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Finally, it was time for dinner. Tristan hurried upstairs to get Jennifer. Madeline slid her hand through Nolan’s arm and cupped his bicep, smiling confidently up at him.
Nolan felt as if he could do anything with her at his side. He’d missed that feeling more than he’d realized.
Glancing down at her as they walked along the hall, he tugged her to a stop before they reached the staircase. “Thank you for being with me today.”
“I’m actually on assignment to be.” There was a tease in her voice, but that was no reassurance that she returned his feelings.
“Madeline, I love your insights and your presence here, and I need to make something crystal clear—”
Footsteps came down the staircase. Tristan and Jennifer. Nolan pasted on a smile, and Madeline seemed to do the same.
It was time for dinner with his family and then time spent with Kiera. It was always the highlight of his day. With Madeline by his side, he knew it would be even better. Would they swim again tonight? Heat filled him at the memory of his hands on Madeline’s smooth skin as Kiera instructed him to throw her.
Jennifer thanked Madeline for the tea, and they walked together down the stairs and toward the smaller dining room. Jennifer was thankfully feeling better tonight but still lamenting that she wasn’t accomplishing much. Since she’d stopped traveling on humanitarian missions, she now used her contacts, the castle’s reach, and the August family resources to organize humanitarian trips and help children throughout the world.
Voices came from the dining room. A lot of voices. Madeline glanced up at him. “Are you expecting a crew for dinner?”
“I didn’t think so.”
They cleared the dining room door and the noise grew louder as everyone rushed to greet them. Nolan’s eyes widened. Every one of his children and their spouses were here. Kiera was bouncing around, grinning and holding Sunny.
“King Papa!” Sunny called, scrambling out of Kiera’s arms and running to him.
Nolan released Madeline to swoop Sunny off the floor. “How’s my princess?”
“I’m good, King Papa.” She grinned at Madeline. “Hi, pretty lady. Mama says you’re gonna be the queen.”
The room went silent except for Sophie’s hushed, “Oh, Sunny …”
Nolan had no idea what to say and, for the first time in his memory, he wanted to escape from a dinner with his family. He wanted to be alone with Madeline, assure her he hadn’t put those words in anybody’s head, and replace the panicked look in her eyes with yearning for him.
He’d been afraid he was rushing too fast, but he couldn’t deny the intensity of his feelings for her. As he looked around at the stunned but also very hopeful gazes of his children, it appeared some of them were rushing at warp speed. Who had told them all about him and Madeline ‘dating’? He knew it wouldn’t be Tristan or Ray. He could never get after Jennifer, Macey, or Kiera for sharing.
No. He needed to focus on the most important issue.
How was he going to keep Madeline from running screaming from the castle?
ChapterSeven
Madeline staredin shock at the adorable child cuddled in the king’s arms. Princess Sunny August had asked if she’d be the next queen. No, not asked—she’d stated it. Oh my.
She looked at Nolan. His blue eyes looked panicked. It didn’t appear he’d instigated such a comment. Something about that scared her in a completely different way than the thought of being queen. Nolan had obviously wanted to kiss her this morning. She’d never felt such desire and yearning for and from someone. He seemed very intense and passionate about her, but maybe he didn’t want her to be queen. She would never imagine the moral, upstanding king of Augustine would be looking for a fling with no strings attached, but what did she know? She’d assumed her husband was committed to her and Chad.
“Silly Sunny,” the king said in a teasing and only slightly tight voice. He tipped the little girl upside down, and she squealed happily.
“Madeline, it’s wonderful to see you.” Sophie rushed up to her and gave her a hug. “I’m sorry about my girl.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine.” Madeline waved a hand as if it were no big deal, but her insides were squirming and her heart hurt. She hadn’t imagined the alarm in his reaction. Was she only a distraction for Nolan? Her feelings were intense and miles deeper than stealing a kiss and moving on. If she let herself keep falling for him, she’d be hurt just like she had been years ago. Time healed, but she’d never forgotten.
The family who’d arrived for dinner each came to greet her, thankfully distracting her from her doomsday thoughts.
Malik and Sophie; Derek and Ellery; Steffan and Hattie; and Curt and Aliya were all as friendly and welcoming as they could be. She loved Hattie and Aliya’s southern accents and feisty quips.
The family settled down to dinner. When Nolan took her hand in his and offered a deep, sincere prayer, she felt like she belonged here. Was it all an illusion, a pipe dream she’d never see fulfilled?
Dinner was loud and fun and rushed by quickly. The initial awkwardness of Sunny’s statement dissipated, and everyone teased and laughed with each other. After dinner, Kiera begged everyone to swim. They all agreed, and it was a much different experience than their swimming last night. There were no intimate moments with Nolan. She thought back to the embrace of this morning, the feeling of his lips on her neck, the pressure of his body against hers, the yearning in his eyes that she’d wanted to fill.
No. She couldn’t let herself get into that situation again. This was safer for her heart. She didn’t want a quick burn with Nolan. She wasn’t sure what she wanted, but that little girl saying she would be queen and the panicked look in Nolan’s eyes dug at her confidence that they could ever be together long term.
