And the excitement continued throughout the day. Not only did they have the day-to-day running and correspondences to respond to, but there was the planning for the charity event, which the queen had decided would be a perfect time to announce her son's engagement.
And there was the wedding itself to plan.
Antoinette was swept helplessly along. Queen Sofia was a force of category five hurricane proportions, and she went full steam ahead.
By midafternoon, an entire team of wedding planners was on standby.
During a very long and detailed call to Italy, Tomas came into the office, sending her blood pressure through the roof. She had not seen him when he left, of course, and seeing him now, the movie star look that always had her marveling, she hadto concentrate fiercely on the conversation in order to finish it. He was wearing a thick ruby-red sweater that looked great with his tanned skin. The sleeves were rolled up to his powerful forearms, the hairs lying there sending her body into slow heat and making her recall what they did in bed.
Murmuring in Italian, she concluded the call and hung up. Stopping at her desk, and not in the least shy that the doors were open or that his mother was still in her office, he took her hand and drew her toward him.
"I'm working here."
"So am I." He brushed her lips with his, arms encircling her waist. "Missed me?"
"No. Tomas, I have work to do. Go away."
"Ask me how my day went."
She liked this boyish side of him and could not hold out against it. "No."
"It will only delay me letting you go. Ask."
She sighed softly. "All right. How was your day?"
He grinned at her. "Happy you asked. I bought you a ring set and a matching necklace."
"How-" Her voice petered off as he raised one thick brow. "I never said I needed a necklace," she mumbled. He had seen right through her and knew she had been about to ask him the cost.
"You're right. There's a vault filled with stunning and antique stones that has been passed down from generation to generation of Perez's brides that will come to you."
Her eyes narrowed. "How much are we talking?"
He chuckled at her dazed look. "A king's ransom." He kissed her then because he had been longing to do so since he left her this morning. "I want to take you out to dinner tonight."
"No. I-"
"Or we could enjoy a private supper in my room, where you haven't been to yet." His eyes glinted and she recognized the determined look in them. "You choose."
When her glare did nothing to shake him, she relented and grumbled. "Your suite."
Leaning down, he kissed her on the lips, his mouth lingering. "Thank you, mi amor. I'll let you go now." Lifting his head, he quirked a brow. "Mother." He chuckled when the woman in his arms frantically tried to free herself. He only held on tighter, his head descending. When he missed his intended target as she moved her head, he settled for her cheek and then her neck, before letting go.
Flustered and annoyed, Antoinette turned to the woman standing there and tried to apologize. "I'm sorry-"
The queen just laughed, a genuinely happy smile on her lovely face. "I've never seen him so happy. Thank you."
And that was that.
*****
Nothing was secret about them anymore, Antoinette discovered much later that evening. Carmen bustled into the room as soon as she stepped in and told her she was going to fix her bath. "The prince ordered something special from the kitchen to be taken to his suite. I think the blue silk pantsuit would be perfect foryour date." The woman stared at her critically, giving Antoinette the impression that she was carefully dissecting her features and determined to highlight any flaws.
"No." Antoinette shook her head firmly. "The aquamarine silk sheath will do just fine."
"Are you sure?"
"I am."