Expecting Royal Twins! / To Dance with a Prince. Cara Colter

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      “I’m ready to go,” Isabel announced.

      So was he. Niko was ready to follow wherever she wanted to go.

      “I don’t own a lot of clothes.” Isabel motioned to the worn purple duffel bag she carried behind her. The bride box with all its original contents was in the limousine with Jovan. “What I have probably isn’t nice enough to wear to court.”

      “I will make arrangements for you to go shopping once we arrive.” He would head off any of her financial concerns. “Do not worry about the cost.”

      “You’re already paying for a lot.”

      “I don’t mind.” Niko would enjoy seeing her in designer gowns with jewels adorning her graceful neck. He would enjoy removing those things from her, too. Too bad that would never happen. “You are my wife.”

      “Only until the annulment,” she reminded.

      “Yes, but until then it is my responsibility to take care of you.”

      Isabel pushed her chin forward almost defiantly. “I can take care of myself.”

      “I know that.” He still wouldn’t mind a turn. Most women wanted him to take care of them. It felt odd that Isabel didn’t. He bowed his head in apology. “A poor choice of words on my part. I promise to make it up to you.”

      “No need.”

      As she brushed past him, an appealing mix of vanilla and jasmine filled his nostrils. The smell was a significant improvement over the motor oil one earlier. “I want to.”

      “That’s okay.” Her smile nearly knocked him off his seat. “I’ve already forgiven you.”

      Niko didn’t want her forgiveness. He wanted … her.

      Damn. The attraction to Isabel was unexpected and unwelcome. His duties and responsibilities always took priority. Niko was practically engaged to Julianna. He shouldn’t be attracted to any woman.

       Not even your wife? a voice mocked.

      He balled his hands to gain control. His father had taught him to keep emotion reined in. Otherwise it became a weakness, one that others, particularly adversaries, would use to their advantage.

      Niko focused his gaze on Isabel’s pretty face. Maybe it would be better to concentrate on her forehead. “Is there anything else you need to pack for the trip?”

      “No. I won’t be in Vernonia that long.”

      “You might like it there.”

      She shrugged. “This has been my home since I was six.”

      He couldn’t believe she’d lived like this for the past seventeen years. “That’s a long time.”

      “When Uncle Frank bought the RV, he said we would never have to leave home again. We could always take it with us.” She removed a carton of milk from the refrigerator and poured it down the sink. “I wonder if he was thinking about Vernonia when he said that.”

      “Possibly.” Niko glanced around her hovel. “There are many other places to live than here.”

      “I know.” Isabel rinsed the carton in the small sink. “This motor home is nothing more than an old metal shed compared to a lot of other places, but I’ve been happy here. A little lonely since Uncle Frank died, but it’s hard to leave the good memories behind.”

      “You will make new memories.”

      “I need to come to peace with the old ones first.” She stared off into the distance. “So many things about Uncle Frank are making more sense now. The lack of photographs. Wanting me to study martial arts. Keeping such a low profile. Being so protective. Even if he wasn’t related to me by blood he’s still family. The only I ever knew.”

      Niko nodded. “We shall honor Franko for the sacrifices he made by keeping you safe.”

      “Thank you.” Gratitude shone her eyes. “Vernonia must have meant a lot to him or he would have never given up so much for me. I always thought he was satisfied living like this, and I’d be the one to leave someday. Now I know he didn’t plan on living here forever, either. He would have returned … home.”

      Isabel’s words eased some of Niko’s concerns about her future. “Your father’s estate will enable you to live wherever and however you want.”

      She sighed. “The thought of so many choices is intimidating.”

      “Think of only one choice at a time. It won’t seem so … overwhelming.”

      “Good advice,” she said. “Thanks.”

      Helping her pleased him. “Is there anything else you need?”

      Isabel glanced around. “Boyd is going to check on the RV while I’m away so everything should be okay.”

      Niko remembered the tall man who had driven her and Jovan to retrieve the box. The same man had come out to check on her and watched her from the garage. A woman as attractive as Isabel was sure to have men after her. One who worked with her would have an advantage. “Is Boyd your boyfriend?”

      “Boyd?” She scrunched her nose. “He’s like a brother. Some people think we’re a couple, but we’re just friends.”

      The news brought an unfamiliar sense of relief. But Boyd wasn’t the only man in Charlotte. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

      “No boyfriend.”

      “But you date.”

      “Not nearly as much as I probably should. I work too much overtime to have a serious relationship. And the boys at the garage can be a little overprotective when guys do drop by.”

      The news pleased Niko more than it should have.

      “What about you?” she asked.

      “No boyfriend.”

      She grinned. “Any girlfriends?”

      He used to have girlfriends. He’d dated models to princesses. Julianna wasn’t his girlfriend per se, yet she was the woman he planned to marry. Better to keep things simple than give Isabel too complicated an explanation. “Yes, I have a girlfriend.”

      “What’s her name?”

      “Julianna. We are planning to marry.”

      “Congratulations, Niko.” Isabel locked a window latch. “I hope the two of you are very happy together.”

      Her enthusiasm surprised him. “You do?”

      “Of course I do,” she admitted. “Why wouldn’t I? I may be your wife, but that was a choice neither of us made or would choose today.”

      Niko winced. Her words stung. He might not choose СКАЧАТЬ