He looked away to serve himself some fruit. The sounds of good silver and elegant china filled the air. With the exception of her mom and Queen Rose discussing gardening, the room was quiet.
Alex said, “So how are your stray cats doing without you?”
Her chest loosened. Finally, something they could talk about. “They’re fine.” She risked a glance at him. “Thank you for asking.”
“Don’t they miss you when you’re gone?”
“I started a few shelters that care for them. I don’t need to be there twenty-four-seven...or even once a month. Every shelter is fully staffed, mostly with volunteers.”
“That makes sense. Always good to have a staff in place.”
“Yes. Especially when they are a competent staff. A staff that shares my vision.” Eva relaxed a bit more. “I—” She caught the gaze of his dark eyes and almost lost her train of thought. It was no wonder he had the reputation with women that he had. He was gorgeous. His dark eyes had a lost, soulful quality that touched her heart in the weirdest way. And if they went through with this wedding, he would be hers. She would be married to one of the most gorgeous, richest men in the world. He could have his pick of women, but she’d be in his bed.
She sucked in a breath to banish those thoughts. If she let her brain leap ahead to their wedding night, she’d hyperventilate.
“I intend to start this kind of shelter in as many cities as I can.”
“In the United States?”
She had his full attention. He was curious. And she was floundering because being near him was overwhelming. While he was cool and confident, she almost shook with emotions she didn’t understand.
What she wouldn’t give for the ability to flirt.
Maybe if she batted her eyelashes? Or smiled?
That was it. Maybe she should just smile? Instead of a big flirty move, she should just break the ice with a smile.
She raised her lips, let the corners tip upward. “Yes. The problem doesn’t seem to be as bad in my own country.”
He tilted his head and studied her. “Interesting.”
She hoped he was still talking about the cats. Because if he was making fun of her smiling at him, she would die. On the spot die. But not before she killed her mother for telling her to flirt with him.
“Being a rural country, Grennady has more barns and stables, places cats and dogs can find shelter in the winter.”
“I see—” He held her gaze. The look in his eyes was so confusingly intense that she couldn’t take another second. She let her gaze fall but when it did, it landed on his mouth—the mouth that had kissed her and changed her whole perspective about this arranged marriage.
Okay. Now she really was nervous. And felt hot and cold.
She yanked her gaze away from him and tried to focus on the main conversation at the table. King Ronaldo was discussing the latest thriller novel he was reading. She hoped to insert herself into that discussion, but no such luck. As her mother and Alex’s father and stepmother found common ground in a book they’d all read, she and Alex were left behind like outsiders.
“So who’s funding your shelter?”
“I am. I—”
She stopped. Her dad had been gone a little over a week. Her mother had only stopped crying the day before. She had gotten her monthly stipend the week before her dad left, but until her dad returned or made a decision there was no one to authorize the checks.
Good God. She might not be broke, but without her dad to approve her stipend, she had access to nothing.
She drew in a long, life-sustaining breath. She might not be penniless, but she might as well be.
“I was funding my shelter. With my allowance.” She swallowed hard. “But, with my dad gone, there’s no one to authorize my stipend.” She caught his gaze. “At least four shelters will have to close.”
“That must have been some allowance.”
Damn him for being such a twit! Her life was a mess and he was making jokes! “Thank you for making fun of me.”
“I’m teasing you to lessen the awkwardness for you. I’m sorry about your dad.”
She straightened her shoulders, sat up taller in her chair. She’d rather have him be a twit than feel sorry for her. “Nothing’s official yet. He could take months before he actually divorces my mom...” And she’d be penniless until then.
The dining room doors opened again and a short, dark-haired woman entered. Dressed in a green business suit and simple taupe pumps, she carried a huge black book and a smaller one that could have been a calendar.
The king tapped his water glass to get everyone’s attention. “Princess Eva, Queen Karen,” he said, “This is Sally Peterson, our minister of protocol. She’s here to officially set the date for the wedding.”
Alex leaned in and whispered, “This date means nothing to me. All I’m finding out right now is how much time I have to try to convince you not to marry me.”
Eva fumed. Her entire life had been turned upside down and he couldn’t for two seconds pretend to do his royal duty. No. He had to keep rubbing it in that he wanted her gone.
Sally bowed and faced Eva. “Actually, Princess, your country gave us three dates. The second weekend in April.”
Alex choked. Eva blanched. Even for someone willing to go through with this marriage, that wasn’t very much time, not quite three months away. She had to convince Alex to marry her and get accustomed to the fact that she was getting married in three short months?
“The first week in March.”
Alex picked up his water glass. Eva gaped at Sally Peterson. That was worse! Why were the dates so soon? So close?
“Or the second week in February, to coincide with Valentine’s Day.”
Four flipping weeks?
Eva coughed to cover her gasp of disbelief.
King Ronaldo said, “I like the February date. So that’s our date.” He rose from his seat. “Sally, perhaps you and the ladies would like to use this morning to talk about dresses and designers.”
Rose rubbed her hands together with glee. “I’d love to! What do you say we take a pot of coffee into the living room and look at swatches and Google designers?”
Karen grinned. “That sounds like fun.” She faced her daughter. “Eva?”
Eva’s throat had closed. She swore she couldn’t breathe. She had four weeks to persuade Alex to like her and to figure out what the hell she’d do on their wedding night.
Before she could answer, Sally said, “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but as minister of protocol I’m in charge of the budget, so I’ll need particulars on who’s paying for what.”
All eyes went to Karen, who looked at Eva.
Eva’s heart stopped. All the blood drained from her body. “I—I mean, my mother and I—”
* * *
Alex glanced at Eva, who had gone white, and he almost cursed. She’d just told him she and her mom had no money. Her country probably had an obligation to pony up at least part of the millions it would take for a royal wedding. But with her father gone there was no one to ask. If Xaviera’s legal counsel had to force Grennady to pay, the story would hit every newspaper in the world. The embarrassment of it would be horrendous for Eva.
Before he realized it, he was on his feet. “Actually, I think