“Do I look okay?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. You look beautiful,” he said.
Relief smoothed out her features. “Thanks. You didn’t have to say that.”
“It’s true. That dress looks great on you. The color almost matches your eyes.”
“Thanks. I found it on the sale rack.”
“You didn’t have to get a clearance dress,” he said.
“I didn’t want to overspend. And I didn’t want the Devereaux to pay for it, even though Bridget insisted they would,” she said and fiddled with her wrap.
“I would have bought you a dress. Heaven knows you’re due a bonus after dealing with Emma nonstop,” he said, chuckling.
She met his gaze and smiled. “Maybe, but I wanted to pay for this myself.”
“You just didn’t want to be one of those illegitimate moochers,” he joked with her.
She laughed with him. “You’ve got that right. I know you can’t wait to go tonight.”
“Oh, I’ve been so excited all day that I can hardly stand it,” he said in a dry tone. “I haven’t been this excited since I went to the Super Bowl.”
She swatted his chest. “Liar, liar, pants on fire,” she said.
“Ouch, you have a mean right hook,” he said.
“Again, liar, liar—”
He held up his hands, enjoying the fact that she was acting relaxed with him. Since the night they’d almost had sex, she’d frozen him out. He knew he deserved it, but it sure as hell didn’t feel good.
“Okay, okay,” he said. “When is the babysitter supposed to get here?” he asked.
As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door. Benjamin answered and a young woman entered.
“Please forgive me. I’m Natalie and I’ve been helping Princess Bridget’s twins. I’m here to take care of your baby, Emma. Are there any specific instructions?” she asked.
“If the bottle doesn’t work, you can give her a small amount of cereal,” Coco said.
“She likes Cheerios, but hopefully she won’t be awake long enough for that,” Benjamin said. “If she wakes up after you’ve put her to bed, when all else fails, sing to her.”
“But she loves to be rocked,” Coco added.
And so it went for several moments. Natalie duly wrote down all of Benjamin and Coco’s instructions and suggestions, which, after all was said and done, could have been the first chapter of a book.
“You’ll call if you have any problems at all?” Coco asked, halfway wishing she could stay in the villa instead of going to the gala. She was growing more nervous with each passing moment.
“Enjoy the party,” Natalie said. “Your baby will probably sleep all the way through. If she doesn’t, I will rock her and sing to her.”
Coco felt a surge of relief. “Thank you. But you’ll call...”
“Yes, I will call. Please go and enjoy,” Natalie said. “Your car is waiting.”
Coco took a deep breath. “Then we should leave,” she said and glanced at Benjamin.
“Yes, we should,” he said and ushered her out of the villa to the car.
Benjamin looked amazing, Coco thought, as he helped her into the car. He was dressed Texan formal in a black suit, bolo tie and his black hat. He hadn’t worn his hat in a while so he wouldn’t frighten Emma. He looked sexy enough to kill. And it would take all she had not to be the victim of this murder.
She crossed her left leg over her right and pumped it.
“That’s some shoe,” Benjamin said.
Coco glanced down at the sparkly pump and smiled. “Yes, it is. Bridget insisted. I insisted that it was on sale, which it was.” She pumped her foot again. “It almost looks like Cinderella’s slipper, doesn’t it?”
“Well, I never wore Cinderella’s slipper, but yeah, I can see the resemblance,” he said. “Nice legs.”
Coco immediately pushed her dress over her leg. “Thank you,” she murmured.
Seconds later, the limo stopped in front of the palace and the driver escorted them out of the car.
“Thank you,” Benjamin said and slid his hand behind Coco’s waist. “Nice that they let us in the front door this time,” he said.
She glanced up at him and felt a camera flash, saw it in her peripheral vision. “This is going to be different,” she managed, meeting his gaze.
“Get ready for the circus, darlin’,” Benjamin said and they walked inside the palace.
A string orchestra played beautiful music and waiters served appetizers and champagne. The chandeliers sparkled like diamonds. The marble floors gleamed, making Coco fear she’d fall on her derriere! A girl needed tennis shoes, not heels, in this situation.
“It’s so beautiful,” Coco said. “Look at all the dresses.”
“If you say so,” Benjamin said. He nodded at a server. “Can you get me a beer?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be right back,” the server said.
“Bet it won’t take him long,” Coco said.
“Why?” Benjamin asked.
“Because you’re so threatening,” Coco said.
“I’m not threatening,” Benjamin protested. “I just want a beer.”
Coco snickered. “You still scared him.”
Benjamin shot her a mock frown. “Why aren’t you more afraid of me?”
“Because I am magic for your daughter,” she said.
Benjamin shrugged. “Can’t deny that,” he said and suddenly his beer appeared. He glanced at Coco and lifted an eyebrow before he nodded at the server. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure, sir. Please let me know if you need anything else,” the server said and walked away.
A man in uniform appeared at the top of the double staircase and rang a bell. “Please proceed to the ballroom to your right. The royal family will arrive soon.”
The crowd moved toward the ballroom, and Coco became separated from Benjamin. She craned her neck to find him in the crowd, but couldn’t see him. She should have been able to see him with his Stetson, but every time she looked above the crowd, someone raised an arm or a tall man walked in front of her.
“Lovely lady,” a man said to her.
Coco glanced to her right and gazed at a middle-aged man with piercing blue eyes. “Thank you,” she said. “Please excuse me...”
“A Yank,” the man said in delight. “An American. We’re deluged with Italians and French. How did this happen?”
Coco shrugged. “Lucky, I guess,” she said.
A half beat later, she felt a tap on her shoulder and she turned around, hoping it was Benjamin. Instead, it was Bridget.
“How are your shoes?” Bridget asked with a beaming smile.
Coco paused then gave a mangled curtsey. “Your Highness,” she said.
Bridget waved the courtesy aside. “Oh, stop. Show me your shoes.”
Coco obediently lifted her Cinderella pumps. Bridget clapped her hands and smiled. “Excellent. You look ravishing. I’ll check in with you later.”