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ChapterOne
Arianna Gunnell,the official royal stylist, decorator, party organizer, wedding planner, and whatever other tasks the beloved August family asked of her, glanced around the gorgeous ballroom of the Augustine castle with satisfaction. The Christmas ball that she’d organized with decorators, caterers, and musicians was well under way. A hundred fresh pine trees stretched toward the gilded two-story ceiling, almost touching the Baccarat chandeliers. The Swarovski crystal Christmas decorations added class and beauty. The ethereal lighting and everything draped with white tulle completed the picture of a magical Christmas ball.
No matter how long she worked at the castle or around the royal family, she was in awe of the beauty and grace of the building and even more so the people. Every royal, and their significant other, was dressed perfectly in Kiton or Brioni suits, Peter Langner or Valentino formal gowns, delicate heels from Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo, and men’s dress shoes by Tom Ford.
Arianna knew their measurements and preferences and always sent multiple options to their closets for each event, allowing them the final say in what they wore. Of course each option she sent was the perfect fit, the colors that worked best with their skin type and hair color, and she made certain they couldn’t go wrong with their choice. The August family members were grateful and gracious, and Arianna had the best job in Augustine.
Everything was perfect tonight for the royal family and their guests. She took pride in knowing the remarkable night had her stamp all over it. The ball would only be topped by King Nolan and his fiancée Madeline Prescott’s royal Christmas wedding on the twenty-second.
Arianna’s mind spun with details, appointments, and checklists. She could hardly wait for the event, though her dad would tell her to savor this moment first. She smiled. He’d see all the photos online in the morning and call to commend her on different aspects. She was very blessed to have him in her life.
Looking over the beautiful couples spinning around the dance floor, her eyes widened. Was that Brad Rivera dancing with the American clothing designer Faith Radisson? It couldn’t be. She hadn’t seen her childhood hero and close family friend Brad in over eight years. Not since the evening of his mum’s funeral when they’d clung to each other, shared sorrow, and then shared the most incredible kiss of her life. She had thought he’d finally noticed her as a woman.
Then he had disappeared.
Why would he return now? For years, she’d hoped and prayed he’d come back. Not a phone call. Not a text. In fact, his phone had been disconnected and none of his friends had any answers for her or ideas of where he’d gone. She’d given up on ever seeing him again. Sometimes wondered if he was even still alive.
There he was. Brad Rivera. A ghost from her past. Returned.
An enthralling, too-handsome, charming ghost who had captivated her heart and her daydreams for the majority of her life.
Arianna had no clue how to react. She wasn’t certain if she’d punch him or hug him if he approached her. Possibly a slug to the gut first and then a long, drawn-out hug?
Her eyes tracked the couple. Faith was darling—beautiful, talented, and full of light. She seemed much younger than Arianna, but was actually two years older. The two of them had connected every time Faith visited the castle with her sister Hope, wife of Lieutenant General Chad Prescott. They’d talked and compared notes on designers, fabrics, cuts, weaves, and patterns. Faith designed Lady Fit workout wear; she and Hope owned the successful American company.
Faith couldn’t hold Arianna’s attention with Brad as her partner. He had clearly matured—he looked stronger and taller. His face was even more handsome with the manly cut of his jaw, the short beard, and an interesting depth, some might call it ‘street cred’ or ‘real-world experience’ in his brown-sugar eyes that hadn’t been there eight years ago.
Brad’s black Reiss slim-fit wool suit draped perfectly on his well-built frame. Reiss suits were a fraction the cost of Brioni, Stefano Ricci, or Kiton but always a classy look, and Brad wore the suit well. He could easily grace the front page ofElleorCosmopolitanwith his devastatingly handsome face, fit body, and the confident set of his shoulders and head.
Was he dating Faith?
“Excuse me, miss,” said a dark-haired, dark-eyed server, about her height tonight, with the thirteen-centimeter heels making her as tall as most women and even some shorter men—almost a hundred and seventy brilliant centimeters. He inclined his head and held out a note to her. “This is for you, ma’am.”
“Thank you.” She reached for the note.
The man placed it in her hand, but then he wrapped his hand around hers, lifted her fingers to his lips, and kissed them. She didn’t want to be rude, but she instinctively wanted to pull her hand free and wipe it clean. She didn’t know this man and, as she met his gaze over their clasped hands, her stomach churned. The look in his dark eyes was … possessive. Creepily so.
“I’ll be seeing you very soon,” he murmured.
“Pardon me?”
The man only grinned as if he knew some secret. He released her hand, straightened, pivoted, and slithered through the dancing couples until she lost sight of him. For some reason, she wanted to find General Raymond and have him assign guards to shadow the man.
Arianna shook her head. Surely she was being too suspicious. It had been almost a year since the Rindlesbacher family traumatized the royals nonstop and four months since the last Rindlesbacher, Naomi, had been killed. Arianna was still jumpy at royal events of any sort, praying no bombs or attacks would injure the people she loved and respected.
Flipping the typed card in her hand open, she smiled in relief.
Mason.
She’d gone on several dates with the funny, handsome Lieutenant Mason Henson. He was four years younger than her, a revelation that still shocked her. She loved his sense of humor, and he was tough, brave, had endured rough trials, and seemed much older than twenty-one.
Tonight, he’d had to miss the ball as he was in charge of keeping the lower castle barricade safe and screening all guests.
Meet me in the outside gardens near the main fountain. I have a surprise for you.
Mason
Did he have a break he hadn’t told her about? He must have planned ahead and prepared something formal. She appreciated the effort.
