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“They’re both such a light to all of us.” He focused back on his new daughter-in-law. “As are you. I’m grateful T has been blessed with you as his wife, and we’re all blessed to have you in our family.”
“Thank you, Nolan.” Her eyes got bright as she continued, “I can’t tell you how I appreciate your forgiveness and love for my mum and dad.”
“Your dad is my closest friend, and we’re all praying your mum can heal and forgive herself.”
“Thank you.”
The song ended and Tristan was right there. “Can I steal my beautifulwife?”
“Of course.” Nolan handed her over, smiling at his son’s emphasis on the word wife.
Jennifer laughed. “Oh my, Mr. Crown Prince, you seem to really love that moniker.”
“All the better because you’re mine all mine now, my dear.”
A new song began and Tristan whisked Jennifer away, their eyes lit up and their bodies melded together.
Nolan was thrilled for their happiness, and he missed Anne with an acute pang. Most of his sons and especially his sweetheart daughters-in-law had started pushing him to ‘think about dating’ or ‘open his heart to the possibility of falling in love again’.
He never scoffed at them, always kept a smile on his face as he gently told them he wasn’t ready, but inside he scoffed. He had neither the time nor the energy to date and he doubted he’d ever find a love like Anne’s again. He and Anne had been friends for years. She’d actually dated Henry in college, but after college Nolan and Anne had slowly fallen in love. Their love had been steady, enduring, and committed. She’d always been there for him, their children, and their kingdom. Anne was a shining beacon of sweetness, charity, and beauty.
Several women close to his age were eyeing him as if he were a Lindt chocolate bar and they hadn’t indulged in years. He averted his gaze quickly, turning and searching for one of his family members. He bumped into someone soft and firm at the same time.
“Oh, pardon me,” he said, glancing down into the emerald eyes of none other than Madeline Prescott, Chad’s mum and one of the only members of parliament who always made him smile.
“I suppose I have no choice but to pardon you, seeing as you are ‘King Papa’,” she teased with a smile on her stunning face. She was a celebrated beauty and he knew men pursued her constantly, but she’d been single as long as Nolan had known her. Chad was his son Tristan’s best friend and he’d told Nolan once that his dad deserted them when he was four and he had only glimpses of memory of a smiling man who laughed a lot.
He should’ve teased and walked away but for some reason, maybe melancholy at marrying off the last of his sons, he eased in a bit closer and said, “Would you care to dance?”
Her eyes widened. She looked him over and Nolan found himself straightening. He’d heard from different sources that he was ‘devastatingly handsome’ and ‘fit and perfectly-proportioned’. He always laughed at such terms, usually flung at him by Ellery’s Aunt Elise who was as inappropriate as she was fun.
“Again … who am I to refuse the king?” She smiled as she said her tease and Nolan knew it was only a tease. She was confident and independent and he doubted she’d ever think she needed a man in her life. Not that it mattered to him if Madeline Prescott was happily single or gave in to one of the many men pursuing her.
He gave her his charming smile, practiced when he was younger with his poise coach, and offered his hand. She pressed her palm against his and something warm and real passed between them. Nolan startled, and thought she did as well. He threaded their fingers together, hoping he appeared nonchalant. At the exact same moment he cupped his hand around her smooth waist, his palm covering from her waistline down to the curve of her hip and she wrapped her palm and fingers around his shoulder.
They each drew in a telling breath and he felt an impossible tingly warmth work its way through his body at each point of contact. They stared at each other and neither of them moved or spoke. He’d never seen Madeline at a loss for words.
“Mum, King Nolan,” Chad waltzed up to them with his fiancé Hope in the circle of his strong arms. “I believe you’re supposed to move to the music.” His charming smile was easy-going and thankfully he didn’t realize that Nolan was at a loss, stunned by the feelings Madeline created in him.
“Thank you for the reminder,” Nolan murmured, smiling as well. “I was so taken aback by your mum’s beauty I’ve forgotten my own name.”
“And I thought I was the king of charming lines,” Chad teased.
“You are, love, but the king is pretty good.” Hope grinned and then they waltzed off.
Nolan forced his feet into motion, guiding Madeline around the dance floor. He’d waltzed so many times throughout his life the movement was automatic, but he’d never felt this energized, alive, and light while dancing. He wouldn’t have been surprised to see that they were floating.
He pushed all those unfamiliar and irrational thoughts away, peeled his gaze from Madeline’s riveting emerald eyes, and tried to focus on the crowd. The dance floor was crowded with couples, but there was enough room to move and not brush against or run into another couple. The balcony doors and windows were all open bringing in a sweet summer breeze to compliment the gardenias scent, and keeping him from sweating too much in his tux.
Many of his children were dancing by and giving him significant looks. He’d better not act so besotted by Chad’s mum or he was going to hear about it. He focused back on her, determined to act comfortable and tease as they always did. It wasn’t flirting as Hattie and Aliya had tried to goad him into admitting once. It was light-hearted banter. Was that any better than flirting? Hmm.
Madeline’s mouth was slightly open as she stared at him. Had her lips always been so full and … intriguing?
He mentally slapped himself. What was he doing? It was a simple dance. With one of his son’s best friend’s mum’s, and a high-ranking member of parliament. Madeline usually baited or joked with him and he laughed and responded. He enjoyed their interactions as nobody but his family and Henry ever seemed confident enough to let down their guard around him.
Right now she was looking off-kilter and no teasing quips were forthcoming.
“Forgive me,” he said, studying her emerald green eyes, had they always been so large and sparkled like the jewel they matched? “I fear I’ve made you uncomfortable.”
