His Unexpected Heir Excerpt

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 praise 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 fuchsia!” 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.