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The last twenty-four hours had been a chaotic blur, contacting attendees and vendors until late in the night, followed by going through the wedding files, multiple times, to make sure nothing was missed. I was sure there were no loose ends and nobody sabotaging my work. The only thing left was the press release the palace would send out, but at least that part was not on me.
The wedding had been officially canceled!
I finally emerged from my room, ready for some much-needed relaxation with Oliver. I walked through the opulent halls of the palace toward the pool, my thoughts consumed by him and our potential future together. I was eager to find out exactly where our relationship stood.
I stopped beside the display case that featured the Fabergé egg, when the man of my thoughts and dreams walked toward me, clad in a white robe and flip-flops.
He had a mischievous grin playing on his lips as he glanced at the turquoise cover-up sarong I had over my matching bikini.
“What’s with that big smile on your face?” I asked.
“That happens when I think of you, of course,” he replied, his eyes twinkling with playful charm. He glanced around, then leaned in to plant a kiss on my lips.
“Stop,” I whispered, even though I really didn’t want him to. “I have gotten into enough trouble for one lifetime.”
“I can’t make any promises once I get you in the pool,” Oliver said with a chuckle as we walked in that direction.
We didn’t get far before I asked, “Do you hear that rumbling sound?”
Oliver stopped, his head cocked to the side as he listened intently. “Call me crazy, but that sounds like my brother’s motorcycle.”
“You mean Prince Augustus?” I asked.
He nodded. “Family and friends call him August. It’s odd, though, because the last I heard, he was on a motorcycle journey across South America.” The mysterious rumbling sound deepened, and Oliver ushered me into the nearby tea room to peer out the window.
A tall man clad in black leather dismounted a sleek motorcycle, then removed his helmet, revealing hair almost identical to Oliver’s. As he gracefully slid off his leather jacket and laid it across the handlebars, I caught the contours of his muscles through the snug black T-shirt. I couldn’t help but marvel at the family resemblance, although he was built bigger than Oliver, with wider shoulders and a very impressive frame.
“That’s him,” Oliver said, then turned to me. “Get ready for some entertainment. Mother and August don’t exactly see eye to eye on anything.”
“More family drama?” I teased. “It’s like this is some royal reality show.”
“You have no idea,” he replied, a wry smile playing on his lips, then gestured back to the hall. “Time for a dip.”
The colossal Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool at the heart of the royal palace was a sanctuary of luxury. It was surrounded by marble columns and adorned with intricate mosaics and tall, lush palm trees, just like in the old Roman Empire movies.
An employee had already prepared for our arrival, placing two inviting margaritas on a table nestled among a long row of plush lounge chairs.
I untied my sarong, and Oliver wasted no time, tracing the contours of my figure with his gaze. I swallowed hard, a blend of nerves and excitement, as I took a sip of the perfectly chilled margarita.
“To being unemployed,” I declared with a laugh, raising my glass.
Oliver chuckled and took a step closer, clinking my glass. “Don’t you worry about that. You are simply in between jobs. Besides, I came up with a couple of promising ideas for employment that I think you’ll like. We can chat about that later.”
“I look forward to hearing about them,” I said. “It is kind of weird, though. You brought me all the way to Europe to plan a wedding that’s not happening anymore, for which I was paid a ridiculous amount of money.” I couldn’t resist probing, seeking reassurance amidst the uncertainty. “And yet, you still believe in us?”
“Now, more than ever,” he said without hesitation. “And there will be plenty of time to discuss that later in the day as well, when we have more privacy. Let’s put on some sunscreen and get it in the water. It’s time to play and have some fun.”
“Sounds good,” I said.
Oliver untied his robe and dropped it on the chair. I couldn’t help but admire every inch of him, from the chiseled chest to the toned arms, down to those solid navy blue swim trunks that accentuated his muscular legs.
I grabbed a bottle of sunscreen, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin as I squeezed the lotion onto my hands. The air was charged with unspoken chemistry between us as we applied the sunscreen in silence, occasionally stealing furtive glances at each other.
A moment later, Oliver’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Let me get your back.”
“Oh . . . okay.” I gulped, feeling a mixture of nervous anticipation and exhilaration of having his hands on my body.
With a deep breath, I turned around, attempting to steady my breath as his hands touched my shoulders, slowly and intently. Closing my eyes, I savored the sensation of his touch, reveling in the electrifying connection that seemed to spark between us with each inch of my skin his hands covered. Oliver’s hands slid down the middle of my back, lower and lower.
