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Jan bit her lip. She so wanted to tell Esme that she’d asked for this. Now her wild imagination would have to deal with the very real consequences of marrying royalty.
“They’ll help with my correspondence and organizing events. There are so many charity events. Leo steers me toward the ones for education. There are countless, endless dinner parties, receptions, banquets. I swear, I’ve gained ten pounds in the last month.”
Jan rolled her eyes. Her friend looked as fit and shapely as ever. She knew the king would have no complaints with his wife’s looks.
“There’re openings, closings, festivals, funerals. Meanwhile, all I want to do is curl up on Leo’s lap and kiss him all day and night.”
Jan opened her arms, and Esme came over. She climbed on her friend’s lap and the two snuggled in for a long overdue hug. It was so good to see Esme again. Jan hadn’t thought through the consequences of Esme living abroad. They’d talked every day, even Facetimed while watching a movie last weekend. But she’d missed the physical affection that only a best girlfriend could give.
“I’m bumbling my way through this, Jan.” Esme sniffled into her neck. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I am too.” Jan gave her friend the strongest squeeze she could manage.
Her own engagement might be fake, but her partnership with Alex was real. So was their friendship. Those people, Esme, Alex, Leo, and Penelope, had believed in her more than her own family. They were her family. Nothing fake about it.
“Jan, you’re here.” Princess Penelope burst in the door.
Jan almost didn’t recognize the little royal. Every time Jan had seen Penelope the little girl had been in pastel dresses and white cardigans. There had never been a hair out of place on her head or a spot on her clothes.
Penelope wore jeans and a T-shirt now. The knees of her jeans had mud stains. Her hair was streaming down around her face. She looked like a normal six-year-old girl now, and she flew into Jan’s arms, piling onto Esme so that the three were in a huge hugging pile.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” said Penelope. “I hear you’re going to marry Uncle Alex?”
Jan didn’t like lying to the little girl. She looked to Esme and found no help. Instead, Esme raised an expectant eyebrow.
“That will make you my aunt.” Penelope beamed. “I’m going to have a new mother and a new aunt, and they’re two of my favorite people in the world. I am such a lucky girl.”
Jan’s heart squeezed. It wouldn’t let any of the words she’d used to dissuade Esme leave her mouth to assault Penelope’s ears. Instead, she changed the conversation again.
“I brought you something. It’s a very complex recipe. It’s British, so we’ll have to do metric conversions.”
That did the trick. Penelope’s eyes lit up with delight. The three women headed out and down to the kitchens, and Jan was saved from any more explanations as they began the complex recipe.
Chapter Fifteen
The next morning Alex waited at the end of the grand staircase. Jan was late. It was unlike the pie maker who lived her life according to exact measurements and kitchen timers.
Alex’s mind went to the worst possible scenario. What if she’d changed her mind? What if she’d backed out of their deal?
There were other chefs he could partner with. Celebrity chefs who would jump at the opportunity to work with him. But his body chilled at the idea, his tongue felt fuzzy at the thought.
Jan got his culinary vision. Not only that, she thrilled him with each new dish she whipped up. She had a command of spices unrivaled by any chef whose table he’d sat at—and he’d traveled the world over. Once Jan traveled and experienced new dishes and spices, she would be even more amazing in the kitchen.
Alex wanted to be the one to go with her on those adventures. He wanted to be the one sitting beside him as she moaned with delight after each bite. He wanted to know her thoughts on how she’d twist that dish and turn it into something new. But he could do none of that if she’d left him.
His hands itched to call the airports and ground all flights out of the country. That’s how she’d escaped last time when Esme came to believe Leo was about to marry someone else. Jan had come to him with a handshake and a fare-thee-well two days before she was set to leave.
He’d been disappointed. There were so many entrées he wanted to introduce her to. So many more desserts he’d wanted her opinion on. But after they’d won the pie making contest, she’d taken the money and gone.
He hadn’t seen her all night. She’d been sequestered away with Esme. Had Esme talked her out of it? Had the fairytale-totting queen-to-be told Jan to wait for her true love to get engaged to?
Alex didn’t want to block the path of love for Jan. He knew that any true love headed in her direction would have to take stock in her culinary talents. Which would likely make the man a new chum in Alex’s eyes.
No one believed in Jan’s skills more than Alex. He was firmly in her camp.
Of course, that didn’t mean he was her true love. He hadn’t bought into the notion of one perfect woman for one perfect man. He rarely had the same meal twice.
Except when Jan made it.
