“Nice subject change. And we’re okay. His sister, Adriane, is helping with his parents.” He leaned back in his chair. “I don’t think he understood how much it upset me until I set an ultimatum.”
“So you’re working things out?”
“We’re trying. Instead of talking about it, he’s actually taken steps.” He smiled. “Alex told him that the crown stood behind him and they wouldn’t put up with any prejudice.”
I smiled. Alex and I had talked about the predicament Daniel was in with his family. It made me happy to know that he had made an official move to back his friend.
“So, are you pushing me out of the house so you can go see your boyfriend?” I raised an eyebrow and smirked.
“I certainly wouldn’t complain…”
“Okay. I’ll call Cathy. She’s been bugging me nonstop to go out with her.” I didn’t want to go to the clubs, but I had told her I would and this gave me an excuse to see Alex as well.
Chapter Thirty-One
President Gregory Visits Lilaria
—Lilarian Daily
Cathy was waiting for me at the palace. When I got there, she grabbed my garment bag out of my hands and made a beeline for the guest room that I’d used last time. I’d shooed Chadwick away, promising I would be fine.
I wanted to surprise Alex, so hadn’t told him I was coming. He should still be in a meeting, but I was hoping that I’d be able to drag him with us later. Even if there wasn’t going to be any PDA, I’d at least like to spend the time with him. The door to his room was open as I walked down the hallway and I hurried my steps. His meeting must’ve finished early.
He was sitting at his desk with his laptop open and a stack of papers. I watched him for a minute, enjoying his look of concentration before I knocked on the doorframe.
“Samantha?” He stood up and crossed the room in quick strides.
“Hey.” I stepped into his room and pushed the door shut.
He wrapped his arms around me immediately and I sighed into his kiss. It had been a long week without him.
“What are you doing here?”
“I promised Cathy I’d go out with her and figured that I’d get to surprise you and make her happy at the same time.” I ran a hand over his cheek and the five-o’clock shadow there.
“You came to the palace to see me?” He tilted my chin up. “I know you don’t want to go to the club.”
“I missed you.” It was the truth. The club had been an excuse to come be with him.
“I missed you, too.” He leaned down and kissed me once more. “But it’s a lot harder to keep secrets here.”
“We’ll just have to be careful.” I stepped away from him. “Besides, I’m not going to be sitting around waiting on you. I have to go to the club tonight.” I tried to look excited. “In fact, your sister is probably in my room right now going through the stuff I packed.”
“You’re going tonight?” He glanced down at his watch. “I have to finish up some paperwork, but maybe I can catch up.”
“I think it’s supposed to be a girls’ night out.” I laughed.
“Well, I’ll come over and tell you bye before you leave.” He grimaced. “I really do have a lot of paperwork to catch up on.”
“Sounds good. Now I need to go before she decides my clothes aren’t good enough.”
“Go.” He swatted my ass as I turned around and I looked at him, shocked. He chuckled and winked at me. “Don’t be surprised if I sneak in your room later tonight.”
“I’m counting on it.”
I’d been right. Cathy was going through my clothes, but she hadn’t tried to find something else for me to wear. In fact, she was so in love with the dress I’d brought, she was looking up the designer on my laptop.
“Well, help yourself.” I teased. The dress was risqué, but the high heels I brought to wear with it made me the most nervous.
“Who picked that out?”
“Why do you assume someone else picked it out?” She just stared at me. “Jess.”
“That’s your friend who just got engaged?” She tapped her chin. “She has a good eye. Is she going to do her dress shopping when she visits?”
“Yep. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you come with us.” In fact, Jess would think it was a hoot to have a princess helping her decide.
“That sounds like fun!” Cathy was already dressed for the night. Her long hair was pulled up and she was wearing a sexy, but appropriate, short blue dress. “Get ready! We don’t want the VIP section to fill up before we get there.”
“I thought it was better to make an entrance.” I grabbed the dress from the hanger and slid it on. Once I had wiggled it into place, I touched up my makeup and went out to get my shoes.
“Oh, we’ll be making an entrance.” She whistled.
I pulled on the heels and looked at myself in the full-length mirror. You could see the necklace Alex had given me though the slit in the front. I ran my fingers through my hair so it had that tousled look and turned toward her for inspection.
“Do I pass?”
“I’d say so.” She nodded in approval. “But we need to test it out first.”
Grabbing my hand, she pulled me down the hall to Alex’s room. He was back at his desk working when she barged in with me in tow.