by the simple method of closing his hand around her arm. “This is just a casual family dinner. You don’t need to take notes.”

      “But….”

      “No buts.” He slipped the Palm Pilot out of her hand and tucked it into his jacket pocket. “You can take all the notes you like tomorrow, but for tonight, forget about work, okay? My mother is looking forward to meeting you, and Jenna to seeing you once again.”

      Emily sighed and gave in. “All right. But if you really want this wedding to take place in six months, then I must start the preliminary work tomorrow. And I need to contact my office first thing in the morning to check with my assistant and verify that she isn’t having any problems with clients that I need to resolve since I left without talking to anyone. Early tomorrow, I must get back to work,” she said firmly as he tucked her hand through his arm and resumed their walk down the corridor.

      “Of course,” he assured her.

      But the amused glint in his eyes and the grin he gave her made Emily shake her head. “Just remember, you’re the one who said he wanted a wedding celebration put together in a very short time,” she said.

      “I know. I promise I’ll let you take all the notes you want tomorrow.”

      An hour later, Emily was thoroughly charmed by the queen, who insisted that Emily call her Caroline, and she was reminded again how much she’d liked Jenna Eban when they’d met at her friend’s San Francisco wedding.

      “Have you seen Angela since her wedding?” Emily asked over dessert.

      “Twice,” Jenna nodded. “She was in Paris with her husband three months ago and I met them there for the weekend. And I flew to San Francisco six months before that to stay with her for a week.”

      “And СКАЧАТЬ