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From the way Gabriel’s keen gaze rested on him, Christian had failed to sound casual.
“I’m sure Noelle will tell you all about it when she arrives. Olivia is bringing them now.”
Christian would have preferred a briefing from an impartial third party like his brother’s clever wife, but clamped down on his agitation. Instead, he focused on what he could recall of the boy. Their brief encounter had left him with little more than a series of impressions. Fierce Alessandro eyes. Protective stance. Disapproval of the man his mother had introduced as Prince Christian.
Had Noelle already explained to Marc who Christian truly was? Or did she plan to do so today with Christian at her side? It was a question he probably should have asked his former flame days ago, but Christian hadn’t been thinking about how the news might rock the four-year-old’s world. He’d been too caught up in how the discovery had impacted him.
“Do you and Olivia plan to stick around for a bit?”
Gabriel eyed him, his expression thoughtful. “We hadn’t planned to.”
“Would you?” Christian suspected the strain would be muted if he, Noelle and Marc weren’t left alone right away. “Just for a bit. Marc might be a bit overwhelmed.”
“Yes,” Gabriel drawled. “I’m sure it’s Marc that we need to worry about.”
“If you’re implying that I’m anxious...”
It wasn’t like Christian to let anyone see him sweat, but maybe just this once it would be okay. If anyone would understand how he felt, it would be Gabriel. Several months ago, Sherdana’s crown prince had been surprised in the same way when twin toddlers, Karina and Bethany, had arrived on his doorstep after their mother died. Christian had been impressed how well his brother had adapted to fatherhood. Of course, the girls were two years younger than Marc and probably hadn’t yet missed having a father. But a boy was different. He needed a male influence in his life. Someone to look up to.
“I have a four-year-old son I’ve barely met,” Christian murmured, overwhelmed with awe and dismay.
“It’s terrifying.” Gabriel clapped him on the back, the solid blow knocking Christian away from the brink of panic. “Can’t wait to meet him.”
As if on cue, a dark-haired boy streaked through the doorway and dodged around several carefully arranged chairs, making a beeline for the enormous fireplace at the opposite end of the room.
“Look, I can fit in this one, too.” Dressed in navy pants and a pale blue shirt, Marc stood framed in the white marble surround, arms outstretched and wearing a precocious grin.
The boy’s compelling enthusiasm drew and held every adult eye in the room. Christian was the first to look away. Noelle had entered on Olivia’s heels, and he stole a moment to drink in her quiet beauty.
In manner and appearance, Noelle was more like Gabriel’s graceful, elegant wife than Nic’s bohemian spitfire. Today Noelle wore a textured brown sheath with black side panels that accentuated her slender curves. A two-inch ruffled flounce at the hemline boosted the design from simple to striking.
“Marc, come out of there,” Noelle scolded with a quick apologetic glance to where Gabriel stood with his arm wrapped around Olivia’s waist.
After four months Christian still wasn’t accustomed to his brother’s easy affection with his new wife. Even as a child Gabriel had been somber and formal most of the time, as if his future crown already weighed heavily on his head. Christian marveled to see him now, relaxed and smiling as he kissed Olivia on the cheek and whispered something in her ear that brought rosy delight to her cheeks.
Christian tore his gaze from the happy couple in time to catch the wistfulness that softened Noelle’s expression as she too regarded the royal pair. A realization tore at him: he wanted the same intimate connection with Noelle that Gabriel had with Olivia. A partnership that sizzled in the bedroom and worked everywhere else.
Pity he’d already betrayed the trust that would permit him to have, either.
* * *
Noelle couldn’t think straight with Christian and her son in the same room. Given Marc’s adverse reaction to Christian the night he’d shown up unannounced, she was worried that her son wouldn’t want to have anything to do with his father.
And that was the least of her problems.
Having a meeting with Christian’s mother sprung on her had been bad enough, but to then watch her transform from imperious queen to adoring grandmother in the space of ten minutes had made Noelle question her decision to keep Marc’s paternity a secret. Now that the truth was out, she expected the pressure to legitimize Marc by marrying Christian would increase tenfold.
