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He nodded in confirmation, his gaze hesitant. He had to do what was best for his daughter.
“Does that mean you’ll come be with us every day?” Kiera looked hopeful, and it warmed Madeline’s heart.
“Yes.”
Nolan squeezed her hand and glanced around, his gaze returning to Madeline’s face and full of a promise she’d never expected to find in this lifetime and certainly not with the king. Was he for real or simply acting? He’d initially been frustrated about her purpose here, but he’d schooled that quickly and treated her with respect and kindness. Maybe even something more than respect and kindness.
“Madeline is going to stay with us for a while.” He released her hand and smirked at Raymond. “Since driving to Traverse and taking her to dinner would require an entire platoon to accompany us.”
“It would,” Raymond said, serious as ever. “Thank you for not creating extra work for my troops.”
Nolan laughed. “Of course, son.”
The family continued dishing up their plates and eating. They included her in the conversation and didn’t act as if their father bringing the woman he was dating into their family meals and staying at the castle was a big deal.
Madeline followed suit, dishing up food, eating, and teasing with all of them. Except the general. He partially smiled at their teasing.
She should’ve felt awkward and out of place, but she felt like part of the family. Would all of Nolan’s family welcome her this easily? Didn’t any of them have an issue with her replacing their mother? Especially Kiera. It was possible the young girl didn’t understand the implications of them dating.
Her stomach churned. She wasn’t replacing anyone. The dating was a farce. She wasn’t cut out to be queen, and Nolan would never move on from his wife. Of course the royal family was too classy to throw a fit about their father ‘dating.’
Madeline risked a glance at Nolan. Her mission here had taken a twist she hadn’t foreseen. She was grateful for how comfortable and welcome she felt. Now if she could not let her heart run away with her head and believe she and Nolan could be real.
She’d made the mistake of letting her heart and passions rule when she’d married Bradford. Never again.
Still, she’d be thrilled to date the most impressive man she’d ever known. Slowly and rationally dating. Not some quick burn like her marriage had been.
If only she and Nolan weren’t fake.
ChapterFour
Nolan couldn’t believeMadeline had agreed to pretend they were dating and his one reservation, Kiera, had been absolutely great about it. He shouldn’t be surprised as Kiera was uncommonly good-natured but it was still a relief.
The anger he’d felt earlier at parliament and the prime minister for questioning his integrity and daring to believe he would help or get close to Naomi took a backseat to the joy of being around Madeline. Together they’d already proven where the purchases of vehicles and clothing had come from. His wealth was due to centuries-old family money that he had managed well. As a team, he and Madeline could easily prove he had no associations with his remaining Rindlesbacher enemy—Naomi. He looked forward to being a team with Madeline. If only he knew where Naomi would strike next.
Each time Madeline glanced up at him with her mesmerizing emerald green eyes, he was filled with warmth, longing, and completely enraptured by this smart, fun, and teasing woman. For the first time, he visualized a different future than standing on his own and focusing on his children, their spouses, his granddaughter, and his future grandchildren. Could he find love again?
Now as he and Kiera walked up the stairs to the pool with Kiera chattering happily away to Madeline, he met her gaze over Kiera’s head. There was definitely a strong connection between them. They were pretending to date, but the issues parliament and the prime minister had raised had to be addressed and settled before he could truly date her. Maybe he’d been short-sighted to insist pretending to date was the easiest explanation for her staying here. When the media caught wind of the sought-after king having a girlfriend, they would have a field day with it.
They reached the pool area. The retractable walls and ceiling were open on this beautiful summer night, showcasing a million stars. Greenville’s lights twinkled below. The valley beyond was mostly dark, with only an occasional light from a farmhouse.
Nolan was blessed to live in such a beautiful place, but the responsibility of taking care of his kingdom and his family weighed on his shoulders. Without Anne, the load had become heavier—much heavier. What he wouldn’t give for a partner and support like his wife had been. He glanced at Madeline again. She smiled at him, and his heart raced.
For the first time in eighteen months, he was hopeful. He hadn’t realized that though he’d been blessed not to go into a deep depression, he’d definitely not had the light and joy in his life that he’d experienced with Anne by his side. Could he fall in love and be happy like he’d been with Anne, or were his hopes running away with his brain? He didn’t know, but Madeline appeared enthralled with him and at the moment, he was willing to put in the effort to find out if he had a chance at the love and happiness he’d once known.
Kiera immediately yanked off her coverup, yelled, “Watch this,” ran for the diving board, and did a double front flip off of it.
Madeline cheered loudly when Kiera surfaced. Nolan joined her. Kiera always gave him something to cheer about. His daughter was a delight to everyone who knew her. It was fun to share the cheering with Madeline.
“Come on!” Kiera called, diving underwater to touch the bottom.
Nolan slid his shirt off and dropped it on a chair. He turned to Madeline. Her eyes were wide, unblinking. She was fixated on his chest.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Her eyes trailed over his shoulders and arms before she swallowed and shifted her focus to the dark night. “Fine.”
Nolan tilted her chin up, savoring the smooth skin under his fingertips. “What is it? You can tell me. We’re a team now, remember?”
